How to Make an Arabic Keyboard for the Computer

How can I make this Arabic?

Most computers are made with the same widely distributed keyboard, famously referred to as the qwerty keyboard. While languages that use the same alphabet have few problems with this setup, languages such as Arabic and Chinese have to use creative software to change the function of the keyboard to facilitate writing in the script that makes up the language.

Things You'll Need

• Arabic key top labels

Instructions

1. Go to the Start menu and select "Control Panel." Choose "Regional and Language Options." Click on the "languages" tab. Select "install files for complex script and right-to-left languages (including Thai)." Then click "Apply."

2. Select the "advanced" tab while still inside "Regional and Language Options." Choose "language" in the first box. Select "Arabic (Egypt)."

3. Without leaving the "language" tab, click "Details." Choose "Add," then select "Arabic (Egypt)" as input language and select "Arabic (102) as Keyboard layout." Select "OK."

4. Go to the Start menu and then to "Control Panel." Go to "Regional and Language Settings," click on languages and select "Details." Choose "Language Bar." Click "Details" and then "Key Strokes." Set the default and alternate languages.

5. Restart the computer.

6. Apply key top labels to the keyboard. Pressing Alt-Shift will switch the keyboard between Arabic and English.

Tips & Warnings

• When typing in Arabic, be sure to right justify documents to make the cursor appear on the screen properly.

References

• "How to Type Arabic Characters"