diff --git a/crates/doc/src/text.rs b/crates/doc/src/text.rs
index 3b7df2f42..9a1f8ae43 100644
--- a/crates/doc/src/text.rs
+++ b/crates/doc/src/text.rs
@@ -104,6 +104,12 @@ pub struct CharStyle {
     /// their line line up with it.
     #[serde(default, rename = "charAlign", skip_serializing_if = "crate::skip::is_default")]
     pub char_align: CharAlign,
+    /// Character Direction (Character panel menu, Middle Eastern options): these characters are
+    /// set left to right or right to left inside their paragraph, each stretch of them a Unicode
+    /// bidi embedding (UAX #9 LRE or RLE); None = Default, the direction the bidi algorithm gives
+    /// them.
+    #[serde(default, rename = "charDirection", skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none")]
+    pub char_direction: Option<ParaDirection>,
     /// Proportional Metrics (Character panel menu, East Asian options): full-width glyphs take the
     /// font's own proportional widths, OpenType `palt` (#966); in vertical type upright glyphs take
     /// its proportional heights, `vpal`.
@@ -297,6 +303,7 @@ impl Default for CharStyle {
             stroke_align: StrokeAlign::Center,
             position: CharPosition::Normal,
             char_align: CharAlign::RomanBaseline,
+            char_direction: None,
             proportional_metrics: false,
             tate_chu_yoko: false,
             small_caps: None,
@@ -862,7 +869,8 @@ impl From<ParaStyleFile> for ParaStyle {
     }
 }
 
-/// A paragraph's base direction ([`ParaStyle::direction`]).
+/// A paragraph's base direction ([`ParaStyle::direction`]), or the direction characters are set
+/// in ([`CharStyle::char_direction`]).
 #[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, PartialEq, Eq, Hash, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 #[serde(rename_all = "camelCase")]
 pub enum ParaDirection {
@@ -1906,6 +1914,22 @@ impl crate::Document {
 mod tests {
     use super::*;
 
+    /// Character Direction is saved only when set, and styles written before it existed read as
+    /// Default.
+    #[test]
+    fn character_direction_is_saved_only_when_set() {
+        let st = CharStyle::default();
+        assert_eq!(st.char_direction, None);
+        assert!(serde_json::to_value(&st).unwrap().get("charDirection").is_none());
+        for (d, key) in [(ParaDirection::LeftToRight, "leftToRight"), (ParaDirection::RightToLeft, "rightToLeft")] {
+            let set = CharStyle { char_direction: Some(d), ..CharStyle::default() };
+            assert_eq!(serde_json::to_value(&set).unwrap()["charDirection"], key);
+            assert_eq!(serde_json::from_value::<CharStyle>(serde_json::to_value(&set).unwrap()).unwrap(), set);
+        }
+        let old = serde_json::to_value(&st).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(serde_json::from_value::<CharStyle>(old).unwrap().char_direction, None);
+    }
+
     /// Ruby saves with the type and a file saved before it (no `ruby` key) reads with none.
     #[test]
     fn ruby_is_saved_and_missing_ruby_reads_as_none() {
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/panelcmds.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/panelcmds.rs
index 0db52da4b..d4cccc212 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/panelcmds.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/panelcmds.rs
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ pub fn specs() -> Vec<CommandSpec> {
             "Character / Paragraph",
             [],
             None,
-            "{ids?|id?, kerning?: 1/1000 em|\"auto\", baselineShift?: pt, hScale?: %, vScale?: %, rotation?: deg, underline?, strikethrough?, allCaps?, smallCaps?: bool, position?: \"normal\"|\"superscript\"|\"subscript\" (sizes from Document Setup), leftIndent?, rightIndent?, firstLineIndent?, spaceBefore?, spaceAfter?: pt (±1296), hyphenate?: bool, wordsLongerThan?: letters 1..25 (5), afterFirst?, beforeLast?: letters 1..15 (3), hyphenLimit?: lines 0..25 (0: no limit), hyphenationZone?: pt 0..1296 (0; Single-line Composer only), hyphenateCapitalized?: bool (true) (Paragraph panel menu › Hyphenation…: only words longer than wordsLongerThan break, keeping afterFirst letters before the hyphen and beforeLast after it; at most hyphenLimit lines in a row end with a hyphen; a line whose text already ends within hyphenationZone of its right edge breaks before the next word instead of hyphenating it; the counts are rounded, and every value is clamped to its range), wordSpacing?: % 0..1000 (80, 100, 133), letterSpacing?: % of a word space -100..500 (0, 0, 0), glyphScaling?: % 50..200 (100, 100, 100): each [min, desired, max] or {min?, desired?, max?} (Paragraph panel menu › Justification…: Desired applies to every line, Minimum and Maximum bound what justified lines may use; values are clamped to their range, and Minimum ≤ Desired ≤ Maximum must hold afterwards or nothing changes), autoLeading?: % of the size 0..500 (120; the leading of characters whose leading is Auto), singleWordJustification?: \"fullJustify\"|\"alignLeft\"|\"alignCenter\"|\"alignRight\" (a justified line holding one word), mojikumi?: \"none\"|\"lineEndHalf\" (Japanese punctuation spacing), kinsoku?: \"none\"|\"hard\"|\"soft\" (Kinsoku Set: Soft lets 々, ー and small kana start a line), direction?: \"auto\"|\"leftToRight\"|\"rightToLeft\" (paragraph direction; auto: from each paragraph's first strong character), leadingModel?: \"romanBaseline\"|\"emBoxTop\" (leading measured baseline to baseline, or em box top to top), charAlign?: \"romanBaseline\"|\"emBoxTop\"|\"emBoxCenter\"|\"emBoxBottom\"|\"icfTop\"|\"icfBottom\" (where characters smaller than the largest on their line line up with it), proportionalMetrics?: bool (full-width glyphs on the font's proportional widths: `palt` in horizontal type, `vpal` in vertical type), tateChuYoko?: bool (Character panel menu › Tate-chu-yoko, with Show East Asian Options: in vertical type those characters stand side by side across one em of the column; kept on the characters and ignored in horizontal type), noBreak?: bool (Character panel menu › No Break: these characters stay on one line, including across a space inside the run), digits?: \"default\"|\"arabic\"|\"hindi\"|\"farsi\" (Character panel menu › Digits: the numeral system every digit is drawn in, whatever was typed), fontAxes?: {\"wght\": 650, …} (Character panel › Variable Font, as text.setRangeStyle: each axis named set in its units and clamped to its range, null back to the style's own setting), burasagari?: \"none\"|\"standard\"|\"forced\" (Paragraph panel menu › Burasagari None/Regular/Force: an East Asian comma or full stop ending an area type line hangs outside it: when it doesn't fit, or always; new type: \"standard\"), romanHangingPunctuation?: bool (Paragraph panel menu › Roman Hanging Punctuation: quotation marks, hyphens, full stops and commas starting or ending a line hang outside the margin, asterisks, tildes, ellipses, dashes, colons and semicolons by half; off by default), kashida?: \"none\"|\"short\"|\"medium\"|\"long\"|\"stylistic\" (Paragraph panel › Insert Kashidas: justified lines of horizontal area type lengthen each Arabic word with a kashida between its last pair of joined letters, at most a quarter, half or whole em long, or whole tatweels up to an em for stylistic, before they widen their word spaces; none by default), composer?: \"singleLine\"|\"everyLine\" (line breaking, Every-line by default), start?: byte, end?: byte} (baselineShift is in document points and hScale includes the object transform; groups include their text descendants; with a range: the character attributes style that range and the paragraph attributes apply to the paragraphs it touches; without: all the text)",
+            "{ids?|id?, kerning?: 1/1000 em|\"auto\", baselineShift?: pt, hScale?: %, vScale?: %, rotation?: deg, underline?, strikethrough?, allCaps?, smallCaps?: bool, position?: \"normal\"|\"superscript\"|\"subscript\" (sizes from Document Setup), leftIndent?, rightIndent?, firstLineIndent?, spaceBefore?, spaceAfter?: pt (±1296), hyphenate?: bool, wordsLongerThan?: letters 1..25 (5), afterFirst?, beforeLast?: letters 1..15 (3), hyphenLimit?: lines 0..25 (0: no limit), hyphenationZone?: pt 0..1296 (0; Single-line Composer only), hyphenateCapitalized?: bool (true) (Paragraph panel menu › Hyphenation…: only words longer than wordsLongerThan break, keeping afterFirst letters before the hyphen and beforeLast after it; at most hyphenLimit lines in a row end with a hyphen; a line whose text already ends within hyphenationZone of its right edge breaks before the next word instead of hyphenating it; the counts are rounded, and every value is clamped to its range), wordSpacing?: % 0..1000 (80, 100, 133), letterSpacing?: % of a word space -100..500 (0, 0, 0), glyphScaling?: % 50..200 (100, 100, 100): each [min, desired, max] or {min?, desired?, max?