Topic Typing RTL in Word

I am trying to use a keyboard created in Keyman Developer to type in a unicode font for a modified Arabic script. When I type in MS Word, I get the right characters, but the word order is backwards and the character linking does not work properly. Can anyone explain this, and suggest a solution?

Assuming you are using a Unicode keyboard, there are two things you may need to do to get Arabic (or Arabic related text) display ordering correct:

1. Install an Arabic language in Control Panel/Regional and Language Options. Select Arabic language before switching on the Keyman keyboard (if you are using Keyman Desktop Pro, you can use the Languages tab to link the language and the keyboard).

2. Add Arabic to the list of supported languages for MS Office, in Microsoft Office Language Settings, under Start - Programs - Microsoft Office - Microsoft Office Tools.

I have done #2.

When I do #1, the cursor and word order behavior are correct, but I get the underlying windows Arabic layout instead of the modified Arabic Keyman keyboard.

I have a keyboard created with Microsoft Keybaord Layout Creator that I have used for some time with Word, and it works fine. however, it will not work with Paratext, which I also need to use.

I would be happy to use the MKLC keyboard for Word and the keyman keyboard for Paratext, but this is also problematic. When I have both installed and select the Keyman keyboard in Paratext, as soon as I type, the system turns keyman off and the Windows Arabic keyboard on. So I cannot type RTL with Keyman in Paratext unless I uninstall the Windows Arabic keyboard.

To fix the issue with the Windows Arabic layout - do the following:
1. Go to Control Panel/Regional and Language Options, Keyboards, Details.
2. Click Add, select Arabic language, but instead of the Arabic keyboard, select US English in the "Keyboard Layout/IME" field.

Then you should be able to use the Keyman keyboard with the Arabic language.

Okay, I have tried this. It seems to work on one system, where I have Keyman 6 installed, but on the other, with Keyman 7 (Professional Evaluation version) it works sometimes but sometimes I still have the same trouble with the word order in Word.

One more thing to check: have you ticked the checkbox in Control Panel, Regional and Language Options, Languages tab titled "Install files for complex script and right-to-left languages (including Thai)"?

If you have configured both Windows and Word as I described above, I'm not immediately sure what the issue would be. Can you send us a diagnostic report to review the language configuration on your system?

To send a diagnostic report, start Keyman Desktop Configuration, click the Support tab, click Diagnostics. You can then click Send to Tavultesoft to send us the report. Reference this forum topic when you send the report in.

"Install files for complex script and right-to-left languages (including Thai)" is checked.

I have sent the diagnostic report: the case number is 12488.

I have reviewed your diagnostic report and can't see anything wrong here.

I am having trouble replicating this issue here - when the word order is incorrect in MS Word, which language is displayed in the Status Bar at the bottom of the window (roughly in the middle of the status bar)?

Does the issue arise when you use specific letters or does it to be random?

Do you have a sample document you could email to me ([email protected]) where I can see the problem?

Finally, you might want to try writing to the Paratext support people regarding the keyboard selection problem - I am not sure what this would be?

Sorry for the lag time.

I have sent you a sample document. Thanks for taking a look at this.