creating unicode docs in indian languages
DESCRIPTION
Dear Readers, please download as the web version is having difficulty displaying figure #s and labels as they were created as a cross reference using MS Word. Both downloads as a .doc or .pdf file works great.This document outlines ways to setup a windows machine to create Unicode documents in Indic based languages and Tamil.All languages except Tamil are Indic based and Tamil scripts are close but different.TRANSCRIPT
Ravichandran M. Kaushika [email protected]
Creating Indian Language DocumentsThis document explains ways to create a Sanskrit (and other Indian languages) documents using MS word or any other software. Using the steps discussed in this document, it was possible to create Indian language documents using notepad (Unicode ASCII documents) – not only MS word that supports true type fonts.
In each of the figures to explain the concept, first figure display shows operations for XP and next one for Windows 7.
Installation of Fonts1. Open Control Panel / Regional Setting and Fonts/ as shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1 Step to open ‘Regional and Language Options’ (XP and Windows 7).
2. In the Regional and Language Options window, select on the ‘Languages’ tab, check the ‘Install files for complex script ...’ checkbox, and click apply (Figure 2).
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Figure 2 Modifying the ‘Regional and Language option settings (XP and Win 7).
3. Click on the details button, select the ‘Advanced’ tab in the ‘Text services and input language’ section and check ‘Extend support of …’ as indicated in Figure 2.
4. Click OK and the system might request for the Windows CD. If requested insert the CD and follow the instructions (Figure 2) to install the required files.
5. After rebooting the computer, open the ‘Regional and Language Options’ windows (step 1), click on the ‘language’ tab and click on details. Add ‘Sanskrit’, ‘Tamil’, and other languages as desired as indicated in Figure 3.
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Figure 3 List of installed languages and ways to add new language (XP and Win 7).
6. After all the desired languages are selected, push the ‘Language Bar’ button to open the ‘Language Bar Settings’ window, and check all the options as indicated in Figure 4.
Figure 4 Enabling the language bar on the desktop (XP only).
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7. Choose one of the languages from the language bar usually present in the bottom right corner of the desktop near the clock as shown in Figure 5.
Figure 5 was obtained from Windows 7 operating system – windows 8 and XP are very similar to the display. If more languages are enabled in the previous steps, they will be displayed in the list of languages.
Figure 5. Docked language bar in Windows 7.
8. Once the language bar is enabled, it allows the selection of the language in the desktop and all editable windows will recognize this change. When Sanskrit is selected, Microsoft word changes the default language to ‘Sanskrit’ instead of the default ‘English (U.S)’ (Figure 6)
Figure 6 Selection of 'Sanskrit' as the default language.
Creating Sanskrit DocumentsOnce the Unicode fonts are installed for the Indian language of choice, documents can be created as explained below. Indian fonts are available from many websites – most of them for free of cost. These service-minded hosts provide the fonts for the benefit of the users and the cause of the language.
1. Download Sanskrit 2003 font from: http://www.omkarananda-ashram.org/Sanskrit/itranslator2003.htm.
The keyboard layout (Figure 7) was obtained from the help menu of the font installation software. This website allows the users to download the tool for transliterating the text using English language.
Using the keyboard, it is possible to do the traditional typing depending on the user’s convenience. This document focuses on using the keyboard instead of the English transliteration route.
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Figure 7 Sanskrit 2003 keyboard layout.
2. Using the keyboard layout, create the document with Sanskrit and English fonts as needed.
While sharing the documents with others, it is necessary to embed the fonts if they need to be shared with others.
3. To create Tamil Unicode documents, following keyboard layout can be used after changing the default language from English to Tamil very similar to way shown in Figure 6. Keyboard layout for Tamil Unicode script is shown in Figure 8.
Figure 8 Tamil Unicode Keyboard Layout.
4. Click on File/Save as in Microsoft word, select the Tools menu, and select ‘Save Options’. Click on the Embed True Type Fonts as shown in Figure 9.
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Figure 9 Setting save options (XP and Win 7).
Sample document created using the Sanskrit 2003 font is shown for reference in Figure 10.
Figure 10 Statements created using Sanskrit 2003 font at 12 and 14 pts.
Advanced MatrasSome of the matras used in the recitation of Vedas are not used in written Sanskrit and in regular textbooks. Such matras need to be created using special character codes similar to the Greek and Latin symbols.
As a simple example, the beginning of the 6th stanza of Rudram was taken for demonstration.
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Fonts such as Times New Roman, Arial, or any of the standard fonts do not render the Sanskrit portions of the document with such high readability like the Sanskrit 2003 font.
The Sanskrit document created for demonstration purpose was opened in a public university library with guest privileges to see whether the embedded fonts showed up; the Sanskrit fonts showed and the document was readable with the ability to print. The same document was not tested with Open Office (www.openoffice.org).
Please feel free to provide any suggestions or list any errors found in this document. They can be sent to the email address indicated in the footer of this document.
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