How Can I Export Hebrew Text in BibleWorks 7 and Previous Versions?

Description of the problem:
Hebrew text is jumbled when exported from BibleWorks to a word processor.

This article applies only if you have BibleWorks 7 and previous (or if you have unchecked Export Hebrew resources (Analysis Window, Lexicons) as Unicode under Tools | Options | Fonts in BibleWorks 8 or later).

Solution:
Your word processor is wrapping the Hebrew text as if it were English text. That is, it begins a new line with the words that are farthest to the right. This works great with English text, but has the effect of scrambling Hebrew text. Because most word processors do not support right-to-left text, BibleWorks transfers Hebrew text to the Clipboard with each line as a separate right-justified paragraph. This is done so you can determine where each line breaks instead of leaving that decision to your word processor. If you transfer lines of Hebrew text that are too long for the margin settings of the target document, your word processor will be forced to wrap the text itself. Which, as you have noticed, it will not do correctly. To get around this limitation of your word processor, open the Copy Center (click Tools>Copy Center) and then click the Format Options button . Set the Hebrew line wrap width to the length appropriate for the document to which you are exporting the text. Then click OK and copy the text. For details regarding the formatting options, place your mouse over the Format Options window and then press the Help key on your keyboard (the F1 key) to get the help article specifically related to Format Options.

If you are using BibleWorks 8 or later and have unchecked Export Hebrew resources (Analysis Window, Lexicons) as Unicode under Tools | Options | Fonts, see the option to change the Non-Unicode Hebrew line wrap width under Tools | Options | Output Format Options for the Copy Settings and Favorite Settings option that you use to copy non-Unicode Hebrew (or Peshitta Syriac) verses).

NOTE: When exporting text using the Export command, BibleWorks exports text as it appears in the BibleWorks database: With one line for each verse (no carriage returns within the verse). When exporting Hebrew text in this way, you need to be aware of the fact that most word processors are not capable to correctly handle Hebrew text wrapping. If your intention is to open the exported Hebrew file in your word processor, then export the text using the clipboard instead: copy/paste or the Copy dialog in BibleWorks.

Note also that this setting does not apply if you choose to have BibleWorks convert Hebrew text to Unicode when you export it.

Last updated MC/8/16/12