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TSCII-FAQ-1: HOW-TO Guide to End users

Table of Contents

  1. Who should read this FAQ?
  2. Where can I get TSCII fonts?
  3. How to install fonts in my Operating System?
    1. in Windows 95/NT
    2. in Windows 3.x
    3. in Macintosh
    4. in Unix
  4. How to view the TSCII based Tamil webpages?
    1. Internet Explorer users
    2. Netscape Navigatory users
    3. Users of other browsers
  5. What are the keyboard drivers available for TSCII?
  6. How do I install xyz keyboard driver?
    1. Keyman (Windows)
    2. Silkey (Macintosh)
    3. Murasu Anjal (Windows/Macintosh/Unix)
  7. How to use Keyman?
  8. How to use Silkey?
  9. How to start Keyman automatically everytime I start Windows?
  10. What are these different keyboard layouts?
  11. How do I learn this xyz keyboard?
  12. How to send and receive email in TSCII?
    1. using Eudora
    2. using Hotmail and other web-based mailers
    3. using Netscape Mail
    4. using Internet Mail
  13. I have this Tamil file in so-and-so font and want to convert it to TSCII. What should I do?
  14. What are the other tools available for TSCII?
  15. How to chat in Tamil using TSCII?
  16. I want to create a homepage. Tell me what should I do?
  17. Whom should I contact if I have a suggestion or find a bug?

 

Answers

  1. Who should read this FAQ?
    This FAQ is meant for everybody who need to use Tamil in computers in their day-to-day life. If you are new to TSCII this is what you should read first. Most of the questions are answered with novice users in mind. If you cannot understand any of these answers or had a problem in following the steps please email me. My address is found at the end of this file.
     
    2.
  2. Where can I get TSCII fonts?
    The tools page of TSCII website contains a collection of fonts. As time goes on you should be able get TSCII based fonts across various sites in the web. We will try to link most of them to the TSCII site. Go here:
    3. http://www.tscii.org/Mirror/tools.html
     
  3. How to install fonts in my Operating System?
    Please read the answers specific to your OS.
     
    In Windows 95/NT
     
    TTF fonts are the most used font types in Windows platform. They may come in three different packagings.
     
    • If you have a file with .TTF extension:
      1. Click on "Start" ==> "Settings" ==> Control Panel
      2. Double click on "Fonts"
      3. In "Fonts" window, select "File" ==> "Install new fonts..."
      4. Select the folder in which you have saved your .TTF files in the "Folders" window. Now all the fonts in that folder should appear in the top window.
      5. Select the font you wish to install and click OK.
    • If you have a file with .ZIP extention:
      1. Extract the file using "PKUNZIP" or WinZip into a temporary folder. This will extract all the .TTF files in to the given folder. Don't know what is ZIP? Too bad! See elsewhere in this document for more information.
      2. Follow the procedure for .TTF files given above.
    • If the file you have downloaded has a .EXE extension:
      Hmm.. You are lucky. Just double click the file. It should install all the fonts by itself.

     
    In Windows 3.x
    • If you have a file with .TTF extension:
      1. Copy the font file to C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory.
    • If you have a file with .ZIP extention:
      1. Extract the file using "PKUNZIP" or WinZip into a temporary folder. This will extract all the .TTF files in to the given folder. Don't know what is ZIP? Too bad! See elsewhere in this document for more information.
      2. Copy the .TTF file to C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory.

     
    In Macintosh
    1. Drag and drop the file to your "Fonts" folder.

     
    In Unix
    1. Unix systems come in many different flavours. If you are a unix user, you must be knowing how to install a font. If you have any problem contact the TSCII unix stalwarts through the TSCII testers mailing list.

     
  4. How to view the TSCII based Tamil webpages?
     
    Netscape Navigator users
    In version 3.0:
    1. Goto "Options" ==> "General Preferences..."
    2. In "Fonts" tab, select "User Define" for encoding.
    3. Choose any TSCII font as Proportional font.
    4. Choose any TSCII Fixed width font as Fixed Font.

     
    In version 4.x:
    1. Click "Edit" ==> "Preferences"
    2. In "Appearance" category, select "Fonts"
    3. In the right window, select "User Defined" as encoding.
    4. Select any TSCII compatible font for Variable Width Font, and any TSCII fixed font (eg. MylaiTSC) for Fixed Width Font.

     
    Internet Explorer users
    In version 3.0:
    1. Click "View" ==> "Options..."
    2. In the "General" tab, click on "Font Settings..." button.
    3. Set default language to "Western".
    4. For character set "Western", select any TSCII compatible font as the propotional font, and any TSCII fixed font (eg.MylaiTSC) as the Fixed-width font.

     
    Users of other browsers
    Do you use any browser other than the one mentioned above. Have you configured TSCII for your browser. Let me know. I will add the info in this page.
     
    5.
  5. What are the keyboard drivers available for TSCII?
    Keyman is a simple keyboard driver for Windows platforms. It is available as free download and offer 4 different keyboard styles. Silkey is its counterpart for Macintosh. It comes with Mylai keyboard layout. You can download them from TSCII website.
    Murasu Anjal is a multi-purpose package with a keyboard driver, convertor, dictionary builder, and an inbuilt editor, and nice fonts. It is available for free download from
    6. Murasu website.
     
  6. How do I install xyz keyboard driver?
    Keyman (Windows)
    Just download the file TSCKEY.EXE from TSCII website and execute it by double-clicking. It will install the package automatically for you. Also see the question "How to start Keyman automatically everytime I start windows?"
     
