This article is for people who want to type and edit text in another language and are setting up their computer for the first time. The steps in this article guide you through all the things that you have to consider when you configure your Microsoft Office 2010 programs to support typing and editing in a different language.
If you already know how to type and edit text in a different language, but still have questions, see the More information section to learn more.
Tip You might want to print this page and use it as a checklist as you complete each step.
What do you want to do?
Prepare your computer
Depending on the language(s) that you want to use, the language of Office 2010, and any language pack(s) that you have installed on your computer, you may only have to follow the two steps listed in the following section without any Optional steps.
If you are using Outlook Express 6.0 and are having problems with the spell checker, see Spell checking issues with Outlook Express 6.0. If you want to check the spelling and grammar in another language, see Check spelling and grammar in a different language.
| Steps |
For procedural information, see |
| Step 1 |
Determine if you need a Microsoft Office language pack for what you want to do.
If you do not need an Office language pack, or you have already installed an Office language pack for the language that you want to use, go to Step 2 Enable keyboard layouts in Windows.
|
Determine if you need a language pack, language interface pack, or proofing pack |
|
Optional Purchase a Microsoft Office language pack, if needed.
Note If you want to install an Office language pack on a computer owned by your company, speak with your IT administrator to see if your company has a site license for the Office language packs that you want to install.
|
Buy a single Office language pack |
|
Optional Install the Microsoft Office Language Pack. |
Buy, install, configure, or uninstall a Microsoft Office language pack |
| Step 2 |
Specify your default editing, display, and Help language for Microsoft Office programs. |
Set the editing, display, or Help language preferences |
|
Optional Enable keyboard layouts (language characters and symbols typed by keyboard keys).
Complete this step if you want to do either of the following:
- Type in a non-Latin-based language, such as Arabic, Chinese, Greek, Japanese, Korean, or Russian.
- Type in different Latin-based languages, such as German and Spanish, by using their native keyboard layouts.
|
Enable keyboard layouts for different languages |
|
Tip Switch between different languages as you type.
|
Switch between different languages as you type |
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More information
This table lists some common tasks that you will likely want to do when typing and editing in a different language.
| Enable Windows to use other languages |
For procedural information, see |
| Enable a keyboard layout for the language you want to use. |
Enable keyboard layouts for different languages |
| Change the default language (and dictionary) for Office 2010 programs. |
Change the default language for Office programs |
| Change the default country/region or numeric formats. |
Change the date, time, number or measurements format |
| Enable Microsoft Office to use other languages |
For procedural information, see |
| Turn on language-specific options for the languages that you want to use. |
Set the editing, display, or Help language preferences |
| Turn on (or off) automatic language options. |
Turn on automatic language options |
| Determine if you need a language pack. |
Determine if you need a language pack, language interface pack, or proofing pack |
| Buy a language pack. |
Buy a single Office language pack |
| Use another language in Microsoft Office programs |
For procedural information, see |
| Check spelling and grammar quickly without having to set your default language and dictionary in Windows. |
Check spelling and grammar in a different language |
| Use keyboard shortcuts to type international characters (for OneNote, Outlook, and Word). |
Keyboard shortcuts for international characters |
| Use ASCII character codes to type international characters (all programs). |
Insert ¢, £, ¥, ®, and other characters not on the keyboard |
| Switch between languages using the Language bar. |
Switch between different languages by using the Language bar |
| Switch between languages by setting the language. |
Switch between different languages by setting the proofing language |
| Remove languages and fonts that you don't use. |
Remove languages and fonts that you don't use |
| Look up words with English Assistance. |
Look up words with English Assistance |
| Translate text |
Translate text in a different language |
| Where are the translation options? |
Where are the Translation options? |
| Choose text encoding when you open and save files. |
Choose text encoding when you open and save files |
| Locale identification numbers for language-specific files. |
Locale identification numbers for language-specific files |
| Issues with finding and replacing characters in Indic, Southeast Asian, and right-to-left languages. |
Issues with finding and replacing characters in Indic, Southeast Asian, and right-to-left languages |
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