} (Paragraph panel menu › Justification…: Desired applies to every line, Minimum and Maximum bound what justified lines may use; values are clamped to their range, and Minimum ≤ Desired ≤ Maximum must hold afterwards or nothing changes), autoLeading?: % of the size 0..500 (120; the leading of characters whose leading is Auto), singleWordJustification?: \"fullJustify\"|\"alignLeft\"|\"alignCenter\"|\"alignRight\" (a justified line holding one word), mojikumi?: \"none\"|\"lineEndHalf\" (Japanese punctuation spacing), kinsoku?: \"none\"|\"hard\"|\"soft\" (Kinsoku Set: Soft lets 々, ー and small kana start a line), direction?: \"auto\"|\"leftToRight\"|\"rightToLeft\" (paragraph direction; auto: from each paragraph's first strong character), leadingModel?: \"romanBaseline\"|\"emBoxTop\" (leading measured baseline to baseline, or em box top to top), charAlign?: \"romanBaseline\"|\"emBoxTop\"|\"emBoxCenter\"|\"emBoxBottom\"|\"icfTop\"|\"icfBottom\" (where characters smaller than the largest on their line line up with it), proportionalMetrics?: bool (full-width glyphs on the font's proportional widths: `palt` in horizontal type, `vpal` in vertical type), tateChuYoko?: bool (Character panel menu › Tate-chu-yoko, with Show East Asian Options: in vertical type those characters stand side by side across one em of the column; kept on the characters and ignored in horizontal type), noBreak?: bool (Character panel menu › No Break: these characters stay on one line, including across a space inside the run), charDirection?: \"default\"|\"leftToRight\"|\"rightToLeft\" (Character panel menu › Character Direction: the characters are set left to right or right to left inside their paragraph, as a Unicode bidi embedding; default: as the bidi algorithm sets them), digits?: \"default\"|\"arabic\"|\"hindi\"|\"farsi\" (Character panel menu › Digits: the numeral system every digit is drawn in, whatever was typed), fontAxes?: {\"wght\": 650, …} (Character panel › Variable Font, as text.setRangeStyle: each axis named set in its units and clamped to its range, null back to the style's own setting), burasagari?: \"none\"|\"standard\"|\"forced\" (Paragraph panel menu › Burasagari None/Regular/Force: an East Asian comma or full stop ending an area type line hangs outside it: when it doesn't fit, or always; new type: \"standard\"), romanHangingPunctuation?: bool (Paragraph panel menu › Roman Hanging Punctuation: quotation marks, hyphens, full stops and commas starting or ending a line hang outside the margin, asterisks, tildes, ellipses, dashes, colons and semicolons by half; off by default), kashida?: \"none\"|\"short\"|\"medium\"|\"long\"|\"stylistic\" (Paragraph panel › Insert Kashidas: justified lines of horizontal area type lengthen each Arabic word with a kashida between its last pair of joined letters, at most a quarter, half or whole em long, or whole tatweels up to an em for stylistic, before they widen their word spaces; none by default), composer?: \"singleLine\"|\"everyLine\" (line breaking, Every-line by default), start?: byte, end?: byte} (baselineShift is in document points and hScale includes the object transform; groups include their text descendants; with a range: the character attributes style that range and the paragraph attributes apply to the paragraphs it touches; without: all the text)",
             has_doc,
             set_format
         ),
@@ -327,6 +327,7 @@ fn set_format(s: &mut Session, p: &Value) -> Result<Value> {
         "direction",
         "leadingModel",
         "charAlign",
+        "charDirection",
         "proportionalMetrics",
         "tateChuYoko",
         "noBreak",
@@ -350,6 +351,7 @@ fn set_format(s: &mut Session, p: &Value) -> Result<Value> {
     };
     let (position, small_caps) = super::docsetup::script_params(p, &s.doc()?.doc.setup, C)?;
     let char_align = super::textedit::char_align_param(p, C)?;
+    let char_direction = super::textedit::char_direction_param(p, C)?;
     let digits = super::textedit::digits_param(p, C)?;
     let font_axes = super::textedit::font_axes_param(p, C)?;
     let mojikumi = match p.get("mojikumi") {
@@ -460,6 +462,9 @@ fn set_format(s: &mut Session, p: &Value) -> Result<Value> {
         if let Some(v) = char_align {
             st.char_align = v;
         }
+        if let Some(v) = char_direction {
+            st.char_direction = v;
+        }
         if let Some(v) = digits {
             st.digits = v;
         }
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/textedit.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/textedit.rs
index c51c05846..98d31cfb7 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/textedit.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/textedit.rs
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ pub fn specs() -> Vec<CommandSpec> {
             "Character",
             [],
             None,
-            "{id? (default: the one selected type object), start?: byte, end?: byte (default: all text), font?, style?, size?: pt, leading?: pt|\"auto\", tracking?, kerning?: 1/1000 em|\"auto\", baselineShift?: pt, hScale?: %, vScale?: %, rotation?: deg, fill?: colour|\"none\", stroke?: colour|\"none\", keepModel?: bool (fill and stroke, as paint.setFill), strokeWidth?: pt, strokeOptions?: {weight?, cap?, join?, miterLimit?, align?, dash?, dashOffset?, alignDashes?} (as stroke.set: the character stroke), underline?, strikethrough?, allCaps?: bool, smallCaps?: bool, position?: \"normal\"|\"superscript\"|\"subscript\" (sizes from Document Setup), features?: [\"dlig\", \"-liga\", …], charAlign?: \"romanBaseline\"|\"emBoxTop\"|\"emBoxCenter\"|\"emBoxBottom\"|\"icfTop\"|\"icfBottom\", proportionalMetrics?: bool (full-width glyphs on the font's proportional widths: `palt` in horizontal type, `vpal` in vertical type), tateChuYoko?: bool (Character panel menu › Tate-chu-yoko, with Show East Asian Options: in vertical type those characters stand side by side across one em of the column; kept on the characters and ignored in horizontal type), noBreak?: bool (Character panel menu › No Break: these characters stay on one line, including across a space inside the run), digits?: \"default\"|\"arabic\"|\"hindi\"|\"farsi\" (Character panel menu › Digits: the numeral system every digit is drawn in, whatever was typed), fontAxes?: {\"wght\": 650, …} (Character panel › Variable Font: the setting of each variation axis named, in the axis's units and clamped to its range; null: back to the style's own setting; other axes keep theirs; tags the font has no axis for are left out; a font or style change clears them; text.fontList {family, style} lists the axes)} style a character range (size/leading/baselineShift are document points and hScale includes the object transform; runs are split at the range ends) → {id, runs}",
+            "{id? (default: the one selected type object), start?: byte, end?: byte (default: all text), font?, style?, size?: pt, leading?: pt|\"auto\", tracking?, kerning?: 1/1000 em|\"auto\", baselineShift?: pt, hScale?: %, vScale?: %, rotation?: deg, fill?: colour|\"none\", stroke?: colour|\"none\", keepModel?: bool (fill and stroke, as paint.setFill), strokeWidth?: pt, strokeOptions?: {weight?, cap?, join?, miterLimit?, align?, dash?, dashOffset?, alignDashes?} (as stroke.set: the character stroke), underline?, strikethrough?, allCaps?: bool, smallCaps?: bool, position?: \"normal\"|\"superscript\"|\"subscript\" (sizes from Document Setup), features?: [\"dlig\", \"-liga\", …], charAlign?: \"romanBaseline\"|\"emBoxTop\"|\"emBoxCenter\"|\"emBoxBottom\"|\"icfTop\"|\"icfBottom\", proportionalMetrics?: bool (full-width glyphs on the font's proportional widths: `palt` in horizontal type, `vpal` in vertical type), tateChuYoko?: bool (Character panel menu › Tate-chu-yoko, with Show East Asian Options: in vertical type those characters stand side by side across one em of the column; kept on the characters and ignored in horizontal type), noBreak?: bool (Character panel menu › No Break: these characters stay on one line, including across a space inside the run), charDirection?: \"default\"|\"leftToRight\"|\"rightToLeft\" (Character panel menu › Character Direction: the characters are set left to right or right to left inside their paragraph, as a Unicode bidi embedding; default: as the bidi algorithm sets them), digits?: \"default\"|\"arabic\"|\"hindi\"|\"farsi\" (Character panel menu › Digits: the numeral system every digit is drawn in, whatever was typed), fontAxes?: {\"wght\": 650, …} (Character panel › Variable Font: the setting of each variation axis named, in the axis's units and clamped to its range; null: back to the style's own setting; other axes keep theirs; tags the font has no axis for are left out; a font or style change clears them; text.fontList {family, style} lists the axes)} style a character range (size/leading/baselineShift are document points and hScale includes the object transform; runs are split at the range ends) → {id, runs}",
             has_doc,
             set_range_style
         ),
@@ -256,6 +256,7 @@ pub(crate) struct CharChange {
     position: Option<vectorcraft_doc::CharPosition>,
     small_caps: Option<Option<f64>>,
     char_align: Option<vectorcraft_doc::CharAlign>,
+    char_direction: Option<Option<vectorcraft_doc::ParaDirection>>,
     proportional_metrics: Option<bool>,
     tate_chu_yoko: Option<bool>,
     no_break: Option<bool>,
@@ -263,6 +264,19 @@ pub(crate) struct CharChange {
     font_axes: Option<AxisChange>,
 }
 
+/// `charDirection: "default"|"leftToRight"|"rightToLeft"` → the Character Direction to set (`None`
+/// inside: Default).
