arabic script messed up

[larsake]

I just recently bought a MacBook. Being used to Ibook I did expect the usual trouble, but not this. For some reason textedit and the other programs that I'm used to working in Arabic doesn't work! Can someone provide me a clue to if this is something general or just a problem with my computer?

[Zaid Al Hilali]

Hi
Would like to help you. Could you give more details:

• Which OSX you are using
• International settings
• what exactly is wrong

I don't use a Mactel, but don't think it is any different to current Tiger on a G4

[Appleholic]

i am sure u tried changing the International Setting in the System preferences u should have a green flag on the top right corner with a Cresent moon inside of it... if so then ur ready to go... now i dont use arabic on my Mac, i never had to, and dont think i would like to :P buutttt i have tried Textedite before just for the fun of it, so i have noticed that Arabic letters will type but they wont connect... i have a software called "MALLAL" thats wicked, i could make u a copy and give it to u on Macnight... its just as good as MS WORD and when ur done u can save it as a word documetn and edit it on a PC for further use and compatibility

[DXB Law]

There are no problems with Arabic specific to the Intel Macs. However, there are a few points you should know:

1) Microsoft Word for Mac does not support Arabic (neither do the other office programs like Excel or Power Point or Entourage). If Arabic letters appear at all, they will appear disconnected and/or backwards (mirror-image).

2) Microsoft Office 2004 contains fonts that corrupt your Mac's native ability to display Arabic correctly, so that Arabic text displayed in Safari will appear as unconnected letters. So if you've installed MS Office 2004 (even the "Test Drive" version that comes pre-loaded on your Mac) you need to delete the problem fonts to get Arabic to display correctly. Basically, you need to delete Times New Roman and Arial from your system folder. Your Mac will automatically replace these with the Apple version and Arabic will work just fine.

3) Assuming that you've enabled an Arabic keyboard (and selected an Arabic font -- of which the only one is Geeza Pro), Text Edit should handle Arabic just fine. You might also want to try Nisus Writer Express (you can download a free demo at www.nisus.com) which is an attractively priced full featured word processor; you can save files as Word documents if you like. Other options include NeoOffice/J and AbiWord but I don't have much experience with them.

[Appleholic]

Basically, you need to delete Times New Roman and Arial from your system folder. Your Mac will automatically replace these with the Apple version and Arabic will work just fine.

ooo wooow... i have learnt something new today... i really never knew about that part u mentioned... deleting the fonts will help with safari... i should try that THANXS A MILLION with that tip... so where do i go exactly to delete these fonts>???? i want to try that on my laptop... impreasive... i never knew the problem was from MS Ofice... See... everything MS puts there hands on, they end up messing it up :P

[Magnus]

This may help.

[DXB Law]

The problem fonts can be found in UserName>Library>Fonts. Delete all Arial and Times/Times New Roman fonts. Your Apple system should automatically regenerate new fonts that don't cause problems.

[larsake]

OK, thanks, seems it sorted some problems. My problems are not safari, but on esp textedit the letters don't connect unless i cut and paste arabic text. also in nisus I have to format for arabic and choose an arabic font, I thought it should be possible to type both?


L.

[Zaid Al Hilali]

It would be hard for us to troubleshoot your computer problems be it software or hardware if you don't supply enough information, right?!

Well let's start with the International settings:
From Apple menu > System Preferences > International; click on the Language tab on top, click the Edit list button, then tick Arabic down the list, you may wish to remove unnecessary language to you in this list.
Second: Click on the Input Menu tab on top, scroll down the list and tick Arabic (Green Crescent), make sure that the option "Allow a different input source for each document" is selected at the bottom of this window.
Third: Log-out, then log-in, launch Text Edit and try typing Arabic after choosing Arabic from top of your screen (near the clock).

Nisus is another topic, although I can tell you it is the best you can get for multi lingual Word Processing on Mac.

[Appleholic]

OK, thanks, seems it sorted some problems. My problems are not safari, but on esp textedit the letters don't connect unless i cut and paste arabic text. also in nisus I have to format for arabic and choose an arabic font, I thought it should be possible to type both?


L.

ooo Dude... i just deleted the fonts and it worked... thats prity tight thanxs u all ... as for Textedit... after deleting the fonts, that was fixed too.. the letters are connecting