How-to view/post in TAMIL ?

[RR]

How-to view/post in TAMIL?


There are the two popular standards for Tamil script: TSCII & Unicode.

TSCII stands for Tamil Standard Code for Information Interchange. It was created by a group of Font developers, vendors, users, Tamil scholars and enthusiasts, through open net based discussion. TSCII was setup as an interim standard to stop the proliferation of Tamil encodings during mid-to-late 90's.

Unicode is a universal coding scheme for ALL languages (including Tamil, of course). After Win XP was launched with support for Tamil unicode, this is getting widely popular since it is idiot-proof. There's no font installation or browser settings needed! Google also supports Unicode tamil search. However, life is not perfect for people with Win 98 or older pc's. So, TSCII lives on.. The Hub's philosophy is to support both the standards.

Let's look at TSCII first.

How to view in Tamil?

This should be simple.

Method 1: Download this file and save it in your c:\WINDOWS\Fonts\ directory. Close and Restart your browser. That's all !

You should now be able read this: þÐ ¾Á¢ú ¾¢Š¸¢Â¢ø ¨¼ô ¦ºö¾Ð.. !

Method 2: You can also download e-Kalappai and install it. This sets up tamil fonts by default. You'll be able to view tamil automatically after installation.

Method 3: There's one more popular tool called Murasu Anjal software. It's available at http://www.murasu.com. Just install and run to view TAMIL. For help, see here.

(Tamil is also supported on Mac and Linux platforms, see http://www.tamil.net/tscii/tools.html)

Typing & Posting in Tamil:

With eKalappai, you can type in Tamil as you would do for English. First press Alt+2 (eKalappai should be running in background). Now open Notepad and start typing like 'ithu oru thamiz sOthanai'.. You'll see it in Tamil..! Simple, isn't it?

If you want to get back to English typing mode, press Alt+1.

Posting instructions:

- Use eKalappai/Murasu to type a test msg.
- Open the 'post reply' page, and copy & paste the tamil text.
- Click 'Preview' and see it views fine.
- If you can't see TAMIL, pls check if [ tscii ] .. [ /tscii ] tags are present. Add them around the tamil text, if you don't see them.
- If everything's ok, 'submit' it.

Your taml posting will now be posted on the forum.. !

This method may not work if your post contains 'quote'. In that case, follow these steps..

- Use a tamil editor to type a test msg.
- Open the 'post reply' page, and copy & paste the tamil text.
- Mark this text using your cursor (as you normally do for 'copy' or 'cut').
- Click the 'TSCII' button above the form.
- Click 'Preview' and see it views fine.
- If you can't see TAMIL, pls check if [ tscii ] .. [ /tscii ] tags are present. Add them around the tamil text, if you don't see them.
- If everything's ok, 'submit' it.

Pls note that 'tscii' tags cannot be nested with 'quote' or other tags. Add tscii tags (using TSCII button) repeatedly wherever needed.

(A powerpoint tutorial will be posted soon. )

Other ways for typing in TAMIL

1. Here's an alternate way without using any software. (You may want to use this, at places like netcafe's and browsing centres.) Go to

http://www.jaffnalibrary.com/tools/Tsc.htm

In the top box, just type your text using English albhabets. They will be automatically converted to Tamil in the bottom box. Just copy & paste it..!

2. If you are using eKalappai, you don't need to copy&paste at all. You might as well go to the 'post reply' and just start typing (after setting tamil mode using Alt+2) directly

You can also use it on Yahoo messenger to chat in Tamil.. !


List of fonts supported: TSCu_Inaimathi, TSC_Avarangal, TSC_Paranar, TSC_Andal, TSC_Kanna, TSC_Comic, TSC_Times, TSC_Janani, TSC_Thunaivan, TSC_Komathi, TSC_Nattai, AparanarTSC, TSCAparnar, TSCAvarangal.

You need one of these fonts to view Tamil. Murasu Anjal and eKalappai come with them by default.