TSCII (Tamil) HOWTO for Unix/Linux
Anbumani Subramanian <anbumani@webname.com>
v1.11, July 20, 2000.
1.1 What is TSCII ?
1.2 Who should read this document ?
1.3 Contact information
1.4 Acknowledgments
1.5 Feedback
2.1 What do I need to startwith ?
2.2 Where do I get Tamil fonts ?
2.3 How do I unzip the pack ?
2.4 How do I setup Tamil fonts, once I
unpack ?
2.5 How do I check if I installed the fonts
correctly ?
2.6 How do I setup Netscape to read Tamil
pages ?
2.7 Can I read Dinamani, Dinakaran and
other non-TSCII Tamil pages on Unix ?
2.8 Using Adobe Acrobot Reader on Unix
3.1 Can I type Tamil documents (or mails) on
Unix ?
3.2 Where can I download Tamil editors
for Unix ?
3.3 What do I need for installing Akaram
?
3.4 How do I setup Akaram ?
3.5 Is there any other method to type in
Tamil ?
4.1 Can I print documents in Tamil from Unix
?
5.1 I get 'Bad value' message. What does it
mean ?
5.2 'xlsfonts' does not show any Tamil font.
5.3 I have TTF fonts only. Now, how do
I install ?
5.4 I setup everything correctly. But still,
I am not able to see Tamil characters in my browser ?
5.5 No !!! Nothing mentioned in this FAQ
works. What do I do ?
5.6 Why can't I read Aaraamthinai pages
?
1. Introduction
This FAQ explains how to setup Tamil fonts on various Unix platforms. This
also discusses currently available input methods for Unix. The procedures
mentioned here were tested on Sun, HP-UX unix, Slackware and Red Hat linux
platforms and have been found to work without any problems.For Win95/WinNT/Mac
operating systems, please refer the FAQ at
http://www.tamil.net/tscii/faq.html
Henceforth, any reference to Unix in this document also implies Linux, BSD Unix or any other variant of Unix.
1.1 What is TSCII ?
For questions, this fundamental in nature, please visit http://www.tamil.net/tscii
1.2 Who should read this document ?
You need to read this document if you are not familiar with installing
fonts on Unix platforms. Even otherwise, it is highly recommended if you
want to read or write Tamil on Unix.
1.3 Contact information
For any questions regarding Tamil in computers, you can contact the Standards
for Tamil Computing group at http://www.tamil.net/tscii/
This is a part of the TSCII FAQ documents at the above site.
1.4 Acknowledgments
This FAQ was initiated by Dr. Ram Ravindran and hence the author likes
to thank him. The credits, if any go to the TSCII group and the errors,
if any are purely the author's and are open for correction.
Also, the author likes to thank Chinnasamy Nagarajan for his wonderful
'Akaram' editor, D. Sivaraj and Subramanian for their hardwork, enthusiasm
and contributions to Tamil on Unix/Linux.
1.5 Feedback
This document was prepared by Anbumani Subramanian. Your suggestions or
corrections to this document are most welcome. You can reach the author
through e-mails to anbumani@webname.com.
2. Tamil fonts
Presently, Tamil input/output is available only if you use X-window
(Graphical User Interface for Unix). Console (or text) mode support for
Tamil is not yet availabe.
In most cases, the Truetype (TTF) fonts found commonly on the websites
cannot be used on Unix platforms. (Some have succeeded to use TTF fonts
on Unix by running a true-type font server. The exact setup detail are
not described in this document.)
2.1 What do I need to startwith ?
You need Tamil fonts for Unix (not Truetype fonts). Unix fonts can be freely
downloaded from http://www.tamil.net/tscii/tools.html
2.2 Where do I get Tamil fonts ?
You can get the complete Unix fonts package from http://www.tamil.net/tscii/tools.html
Download the fonts to a new directory. For example, under /usr/local/fonts/tscii
(if you have root priviliges) or under
/home/your_user_name/tsciifonts, (if you are a normal user).
2.3 How do I unzip the pack ?
The font pack is in compressed, tar format. So you need to uncompress it
first. In the downloaded directory, type the command
uncompress tsciifonts.tar.Z
Then you will have a file by name tsciifonts.tar. Now, untar this file
by typing
tar -xvf tsciifonts.tar
Now you are ready to setup the fonts.
2.4 How do I setup Tamil fonts, once I unpack ?
See, if you have given read and execute permissions for everyone to the
directory where you have the fonts. X-server needs these permissions to
read your font files and directory. If not, give permission by the command:
chmod a+rx your_font_directory_name
You also need to give read permission to the font files. Type,
chmod a+rx your_font_directory_name/*
Now you can install the fonts using the 'xset' command. At the command
prompt type,
xset +fp your_font_directory_name
The '+fp' in the above line 'adds' the 'font path'. If there was no
message - congratulations, you have successfully installed the fonts. If
you get any error message, refer Troubleshooting section in this document.
Now, inform (!) your X-server that you added a new font path, by typing
xset fp rehash
2.5 How do I check if I installed the fonts correctly ?
You can check by issuing the 'xlsfonts' command. This command lists the
currently available fonts on the system. Type,
xlsfonts | grep 'tscii'
on the command prompt. If you see a list of fontnames, your installation
was successful. If you donot see anything, then your installation didn't
work. Refer Troubleshooting secion of this document.
2.6 How do I setup Netscape to read Tamil pages ?
In Netscape Communicator, pulldown the menu Edit -> Preferences. Under
Appearances select Font. Now choose User-Defined for 'Font Encoding'.
Then for Variable Width Font choose any Tamil font. Again select a Tamil
font for Fixed Width Font. Then choose Ok and close the window.
