[Mapserver-users] language support

[Steffen Macke]

> Has anyone ever made an application using MapServer that uses =
> non-english language on the labels of the map?=20

Have a look at DCMMS (especially the Arabic map labels section in the 
developer guide). It´s even using Arabic map labels
with right-to-left text and Arabic character shaping.

http://dcmms.sourceforge.net

Perhaps you should consider storing your data in PostGIS (your
database should use the UNICODE encoding). Your can
recode your shapefile upon loading by setting the PGCLIENTENCODING
enviroment variable.

Once you have UNICODE text in PostGIS, all you have to do
to get the map labels right is to use TrueType labels in your mapserver map.
And, of course a UNICODE TrueType font with your characters.

Steffen