+pub(crate) fn char_direction_param(p: &Value, cmd: &str) -> Result<Option<Option<vectorcraft_doc::ParaDirection>>> {
+    use vectorcraft_doc::ParaDirection;
+    let Some(v) = p.get("charDirection").filter(|v| !v.is_null()) else { return Ok(None) };
+    Ok(Some(match v.as_str() {
+        Some("default") => None,
+        Some("leftToRight") => Some(ParaDirection::LeftToRight),
+        Some("rightToLeft") => Some(ParaDirection::RightToLeft),
+        _ => return Err(bad(cmd, "`charDirection` must be \"default\", \"leftToRight\" or \"rightToLeft\"")),
+    }))
+}
+
 /// `digits: "default"|"arabic"|"hindi"|"farsi"` → the numeral system the digits are drawn in.
 pub(crate) fn digits_param(p: &Value, cmd: &str) -> Result<Option<vectorcraft_doc::Digits>> {
     use vectorcraft_doc::Digits;
@@ -416,6 +430,7 @@ impl CharChange {
             position,
             small_caps,
             char_align: char_align_param(p, cmd)?,
+            char_direction: char_direction_param(p, cmd)?,
             proportional_metrics: flag("proportionalMetrics"),
             tate_chu_yoko: flag("tateChuYoko"),
             no_break: flag("noBreak"),
@@ -459,6 +474,7 @@ impl CharChange {
             && self.position.is_none()
             && self.small_caps.is_none()
             && self.char_align.is_none()
+            && self.char_direction.is_none()
             && self.proportional_metrics.is_none()
             && self.tate_chu_yoko.is_none()
             && self.no_break.is_none()
@@ -554,6 +570,9 @@ impl CharChange {
         if let Some(v) = self.char_align {
             st.char_align = v;
         }
+        if let Some(v) = self.char_direction {
+            st.char_direction = v;
+        }
         if let Some(v) = self.proportional_metrics {
             st.proportional_metrics = v;
         }
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/textstyles.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/textstyles.rs
index 77984967c..cf3585f59 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/textstyles.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/textstyles.rs
@@ -155,6 +155,7 @@ pub fn char_attrs(v: &CharStyle) -> Map<String, Value> {
         ("position", json!(v.position)),
         ("small_caps", json!(v.small_caps)),
         ("charAlign", json!(v.char_align)),
+        ("charDirection", json!(v.char_direction)),
         ("proportionalMetrics", json!(v.proportional_metrics)),
         ("tateChuYoko", json!(v.tate_chu_yoko)),
         ("noBreak", json!(v.no_break)),
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/typecmd.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/typecmd.rs
index 89ec47958..67fcccd12 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/typecmd.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/typecmd.rs
@@ -1599,6 +1599,47 @@ mod area_tests {
         }
     }
 
+    /// Character Direction (Character panel menu, Middle Eastern options): a character attribute
+    /// that `text.setFormat` and `text.setRangeStyle` set in one undo step each, saved only when
+    /// set and kept by a native save.
+    #[test]
+    fn character_direction_is_a_character_attribute_saved_only_when_set() {
+        use vectorcraft_doc::ParaDirection;
+        let mut s = Session::new();
+        s.execute("file.new", &json!({"width": 400, "height": 400})).unwrap();
+        let id = s.execute("text.create", &json!({"x": 10, "y": 50, "text": "שלום 21 10 2026"})).unwrap()["id"].as_u64().unwrap();
+        let runs = |s: &Session| match &s.doc().unwrap().doc.node(NodeId(id)).unwrap().kind {
+            NodeKind::Text(t) => t.runs.clone(),
+            _ => panic!("text"),
+        };
+        let set = |s: &Session| runs(s).iter().map(|r| (r.text.clone(), r.style.char_direction)).collect::<Vec<_>>();
+        assert_eq!(runs(&s)[0].style.char_direction, None);
+        assert!(serde_json::to_value(&runs(&s)[0].style).unwrap().get("charDirection").is_none());
+        s.execute("select.set", &json!({"ids": [id]})).unwrap();
+        for (key, want) in [("rightToLeft", Some(ParaDirection::RightToLeft)), ("leftToRight", Some(ParaDirection::LeftToRight)), ("default", None)] {
+            s.execute("text.setFormat", &json!({"charDirection": key})).unwrap();
+            assert!(runs(&s).iter().all(|r| r.style.char_direction == want));
+            let saved = serde_json::to_value(&runs(&s)[0].style).unwrap();
+            assert_eq!(saved.get("charDirection").and_then(|v| v.as_str()), want.is_some().then_some(key));
+        }
+        let err = s.execute("text.setFormat", &json!({"charDirection": "up"})).unwrap_err().to_string();
+        assert!(err.contains("`charDirection` must be"), "{err}");
+        // Characters selected with the Type tool: only the range takes it (שלום and the space are 9 bytes).
+        s.execute("text.setRangeStyle", &json!({"id": id, "start": 9, "end": 19, "charDirection": "leftToRight"})).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(set(&s), [("שלום ".to_string(), None), ("21 10 2026".to_string(), Some(ParaDirection::LeftToRight))]);
+        s.execute("edit.undo", &json!({})).unwrap();
+        assert!(runs(&s).iter().all(|r| r.style.char_direction.is_none()));
+        s.execute("edit.redo", &json!({})).unwrap();
+        // Saved and reopened as it was.
+        let back = vectorcraft_format::load(&vectorcraft_format::save(&s.doc().unwrap().doc, false)).unwrap();
+        let NodeKind::Text(t) = &back.node(NodeId(id)).unwrap().kind else { panic!("text") };
+        let reopened: Vec<_> = t.runs.iter().map(|r| (r.text.clone(), r.style.char_direction)).collect();
+        assert_eq!(reopened, set(&s));
+        // A character style captured from the characters carries it, Default included.
+        assert_eq!(super::super::textstyles::char_attrs(&runs(&s)[1].style)["charDirection"], "leftToRight");
+        assert_eq!(super::super::textstyles::char_attrs(&runs(&s)[0].style).get("charDirection"), Some(&serde_json::Value::Null));
+    }
+
     /// Proportional Metrics (#966): a character attribute, saved only when on.
     #[test]
     fn proportional_metrics_is_a_character_attribute_saved_only_when_on() {
diff --git a/crates/svg/src/export.rs b/crates/svg/src/export.rs
index f66f7c024..3bfa57b9e 100644
--- a/crates/svg/src/export.rs
+++ b/crates/svg/src/export.rs
@@ -1885,9 +1885,11 @@ impl Writer<'_> {
     fn text(&mut self, n: &Node, t: &TextObject) {
         // Live SVG text is written in logical order from left-aligned pieces: bidirectional text
         // (and right-to-left paragraphs) keep their look as outlines until it is written with
-        // `direction`/`unicode-bidi`.
