How do I convert right-to-left text in Powerpoint?

[Guest]

I have received Hebrew formatted PPTs with text boxes that I need to convert
to left-to-right. It also seems that the default text boxes created within
these filed are auto-formatted right-to-left. The "change paragraph
direction" option does not appear on my Format menu options when I select the
text box I am attemtping to convert.

 

[Guest]

Have you checked your master:

View > Master > Slide Master. Select text box then find the Text Alignment
buttons in the formatting toolbar. Choose align left.

 

[Guest]

You need to install Hebrew language support.

In windows
Start > All programs>Microsoft Office> Office Tools > Language settings

(may be slightly different in different versions of Office)

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

I have received Hebrew formatted PPTs with text boxes that I need to convert
to left-to-right. It also seems that the default text boxes created within
these filed are auto-formatted right-to-left. The "change paragraph
direction" option does not appear on my Format menu options when I select the
text box I am attemtping to convert.

I'm guessing that the change direction option doesn't appear unless your system
is set up to use a language that's capable of entering text in both directions
(Hebrew, Arabic, some of the Far East languages ...)

Is it reasonable to assume that the text is actually English but is running in
the wrong direction?

If so, I'd be interested in having a look at this; might be possible to fix it
with a bit of VBA wand-waving. Can you send me a *small* presentation that
demonstrates the problem ... say three or four slides, no images or the like?

email to steve at-sign pptools dot com if so.

Please paste this message into the body of the email to remind me what it's
about. Thanks!

 

[Guest]

Steve

Yes I am Technology Trish (post a week ago or more)!

John had this problem recently with a file-
When you install Arabic or Hewbrew support you get new menus that work with
English text as well.

In particular format paragraph right to left / left to right. With the
former set you get the very strange bullets on the right!

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

I have received Hebrew formatted PPTs with text boxes that I need to convert
to left-to-right. It also seems that the default text boxes created within
these filed are auto-formatted right-to-left. The "change paragraph
direction" option does not appear on my Format menu options when I select the
text box I am attemtping to convert.

Nevermind the file. Trish sent me an example to work with, so I think we've got
a fix for you.

Have a look here:

Text is right to left, bullets appear on right of text
http://www.rdpslides.com/pptfaq/FAQ00797.htm

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

John had this problem recently with a file-
When you install Arabic or Hewbrew support you get new menus that work with
English text as well.

I figured that might be the case. Same or similar thing with Japanese installed.

Thanks for the sample file. All better now. <g>

Assuming that the problem file is a bit more elaborate than the sample, would you do
me a favor and run the code on a copy of The Real Thing and let me know if
anything's missed.

Expected: graphs, OLE stuff, groups, tables ... it doesn't look at any of these.

 

[Ute Simon]

--
Ute Simon
Microsoft PowerPoint MVP Team und PowerPoint-User-Team
Tipps, Tricks und Kostenloser Newsletter: www.ppt-user.de

 

[Ute Simon]

Steve,

you know I prefer non-programming solutions ;-) And there is a simple one
in this case: Open a blank presentation on a computer with an Englisch (or
Non-Hebrew, Non-Arabic) PowerPoint. Use Insert - Slides from File to
transfer all slides into the new presentation. This will change text
direction to left-to-right. (I assume, this can even be done on a Hebrew
computer, if you use a template created on an English PowerPoint, but I
can't try it here.)

All you have to do now is to create a new master by copying the master
objects (not the text-placeholders!) to the new file.

Best regards,
Ute

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

you know I prefer non-programming solutions ;-) And there is a simple one
in this case: Open a blank presentation on a computer with an Englisch (or
Non-Hebrew, Non-Arabic) PowerPoint. Use Insert - Slides from File to
transfer all slides into the new presentation. This will change text
direction to left-to-right. (I assume, this can even be done on a Hebrew
computer, if you use a template created on an English PowerPoint, but I
can't try it here.)

All you have to do now is to create a new master by copying the master
objects (not the text-placeholders!) to the new file.

Best regards,
Ute

 

[Guest]

Hi Steve

Will look at you vba solution though the file we have is fairly simple (
I'll add to it!)

The problem with Ute's answer is its only OK if the original doesnt have a
complex non standard master. We have found no problem having Hewbrew support
installed. I dont really understand why the text doesnt go right to left as
well??

 

[Guest]

Ahh

I didnt note the last part of Ute's answer.

Sorry Ute

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

The problem with Ute's answer is its only OK if the original doesnt have a

complex non standard master. We have found no problem having Hewbrew support
installed. I dont really understand why the text doesnt go right to left as
well??

Not sure, really, but I think it's built into the fonts. ISTR that each character
has a width and a "side-bearing" (roughly, how much space is to be allowed on the
trailing side before dropping the next character in place). If these values were
negative instead of positive (or there were a flag telling the operating system
"Go west instead of east by this much") that'd more or less account for it.

The layout direction setting in PPT would then have to control where the text
starts (left or right side of text placeholder) and how the bullets are offset but
not the actual placement of the characters.

Or so it seems to me at the moment. Haven't gotten to the second cup of coffee
yet though ...