How to enable right-to-left language support for Word 2003 and Word 2002 on computers that are running on Windows Server 2003, on Windows XP, or on Windows 2000

This step-by-step article discusses the installation and configuration requirements and explains how to type in, edit, and proof (check the spelling and grammar) right-to-left languages in Microsoft Office Word 2003 or Microsoft Word 2002 on computers that are running Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Microsoft Windows XP, or Microsoft Windows 2000.

Note Right-to-left languages include Arabic, Hebrew, Farsi, and Urdu.

Requirements

To type and edit in a right-to-left language in Word, you have to:

• Configure Windows for the specific language.
• Configure Word so that you can type in that language.

For Microsoft Windows

Windows Server 2003, Windows XP and Windows 2000 have built-in support for most languages, including Arabic and Hebrew. To configure the operating system to type in the appropriate language, you must configure the keyboard to type in that language. If the keyboard that you want is not listed by default, you may have to install additional files.

For Microsoft Word

If you only want to proof text in different languages, you can install the English version of Microsoft Office and install the Microsoft Office Proofing Tools.

If you want the multinational features of Office, you must install a localized version of Office, or you must install the English version of Office with the Multilingual User Interface Pack (MUI).

Benefits

Benefits of using a localized version

You may prefer to use a localized version of Office if your organization needs completely localized functionality and the additional content that is included with some fully localized versions. Each localized version includes at least two sets of appropriate proofing tools for the languages that you are likely to use most frequently. To expand that support to more than 40 languages, you can add the Proofing Tools for Office to any localized version. For more information about the localized versions of Office, locate the following Microsoft Web sites:

For Microsoft Office 2003:

For Microsoft Office XP:

Benefits of using the Microsoft Office Proofing Tools Kit

For more information about the Proofing Tools for Microsoft Office, locate the following Microsoft Web sites:

For Microsoft Office 2003:

For Microsoft Office XP:

Benefits of using the Multilingual User Interface Pack (MUI)

Office with the Multilingual User Interface Pack (MUI) simplifies the deployment of Office in a large multinational organization. Because of a common worldwide executable file that is included for each Office program, Information Technology (IT) administrators only need to create one custom installation for users in all countries. The MUI Pack also includes Proofing Tools for Office. Proofing Tools for Office allows users to create and edit documents in more than 40 languages. Multinational companies can use the MUI Pack to enable mobile users and others to share workstations, regardless of their language, and to enable centralized global Help desks to switch the language interface on their computer screens to match the language interface of their customers. (Some dialog boxes and screens may not be in the language that is specified.)

Note The Multilingual User Interface Pack (MUI) is only available through Open License, Select, and Enterprise Agreement volume licensing programs and is not offered through retail stores. For more information about the MUI Pack for your multinational organization, locate the following Microsoft Web sites:

For Microsoft Office 2003:

For Microsoft Office XP:

Configuration

This step-by-step section explains how to configure Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Word so that you can type text in different languages.

Step 1: Install Microsoft Word

If you have not already done so, install Word 2003 (Office 2003) or Word 2002 (Microsoft Office XP) on your computer that is running Windows Server 2003, Windows XP or Windows 2000.

Step 2: Configure Microsoft Windows to type in multiple languages

Before you can type in a language other than English, you must configure the keyboard to match the language. For example, to type Arabic-based characters, configure the keyboard to map the same way as a localized Arabic keyboard. To do this, follow these steps.

In Microsoft Windows Server 2003:

1. Click Start, point to Control Panel, and then click Regional and Language Options.
2. On the Languages tab, click Details.
3. If the language that you want to type in is not listed under Installed Services, or if the language that you want is listed but the keyboard is not listed under it, click Add.
4. In the Input Language list, select the language that you want to type in. The Keyboard layout/IME field is automatically populated for you.
   
   Note If the language that you want to type in is not listed, see the "How to install additional languages" section of this article.
5. Click OK.
6. Under Installed Services, you see the selected language with a keyboard installed.
7. Click OK to close the Text Services and Input Languages dialog box, and then click OK to close the Regional and Language Options dialog box.

In Microsoft Windows XP:

1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
2. In Control Panel, click Date, Time, Language, and Regional Options.
3. Click Add other languages, and then select the Languages tab.
4. Under Text services and input languages, click Details. The Text services and input languages dialog box appears.
5. Under Installed Services, if the language that you want to type in is not listed, or if the language that you want is listed but the keyboard is not listed under it, click Add.
6. In the Input Language list, select the language that you want to type in. This automatically populates the Keyboard layout/IME field.
7. Click OK.
8. Under Installed Services, you see the selected language with a keyboard installed.
9. Click OK to close the Text Services and Input Languages dialog box, and then click OK to close the Regional and Language Options dialog box.