    Silkey (Macintosh)
    Download the file
    7. silkey.hqx and extract it. Run Silkey Application and choose the prefered keyboard layout. Start typing...
     
    Murasu Anjal (Windows/Macintosh/Unix)
    Download the file "ANJAL20.EXE" from Murasu website and execute it. It will take you through a smooth installation procedure.
     
  7. How to use Keyman?
    That is simple.
    1. Double-click on Keyman icon to start it.
    2. Click "Load".
    3. Select the filename of your favourite keyboard layout.
      The four available options are,
      TscPhone.kmn for Phonetic keyboard
      TscAnjal.kmn for Anjal style romanised keyboard
      TscMylai.kmn for Mylai98 keyboard
      TscTypew.kmn for Typewriter style keyboard

      See the question "What are these different keyboard layouts?" for a discussion of each of these keyboard layouts.

    4. Click OK. Click "Hide" to hide the "Keyman" Window.

      See below to automatically start Keyman everytime you start windows.

    Now the Keyboard icon will appear on your windows Titlebar or somewhere on your desktop. (You can setup how it should appear in the "Options" dialog). The letter will be one of 'ma', 'tha', 'a', 'o', or 'i' depending on what keyboard you have selected. When it appears with a red circle and a red line, (like those "No Smoking" signs) that means your keyboard is in default (QWERTY?) mode. Just click on the icon to toggle between Tamil and English keyboards.
    There is a fast-key to toggle. Usually it is "Alt ="; but you can change that whatever you prefer in Options dialog.
     
    8.
  8. How to use Silkey?
    1. Run the "Silkey" Application.
    2. In the Silkey window, Load the keyboard layout you want to use.
    3. To toggle between Tamil and English typing you need to click on the keyboard icon in the relevant Keyboard layout.

     
    9.
  9. How to start Keyman automatically everytime I start Windows?
    In Windows 95 create a shortcut to Keyman.exe in the "Startup" folder as below:
    1. Click "Start" ==> "Settings" ==> "Taskbar..."
    2. Select the tab "Start Menu Programs"
    3. Click on "Add..."
    4. In "Create Shortcut" window, click "Browse" and go to the folder where you have installed Keyman.
    5. Click on "Keyman.exe" and click "Open". Now the keyman program name will appear in "Command Line". Next to "Keyman.exe" enter " -h (filename).kmn", where (filename) is the name of the keyboard layout file you wish to use. Something like this: 
       C:\Program Files\Keyman\Keyman.exe -h TscAnjal.kmn
    6. Click "Next".
    7. Single-click on folder "StartUp". (You may need to search for this). Then click "Next".
    8. Click "Finish".

     
    10.
  10. What are these different keyboard layouts?
    Currently we have 4 different keyboard layouts available on TSCII website. GIF pictures of these layouts are available in the website. Besides this software developers who have properietary keyboards may also be implementing TSCII using their keyboard styles.
     
    11.
  11. How do I learn this xyz keyboard?
    There may be some decent training material available for Typewriter style keyboard. But there are no courses available for other layouts. If you want to learn any of the other keyboard layouts, just get the relevant GIF and start typing. That is the easiest way to learn :-).
     
    12.
  12. How to send and receive email in TSCII?
    Using Eudora
    Eudora is available free of cost, hassle free, and simple and is one of the favourite email client for many netters. Using Tamil in Eudora is a breeze.
    For Eudora Light 1.5.x:
    1. Click "Special" ==> "Settings"
    2. Select "Fonts & Display" in the left panel. Select any of your favourite TSCII font as Screen Font and Print Font.
    3. Use any of the keyboard drivers mentioned above to type text.

    Using Hotmail and other web-based mailers
    See "How to view the TSCII based Tamil webpages?" to setup your web browser. Use any TSCII keyboard driver to type in Tamil.

    Using Netscape Mail
    Set up your Navigator as mentioned elsewhere in this document. Go to Netscape mail, select document encoding as "User defined". Now you should be able to type in Tamil. (Works in version 3.0 and above).
    Using Internet Mail/Outlook Express
    Setup a keyboard driver (Keyman or Anjal). Select any TSCII based font and start typing. That is all to it.

     
    13.
  13. I have this Tamil file in so-and-so font and want to convert it to TSCII. What should I do?
    There is a convertor available with Murasu Anjal version 2.0. You can download it from TSCII tools page as well. There are also encoding matrices available for various fonts. It software is very easy to use and installs automatically. Just extract the FCMATRIX.ZIP file into the directory you have installed the Convertor and you are ready to go.

    14.  
  14. What are the other tools available for TSCII?
    There are many other tools available for text editing, email, conversion from legacy encodings, and the like. Keep a watch on TSCII tools page and stay tuned to the mailing lists. There is also a
    15. Latest news section added to TSCII site. Most of these tools have a Help file. If you have any doubt contact the relevant author or mail the TSCII testers list.
     
  15. How to chat in Tamil using TSCII?
    Check up whether your chat client allows changing the font. If you are using a webbased chat client and if you have already setup your Web browser for TSCII, you can straight away start chatting in Tamil.
     
    16.
  16. I want to create a homepage. Tell me what should I do?
    A separate FAQ for web authors is available
    17. here.
     
  17. Whom should I contact if I have a suggestion or find a bug?
    This FAQ is currently maintained by D.Sivaraj <sivaraj@tamil.net>. If you have any suggestions please email me. If you have any bugs to report please use TSCII testers mailing list <tscii@coollist.com>. For comments/bugs related to Murasu Anjal mail to the list <anjal@murasu.com>. For comments and appreciations about fonts mail the relevant font developers. Their email ids are available in the fonts page.

Last modified Dec 11, 1998