auk13

Q: Text messages on my MAC are vertical, how do I change it to horizontal?

How do I change from vertical to horizontal text messaging on my MacAir?

MacBook Air (13-inch Mid 2012)

Posted on Jan 9, 2016 12:34 PM

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Q: Text messages on my MAC are vertical, how do I change it to horizontal?

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  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Jan 9, 2016 1:44 PM in response to auk13
    Level 9 (72,994 points)
    Applications
    Jan 9, 2016 1:44 PM in response to auk13

    Hi,

     

    You are saying that in the Messages App  that the Messages (you mention "Text" which suggests SMS in Yosemite or later) are appearing in a vertical layout rather than the normal left to right layout of Western European based languages ?

     

    It can be done.

    Screen Shot 2016-01-09 at 21.36.06.png

     

    The Line you type can be added to, normally create paragraphs by using ALT + Enter.

    Using the ALT+Enter after each letter can create this illusion.

     

    It could be done in longer pieces of text using AppleScript.

    See the Messages Mixed Case Script that can be used in Messages  in the  ~/Library/Application Scripts/com.apple.iChat folder.

     

    If it is SMS Text messages they should also appear that way on the iPhone if they are being sent by the method I detailed above.

     

    There is a minimum width the main Messages window will reduce to so it is impossible to squeeze  a conversation so each side was only one character wide.

     

    If it were System Preferences > Region and Languages then other apps would also show this which is why I think they are being sent to you this way.

     

    Can you confirm that both sides of the conversation do this ?

     

    3Sigcopy2.png

    9:44 pm      Saturday; January 9, 2016

     

      iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (Mavericks 10.9)
     G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
     MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
     Mac OS X (10.6.8),
     Couple of iPhones and an iPad
  • by suealtop,

    suealtop suealtop Aug 16, 2016 11:42 AM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Aug 16, 2016 11:42 AM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)

    This is WAY TOO TECHY of an answer. My Mac was doing all texting horizontal and switched without me touching anything. In fact I was not home for 7 days and I came back to vertical conversations. Please help in novice language. I just got this Mac and know very little about it.

  • by Tom Gewecke,

    Tom Gewecke Tom Gewecke Aug 16, 2016 12:14 PM in response to suealtop
    Level 9 (79,035 points)
    Aug 16, 2016 12:14 PM in response to suealtop

    suealtop wrote:

     

    My Mac was doing all texting horizontal and switched without me touching anything.

     

    Please use the camera icon to post a screen shot of exactly what you are seeing which is not right. 

  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Aug 16, 2016 2:01 PM in response to suealtop
    Level 9 (72,994 points)
    Applications
    Aug 16, 2016 2:01 PM in response to suealtop

    Hi,

     

    Follows Tom's advice

     

    How to take a screenshot on your Mac - Apple Support

     

     

    3Sigcopy2.png

    10:01 pm      Tuesday; August 16, 2016

     

      iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (El Capitan)
     G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
     MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
     Mac OS X (10.6.8),
     iPhone and an iPad (2)
  • by suealtop,

    suealtop suealtop Aug 16, 2016 2:49 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Aug 16, 2016 2:49 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)

    Thank you for your reply. I rebooted the computer and it started writing horizontally again. So, for now it is fixed.

     

    Take care,

     

    Sue

  • by Tom Gewecke,

    Tom Gewecke Tom Gewecke Aug 16, 2016 2:59 PM in response to suealtop
    Level 9 (79,035 points)
    Aug 16, 2016 2:59 PM in response to suealtop

    Good news!  If it happens again, be sure to take a picture, I've never seen the kind of thing you were describing.