Feb 07, '05 09:18:00AM • Contributed by: tmhayes
It appears that under MS Office 2004 for the Mac, Microsoft has changed the way the language settings within Office are set/recognised. Up until this version of Office, the language was set within Office itself. However, as of Office 2004 for the Mac, it gets the default language setting from the International Control Panel in System Preferences. (The latter is key to resolving the problem.)
For example, I live in Ireland and for no reason other than aesthetics, I would prefer to use the Irish keyboard layout with the Irish flag rather than the British keyboard layout and the Union Jack. However, I cannot do that and have forground or background spell checking of any new document created in Word 2004. In fact, if I set my system up using all-Irish settings (even the English version of the Irish settings where available) in the International Control Panel, I will not be able to set English (UK) as the default language in Office 2004, nor have English (UK) spell checking by default in any new document I create. If I use the Irish settings, I can set English (UK) as the default language and use the spell checker, but only on a per-document basis. So far, I have been unable find out how to do it automatically. For obvious, reasons this isn't practical..
If I as an Irish user want to be able to create a new Word 2004 for Mac document, and have it auto spell check using English (UK) as my default language, I have to accept the following settings:
- In the International panel in System Preferences, select British English (or equivalent) under each tab.
- Under the Language tab, click on Edit, then scroll down to 'British English' and place a tick in the appropriate box. Click 'OK'.
- Now move 'British English' to the second location in the main list (I think actually selecting it as a supported language may suffice).
- Now click on the Formats tab. Under the Region drop-down menu, select 'United Kingdom (EURO).'
- Select the Input Menu tab. Scroll down to 'British English' and place a tick in the appropriate box.
- Close System Preferences.
- Now launch MS Word 2004 for Mac. Select Tools and Language. Select 'English (UK)' in the the box under the heading 'Mark Selected Text as:'.
- Now click 'Default,' and in the box that appears asking if you want to set English (UK) as the default language, click 'OK'.
You must have the 'British' keyboard layout selected before launching Word 2004 and creating a new document. Otherwise, the default language setting in the Normal template is ignored. I can only assume that this will affect other users worldwide who wish to type documents in English (in whatever flavour the person may desire) and have them spell checked automatically.
Maybe someone can suggest or knows of a better solution?
