Step-by-step: Preparing your computer to type and edit text in another language

This article is for people who want to type and edit text in another language and are setting it up for the first time or for those people who want to understand the language configuration process. The steps guide you through all the things that you have to consider when you configure your 2007 Microsoft Office system programs to support typing and editing in a different language.

If you already know how to type and edit text in another language but still have questions, see the More information section.

 Tip   You might want to print this page and use it as a checklist as you complete each step.

Steps For procedural information, see
Check box

Step 1     Determine if you need a 2007 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 4 Enable keyboard layouts in Windows.

 Determine if you need a Language Pack
Check box

Step 2     Purchase a 2007 Microsoft Office Language Pack, if needed.

 Note   If you want to install an Office Language Pack on a computer owned by your company, check with your IT administrator to see if your company has a site license for the Office Language Packs you want to install.

 Buy a single Office Language Pack
Check box Step 3     Install the 2007 Microsoft Office Language Pack.
Check box

Step 4     Enable keyboard layouts (how the keys are arranged on the keyboard) in Windows Vista and Microsoft Windows XP.

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, Russian.
  • Type in different Latin-based languages, such as German and Spanish, by using their native keyboard layouts.
 Enable keyboard layouts for different languages
Check box Step 5     Specify the default language (and dictionary) for 2007 Microsoft Office programs. Change the default language for Office programs
Check box Step 6     Set the display and editing languages that you want to use. Set the display and editing languages
Check box Step 7     Switch between different languages as you type. Switch between different languages as you type

Top of Page Top of Page

More information

This table lists some common tasks that you are likely to want to do when typing and editing in a different language.

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 another 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 ASCII or Unicode Latin-based symbols or characters
Switch between languages using the Language bar Switch between different languages using the Language bar
Switch between languages by setting the language Switch between different languages by setting the language
Remove languages and fonts that you don't use Remove languages and fonts that you don't use
Look up words in the English Assistant Look up words in the English Assistant
Translate text Translate text
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
Enable Microsoft Office to use other languages For procedural information, see
Set the language that Office displays in and languages that you can edit text in Set the display and editing languages
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
Buy a language pack Buy a single Office Language Pack
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 2007 Office release programs Change the default language for Office programs
Change the default country/region or numeric formats Change the default country/region, date, time, number or measurements format
 
 
Applies to:
Access 2007, Excel 2007, InfoPath 2007, OneNote 2007, Outlook 2007, PowerPoint 2007, Publisher 2007, Visio 2007, Word 2007