Changing the system locale and setting other EclipseCrossword language options

On Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista

Note: These instructions are for Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista.  We also have a version of these instructions for Windows XP.  Instructions for extremely old versions of Windows will differ.

Changing your system locale can sometimes let you use text that's in a different language from the one that you use Windows in.  EclipseCrossword is tested in English, and we can't guarantee that it will work in all other languages, but this will often help.  Here's what you can do.

This procedure may require you to have an administrator password for your computer.  You may not be able to complete these instructions on a computer that you do not own.

The Regional and Language Options control panel

1. Windows 7 and Windows Vista:  To open the control panel, click the Start button, then Control Panel.  Click Clock, Language, and Region, then choose Regional and Language Options.
   Windows 8:  Open the Start menu, then type regional and click Settings on the right to search.  Then click Regional and Language Options.

First click Clock, Language, and Region. (Windows Vista/7)	Then, click Regional and Language Options.

3. In the Regional and Language Options control panel, click the Administrative tab.
   • If you don't see an Administrative tab, you might not be able to change the system locale.  Contact a system administrator, or log in as a user with administrative privileges.
4. Click Change system locale.  You may be warned that this procedure requires administrative privileges; if so, click Allow.

The Regional and Language Options control panel.

5. From the list, choose the locale that best matches the words and clues you want to use.  Then, click OK.

The Regional and Language Settings dialog.

6. You'll be asked to restart your computer.  Make sure that you can find this page later when you need it, and then click Restart now.

Note: This change will affect all of your Windows programs.  You may want to change your locale back when you're finished.

Trying the new locale out

In most cases, changing your system locale is all you need to do to be able to use words and clues in a different language.  Start EclipseCrossword, and then try to create a puzzle using a word in the desired language.  Pick one that includes letters that are specific to that language.  For example, the word "māhunga" (Maori for "hair") includes a letter a with a macron, which doesn't appear in English, and doesn't work in the "English (United States)" locale.  After typing the word and pressing Enter or Tab, EclipseCrossword will convert it to uppercase.  If letter disappear, lose accents, or are replaced with question marks, then the new locale didn't solve your problem.  If the word looks okay, you're probably fine.

In case that didn't do the trick, here are some additional things you can try.

Changing the EclipseCrossword language options

EclipseCrossword has its own language options that you can set.

1. Start EclipseCrossword if it isn't open yet.
2. Click Options in the lower-left corner of the EclipseCrossword window.

EclipseCrossword options.

3. Click the Language tab at the top.
4. Choose the most appropriate region from the list.  These regions are much broader than the ones in the Windows control panel.  For example, "U.S. / Western European" rather than "Spain."
5. If your language, such as Dutch, uses pairs of letters that should be placed in a single box when adjacent, enter those pairs of letters now.  For example, when "IJ" appears in a word in Dutch, both letters are often placed in the same box.
6. If your language reads right-to-left instead of left-to-right, check the box labeled Words should be read from right to left.  For example, Hebrew text is written from right to left.  Most languages read from left to right.
7. Now, click the Printing tab at the top.
8. Click Browse and select a font that you know works well with the language you want to use.  Click OK to change the font.
9. Click OK to use the new language settings.  They'll take effect starting with the next puzzle you make in EclipseCrossword.

In case that didn't help

If none of the above helped, we may not be able to help you use words and clues in the language you want.  However, the above instructions should work for most people.

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Keywords:  How can I change my computer options to let me type accented letters or other characters from other languages?