+        // `direction`/`unicode-bidi`. So do runs set Right to Left (Character Direction), whose
+        // `direction="rtl"` would anchor their pieces at the right end.
         let lay = vectorcraft_text::layout(vectorcraft_text::FontDb::global(), t);
-        if lay.glyphs.iter().any(|g| g.rtl) || lay.lines.iter().any(|l| l.rtl) {
+        let rtl_runs = t.runs.iter().any(|r| r.style.char_direction == Some(vectorcraft_doc::ParaDirection::RightToLeft));
+        if lay.glyphs.iter().any(|g| g.rtl) || lay.lines.iter().any(|l| l.rtl) || rtl_runs {
             self.warn("bidirectional text is outlined to preserve shaping and visual order");
             return self.text_outlines(n, t);
         }
@@ -2035,7 +2037,8 @@ impl Writer<'_> {
             if st.rotation != 0.0 {
                 attrs.push_str(&format!(" rotate=\"{}\"", self.num(-st.rotation)));
             }
-            let diff = run_diff(&base.props, self.char_props(st, base.space));
+            let mut diff = run_diff(&base.props, self.char_props(st, base.space));
+            diff.extend(direction_props(st));
             attrs.push_str(&self.attrs(&diff));
             let text = xml_text(&seg.text);
             if attrs.is_empty() && fewer {
@@ -2165,7 +2168,8 @@ impl Writer<'_> {
         let offset = fmt_num(start * 100.0, 3);
         let mut s = format!("<text{id} xml:space=\"preserve\"{a}><textPath xlink:href=\"#{pid}\" startOffset=\"{offset}%\">");
         for run in &t.runs {
-            let diff = run_diff(&base, self.char_props(&run.style, space));
+            let mut diff = run_diff(&base, self.char_props(&run.style, space));
+            diff.extend(direction_props(&run.style));
             let a = self.attrs(&diff);
             s.push_str(&format!("<tspan{a}>{}</tspan>", xml_text(&run.text.replace('\n', " "))));
         }
@@ -2198,6 +2202,16 @@ fn hangs_on_path(t: &TextObject, lay: &vectorcraft_text::TextLayout) -> bool {
     lay.glyphs.len() != flush.glyphs.len() || lay.glyphs.iter().zip(&flush.glyphs).any(|(a, b)| a.origin != b.origin)
 }
 
+/// The `direction` and `unicode-bidi` of a `<tspan>` of characters in style `st`: an embedding in
+/// its Character Direction, and nothing without one. Each `<tspan>` of characters with a direction
+/// carries them, and the `<text>` does not. Type with a run set Right to Left is written as
+/// outlines ([`Writer::text`]), so live text writes `direction="ltr"` only.
+fn direction_props(st: &CharStyle) -> Props {
+    let Some(d) = st.char_direction else { return Props::new() };
+    let direction = if d == vectorcraft_doc::ParaDirection::RightToLeft { "rtl" } else { "ltr" };
+    vec![("direction", direction.into()), ("unicode-bidi", "embed".into())]
+}
+
 /// What the `<tspan>` of a run whose properties are `run` sets over its `<text>`'s `base`: the
 /// properties that differ, and the initial value of each one `base` sets and the run doesn't.
 fn run_diff(base: &Props, run: Props) -> Props {
diff --git a/crates/svg/tests/text_layout.rs b/crates/svg/tests/text_layout.rs
index d86403749..c186347bc 100644
--- a/crates/svg/tests/text_layout.rs
+++ b/crates/svg/tests/text_layout.rs
@@ -125,6 +125,43 @@ fn proportional_metrics_write_palt() {
     assert!(tags[2].contains("dlig") && tags[2].contains("palt"), "{}", tags[2]);
 }
 
+/// Character Direction: live text writes each run set Left to Right as a bidi embedding
+/// (`direction` and `unicode-bidi`). Type with a run set Right to Left is written as outlines.
+#[test]
+fn character_direction_is_written_on_its_runs() {
+    use vectorcraft_doc::ParaDirection;
+    let ltr = CharStyle { char_direction: Some(ParaDirection::LeftToRight), ..style(12.0) };
+    let d = area_doc(vec![run("Due ", style(12.0)), run("21 10 2026", ltr.clone()), run(" ok", style(12.0))], 280.0, Justify::Left);
+    let svg = export(&d, &ExportOptions::default());
+    let tags = tspans(&svg);
+    assert_eq!(tags.len(), 3, "{svg}");
+    assert!(!tags[0].contains("direction") && !tags[2].contains("direction"), "{svg}");
+    assert!(tags[1].contains(" direction=\"ltr\" unicode-bidi=\"embed\""), "{}", tags[1]);
+    // Type on a path: on the run's `<tspan>` in the `<textPath>` too.
+    let mut on_path = TextObject::point(Point::ZERO, "", style(12.0));
+    on_path.runs = vec![run("Due ", style(12.0)), run("21 10 2026", ltr)];
+    let mut line = BezPath::new();
+    line.move_to((20.0, 100.0));
+    line.line_to((280.0, 100.0));
+    on_path.kind = TextKind::OnPath { path: PathData::from_bezpath(&line), start: 0.0, end: None };
+    let mut d = Document::new(300.0, 200.0);
+    let n = Node::new(d.alloc_id(), NodeKind::Text(Box::new(on_path)));
+    let l = d.layers[0].id;
+    d.insert(Some(l), 0, n).unwrap();
+    let svg = export(&d, &ExportOptions::default());
+    let tags = tspans(&svg);
+    assert!(svg.contains("<textPath") && tags.len() == 2, "{svg}");
+    assert!(!tags[0].contains("direction") && tags[1].contains(" direction=\"ltr\" unicode-bidi=\"embed\""), "{svg}");
+    // A run set Right to Left is written as outlines, also when its characters are drawn left to
+    // right (digits inside an embedding stay left to right).
+    let rtl = CharStyle { char_direction: Some(ParaDirection::RightToLeft), ..style(12.0) };
+    for date in ["21 10 2026", "2026"] {
+        let d = area_doc(vec![run("Due ", style(12.0)), run(date, rtl.clone())], 280.0, Justify::Left);
+        let svg = export(&d, &ExportOptions::default());
+        assert!(!svg.contains("<text"), "{date}: {svg}");
+    }
+}
+
 /// Digits are written as drawn: the style's numeral system, not the digits that were typed (as
 /// All Caps writes capitals).
 #[test]
diff --git a/crates/text/src/layout.rs b/crates/text/src/layout.rs
index e5d735b33..85f3ced4b 100644
--- a/crates/text/src/layout.rs
+++ b/crates/text/src/layout.rs
@@ -50,6 +50,23 @@ impl Ctx<'_> {
         find(b).or_else(|| b.checked_sub(1).and_then(find)).or_else(|| self.runs.first().map(|(_, s)| *s)).unwrap_or(&self.default)
     }
 
+    /// The stretches of paragraph `r` whose characters have a Character Direction, as byte ranges
+    /// from `r.start` with their direction, in order; neighboring runs of one direction make one
+    /// stretch.
+    fn char_directions(&self, r: &Range<usize>) -> Vec<(Range<usize>, ParaDirection)> {
+        let mut out: Vec<(Range<usize>, ParaDirection)> = Vec::new();
+        for (rr, st) in &self.runs {
+            let (a, b) = (rr.start.max(r.start), rr.end.min(r.end));
+            let Some(d) = st.char_direction.filter(|_| a < b) else { continue };
+            let (a, b) = (a - r.start, b - r.start);
+            match out.last_mut() {
+                Some((prev, pd)) if *pd == d && prev.end == a => prev.end = b,
+                _ => out.push((a..b, d)),
+            }
+        }
+        out
+    }
+
     /// Shape paragraph `r` (its bidi resolution `bidi`).
     fn shape_para(&self, r: Range<usize>, bidi: Option<&BidiInfo<'_>>) -> Vec<SGlyph> {
         let mut v = Vec::with_capacity(r.len());
@@ -1908,7 +1925,7 @@ fn flow(cx: &mut Ctx<'_>, paras: &[Range<usize>], t: &TextObject, regions: Optio
         // its first line) follow its own.
         pen.model = para.leading_model;
         let text = cx.text;
-        let bidi = para_bidi(text.get(pr.clone()).unwrap_or_default(), para.direction);
+        let bidi = para_bidi_with(text.get(pr.clone()).unwrap_or_default(), para.direction, &cx.char_directions(pr));
         let rtl = is_rtl(bidi.as_ref());
         let mut sg = cx.shape_para(pr.clone(), bidi.as_ref());
         // Thai, Lao, Khmer and Myanmar break lines between words, not at spaces.
