WD20: AutoCorrect Incorrectly Formats Some Characters When Using Right-to-Left Formatting

ID: Q231405

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Word 2000
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 <your Office product> Help on the Help menu, type multilingual features in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topics returned.

SYMPTOMS

If AutoCorrect is turned on and you type in a right-to-left paragraph, neutral characters (such as fractions) lose their correct formatting, causing the text to flip.

For example, if you type 9 1/2 from right-to-left using the English (U.S.) keyboard, AutoCorrect converts it to 1/2 9.


CAUSE

Neutral characters are classified as right-to-left characters by AutoCorrect when typing in a right-to-left paragraph.


WORKAROUND

To type neutral characters and maintain the correct reading order in right-to-left paragraphs, use one of the following methods.

Method 1: Turn Off AutoCorrect

  1. On the Tools menu, click AutoCorrect.


  2. Click the AutoFormat As You Type tab.


  3. Clear all of the check boxes under Replace as you type.



Method 2: Run the RtlRun or LtrRun Macro

  1. Select the neutral character that flipped.


  2. On the Tools menu, click Macro and then click Macros.


  3. On the Macros in list, click Word commands.


  4. If you want the text to be right-to-left, select the RtlRun macro and then click the Run button.


  5. If you want the text to be left-to-right, select the LtrRun macro and then click the Run button.


The macro restores the correct layout to the selected text.

Method 3: Insert the Character Manually

  1. Position your insertion point where you want to insert the character.


  2. On the Insert menu, click Symbol.


  3. In the Font list, click (normal text), and in the Subset list, click Latin-1.


  4. Select the correct symbol and click Insert.



STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article.

Additional query words: autoformat fraction bidirectional right-to-left neutral bi-directional OFF2000

Keywords : kbdta kbBidi wd2000 kblpk
Version : WINDOWS:2000
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbbug


Last Reviewed: October 1, 1999
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