AutoCorrect, multiple languages and keyboard layouts

[Patricio Mason]

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withdrawn.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

 

[Priyanka Singhal [MSFT]]

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

 

[Priyanka Singhal [MSFT]]

Ok , I see what you mean . I'll forward your request to our design engineers
..
Thanks again for the post ,
Priyanka

 

[Patricio Mason]

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