@@ -2310,7 +2327,7 @@ fn on_path(cx: &mut Ctx<'_>, paras: &[Range<usize>], t: &TextObject, path: &Path
     let mut shaped = Vec::new();
     for pr in paras {
         let text = cx.text;
-        let bidi = para_bidi(text.get(pr.clone()).unwrap_or_default(), para.direction);
+        let bidi = para_bidi_with(text.get(pr.clone()).unwrap_or_default(), para.direction, &cx.char_directions(pr));
         rtl.get_or_insert(is_rtl(bidi.as_ref()) && !cx.vertical);
         let glyphs = cx.shape_para(pr.clone(), bidi.as_ref());
         shaped.push((pr.clone(), bidi.filter(|b| b.has_rtl() && !cx.vertical), glyphs));
@@ -2554,6 +2571,52 @@ pub(crate) fn para_bidi(text: &str, direction: Option<ParaDirection>) -> Option<
     Some(BidiInfo::new(text, level))
 }
 
+/// [`para_bidi`] for a paragraph whose characters in `set` (byte ranges of `text`, in order and not
+/// overlapping, from [`Ctx::char_directions`]) have a Character Direction: each range is resolved
+/// as a Unicode bidi embedding, as if an LRE or RLE stood before it and a PDF after it (UAX #9 X2,
+/// X3, X7). The levels, classes and paragraphs come back for the bytes of `text`. The paragraph's own
+/// direction is unchanged: the first strong character is found inside embeddings too (P2).
+pub(crate) fn para_bidi_with<'a>(text: &'a str, direction: Option<ParaDirection>, set: &[(Range<usize>, ParaDirection)]) -> Option<BidiInfo<'a>> {
+    let plain = para_bidi(text, direction);
+    if set.is_empty() || (plain.is_none() && set.iter().all(|(_, d)| *d == ParaDirection::LeftToRight)) {
+        // A left-to-right embedding in left-to-right text takes an even level: its order is the same.
+        return plain;
+    }
+    // The text with the embedding controls, and where each byte of `text` is in it.
+    let mut marked = String::with_capacity(text.len() + set.len() * 6);
+    let mut at_byte: Vec<usize> = Vec::with_capacity(text.len());
+    let mut copy = |marked: &mut String, from: usize, to: usize| {
+        if let Some(s) = text.get(from..to) {
+            at_byte.extend(marked.len()..marked.len() + s.len());
+            marked.push_str(s);
+        }
+    };
+    let mut done = 0;
+    for (r, d) in set {
+        let (a, b) = (r.start.max(done).min(text.len()), r.end.min(text.len()));
+        if a >= b {
+            continue;
+        }
+        copy(&mut marked, done, a);
+        marked.push(if *d == ParaDirection::RightToLeft { '\u{202B}' } else { '\u{202A}' });
+        copy(&mut marked, a, b);
+        marked.push('\u{202C}');
+        done = b;
+    }
+    copy(&mut marked, done, text.len());
+    let level = direction.map(|d| if d == ParaDirection::RightToLeft { Level::rtl() } else { Level::ltr() });
+    let info = BidiInfo::new(&marked, level);
+    let back = |i: usize| at_byte.partition_point(|&m| m < i);
+    let paragraphs =
+        info.paragraphs.iter().map(|p| unicode_bidi::ParagraphInfo { range: back(p.range.start)..back(p.range.end), level: p.level }).collect();
+    Some(BidiInfo {
+        text,
+        original_classes: at_byte.iter().filter_map(|&i| info.original_classes.get(i).copied()).collect(),
+        levels: at_byte.iter().filter_map(|&i| info.levels.get(i).copied()).collect(),
+        paragraphs,
+    })
+}
+
 /// Does the paragraph run right to left ([`para_bidi`])?
 pub(crate) fn is_rtl(bidi: Option<&BidiInfo<'_>>) -> bool {
     bidi.and_then(|b| b.paragraphs.first()).is_some_and(|p| p.level.is_rtl())
diff --git a/crates/text/src/shape.rs b/crates/text/src/shape.rs
index 868592356..1fa96c87a 100644
--- a/crates/text/src/shape.rs
+++ b/crates/text/src/shape.rs
@@ -433,9 +433,10 @@ fn source_run_at(runs: &[(Range<usize>, &CharStyle)], span: &Range<usize>, byte:
 
 /// Do text runs in styles `a` and `b` shape alike, so that they are shaped as one piece of text?
 /// They do when they differ only in paint and stroke, underline and strikethrough, overprint, the
-/// character style's name, leading, baseline shift, rotation, Character Alignment, the kerning
-/// (each glyph takes its run's, see [`shape_segment`]) and the tracking, as long as the tracking
-/// keeps or drops standard ligatures alike ([`crate::features::ligatures_suppressed_by`]).
+/// character style's name, leading, baseline shift, rotation, Character Alignment, Character
+/// Direction (text is shaped apart where its bidi level changes), the kerning (each glyph takes its
+/// run's, see [`shape_segment`]) and the tracking, as long as the tracking keeps or drops standard
+/// ligatures alike ([`crate::features::ligatures_suppressed_by`]).
 fn shapes_alike(a: &CharStyle, b: &CharStyle) -> bool {
     // Every field is named, so that a new attribute has to be sorted into one group or the other.
     let CharStyle {
@@ -469,6 +470,7 @@ fn shapes_alike(a: &CharStyle, b: &CharStyle) -> bool {
         position,
         small_caps,
         char_align: _,
+        char_direction: _,
         proportional_metrics,
         tate_chu_yoko,
         digits,
diff --git a/crates/text/src/tests_bidi.rs b/crates/text/src/tests_bidi.rs
index c213f09cf..291b6fa8f 100644
--- a/crates/text/src/tests_bidi.rs
+++ b/crates/text/src/tests_bidi.rs
@@ -1,8 +1,9 @@
 //! Direction, source-cluster and editing regressions; no RTL font assets required.
 use super::*;
 use kurbo::{Affine, BezPath, Point, Rect, Shape};
+use std::ops::Range;
 use std::sync::Arc;
-use vectorcraft_doc::{CharStyle, TextKind, TextRun};
+use vectorcraft_doc::{CharStyle, ParaDirection, TextKind, TextRun};
 
 fn text_layout(s: &str) -> TextLayout {
     layout(FontDb::global(), &TextObject::point(Point::ZERO, s, CharStyle::default()))
@@ -88,6 +89,40 @@ fn mixed_text_preserves_latin_and_number_order() {
     assert_eq!(s, "שלום Rust 123", "layout must not rewrite source text");
 }
 
+/// The characters of `s` in the order a layout of it draws them, left to right, with the bytes
+/// `set` given Character Direction `d`.
+fn drawn_with_direction(s: &str, set: Range<usize>, d: Option<ParaDirection>) -> String {
+    let mut t = TextObject::point(Point::ZERO, s, CharStyle::default());
+    edit::style_range(&mut t.runs, set.start, set.end, |st| st.char_direction = d);
+    let l = layout(FontDb::global(), &t);
+    let mut glyphs: Vec<_> = l.glyphs.iter().collect();
+    glyphs.sort_by(|a, b| a.origin.x.total_cmp(&b.origin.x));
+    glyphs.iter().filter_map(|g| s.get(g.byte..)?.chars().next()).collect()
+}
+
+/// Character Direction Left to Right keeps a date written with spaces in its own order inside a
+/// right-to-left paragraph, where the bidi algorithm alone sets its numbers right to left.
