RTL text input problem in TextBox (Arabic/Hebrew)

Builder
1

OS: MacOS 2025
PsychoPy version: v2025.2.3beta

Dear all,

I am running an in-lab speech perception experiment. Participants listen to auditory sentence stimuli and are asked to type what they heard in a TextBox response field. Participants complete the task in Hebrew or Arabic.

When I type into the TextBox:

  1. Both Hebrew and Arabic appear left-to-right instead of right-to-left.

  2. Arabic letters appear disconnected (not joined as normal Arabic script).

  3. This occurs while typing, meaning participants immediately see the incorrect visual representation of their response.

I configured the TextBox using the available language controls, RTL and Arabic reshaper.

Is this a known limitation of the TextBox component with RTL languages, or is there a recommended workaround for enabling proper Hebrew/Arabic text entry and display in PsychoPy Builder?

Thanks in advance

2

Hi There,

Could I please double check if the issue persists in PsychoPy 2026.1.1?

Thanks so much!

Becca

3

Hi Becca,

yes the issue is still there sorry

4

An additional detail that may help isolate the issue: when TextBox is used as a stimuli, only to present pre-written Hebrew or Arabic text, it displays correctly. The problem appears specifically when TextBox is used as an editable response