In Microsoft Windows 2000:

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
2. In Control Panel, double-click Regional Options.
3. Select the Input Locales tab.
4. If the language that you want to type in is not listed under Installed input locales, click Add.
5. In the Add Input Locale dialog box, select the language that you want to type in from the Input Locale list. This automatically selects the Keyboard Layout/IME option.
6. Click OK.
7. In the Regional Options dialog box, click Apply, and then click OK.

After you configure the keyboard, you can select the input language from the Language bar.

For more information about using the Language bar, click Microsoft Word Help on the Help menu, type language bar in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topics returned.

How to install additional languages

If the language that you want to type in is not listed in the "Step 2: Configure Windows to type in multiple languages" section, you can add languages by modifying the Regional Options. The Regional Options are in Control Panel. To do this, follow these steps for your computer's operating system.

In Microsoft Windows Server 2003:

1. Click Start, point to Control Panel, and then click Regional and Language Options.
2. On the Languages tab, in the Supplemental language support area, click to select the Install files for complex script and right-to-left languages (including Thai) check box.
3. Click Apply, and then click OK.
4. Restart your computer when prompted. If you are not prompted, click Start, click Shut Down, and then click Restart.

In Microsoft Windows XP:

1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
2. In Control Panel, click Date, Time, Language, and Regional Options.
3. Click Add other languages.
4. On the Languages tab, click to select the Install files for complex script and right-to-left languages (including Thai) check box.
5. Click Apply.
6. Click OK.
7. Restart your computer when prompted. If you are not prompted, click Start, click Shut Down, and then click Restart.

In Microsoft Windows 2000:

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
2. In Control Panel, double-click Regional Options.
3. On the General tab, select the languages that you want to install in the Language settings for the system section.
4. Click Apply.
5. If prompted, insert the Windows 2000 CD-ROM, and then click OK.
6. Restart your computer when prompted. If you are not prompted, click Start, click Shut Down, and then select Restart.

Step 3: Install the Microsoft Office Proofing Tools

To check the spelling and grammar of text in a different language, you must install the appropriate language proofing tools for the language. To do this, use one of the following methods.

Method 1: Install and configure the Microsoft Office Proofing Tools

The Microsoft Office Proofing Tools give you the ability to check the spelling and grammar of different languages in a Word document.

To install the Microsoft Office Proofing Tools, follow these steps:

1. Insert the Microsoft Office Proofing Tools CD-ROM.
2. Click Start, and then click Run.
3. In the Open box, type or locate the following
   cd drive:\Ptksetup.exe
   where cd drive is the drive letter that contains the Proofing Tools CD-ROM.
4. In the Proofing Tools Setup, click Custom for the type of Setup that you want to perform.
5. Select the language proofing tools that you want to install, and then click Run all from my computer.
6. Follow the instructions that appear on your screen to finish the installation.

Method 2: Install and configure the Multilingual User Interface Pack

To display menus, dialog boxes, and Help files in a right-to-left language, you must install the Multilingual User Interface Pack. Installing the Multilingual User Interface Pack also installs the proofing tools.

To install the Multilingual User Interface Pack for the appropriate language, follow these steps:

1. Insert the Multilingual User Interface Pack CD 1 in your CD-ROM drive or DVD-ROM drive.
2. Click Start, and then click Run.
3. Type or locate the following:
   cd drive:\Lpksetup.exe
   Note In this example, cd drive is the drive letter that contains the Multilingual User Interface Pack CD-ROM.
4. Follow the instructions provided by the Multilingual User Interface Pack Setup to install the appropriate language.
   
   Note If the language that you want to configure is not listed, read the LPKRead.htm file that is included with the Multilingual User Interface Pack CD-ROM. Some languages may not be listed in the Setup program, and special steps may be required.

Step 4: Configure the Microsoft Office Language Settings

1. Click Start, point to All Programs, and then do one of the following:
   • Point to Microsoft Office, point to Microsoft Office Tools, and then click Microsoft Office 2003 Language Settings.
   • Point to Microsoft Office XP Tools, and then click Microsoft Office XP Language Settings.
2. On the Enabled Languages tab, verify that the language that you want to proof is included in the Enabled languages list.
3. If the User Interface tab is available, follow these steps:
   • In the Display menus and dialog boxes in list, select the language that you want the menus and dialog boxes to be displayed in.
   • In the Display Help in list, select the language that you want the Help files to be displayed in.
   Note The User Interface option is only available if you installed the Multilingual User Interface Pack.

Step 5: Set Word to automatically detect the language

Verify that Word is set to automatically detect the language of the text that is being typed. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Start Word.
2. On the Tools menu, select Language, and then click Set Language.
3. Click to select the Detect language automatically check box, and then click OK.

Word can now detect the language that was installed by the Proofing Tools installation. Word also can check the spelling and grammar of text in the language that was installed by the Proofing Tools installation.