+#[test]
+fn left_to_right_characters_keep_a_date_in_order_in_right_to_left_text() {
+    let s = "שלום 21 10 2026";
+    let date = s.find('2').unwrap_or_default()..s.len();
+    assert_eq!(drawn_with_direction(s, date.clone(), None), "2026 10 21 םולש");
+    assert_eq!(drawn_with_direction(s, date, Some(ParaDirection::LeftToRight)), "21 10 2026 םולש");
+}
+
+/// Character Direction Right to Left sets a Hebrew word and the exclamation mark after it right to
+/// left inside a left-to-right paragraph, where the bidi algorithm alone leaves the mark after the
+/// word in the paragraph's direction.
+#[test]
+fn right_to_left_characters_set_a_word_and_its_mark_right_to_left_in_left_to_right_text() {
+    let s = "abc שלום! def";
+    let word = s.find('ש').unwrap_or_default()..s.find('!').map_or(0, |i| i + 1);
+    assert_eq!(drawn_with_direction(s, word.clone(), None), "abc םולש! def");
+    assert_eq!(drawn_with_direction(s, word.clone(), Some(ParaDirection::RightToLeft)), "abc !םולש def");
+    // Left to Right on the same characters of a left-to-right paragraph draws them as without it.
+    assert_eq!(drawn_with_direction(s, word, Some(ParaDirection::LeftToRight)), "abc םולש! def");
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn rtl_hit_testing_arrows_and_selection_follow_visual_positions() {
     let s = "שלום";
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/bg.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/bg.tsv
index 7bf701b66..29a767b2f 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/bg.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/bg.tsv
@@ -2342,6 +2342,7 @@
 	Proof Setup	Настройка на пробен печат
 	Properties	Свойства
 	Proportional Metrics	Пропорционални метрики
+	Character Direction	Посока на знаците
 	Digits	Цифри
 	Arabic	Арабски
 	Hindi	Хинди
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/cs.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/cs.tsv
index 4984939f4..2bfd1d4a8 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/cs.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/cs.tsv
@@ -1394,6 +1394,7 @@ lighting	Light	Světlo
 	Leading	Proklad
 	No Break	Nezalamovat
 	Proportional Metrics	Proporcionální metrika
+	Character Direction	Směr znaků
 	Digits	Číslice
 	Arabic	Arabské
 	Hindi	Hindské
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/da.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/da.tsv
index 994b9a694..5ee3ddcc6 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/da.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/da.tsv
@@ -1312,6 +1312,7 @@ lighting	Light	Lys
 	Leading	Linjeafstand
 	No Break	Ingen ombrydning
 	Proportional Metrics	Proportionale metrikker
+	Character Direction	Tegnretning
 	Digits	Cifre
 	Arabic	Arabisk
 	Hindi	Hindi
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/de.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/de.tsv
index 05bc2310f..7bf36dcc0 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/de.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/de.tsv
@@ -2360,6 +2360,7 @@ mark-style	Japanese	Japanisch
 	Proof Setup	Proof einrichten
 	Properties	Eigenschaften
 	Proportional Metrics	Proportionale Metrik
+	Character Direction	Zeichenrichtung
 	Digits	Ziffern
 	Arabic	Arabisch
 	Hindi	Hindi
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/el.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/el.tsv
index 967bec7ae..8523139e4 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/el.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/el.tsv
@@ -1738,6 +1738,7 @@
 	Proof Colors	Χρώματα δοκιμίου
 	Proof Setup	Ρύθμιση δοκιμίου
 	Properties	Ιδιότητες
+	Character Direction	Κατεύθυνση χαρακτήρων
 	Digits	Ψηφία
 	Punctuation	Στίξη
 	Puppet Warp	Παραμόρφωση με σημεία ελέγχου
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/es.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/es.tsv
index 1836a41af..b71316b6d 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/es.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/es.tsv
@@ -2394,6 +2394,7 @@
 	Proof Setup	Ajuste de prueba
 	Properties	Propiedades
 	Proportional Metrics	Métrica proporcional
+	Character Direction	Dirección de caracteres
 	Digits	Dígitos
 	Arabic	Árabes
 	Hindi	Hindi
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/fi.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/fi.tsv
index 595354306..ee29f245b 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/fi.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/fi.tsv
@@ -1369,6 +1369,7 @@ lighting	Light	Valo
 	Leading	Riviväli
 	No Break	Ei katkoa
 	Proportional Metrics	Suhteelliset metriikat
+	Character Direction	Merkkien suunta
 	Digits	Numerot
 	Arabic	Arabia
 	Hindi	Hindi
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/fr.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/fr.tsv
index b305ddb4d..aeacf5976 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/fr.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/fr.tsv
@@ -2391,6 +2391,7 @@
 	Proof Setup	Format d’épreuve
 	Properties	Propriétés
 	Proportional Metrics	Métrique proportionnelle
+	Character Direction	Direction des caractères
 	Digits	Chiffres
 	Arabic	Arabes
 	Hindi	Hindi
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/hu.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/hu.tsv
index 219a5df90..b6964882c 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/hu.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/hu.tsv
@@ -982,6 +982,7 @@
 	Diffuse Glow	Szórt ragyogás
 	Diffuse Glow…	Szórt ragyogás…
 	Diffusion	Diffúziós
+	Character Direction	Karakterirány
 	Digits	Számjegyek
 	Dim Copies to:	Másolatok halványítása:
 	Dim Images to:	Képek halványítása:
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/id.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/id.tsv
index 73f10a76a..007ed4ae6 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/id.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/id.tsv
@@ -1312,6 +1312,7 @@ lighting	Light	Cahaya
 	Leading	Leading
 	No Break	Tanpa pemenggalan
 	Proportional Metrics	Metrik proporsional
+	Character Direction	Arah karakter
 	Digits	Digit
 	Arabic	Arab
 	Hindi	Hindi
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/it.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/it.tsv
index 7aeb13c08..69e0d5db7 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/it.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/it.tsv
@@ -2425,6 +2425,7 @@ mark-style	Japanese	Giapponese
 	Proof Setup	Impostazione prova
 	Properties	Proprietà
 	Proportional Metrics	Metrica proporzionale
+	Character Direction	Direzione caratteri
 	Digits	Cifre
 	Arabic	Arabe
 	Hindi	Hindi
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ja.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ja.tsv
index 10c708f16..b42b86bbf 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ja.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ja.tsv
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@
 	ICF Top/Right	平均字面の上 / 右
 	ICF Bottom/Left	平均字面の下 / 左
 	Proportional Metrics	プロポーショナルメトリクス
+	Character Direction	文字の方向
 	Digits	数字
 	Arabic	アラビア数字
 	Hindi	ヒンディー数字
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ka.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ka.tsv
index fd62f9fe4..cbf19aab2 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ka.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ka.tsv
@@ -1227,6 +1227,7 @@ lighting	Light	სინათლე
 	Leading	სტრიქონთა დაშორება
 	No Break	გადატანის გარეშე
 	Proportional Metrics	პროპორციული მეტრიკა
+	Character Direction	სიმბოლოების მიმართულება
 	Digits	ციფრები
 	Arabic	არაბული
 	Hindi	ჰინდი
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ko.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ko.tsv
index d01bbc447..7b937b263 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ko.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ko.tsv
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@
 	ICF Top/Right	ICF 위/오른쪽
 	ICF Bottom/Left	ICF 아래/왼쪽
 	Proportional Metrics	비례 메트릭
+	Character Direction	문자 방향
 	Digits	숫자
 	Arabic	아라비아어
 	Hindi	힌디어
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/nl.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/nl.tsv
index 4165cd1fd..1a17b5339 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/nl.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/nl.tsv
@@ -1326,6 +1326,7 @@ lighting	Light	Licht
 	Leading	Regelafstand
 	No Break	Niet afbreken
 	Proportional Metrics	Proportionele metingen
+	Character Direction	Tekenrichting
 	Digits	Cijfers
 	Arabic	Arabisch
 	Hindi	Hindi
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/pl.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/pl.tsv
index be9ac1abd..4a1deebb3 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/pl.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/pl.tsv
@@ -1308,6 +1308,7 @@ lighting	Light	Światło
 	Leading	Interlinia
 	No Break	Bez podziału
 	Proportional Metrics	Metryka proporcjonalna
+	Character Direction	Kierunek znaków
 	Digits	Cyfry
 	Arabic	Arabskie
 	Hindi	Hindi
