[Dropped] Language setting

[Bassloopi]

I'm writing a document in Dutch. No matter what I try, the default language switches back to English. I've tried any combination of the settings in Tools>language and Tools>options>language settings>language. The problem persists. Weirdly enough, even if I set the default language to Dutch, 'Dutch' appears in the bottom bar in the document window, but as soon as I type something in Dutch in the document, red lines appear under it and the 'Dutch' in the bottom bar changes into 'English (UK)'. Help would be most appreciated.

[FJCC]

Maybe something unusual has been set up with the language settings of the styles in your default template. Can you upload a document with a little bit of text that show the problem? To upload a file, click Post Reply and look for the Attachments tab just below the box where you type a response.

[Hagar Delest]

It may help: [Troubleshooting] Spell check in OpenOffice.
If no chance, check if you're not in corner case #2, end of 1. Spell checking is not working, why?

Please add [Solved] at the beginning of the title in your first post (top of the topic) with the ✎ button if your issue has been fixed.

[floris v]

The setting for the Default language only has effect on documents created after you change that setting. If you have an existing document with language set to English in the Default Paragraph style, it will remain English no matter how often you set the Default language to Dutch in Tools - Options - Languages. Instead, change it in the Default paragraph style in the paragraph style dialog box.

[Bassloopi]

Hi all, thank you for the input. The problem is not solved. Yesterday for some miraculous reason I didn't have the problem, but today I opened the document and it was the same story. A couple of things I tried:
- changing the language in the paragraph style box. To no avail, language keeps switching to English.
- copied the entire document, put it in a new file, before I saved that I changed the settings to Dutch (considering Floris' remark pertaining to existing documents); no result.

I've uploaded a document that seems to have the same problem.
Extra information; sometimes I use the Korean alphabet in the document, might that affect settings?

Any other suggestions?

Edit: am I currect in assuming that there is no method of changing the language settings of a document after it has been created and saved?

[Hagar Delest]

am I currect in assuming that there is no method of changing the language settings of a document after it has been created and saved?

You, you are not.

I tested your file and the language is set to None. I tried to add a new paragraph and no change at all in the language, it did not switch to anything else:

Test.png (27.53 KiB) Viewed 8351 times

[Bassloopi]

Well this is not congruent with my experience, but unfortunately I don't have the time to delve any deeper into this. I copied my original document again and instead of opening a new text file right away, I closed everything, opened a new text file from the launcher, pasted the original content into the file, adjusted the settings to Dutch and then saved it. This seems to work.
I'll leave it at this. Thanks all.

[floris v]

You may have created the original document from the desktop (right-click anywhere, select New, New document from the pop-up menu. Windows will then create that file based on a corrupted template that doesn't allow you to change the language for your text.
I opened your document in LibreOffice Writer, the Default paragraph style didn't have a language set, it displayed as None, like in Hagar's post. I could change it to Dutch, save it and after reopening, the language was still Dutch. Couldn't test it in OpenOffice.
For now, you won't have problems if you start new documents with OpenOffice open, from its launcher.

[RoryOF]

Using OpenOffice 4.1.15, Default had None set as language and new paragraph maintained None as language.

I set All Text to English(UK) and all changed, subsequent paragraphs were in English (UK).

[LastUnicorn]

@Bassloopi

You may have created the original document from the desktop (right-click anywhere, select New, New document from the pop-up menu.

What floris v is saying is true of OpenOffice. I had this problem myself with OpenOffice when I was using it. Then I switched from OpenOffice to LibreOffice and didn't have this problem with LibreOffice. You might want to consider switching from OpenOffice to LibreOffice. There are several other good reasons for making the switch anyway, some of which are mentioned here: [Tutorial] Considering a Switch from OpenOffice to LibreOffice? Some Useful Information

[Bassloopi]

The file I uploaded here may not illustrate the problem correctly. I've recreated my original file following the steps I've described in my 12:28 post. That worked fine. After working in the file for some time, I saved it and went for a walk. The file remained open and when I returned, the same problem happened again. Default language (which was Dutch) changed to English as soon as I typed a Dutch word in the text. No way of changing the default language. I followed the same steps again, recreated the document and can now work in it, but Groundhog day is nearing. Rather frustrating. Any more suggestions?

Edit: thanks for the tip, LastUnicorn, I'm considering it.

[RoryOF]

How does it know that the word is Dutch? Is it set by a Character Style or a Paragraph style?

[Bassloopi]

I'm assuming the red line indicates that the program defines the word I've written as non-English. I'm designating it Dutch, but maybe the program doesn't.

[Bidouille]

I'm designating it Dutch, but maybe the program doesn't.

Please attach the same screenshot provided by Hagar above.

[floris v]

You probably use direct formatting. That's bad. Direct formatting means that you select some text, apply some formatting, then move on. The result will be that if you want the formatting to the entire document, it won't work, because the formatting only applies to the selection, and that will only extend if you start typing right at the end of the selection.
Set the language Dutch in the paragraph style and you will be fine. Changing the default language in the Options is something entirely different. See attachment.

tweetalen.odt

(9.2 KiB) Downloaded 91 times

[floris v]

Opened it in AOO 4.1.15 on Windows 11, no language set, but setting it to Dutch was kept after saving.

[Bassloopi]

It seems to me the problem is unsolvable. This might be partly caused by the fact that I seem unable to reproduce the problem in such a manner that other people can look into it. Or the problem is particular to my machine, settings and other variables. I am much obliged for all the input; it's very nice to have people trying to solve your problem. But I will not look into this any further; after this project I'll make the switch to LibreOffice.

Thanks all.

[Hagar Delest]

I don't really see why switching would help in this case (even if it's a good move for other reasons).
Please let us know if it has fixed your issue then.