This white paper will discuss the Arabic support in Windows Vista including the changes from Windows XP and the new added features related to the Arabic language.

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• Introduction
• Installation
• Arabic Support
• Multilingual User Interface (MUI)
• Application Compatibility
• Search and organization
• Fonts
• More Information

After five years of hard working Microsoft has finally released Windows Vista to be the new generation of Windows after XP with more improvements in the Security, Visualization, Search and files organization, in addition to the high level of Arabic support.

In this white paper we will introduce the Arabic support in Windows Vista including adding "Um El-Qura" calendar, enhancements in the search criteria and the modifications made on the Arabic fonts.

In the first page of the Windows Vista installation wizard the user needs to select the appropriate language, country and default keyboard language. According to the selection the default regional settings including numbers, currency, time and date formats are set.

In case of installing English Windows Vista; it is recommended that the user selects an Arabic region to add the corresponding Arabic keyboard.

• The Password and Password Hint fields are optional but they are recommended for privacy and security issues.
• The language bar in the upper left corner of the screen enables the user to write his credentials in different languages according to the regional options selection.

Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor helps the user to determine if Windows XP-based PC can run Windows Vista. Also the Upgrade Advisor can be used to determine if a Windows Vista-based PC is ready for an upgrade to a more powerful edition of Windows Vista.

This small software tool will scan the computer and create an easy-to-understand report of all known system, device, and program compatibility issues, and recommend ways to resolve them. Upgrade Advisor can also help the user to choose the edition of Windows Vista that best fits the way he wants to use his computer.

1. Browse to the website http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/
   windowsvista/buyorupgrade/upgradeadvisor.mspx
2. Click on the hyperlink "Download Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor".
3. In the download page choose Arabic from the language drop down list, then click on the "Change" button which to display the Arabic download page.
4. In the Arabic web page click on the button "Download" or "تحميل".
5. In the pop up dialog box click on "Run" button to start the installation wizard.

Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor works with 32-bit versions of Windows XP and Windows Vista, except Windows Vista Enterprise edition. It will not work with other editions of Windows.

1. Click on "Start" button and then select "Control Panel".
2. Under "Clock, Language, and Region" area select "Change keyboards or other input methods" link.
Note: If you are in the Control Panel "Classic View" then double-click on "Regional and Language Options" icon and click on the tab "keyboard and languages".
3. Click on the "Change keyboards…" button then click on "Add…" button.
4. Expand "Arabic (your Country)" tree then Expand "Keyboard" tree from the list.
5. Make a check mark beside the required keyboard(s).
   Note: You can preview any keyboard before adding it by highlighting its name then click on "Preview…" button.
6. Click "OK" to add the selected keyboards to the "Installed Services".
7. Click "OK" to confirm and apply your new language settings.

Note: If you add more than one keyboard to the same language; you will notice a keyboard icon in the language bar which enables you to switch between the language keyboards.

1. Click on "Start" button and select "Control Panel".
2. Under "Clock, Language, and Region" select "Change keyboards or other input methods".
   Note: If you are in the Control Panel "Classic View" then double-click on "Regional and Language Options".
3. Select the "Formats" tab and from the drop down list select your language and country.
   
4. Click on the "Customize this format…" button.
5. To customize the numbers format select the "Numbers" tab.


6. To customize the currency format select the "Currency" tab.


7. To customize the time format select the "Time" tab.


8. To customize the date format select the "Date" tab.
   Note: For the first time "Um-Al-Qura" calendar is supported in Windows Vista.

1. Click on "Start" then select "Control Panel".
2. Under "Clock, Language, and Region" select "Change keyboards or other input methods".
Note: If you are in the Control Panel "Classic View" then double-click on "Regional and Language Options" and click on the tab "keyboard and languages".
3. Click on the button "Install/uninstall languages…".
4. Click on "Install languages" then click on the button "Browse folder…".
5. Locate the folder that contains the Arabic language pack (.cab file) then click on "OK".
6. Click on "Next".
7. Read and accept the License terms and click on "Next".
8. Verify that the Arabic MUI is listed in the list of the languages that will be installed on your computer and click on "Install".

• Licensing requirements state that versions of the Windows Vista operating system can include only a single language, with the exception of the Windows Vista™ Ultimate and the Windows Vista™ Enterprise editions.
• In upgrade scenarios, you cannot upgrade from one language to a different language. All upgrades must be performed in the same language.
• All Windows distributions are released with a preinstalled default language. This default language cannot be removed. The default language is used to generate computer security identifiers (SIDs) and language-specific directories.

• The Arabic language pack is a partially localized language pack as it covers only 80% of the entire operating system.
• For more information about Windows Vista MUI please visit
  http://technet2.microsoft.com/WindowsVista/en/library
  /85e289ca-9fd8-4963-b06a-5ecc457006c71033.mspx?mfr=true

Windows Vista as Windows XP and Windows 2000 does not support Arabic DOS programs or 16-bit Arabic programs.

Windows Vista supports 32 bit Arabic programs both Non-Unicode and Unicode programs. However, to be able to run the non-Unicode Arabic programs you need to set the language in the system locale settings to match your non-Unicode application.

• Click on "Start" and select "Control Panel".
• Under "Clock, Language, and Region" select "Change keyboards or other input methods".
  Note: If you are in the Control Panel "Classic View" then double-click on "Regional and Language Options"
• Select the "Administrative" tab then click the "Change system locale…" button.
• Select from the list the required language local and then click the "OK" button.

• Most of the available programs in the market are still non-Unicode.
• This system setting enables non-Unicode programs to display menus and dialogs in their native language and it does not affect the Unicode programs.

1. Right-click on the executable file of the application.
2. Select the Compatibility tab.
3. Change the compatibility settings for your program as required.

If your application did not work using the compatibility mode please contact the application software company.

You can inform Microsoft about Arabic applications issues with details about the application name, version and the problem description to the e-mail address arasat@microsoft.com

The enhanced desktop search and organization features in all Windows Vista editions help the user to readily locate files, e-mail messages, and other items on his PC. If the user remembers anything about a file—the type of file, when it was created, or even what it contains—Windows Vista can find it quickly and the user can use Arabic characters or HIJRI dates in the search query.

Windows Vista’s search engine provides a new feature that enables the user to use the logical operators ( "أو" & "و" ) in the search bar. This makes it easier for the user to filter the results and easily find the target item(s).

• Type in the Search bar "التخرج أو الجامعة"; this will search for any item that contains either the word "التخرج" or the word "الجامعة".
• Type in the Search bar "عادل و سمير"; this will search for any item that contains the word "عادل" and the word "سمير".

Windows Explorer enables the user to sort files and folders by name according to the Arabic alphabets:

Windows Explorer enables the user to group files and folders by name according to the Arabic alphabets:

• Segoe UI which is the new UI font for Vista has a modified version of the Microsoft Sans Serif Arabic added to it.
• MS Uighur was added for Vista that is a minority Chinese language written with the Arabic script.

1. Arial (Regular and Bold).


2. Times New Roman (Regular and Bold).


3. Tahoma (Regular and Bold).


4. Microsoft Sans Serif.