Anytime you wish to read Tamil pages, choose View -> Character Set ->
User Defined. Your browser will render Tamil characters now.
Choose any Tamil site which uses TSCII fonts. For example, try Dr. Kannan's
page on Paasura Madals at
http://www.angelfire.com/ak/nkannan/Madals/madalindex.html
Note: Everytime you start the X-windows, you need to add the font path
with the command 'xset +fp your_font_directory_name' before starting
Netscape. Or you can add this in your initialization script.
2.7 Can I read Dinamani, Dinakaran and other non-TSCII
Tamil pages on Unix ?
Yes, you can. But, you need to download their fonts for Unix platforms
(if only they have). The glitch is most of these sites, do not offer Unix
fonts. Some have not even thought (or donot care ?) of Unix users. Refer
Troubleshooting section, if you are strong minded to setup these fonts
using other tricks.
2.8 Using Adobe Acrobot Reader on Unix
This is the most cool way for reading Tamil on Unix. No need for fonts,
software. With Adobe Acrobot Reader (ver 4.0+), you can read pdf files
in Tamil. Check out Dr. Ram Ravindran's pdf file collection at http://www.tamil.net/special
Also, you can print these pdf files directly to a printer. (Adobe Acrobat
Reader can be downloaded freely from http://www.adobe.com).
3. Tamil input
This section discusses how to type Tamil documents or mails in Unix.
3.1 Can I type Tamil documents (or mails) on Unix ?
Yes, you can. Thanks to Chinnasamy Nagarajan's cool editor 'Akaram'. It
can be used on any Unix platforms. With this editor you can type Tamil
documents or mails under Unix. Unlike Windows, on Unix, to send Tamil e-mails,
you have to cut and paste whatever you typed in the editor in your mail
software.
3.2 Where can I download Tamil editors for Unix ?
You can download the recent release of Akaram from http://www.tamil.net/tscii/tools.html
3.3 What do I need for installing Akaram ?
Tcl/Tk (ver. 8.0 and above) is the only software you'll ever need. (Tcl/Tk
can be downloaded freely from http://www.scriptics.com)
3.4 How do I setup Akaram ?
This is clearly explained in the FAQ for Akaram, which comes with the software.
3.5 Is there any other method to type in Tamil ?
Yes, there are other ways to input Tamil using XKB, xmodmap, etc.. These
methods are yet to be investigated. If you are interested, you can join
the TSCII group.
4. Printing
This section outlines printing Tamil documents from Unix.
4.1 Can I print documents in Tamil from Unix ?
Printing Tamil documents from Unix is yet to be experimented. But you can
print font-embedded Tamil pdf files from Unix.
If you like to play with latex, ghostscript and help other unix users
in printing, you can join hands with the TSCII group.
5. Troubleshooting
The most common problems encountered while installing fonts are discussed
in this section.
5.1 I get 'Bad value' message. What does it mean ?
That's a very cryptic message. There can be many reasons for this message.
The common problem is, you didn't give read and execute permissions for
everyone, to your font directory. If your directory has 'r-x' permission,
and you still get the message, check the permissions for your font files
and fonts.dir file.
Check if you typed the command correctly.
5.2 'xlsfonts' does not show any Tamil font.
Then your fonts are not installed. Check if your xset command was correct.
Also, check if the font path has been added (remember, you issued a xset
command ?). When you type
'xset q'
it shows a list of current settings, one of which is fontpath. See if
your directory name is present in that font path list. If not, repeat the
installation procedure.
5.3 I have TTF fonts only. Now, how do I install ?
Cheer up, since you are ready for a challenge awaiting you. There are three
ways to accomplish your ideal. :-)
First, the simplest. Ask !!! Send an e-mail to the TSCII group, as someone
might have converted the TTF fonts to PCF format. Few persons to ask are
- Anbumani Subramanian (anbumani@webname.com) and Subramanian (rrs16@excite.com).
If you are ready to 'explore your world', one way is to setup a True-type
font server, freely available on the internet. Search for 'xfstt'on any
search engine.
Another way is to convert TTF fonts to BDF and then to PCF. For this
you need the ttf to bdf conversion program (free) from 'fontutils' package
available from http://www.gnu.org.
Once you have the bdf version, use 'bdftopcf' utility on your Unix to make
'pcf' version. Then do a 'mkfontdir' in the directory, where you have the
bdf/pcf fonts and repeat the installation procedure.
5.4 I setup everything correctly. But still, I am not
able to see Tamil characters in my browser ?
This can be one of the sites to use poor html tags. Rarely, it's the browser
problem. A small hack is sometimes found to work. In the font directory,
type the following:
sed 's/tscii-0/iso8859-2/g' fonts.dir > newfonts.dir
mv newfonts.dir fonts.dir
Now repeat the Font setting procedure in Netscape, but this time for
ISO8859-2 instead of User-Defined.
5.5 No !!! Nothing mentioned in this FAQ
works. What do I do ?
Well... you tried hard to make the cake yourself. It didn't work. Now, have this
readymade cake. Download this
fontpack with almost
everything you will need for Tamil on the web. (Note: There are some
freebies in the pack. :-)
5.6 Why can't I read Aaraamthinai pages ?
Aaraamthinai pages displayed well in Tamil on Slackware Linux, while they
did not work on Sun platforms. So, for reasons
unknown, Aaraamthinai pages pose a challenge (to the author). Mails
sent to Aaraamthinai were kindly responded with
"we are working on the problem".
6. When everything works
When everything works (usually it will), you too can join TSCII group and
contribute for Tamil on the web. Some challenging tasks awaiting
you are character recognition, tamil DNS, speech recognition etc..