You may need to type a word or phrase in a writing system that is different than the one that configured for a field (or line) or text. For example, you might be typing in a field that uses an analysis writing system, but you need to type a word in a vernacular writing system, such as a name. Or you might need to change the writing system of existing characters to another writing system.
Either of these embed those words or phrases in a different writing system, and maybe in a different direction.
The Format toolbar shows the writing system used at the location of your insertion point. The Format toolbar is not available for use if that location does not permit embedded characters. If it is available to change, you can embed new or existing letters, words or phrases.
To type new letters or words in a different writing system, do these steps:
Move the insertion point to the place where you will type in a different writing system.
If the Format toolbar is available, click the writing system you want to use.
You can now type new characters in that writing system.
To change the writing system of existing letters, words or phrases, do these steps:
Select the word or phrase that you want to change.
If the Format toolbar is available, click the writing system you want the word or phrase to use.
The selected letters, words or phrases change to that writing system.
If any letters become rectangles, no data is lost. You need to change the font for that writing system to one that supports those characters.
Before you change the writing system of any words in a Baseline tab, review Baseline text writing systems. If you are not careful, you can cause duplicate wordforms in the Word list and other complications.
The writing system of a word determines which spelling dictionary receives a word you add to a spelling dictionary.
The Writing System command on the Format menu functions like the Format toolbar.
To easily distinguish between writing systems, you can set different font colors used in the Normal style.