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/pt-br.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/pt-br.tsv
index f0dd3c4df..ce38f89a0 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/pt-br.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/pt-br.tsv
@@ -1976,6 +1976,7 @@
 	Proof Setup	Configuração de Prova
 	Properties	Propriedades
 	Proportional Metrics	Métrica Proporcional
+	Character Direction	Direção de Caracteres
 	Digits	Dígitos
 	Arabic	Arábicos
 	Hindi	Hindi
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ru.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ru.tsv
index 4e09de1d4..0f01f3c51 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ru.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ru.tsv
@@ -2421,6 +2421,7 @@ mark-style	Japanese	Японский
 	Proof Setup	Настройка цветопробы
 	Properties	Свойства
 	Proportional Metrics	Пропорциональные метрики
+	Character Direction	Направление символов
 	Digits	Цифры
 	Arabic	Арабские
 	Hindi	Хинди
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/sv.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/sv.tsv
index 095de81f7..54425e4b5 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/sv.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/sv.tsv
@@ -2342,6 +2342,7 @@
 	Proof Setup	Provtrycksinställningar
 	Properties	Egenskaper
 	Proportional Metrics	Proportionella mått
+	Character Direction	Teckenriktning
 	Digits	Siffror
 	Arabic	Arabiska
 	Hindi	Hindi
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/uk.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/uk.tsv
index b724b380e..5ef1a9c33 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/uk.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/uk.tsv
@@ -2417,6 +2417,7 @@ mark-style	Japanese	Японський
 	Proof Setup	Налаштування кольоропроби
 	Properties	Властивості
 	Proportional Metrics	Пропорційні метрики
+	Character Direction	Напрямок символів
 	Digits	Цифри
 	Arabic	Арабські
 	Hindi	Гінді
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/untranslated_messages.txt b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/untranslated_messages.txt
index 05f865c83..52694f803 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/untranslated_messages.txt
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/untranslated_messages.txt
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ Text options: {e}
 `background` must be a colour
 `burasagari` must be "none", "standard" or "forced"
 `charAlign` must be "romanBaseline", "emBoxTop", "emBoxCenter", "emBoxBottom", "icfTop" or "icfBottom"
+`charDirection` must be "default", "leftToRight" or "rightToLeft"
 `color` needs a `rule` to make the theme from
 `colors` is empty
 `columnType` is vertical, uniform, repeating or sliding
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/vi.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/vi.tsv
index ceb7fa79d..6dde845a7 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/vi.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/vi.tsv
@@ -876,6 +876,7 @@
 	Differences from {preset}:	Khác biệt so với {preset}:
 	Diffuse Glow	Ánh sáng khuếch tán
 	Diffuse Glow…	Ánh sáng khuếch tán…
+	Character Direction	Hướng ký tự
 	Digits	Chữ số
 	Dim Copies to:	Làm mờ bản sao đến:
 	Dim Images to:	Làm mờ ảnh đến:
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/zh-hans.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/zh-hans.tsv
index 342eb001b..58d9df0b3 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/zh-hans.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/zh-hans.tsv
@@ -2298,6 +2298,7 @@ font-script	Japanese	汉字
 	Proof Setup	校样设置
 	Properties	属性
 	Proportional Metrics	比例度量
+	Character Direction	字符方向
 	Digits	数字
 	Arabic	阿拉伯数字
 	Hindi	印地数字
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/zh-hant.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/zh-hant.tsv
index eb29aae7c..d2133dd04 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/zh-hant.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/zh-hant.tsv
@@ -3172,6 +3172,7 @@ font-script	Japanese	漢字
 	Proof Setup	校樣設定
 	Properties	內容
 	Proportional Metrics	比例度量
+	Character Direction	字元方向
 	Digits	數字
 	Arabic	阿拉伯數字
 	Hindi	印地數字
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/character.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/character.rs
index 97f30f54c..a6959e7c9 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/character.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/character.rs
@@ -712,6 +712,24 @@ fn style_toggle(ui: &mut Ui, g: Glyph, tip: &str, on: bool) -> bool {
     resp.clicked()
 }
 
+/// The Character Direction submenu: Default, Left to Right and Right to Left set the characters the
+/// panel acts on ([`char_cmd`]) as the bidi algorithm sets them, or left to right or right to left
+/// inside their paragraph. The direction those characters share is checked, and none is checked
+/// when they differ.
+fn char_direction_items(app: &mut VectorcraftApp, ui: &mut Ui) {
+    use vectorcraft_doc::ParaDirection;
+    let direction = shared(app, |s| s.char_direction);
+    for (label, d, key) in [
+        (tl!("Default"), None, "default"),
+        (tl!("Left to Right"), Some(ParaDirection::LeftToRight), "leftToRight"),
+        (tl!("Right to Left"), Some(ParaDirection::RightToLeft), "rightToLeft"),
+    ] {
+        if menu_item(ui, label, true, direction == Some(d)) {
+            format(app, json!({"charDirection": key}));
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 pub fn menu(app: &mut VectorcraftApp, ui: &mut Ui) {
     let st = text_style(app);
     let has = st.is_some();
@@ -795,6 +813,9 @@ pub fn menu(app: &mut VectorcraftApp, ui: &mut Ui) {
                 }
             });
         });
+        ui.add_enabled_ui(has, |ui| {
+            ui.menu_button(format!("   {}", tl!("Character Direction")), |ui| char_direction_items(app, ui));
+        });
         ui.separator();
     }
     // No Break: the selected characters stay on one line.
@@ -847,8 +868,9 @@ fn fractional_widths_on(app: &VectorcraftApp) -> bool {
 /// Reset Panel: the characters the panel acts on ([`char_cmd`]) take tracking 0, Auto leading and
 /// kerning, no baseline shift, 100% scales, no rotation, no underline or strikethrough, All Caps
 /// and Small Caps off, the normal position (neither superscript nor subscript), Roman Baseline
-/// character alignment, Proportional Metrics, Tate-chu-yoko and No Break off and the Default digits, whether
-/// or not Show East Asian Options and Show Indic Options are on.
+/// character alignment, Proportional Metrics, Tate-chu-yoko and No Break off, the Default character
+/// direction and the Default digits, whether or not Show East Asian Options and Show Indic Options
+/// are on.
 fn reset_panel(app: &mut VectorcraftApp) {
     let d = CharStyle::default();
     style(app, json!({"tracking": 0, "leading": "auto"}));
@@ -857,7 +879,8 @@ fn reset_panel(app: &mut VectorcraftApp) {
         json!({
             "kerning": "auto", "baselineShift": 0, "hScale": 100, "vScale": 100, "rotation": 0, "underline": false, "strikethrough": false,
             "allCaps": false, "smallCaps": d.small_caps.is_some(), "position": d.position.id(), "charAlign": d.char_align,
-            "proportionalMetrics": d.proportional_metrics, "tateChuYoko": d.tate_chu_yoko, "noBreak": d.no_break, "digits": d.digits
+            "proportionalMetrics": d.proportional_metrics, "tateChuYoko": d.tate_chu_yoko, "noBreak": d.no_break, "charDirection": "default",
+            "digits": d.digits
         }),
     );
 }
@@ -1292,6 +1315,36 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(shown(&mut app));
     }
 
+    /// Character Direction is in the panel menu with the Middle Eastern (Indic) options, beside
+    /// Digits. Its submenu checks the direction the characters the panel acts on share: the
+    /// selected type's, or the range the Type tool has selected. It checks no item when they differ.
+    #[test]
+    fn character_direction_checks_the_direction_of_the_selection() {
+        let mut app = VectorcraftApp::new(Session::new(), Default::default());
+        app.run("file.new", json!({"width": 300, "height": 200})).unwrap();
+        let id = app.run("text.create", json!({"x": 20, "y": 50, "text": "שלום 21 10 2026"})).unwrap()["id"].as_u64().unwrap();
+        app.run("select.set", json!({"ids": [id]})).unwrap();
+        let shown = |app: &mut VectorcraftApp| crate::tests_labels::painted_text(app, menu).contains("Character Direction");
+        assert!(!shown(&mut app));
+        app.session.prefs.show_indic_options = true;
+        assert!(shown(&mut app));
+        let checked = |app: &mut VectorcraftApp| {
+            let text = crate::tests_labels::painted_text(app, char_direction_items);
+            text.lines().filter_map(|l| l.strip_prefix("✓ ")).map(str::to_string).collect::<Vec<_>>()
+        };
+        assert_eq!(checked(&mut app), ["Default"]);
+        app.run("text.setRangeStyle", json!({"id": id, "start": 9, "end": 19, "charDirection": "leftToRight"})).unwrap();
+        // The object's characters differ: nothing is checked.
