Unicode is a multi-byte alphabet which can represent all major world scripts, and many obscure ones as well. This solves a major problem for creators of etexts, as it is now possible to fully transcribe texts in multiple languages without requiring ASCII transliterations, special fonts or browsing software. Unicode enabling also takes care of right-to-left scripts more-or-less automatically.
Manually Selecting Unicode Encoding
You may need to also manually select 'Unicode (UTF-8)' in certain browsers. For instance, under
Internet Explorer, you can select 'View | Encoding', and 'Unicode (UTF-8)'.
Under Netscape/Firefox, this is 'View | Character Encoding'.
For proper display of Gurmukhi & Hindi scripts, Unicode text rendering must be enabled.
Platform Independent support on Mozilla Firefox
Indic IME, a plugin for Firefox 1.0+ can help you write in many indian languages in your webpages. It is easy to install and works on all platforms where Firefox or other Mozilla-based browsers are running. The Indic IME toolbar project was started to address the need of typing in Indian Languages in Web Forms, Emails, Blog, Search Boxes etc.
| Script |
Correct rendering |
Your computer |
| Devanagari |
 |
|
| Gurmukhi |
 |
|
Viewing Indic text in Win XP
- Go to Start > Control Panel.
- If you are in "Category View" select the icon that says "Date, Time, Language and Regional Options" and then select Regional and Language Options".
- If you are in Classic View select the icon that says "Regional and Language Options".
- Select the "Languages" tab and make sure you select the option saying "Install files for complex script and right-to-left languages (including Thai)". A confirmation message should now appear - press "OK" on this confirmation message.
- Allow the OS to install necessary files from the Windows XP CD and then reboot if prompted.
Inputting Indic text Win XP
Windows XP have inbuilt InScript Keyboards for nearly all Indian languages. You can add them via Control Panel. You must follow the steps above before you perform the remaining steps.
- In the "Regional and Language Options", click the "Languages" tab.
- Click on the "Details" tab.
- Click the "Add" button to add a keyboard for your particular language.
- In the drop-down box, select your required Indian language.
- Make sure the check box labelled "Keyboard layout/IME" is selected and ensure you select an appropriate keyboard.
- Now select "OK" to save changes.
You can use the combination ALT + SHIFT to switch between different keyboard layouts (e.g. from a UK Keyboard to Gurmukhi and vice-versa). If you want a language bar, you can select it by pressing the "Language Bar..." button on the "Text Services and Input Languages" dialog and then selecting "Show the language bar on my desktop". The language bar enables you to visually select the keyboard layout you are using.
Mac OS X
Viewing Indic text
You do not need to do anything to enable viewing of Indic text as long as you use Safari or most other Cocoa applications, which fully support rearrangement and substitution for AAT-based fonts. Firefox up to version 2.0 does not support Indic script rendering at all because it does not use ATSUI (Firefox renders little rectangles instead). Opera also provides some support, although considerable bugs remain as of version 9.2 (though Opera at least renders the glyphs).
Inputting Indic text
Specific keyboard layouts can be enabled in System Preferences, in the International pane. Switching among enabled keyboard layouts is done through the input menu in the upper right corner of the screen. The input menu appears as an icon indicating the current input method or keyboard layout — often a flag identified with the country, language, or script. Specific instructions are available from the "Help" menu (search for "Writing text in other languages").
A way to activate the keyboard(s) for Devanagari (Hindi etc.):
i) Open "International" located within System Preferences and select the "Input Menu" tab. (ii) Check the option for "Devanagari" and/or "Devanagari - QWERTY". (iii) Check the "Show input menu in menu bar" option at the bottom of the "International" panel. Close the panel, and the new keyboard(s) should be available for selection when you click on the menu bar icon (upper right corner).
Download the Urdu Nastaliq Unicode font!
- Click H E R E to download the self-extracting zip file, u-font.exe.
- Run the file u-font.exe, and a directory named urdufont will be created, with the font file nastaliq_unicode.ttf, and some help files.
- Install the font by going to Settings/Control Panel/Fonts, and choosing "install a new font".
For Hukumnamas from Sri Darbar Sahib, Bangla Sahib and Sisganj Sahib :
Please download WebAkharThick font from here |
