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Mac Forum / Applications / PowerPoint / July 2005AutoCorrect, multiple languages and keyboard layouts
Using PowerPoint 2004 for the first time, after much frustration and head-scratching I learn with dismay that the language of the AutoCorrect function is dependant on the language of the keyboard layout being used. Strangely enough, the language used by the Spelling function does not require this --just mark the text in whatever language you're working in, and Spelling works. Not only is this inconsistent; as a programming decision it is culturally myopic and without merit. It may not be the case around Redmond, but there are many people around the world who do work in/with more than one language at a time. Having the AutoCorrect function in PowerPoint operate with all languages without having to switch keyboard layouts --as MS Word correctly does-- is a basic requirement. So, thanks to the monolingual decision-makers in PowerPointland, I'm being asked to switch keyboard layouts and type blind if I want AutoCorrect to work. I'll use PowerPoint X until this "feature" is withdrawn. Patricio Mason Santiago, Chile Hi Patricio, I am trying to investigate this issue , can you please tell me 1. what are the languages where you see this problem 2. are you using more than one launguage in the same document . This information will help me in narrowing the scope . Thanks for your feedback . Regards, Priyanka ---------------------------------------------------------- This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights. > Using PowerPoint 2004 for the first time, after much frustration and > head-scratching I learn with dismay that the language of the [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > Patricio Mason > Santiago, Chile Ok , I see what you mean . I'll forward your request to our design engineers . Thanks again for the post , Priyanka ---------------------------------------------------------- This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights. > Hi Patricio, > I am trying to investigate this issue , can you please tell me [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] >> Patricio Mason >> Santiago, Chile Hi, Priyanka: As you seem to have found out, this is no issue --it is so by (poor) design. To quote from the online Help: Spelling If your presentation contains text in another language, you can set the spelling checker to check the spelling of foreign words in their own languages. 1. Select the text you want to check. 2. On the Tools menu, click Language. 3. In the Mark selected text as box, click the language of the text, and then click OK. So far, so good. This is the way Word works, and the way PowerPoint worked up until now. But this is what the online Help has to say about AutoCorrect: · The AutoCorrect language is based on the active keyboard layout, which is designated on the Input Menu tab of the International pane in System Preferences (Apple menu). If you are using another language and keyboard layout, Office 2004 creates either a blank AutoCorrect list for that language or uses the English AutoCorrect list to correct errors you type. So, it's either a blank AutoCorrect list for that language (effectively providing non-performance) or the English AutoCorrect list to correct errors in another language (effectively introducing rather than correcting errors). How's that for inconsistent and illogical? This new arrangement forces users working with more than a single language to switch to a different keyboard layout which, by definition, will not match the actual keys on the keyboard they're using. Type blind and be happy? And that's after they've figured out why AutoCorrect is no longer working as before, or as MS Word continues to do. Before that they will either see nothing happen when it's supposed to, or will have AutoCorrect actually mangle their work. This is just a poorly-thought-out design decision taken in a monolingual frame of mind which seems to assume that no one out there works in languages different from their keyboard layout language. I appreciate your interest and I hope it leads to the removal of this peculiar "feature" in a future update. Patricio Mason Santiago, Chile |
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