From Te Papakupu Māori

Ubuntu is a popular Gnu Linux distribution that has focused on providing for the needs of end users who are not interested in the technical aspects of computers, but who just want to use them for everyday tasks - sending email, writing documents, browsing the web, etc.

Gnu Linux in general has taken shape over several years, being contributed by people from around the world. This international effort has resulted in software designed from the beginning, to support the cultural and linguistic conventions of not only the contributors but for all people.

Support for cultural and linguistic conventions in Gnu Linux is typically based on Gnu libc's support for locales. Locales define such things as collation order, number formats, date formats and diacritics among other conventions. Defining the locale within the environment a program is executed in, allows the program to present information in a format that suits users, and to better understand what users are trying to tell that program.

Ubuntu exposes locales to end users through the - Language Support Administrative tool, and Macron input through Keyboard preferences. The following instructions document how to configure Ubuntu for te reo Māori through those GUI.

Steps for writing Macrons

1. From the desktop open the System menu, Preferences, then Keyboard.
   

   

   Keyboard Preferences Menu
   
   
2. Open the Layouts tab. You will probably have the USA keyboard layout already installed.
   

   

   Keyboard Preferences Window
   
   
3. Click on the Add... button, and select Maori from the Layouts drop-down menu, then click on Add.
   

   

   Choose a Layout
   
   
4. The Maori Keyboard layout is now installed. Set it as the Default if you would like it activated whenever you log-in. By holding down the Right-Alt key entering a vowel, it will become macronised.
   

   

   Maori as the default
   
   

Steps for a GUI in te reo Māori

1. Open the Language Support window, through the System menu, and Administration sub-menu-item. Then enter the password you used to login to Ubuntu.
   Image:U804-ss-01.png

   Language Support Menu
   
   
2. You should now see the Language Support window.
   

   

   Language Support Window
   
   
3. Scroll down the Supported Languages tool-box, until you reach Maori. Select it under the Support column, and click on Apply.
   

   

   Selecting Māori
   
   
4. Ubuntu will automatically download and install the te reo Māori language packs. In total they are about 300k size. When Ubuntu finishes you should see the following window.
   

   

   Downloading Language Packs
   
   
5. Click OK and you will be returned to the Language Support window. Set the Default Language to Maori if you would like new users and subsequent logins into Ubuntu to be in te reo Māori. If you decide not to set te reo Māori as the default you can specify it from the Options hyperlink on the login screen where you entered your Username and Password. Click OK on the Language Support window, regardless, to complete installation.
   

   

   Te reo Māori as the default
   
   
6. For the Māori language packs to be enabled you will need to Reboot the computer and login again. If you did not specify te reo Māori as the default in the previous step, don't forget to select it from the Options hyperlink in the bottom left corner when you login.
   

   

   Reboot required
   
   
7. After logging back in, you should see particular interface elements translated into te reo Māori.
   

   

   Kaiwhakatika Kupu