Skip to main content
pierret18811376
Inspiring
January 23, 2026
Answered

how to change framemaker language

Hello,

Actually I am with Framemaker french version. But if I want to install the english version, how to do it ?

Jeff_Coatsworth
Jeff_CoatsworthCorrect answer
Community Expert
January 23, 2026

You may have to clear everything out before reinstalling - back up your prefs into another location before wiping & reinstalling.

View reply

19 replies

pierret18811376Author
Inspiring
January 24, 2026

If I create a new FM document, the paragraph catalogue and character catalog are in english.

 

But, I have noticed that for the FM documents I had created before the language change,  the paragraph catalogue and character catalogue remain in french. So I tried to open a new document and tried File/Import/Format, but the imported french format are always here, mixed with the english formats of the new document.

Translate
Community Expert
Winfried RengCommunity Expert
Community Expert
January 26, 2026

Hi,

What do you mean with "paragraph catalogue and character catalog are in english"? Is the language which is set in these formats English? Or the format names?

Where does this new file come from? Did you use the FrameMaker default template (Portrait)?

When you create a new file with the English FrameMaker default, the formats will use the English language. Isn't this what you want?

Can you explain in more detail what you did and what you want?

Best regards, Winfried

Translate
pierret18811376Author
Inspiring
January 26, 2026

To be more clear, I have 2 cases :

1) I open a new FM document from default portrait (no problem here : the names in paragraphe catalogue are in english) :

 

876723i5E3733CA6E09D3E4.jpg

 

2) but if I open an ancient FM document (created when I had FM french version), you can see that the default names of paragraph catalogue (by example : "courant" (ie : "body")) are only written in french :

 

876724iDB96D316780AD23D.jpg

 

Translate
pierret18811376Author
Inspiring
January 23, 2026

Hi All,

By removing the preferences during the uninstall of FM, it solved the problem.

So I have now the FM start screen in english !

Translate
    Barb Binder
    Community Expert
    Barb BinderCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    January 23, 2026

    @Jeff_Coatsworth  and @Winfried Reng 

     

    Is the Welcome Screen display somehow related to the installed browser? Something I've read over the years, but never fully understood. 

     

    ~Barb

    Translate
    ~Barb at Rocky Mountain Training
    Jeff_Coatsworth
    Community Expert
    Jeff_CoatsworthCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    January 23, 2026

    Yes, it has some web component part to it - there was that issue a few years ago where the Welcome screen was all messed up because of the browser they had embedded in it. Some file buried in the factory install folders was identified as the source - I remember somebody hacking it to customize their Start screen.

    Translate
      pierret18811376Author
      Inspiring
      January 23, 2026

      I have just uninstalled (by keeping the preferences) and re-installed frammaker (english international), but same problem : the start page has a mix between french and english.

      Translate
      Jeff_Coatsworth
      Community Expert
      Jeff_CoatsworthCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
      Community Expert
      January 23, 2026

      You may have to clear everything out before reinstalling - back up your prefs into another location before wiping & reinstalling.

      Translate
        Barb Binder
        Community Expert
        Barb BinderCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        January 23, 2026

        Hi @pierret18811376 :

         

        I haven't done this in FrameMaker, but for the Creative Cloud apps, it is recommended that you remove the original language version and then install the new language version, so I'd try @Jeff_Coatsworth's suggestion next. 

         

        ~Barb

        Translate
        ~Barb at Rocky Mountain Training
        Jeff_Coatsworth
        Community Expert
        Jeff_CoatsworthCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        January 23, 2026

        I suspect that you would have to uninstall the existing French version to then reinstall in another language; but you may be seeing the effect of your Windows operating system language - I presume that that you didn't change it over when you installed the English version, right?

        Translate
        pierret18811376Author
        Inspiring
        January 23, 2026

        I let the windows operating system language to french.

        Translate
        Jeff_Coatsworth
        Community Expert
        Jeff_CoatsworthCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        January 23, 2026

        So that probably explains why the Start page is displaying in French - it really is just a webpage that FM throws up, so that would use the O/S language to render the text.

        Translate
        Community Expert
        Winfried RengCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        January 23, 2026

        Hi,

        I do not have the latest installer (and tested this only with FM 10). However, as far as I remember you can select your language during the installation.

        Here are the various downloads:

        https://helpx.adobe.com/framemaker/kb/framemaker-downloads.html

        Best regards, Winfried

        Translate
        pierret18811376Author
        Inspiring
        January 23, 2026

        Hi Winfried,

        I have just installed the english (international) version of FrameMaker over the top of my french version, but that is strange is on the home page of FM, I have a mix between french and english (see screenshot : at the blue arrows it is in french) :

         

        876259iABBC21C27BD44885.jpg

        Translate
        Community Expert
        Winfried RengCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        January 23, 2026

        I assume that the DITA names will not change: Topic, Task, Concept, Reference, Map, Bookmap

        Everything else is French now, isn't it?

        Translate
        Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
        Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices