Set default text flow direction: registry value defaulttextflowUserHKCU\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\publisher\preferences

Policy ID: L_SetDefaultTextFlowDirection
Scope: User Configuration
Supported on: At least Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows 7
Source: Microsoft 365 Apps / Office Administrative Templates (version 5568.1000)
Category: Microsoft Publisher 2016 › Publisher Options › Advanced › Complex scripts

Registry

defaulttextflow

REG_SZUser

HKCU\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\publisher\preferences Current key

Enabled value: Depends on the option value
Element: -

Options
Item	Stored value
Left-to-Right	1
Right-to-Left	256

Apply with .reg · CMD · PowerShell

.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\publisher\preferences]

; Options (use only one)
; Left-to-Right
"defaulttextflow"="1"
; Right-to-Left
"defaulttextflow"="256"

CMD

:: Options (use only one)

:: Left-to-Right
reg add "HKCU\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\publisher\preferences" /v "defaulttextflow" /t REG_SZ /d 1 /f
:: Right-to-Left
reg add "HKCU\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\publisher\preferences" /v "defaulttextflow" /t REG_SZ /d 256 /f

PowerShell

# Common: create the key
New-Item -Path 'HKCU:\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\publisher\preferences' -Force | Out-Null

# Options (use only one)
# Left-to-Right
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\publisher\preferences' -Name 'defaulttextflow' -PropertyType String -Value '1' -Force | Out-Null
# Right-to-Left
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\publisher\preferences' -Name 'defaulttextflow' -PropertyType String -Value '256' -Force | Out-Null