WD2000: Right-to-Left Alignment Lost Opening a Right-to-Left Word 95/6.0 Document (231486)

NOTE: This article discusses complex scripts functionality. Complex scripts functionality is available when you use the Office Language Settings tool to enable a language, such as Arabic or Hebrew, that requires this functionality. For more information about multilingual features, click Microsoft <I BRACKET="YES">your Office product</I> Help on the Help menu, type multilingual features in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topics that are returned.

SYMPTOMS

When you open a right-to-left Word 95 or Word 6.0 document in Word 2000, the document loses its right alignment. Although the Formatting toolbar shows the text to be aligned to the right, the text appears left-aligned on the page rather than right-aligned.

CAUSE

Right-to-left language editing has not been turned on in Word 2000 to allow editing in a right-to-left language.

RESOLUTION

After you turn on editing for right-to-left languages, the document appears correctly in Word 2000. To turn on right-to-left language editing, follow these steps:

On the Windows Start menu, point to Programs, point to Microsoft Office Tools, and click the Microsoft Office Language Settings application.
On the Enabled Languages tab, select the check box for the right-to-left language you want to turn on (Arabic or Hebrew, for example).
Close the Office Language Settings application and restart Word and other Office applications as prompted.