+        assert!(checked(&mut app).is_empty());
+        // The Type tool's selection: the date, then the Hebrew word.
+        app.select_tool("type");
+        app.session.apply_actions(vec![vectorcraft_tools::Action::Notify("text.editNew".into())]).unwrap();
+        app.session.set_tool_option("select", &json!({"start": 9, "end": 19}));
+        assert_eq!(checked(&mut app), ["Left to Right"]);
+        app.session.set_tool_option("select", &json!({"start": 0, "end": 8}));
+        assert_eq!(checked(&mut app), ["Default"]);
+    }
+
     /// No Break is in the panel menu, and choosing it marks the selected characters.
     #[test]
     fn no_break_menu_item_toggles_the_selected_characters() {
@@ -1321,8 +1374,8 @@ mod tests {
 
     /// Reset Panel sets every character attribute the panel shows, except the font family, style
     /// and size, back to its default (Small Caps, the position, Character Alignment, Proportional
-    /// Metrics, Tate-chu-yoko, No Break and Digits included), in the selected type and in the text
-    /// the Type tool has selected while it edits.
+    /// Metrics, Tate-chu-yoko, No Break, Character Direction and Digits included), in the selected
+    /// type and in the text the Type tool has selected while it edits.
     #[test]
     fn reset_panel_resets_every_attribute_but_the_font() {
         let mut app = VectorcraftApp::new(Session::new(), Default::default());
@@ -1350,6 +1403,7 @@ mod tests {
                 s.proportional_metrics != d.proportional_metrics,
                 s.tate_chu_yoko != d.tate_chu_yoko,
                 s.no_break != d.no_break,
+                s.char_direction != d.char_direction,
                 s.digits != d.digits,
             ]
         };
@@ -1359,16 +1413,17 @@ mod tests {
                 json!({
                     "id": id, "tracking": 50, "leading": 30, "kerning": 20, "baselineShift": 3, "hScale": 120, "vScale": 90, "rotation": 15,
                     "underline": true, "strikethrough": true, "allCaps": true, "smallCaps": true, "position": "superscript",
-                    "charAlign": "emBoxCenter", "proportionalMetrics": true, "tateChuYoko": true, "noBreak": true, "digits": "hindi"
+                    "charAlign": "emBoxCenter", "proportionalMetrics": true, "tateChuYoko": true, "noBreak": true,
+                    "charDirection": "rightToLeft", "digits": "hindi"
                 }),
             )
             .unwrap();
         };
         let plain = runs(&app)[0].1.clone();
-        assert_eq!(differs(&plain, &CharStyle::default()), [false; 17]);
+        assert_eq!(differs(&plain, &CharStyle::default()), [false; 18]);
         custom(&mut app);
         let styled = runs(&app)[0].1.clone();
-        assert_eq!(differs(&styled, &CharStyle::default()), [true; 17]);
+        assert_eq!(differs(&styled, &CharStyle::default()), [true; 18]);
         app.run("select.set", json!({"ids": [id]})).unwrap();
         reset_panel(&mut app);
         assert_eq!(runs(&app), [("One 12".to_string(), plain.clone())]);
diff --git a/docs/mcp.md b/docs/mcp.md
index 499c7f803..4c6bf9adb 100644
--- a/docs/mcp.md
+++ b/docs/mcp.md
@@ -4144,6 +4144,25 @@ explicitly, `{}` for none. Each command is one undo step.
 {"name":"run_command","arguments":{"command":"text.setFormat","params":{"fontAxes":{"wght":650,"wdth":87.5}}}}
 ```
 
+## Character Direction
+
+`text.setFormat {charDirection: "default"|"leftToRight"|"rightToLeft"}` (the selected type, or `ids`) and
+`text.setRangeStyle {id, start, end, charDirection}` (a range) set the direction of the characters inside their
+paragraph, as the Character panel menu's Character Direction does with the Middle Eastern (Indic) options shown. The bidi
+algorithm (UAX #9) resolves each stretch of characters with a direction as an embedding in that direction, as if an LRE
+or RLE stood before it and a PDF after it: `leftToRight` keeps a date written with spaces, such as `21 10 2026`, in its
+order inside a right-to-left paragraph, and `rightToLeft` sets a Hebrew or Arabic word and the punctuation after it right
+to left inside a left-to-right paragraph. Characters keep their own strong direction inside an embedding: Latin letters
+set Right to Left still read left to right. `default` leaves the characters to the bidi algorithm. The paragraph's own
+direction is unchanged. SVG export writes type with a character drawn right to left, or with a run set Right to Left,
+as outlines; live SVG text writes `direction="ltr"` and `unicode-bidi="embed"` on each run set Left to Right. Character
+Direction is Default until set and is saved only when set, and character styles captured from type carry it. Each
+command is one undo step.
+
+```json
+{"name":"run_command","arguments":{"command":"text.setRangeStyle","params":{"id":12,"start":9,"end":19,"charDirection":"leftToRight"}}}
+```
+
 ## Digits
 
 `text.setFormat {digits: "default"|"arabic"|"hindi"|"farsi"}` (the selected type, or `ids`) and `text.setRangeStyle {id,
diff --git a/docs/target-app-parity.md b/docs/target-app-parity.md
index 3a340fe13..4c372c2f5 100644
--- a/docs/target-app-parity.md
+++ b/docs/target-app-parity.md
@@ -683,6 +683,7 @@ Moved from the ROADMAP's "Shipped so far" on 2026-10-10. Update it when a featur
   Optical Margin Alignment and Roman Hanging Punctuation hang right-to-left paragraphs of point and area type, and type on a path whose first paragraph runs right to left, too. Auto aligns a right-to-left line at its right, or at the end bracket of a path, so it hangs there. A right-to-left line is read from right to left: where it hangs at its left margin, `."` ending it hangs both glyphs.
   The Paragraph panel menu's Hyphenation… (`ui.hyphenation`, `text.setFormat {wordsLongerThan, afterFirst, beforeLast, hyphenLimit, hyphenationZone, hyphenateCapitalized}`) sets each paragraph's hyphenation limits: the shortest word that breaks, the fewest letters on each side of the hyphen, the most hyphenated lines in a row, a zone at the right edge where the Single-line Composer breaks before a word instead of hyphenating it, and whether capitalized words break. The defaults are words longer than 5 letters, 3 letters on each side, no limit or zone, and capitalized words hyphenated; paragraph styles and the native file keep the options.
   The Paragraph panel's Insert Kashidas (with the Indic options; `text.setFormat {kashida}`) lengthens each Arabic word of a justified horizontal area type line with a kashida, a tatweel between its last pair of joined letters, before the word spaces widen: Short, Medium and Long kashidas are at most a quarter, half and a whole em long, Stylistic ones are whole tatweels up to an em, and None (the default) leaves the line as before; paragraph styles and the native file keep the setting.
+  The Character panel menu's Character Direction (with the Indic options; `text.setFormat {charDirection}`, `text.setRangeStyle {charDirection}`) sets the selected characters left to right or right to left inside their paragraph, as a Unicode bidi embedding: a date set Left to Right keeps its order in right-to-left text, and a word set Right to Left keeps the punctuation after it on its left. Default (the default) leaves the characters to the bidi algorithm; character styles and the native file keep the setting.
   In vertical type, the Tabs panel names its alignment buttons Top-Justified Tab, Center-Justified Tab, Bottom-Justified Tab and Decimal-Justified Tab, in their tool tips and for screen readers, and labels the position field Y. In horizontal type the buttons keep the names Left-Justified Tab and Right-Justified Tab, and the field keeps the label X.
   The Tabs panel's ruler is numbered in the General unit with the canvas rulers' label steps and a tick every tenth of a step. With the panel menu's Snap to Unit on, or Shift held, a tab stop placed by a click on the ruler or dragged on it lands on the nearest tick (`text.tabs.set`).
   With Snap to Unit off and Shift not held, a tab stop placed by a click on the Tabs panel's ruler or dragged on it lands on the nearest whole point. A position typed in the X or Y field keeps its hundredths of a point.