Cause: Inpage 3.20 uses OLE (Object Linking and Embedding) that breaks if you move the image file.
Solution: Always keep image files in the same folder as the .inp document. Reinsert the image via File > Import > Picture.
Cause: The parallel port key is missing or the driver is not loaded.
Solution: Use a USB-to-Parallel adapter (not always reliable) or switch to a patched .exe file (use at your own risk).
Inpage 3.20 includes a built-in Urdu spell checker and a thesaurus, a rarity for its time. It compares your typed words against a dictionary of standard Urdu vocabulary.
To understand Inpage 3.20, you must understand the technical nightmare of computing in the 1990s for non-Latin scripts. Standard English software used ASCII (7-bit) encoding, which left no room for the beautiful, cursive, context-sensitive nature of Arabic script (where a letter changes shape depending on its position in a word).
Inpage was originally developed in the 1990s by a company called Concept Software (later acquired by Pakistan-based Softech). Version 3.20 hit the market during the peak of Windows 98 and Windows 2000.
What made 3.20 revolutionary was its use of proprietary font technology (Noory Nastaleeq) and its ability to handle Kerning and Ligatures on the fly—something even Microsoft Word couldn't do properly until the late 2000s. inpage 3.20
InPage 3.20 is a specific version of the industry-standard word processing and page layout software designed primarily for languages that use the Arabic script, such as Urdu, Persian, Pashto, and Arabic. Developed through a collaboration between Indian and UK teams, it has been the go-to tool for publishing newspapers, magazines, and books in these languages since 1994. Key Features & Evolution
InPage 3.20 represents a significant advancement over older versions (like 2.4 or 2009) by integrating modern standards while maintaining the traditional Noori Nastaliq aesthetic.
Unicode Support: Unlike earlier versions that relied on proprietary encodings, InPage 3.x introduced robust Unicode compatibility, allowing users to copy and paste Urdu text directly into other modern applications like web browsers and MS Word.
Font Variety: This version supports a wide range of Nastaliq and Naskh fonts, providing more creative freedom for professional designers.
Automatic Kerning: It features sophisticated "Automatic Kerning" for the Nastaliq script, which ensures that complex characters overlap and connect naturally, creating a compact and visually appealing layout. Cause: Inpage 3
Advanced Layout Tools: Users can perform complex tasks such as text and object rotation, table of contents generation, indexing, and four-color separation for professional printing. Technical Workflow
File Extension: Documents created in InPage are saved with the .INP extension.
Exporting & Conversion: While native to the .INP format, documents can be exported to PDF for wider distribution. You can convert these files by using the "Print to PDF" function or third-party tools like Wondershare PDFelement.
Input Methods: Many users pair InPage with tools like Pak Urdu Installer, which provides a phonetic keyboard layout to make typing more intuitive for beginners. Target Users
The software is typically categorized into different versions to suit specific needs: Title: InPage 3
InPage Al-Maktab: Tailored for standard end-users and basic word processing.
InPage Professional / Al-Nashir: Designed for power users who require advanced industry-grade page making and high-quality output. InPage 3 Professional
Here’s a blog post tailored for InPage 3.20 — a popular Urdu desktop publishing software. The tone is professional, informative, and helpful for users in Pakistan, India, and the Middle East.
Title: InPage 3.20: Why This Classic Urdu Publishing Tool Still Holds Its Ground
Meta Description: Exploring InPage 3.20 – its features, usability for Urdu/Nastaliq text, and why it remains a trusted choice for publishers, designers, and writers.
If you’ve ever worked with Urdu, Sindhi, or Persian digital text, you’ve likely come across InPage. Version 3.20 holds a special place in the timeline of desktop publishing for RTL (right-to-left) languages. While newer versions exist, InPage 3.20 is still widely used – and for good reason.
Let’s break down what makes this version tick, where it shines, and where it shows its age.