Microsoft Word - Arabic again :(

Question

When I click 'More' button on the Find & Replace screen in Microsoft Word 2003, the list of search choices includes Arabic options: Match kashida Match alef hamza etc. When I change the font to print an envelope (Alt-T-E-E>Options) it shows the sample text in the chosen font but with Arabic characters, and then prints the envelope correctly in English. The only 'enabled' language for Microsoft Office is English (US). And I've deleted and replaced the normal.dot template. Any other good ideas, before I go for the sledge hammer? ;) Thanks, Ron

Mary G · Answer

In Word, look at Tools, Language, Set Language and make sure it's English and check 'detect language automatically.' Then go to Control Panel, Language and make sure the correct global settings are selected.

RoHe · Answer

Mary G,
Did as you suggested. Everything was set correctly, except 'detect language automatically' in Word. But even that change didn't get rid of Arabic on Find menu or in Font options for envelopes and labels.

When I delete normal.dot and allow Word to recreate it, Word still shows my return address in the window for printing envelopes. So my address must be stored somewhere else by Word. Any idea where that might? I'm wondering if that's the (corrupted) file where Arabic is enabled.

If all else fails, it's time to uninstall and reinstall Office 2003 SBE. :(

Thanks,
Ron

abach · Answer

Ron

The return address is stored in the registry. It comes from the Tools, Options, User Information tab in Word.

Your language problem may be in the following registry setting:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Common\LanguageResources

Try deleting this key and restarting (or detect and repair) Word.

Message Edited by abach on 12-14-2007 03:13 AM

RoHe · Answer

Allan You're a genius!! Deleted LanguageResources key and started Word. Arabic gone! Didn't even have to 'detect and repair'. This has been making me crazy for a while now. Thank you (again) and have happy holidays! Ron

abach · Answer

Glad it's working, Ron. I know how it feels to have a problem and try everything - yet still have the problem.   I'm not anywhere near genius - just get lucky sometimes.   Merry Christmas!

RoHe · Answer

And modest too... :)

RoHe · Answer

Somebody sent me a Word 2007 .docx file today, the first of this file type I ever used. The instant I opened it with Word 2003 (Office 2007 compatibilty pack installed), there was Arabic in all the usual places again. :(

Fortunately, I remembered this old thread and was able to find it on the forums. And better yet, Allan's solution to delete that registry key saved the day again! Thank you! :)

Why oh why does Microsoft keep doing this to me? (Rhetorical question) :o

Ron

abach · Answer

Ron,

Odd you should post about that problem. It happened to me this Monday. My Word 2003 had the Arabic symbol. What caused it, I think, is by opening a WordPerfect file that I received from a local law firm. In the document were fonts I did not have on my PC. I noticed Word did not give me any notice of Font substitution (Tools, Options, Compatibility, Font Substitution button). However, Word immediately added a new entry under Format, Font: Complex Script Font. Also, it added some new items under Format, Paragraph that had to do with using right to left languages.

So, why did Word change these options for all documents? I can only guess that Word tries to allow a right to left language (because of the font that I did not have installed - it was an Arabic font) and figured I was going to use this feature in the future.

Another reason I drink Guinness!

RoHe · Answer

Allan - I always thought lawyers spoke in Latin (or maybe Greek). So is Arabic a sign of the current times? ;)

<>I saw all that stuff in Word about "complex script font" too, but thankfully it's all gone now. You can hoist an extra one for helping me fix the problem, twice.

Cheers!

Ron

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Microsoft Word - Arabic again :(

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