text flow right to left in columns

[boruchk6081571]

Hi, how can i set the columns in a text box to flow right to left for a right to left language?

[Michael Bullo · Accepted solution]

This page discusses this at length...

Arabic and Hebrew features in InDesign

[Zaid Al Hilali]

If your regularly work on Latin languages (Left-to-Right) then I advise you of just downloading another InDesign version that supports Arabic, this way you keep two InDesign versions on your machine without removing and re-installing.

Here is the way…

Before attempting to install a previous version, switch the language to "English يدعم العربية" from the Preferences ONLY IF you want to have an older InDesign version that supports Arabic.

From the Adobe CC desktop menu, scroll up/down to InDesign, click on the down pointing arrow on the right and choose “Manage”

From the same Adobe CC desktop menu, click on "Install" link to start downloading and installing a previous versions, this way you may download InDesign CC (2015) or CC (2017).

You may proceed to download InDesign CC (2017) with Arabic / Persian / Urdu capabilities now and have both InDesign versions on the same machine and both are visible in the Adobe CC desktop menu. This way you may run both InDesign versions at the same time if needed hence keeping your English version. But don't forget to switch Creative Cloud language in the Preferences menu back to English as it was before.

[Cyndee M]

Please note that when you've done the above, you will still need to set your story as right to left for the text to flow as you want. Look under, Window, type & tables, story to get to the place to set that.

[Zaid Al Hilali]

If you're using ME version of InDesign, you will have the "ME Type Tool" to create text frames, if this tool is used then no need to set story as right to left for the text to flow right to left. I use InDesign nearly every day and have seldom accessed Story panel.