Configure Windows to run ArcGIS in a selected language environment

Summary

By configuring Windows regional settings, ArcGIS can display and process data sources containing international characters. Instructions provided describe how to configure Windows regional settings for ArcGIS.

Procedure

The system locale and the user locale must have the same language setting for ArcGIS to run properly in a selected language environment. An administrator must be logged in to complete this procedure.

1. Open Regional Settings in the Control Panel.
2. Select the appropriate language on the Regional Settings tab to set the user locale.
3. Check the Set as system default locale option to set the system locale.
4. Click Apply.
5. Click Yes.
6. Click Yes to reboot the system.

1. Open Regional Options in the Control Panel.
2. Select the appropriate language on the general tab listed under Your locale to set the user locale.
3. Click Set default.
4. Select the same language in the Select System Locale dialog box specified for the user locale in step 2. This sets the system locale.
5. Click OK.
6. Click Apply.
7. Click Yes.
8. Click Yes to reboot the system.

1. Start > Settings > Control Panel.
2. Click Date, Time, Language, and Regional Options.
3. Open Regional and Language Options in the Control Panel.
4. Select the appropriate language listed under Standards and formats on the Regional Options tab. This sets the user locale.
5. Select the same language specified for the user locale in step 2 on the Advanced tab.
   This sets the system locale.
6. Check the box Apply all settings to the current and to the default user profile located under the Default user account settings heading.
7. Click Apply.
8. Click Yes.
9. Click Yes to reboot the system.

Note:
If the language desired does not appear in the drop-down lists, follow these additional steps.

1. Select the Languages tab.
2. Check one or both of these as necessary:
   • Install files for complex script and right-to-left languages
   • Install files for East Asian languages

1. On the Control Panel, select the Clock, Language and Region, and select the Regional and Language Options.
2. Set the user locale by selecting the appropriate language listed under the Formats tab on the Regional and Language dialog box.
3. To set the system locale, in the Administrative tab, click on Change system locale... and select the language specified for the user locale.
4. Click OK.
5. To copy regional and language settings to the Default user and System accounts, click Copy to reserved accounts.
   Check both boxes:
   • Default user account (new users)
   • System accounts (local system, local service, and network service)
6. Click OK, and click OK again.
7. To allow Windows' menus and dialog boxes to display in the language desired, select the display language from the drop-down list in the Keyboards and Languages tab. Log off and re-logon.

For Vista Ultimate version only
If the language desired is not listed, go to Windows Automatic Update to download and install the language pack desired. Vista Enterprise version may or may not have this download feature depending on the license agreement with Microsoft.

1. ​On the Control Panel, select the Clock, Language and Region, and select the Regional and Language Options.
2. Set the user locale by selecting the appropriate language listed under the Formats tab on the Regional and Language dialog box.
3. To set the system locale, in the Administrative tab, click Change system locale and select the language specified for the user locale.
4. Click OK.
5. To copy regional and language settings to the Default user and System accounts, click Copy settings.
6. Check both boxes:
   • Welcome screen and system accounts
   • New user accounts
7. Click OK, and click OK again.
8. To allow Windows' menus and dialogs to display in the language desired, select the display language from the drop-down list in the Keyboards and Languages tab. Log off and re-logon.

1. On the Control Panel, click Region.
2. In the Region dialog box, Format tab, select a language format. This sets the user locale.
3. Click the Administrative tab, and click Change System Locale.
4. Select the language specified for the user locale in Step 2.
5. Click OK and Apply.
6. Click Yes to reboot the system.