Ubuntu: Arabic Keyboard layout

[minacross]

after shifting from WinXP to Ubuntu 7.10, I can't write any Arabic document with Open Office 2.3 as the layout is different from what's written on the keyboard.
for ex.:
The Arabic letter (M) is supposed to be on the button "L" but it's on the button "M".
The Arabic letter (L) is supposed to be on the button "G" but it's on the button "L".
and so on...so, everything is mixed up
how can I fix this?
please HELP

BTW: how can I upgrade OO 2.3 to 2.3.1?

[Train]

Seems lots of folks aqre having problems.
Maybe. . .
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/13049

The google search I used.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&s...yboard&spell=1

Lots of links, maybe one will help out.

[arabicubuntu]

seems like you were using AZERTY keyboard earlier. The standard Ubuntu installation, Arabic keyboard is laid out in phonetic characters corresponding to English characters in QWERTY. For example 'L' is arabic 'ل', 'm' is Arabic 'م' and so on. The character ' is arabic letter ع, g+h is غ, k+h is خ, th is ث dh is ذ shift+A is ا u is ُ (damma) ِ a is َ (fatHa) i is ِ (kisra) z+. is ظ d+. is ض t+. is ط s+. is ص and so on. But I have not yet figured out where the letter 'hamza' is. Also h+. is ح and h+' is ة

[arabicubuntu]

After more research: 1. You must be using SCIM which has an Arabic keyboard layout for western users. On this site you will find character map:
http://michsan.blogspot.com/2008/06/...with-scim.html
However, if you want traditional Arabic keyboard as in Windows, then don't use SCIM. Go to System-> Preferences-> Keyboard. Select 'Layouts' tab (second tab). Click on 'Add' button. Click on layouts drop-down menu. Chose Arabic. Click Add. Now you are ready to go. Click on 'Layout Options' button to add more options if needed, e.g. by default you will switch between Arabic and English layout by pressing both Alt keys. You can change that and many other things you like. Now you can type Arabic the same way as you used to in Windows.
PS: If you do not see Arabic in layout menu, go to Systems-> Administration-> Language Support and install Arabic language support.
Good Luck!