# விக்கிப்பீடியா:Font help

## Preparing your system for Tamil

### GNU/Linux and FreeBSD

#### Input Methods

##### Tamil.sg Online Editor
- Use Internet Explorer and goto Free Tamil Online Editor, For example when you type amma to get அம்மா. (Romanised input method). Just type as you pronounce tamil and then copy paste anywhere.  
##### XKB
- Download Nudi layout (phonetic), untar(*tar zxvf nudi.tar.gz*) and follow the instructions that come with it to install and use it.
- Layout (non-phonetic) for Tamil comes by default on most distributions (To check, run:**ls /usr/X11R6/lib/X11/xkb/symbols/tml**). If not, install this http://indlinux.sourceforge.net/downloads/inscript_xkb.tar.gz  
##### m17n
The m17n - SCIM framework gives standardized (UTF-8) Tamil editing capabilities on standard keyboards.  
m17n library is an opensource initiative for realizing multilingualization in Linux/Unix Platforms. The library serves as a backend for the Smart Common Input Method (SCIM) Project. SCIM provides a neat way of switching between Tamil and English keys.  
Hence, to achieve full Tamil editing capabilities on your linux system this way, you should have both the m17n backend and the SCIM frontend.  
Here is the step by step procedure:  
1. Download the m17n libraries and database sources from here
Alternatively, Fedora Users can install source rpms from Fedora Extras
Install both the libraries and databases.
1. Go to the library source directory in the terminal and logged in as root, type './configure' and then 'make' and 'make install'
2. Do the same for the database.
2. Download SCIM from here
Alternatively, Fedora Users can install from Fedora Extras
Install SCIM the same way you did m17n
(cd to source,'./configure', 'make' and 'make install') or rpm -ivh 'filename.rpm' if you downloaded the rpm.
3. Download the m17n-SCIM interface from here
Alternatively, Fedora users can install it from Fedora Extras
Install the m17n-SCIM in a similar fashion.
Some users have encountered trouble in finding the already installed SCIM package when they use './configure'. To correct this problem, please follow these guidlines.
1. To make sure that you have scim, in the terminal, try "whereis scim". you should get something similar to 'scim: /usr/bin/scim.....'
2. In the terminal, try "whereis pkgconfig". You should have 2-3 results. Go to the directory each of these directories and see if 'scim.pc' is present. If so, include the path of that directory in the environment variable PKG_CONFIG_PATH (ex: export PKG_CONFIG_PATH=/usr/local/lib/pkgconfig )
Once pkgconfig is able to find scim, installation should proceed smoothly.
4. After installation, in Fedora 3 you should see the SCIM Input Method Setup in Applications-->Preferences-->More Preferences
Alternatively, you can invoke scim-setup by typing sciim-setup in the terminal.
5. Once the SCIM fron end starts,
Go to the IME-engine-->Global Setup option to see the Tamil keyboard listed.
Go to Tamil, expand the tree and you see the m17n kan-itrans option and click edit hot-keys. Choose a convineint hotkey for changing the keyboard to Tamil.
Go to Front end --> Global Hotkeys. Choose another hotkey to invoke this setup utility.
Go to Panel--> GTK and select all options you want to make the SCIM utility easily accesible.  
Now you are all set to type in Tamil!!!. Go to any UTF-8 enabled editor or IM (gedit, gaim work!) and select the m17n kan itrans Keyboard in Tamil in the SCIM utility (which should be running on the desktop panel) and start typing Tamil! If you any further doubts and questions, please visit http://Tamil.sourceforge.net/support and post your queries.  
##### IIIMF
IIIMF is an multi-platform input method framework. IIMF comes with Nudi and Inscript layouts for Tamil. But be warned, it is very unstable. The IIIMF howto at Indlinux provides more information and step by step instructions on installation and usage.  
##### ISIS
ISIS is an easy-to-use system for computation using Indian scripts, developed by Gautam Sengupta of the Center for Applied Linguistics & Translation Studies, University of Hyderabad.
ISIS binaries can be downloaded from here.  
##### Inscript Layout
Inscript layout is easy to setup. It is readily available in most of the distributions. Instuctions to enable the layout vary depending on your desktop environment or distribution.  
###### Mandrakelinux (keyboarddrake)
On Mandrakelinux the preferred way to enable the inscript layout keyboard is through the Mandrakelinux control -> keyboard, choose the *Tamil* keyboard, and the key combination to switch between US and Tamil layouts; that will work for all desktop and WM.  
###### GNOME 2.8.x and above
- Enable the Keyboard Indicator
Right click on panel
Choose Add to Panel...
Choose Keyboard Indicator
Click Add
You should now see a Keyboard Indicator applet on your panel.
- Add Tamil as one of the layouts
Right click on Keyboard Indicator
Choose Open Keyboard Preferences
Choose Layout tab
Select 'Tamil INSCRIPT layout' or 'A Tamil typewrite-style keymap;Unicode encoding' in Available Layouts list
Click Add
On the keyboard indicator, when you see *Tml* you will be typing in Tamil.
- Assign a shortcut to switching between US and Tamil keyboard layouts.
Right click on the Keyboard Indicator
Choose Open Keyboard Preferences
Choose Layout Options tab
Select an option from Group Shift/Lock Behaviour in Avaiable Options list
Click Add
You will now be able to switch the groups using a keyboard shortcut depending on the option you have chosen.  
###### GNOME 2.6.x
- Enable the Keyboard Indicator
Right click on panel
Choose Add to Panel
Choose Utility
Choose Keyboard Indicator
You should now see a Keyboard Indicator applet on your panel.
- Add Tamil as one of the layouts
Right click on Keyboard Indicator
Choose Open Keyboard Preferences
Choose Layout tab
Select Tamil in Available Layouts list
Click Add
On the keyboard indicator, when you see *tel* you will typing in Tamil.
- Assign a shortcut to switching between US and Tamil keyboard layouts.
Right click on the Keyboard Indicator
Choose Open Keyboard Preferences
Choose Layout Options tab
Select an option from Group Shift/Lock Behaviour category in Avaiable Options list
Click Add
You will now be able to switch the groups using a keyboard shortcut depending on the option you have chosen.  
###### GNOME 2.4.x and below
- Enable the Keyboard Switcher
Right click on panel
Choose Add to Panel
Choose Utility
Choose Keyboard Layout Switcher
You should now see a Keyboard Layout Switcher applet on your panel.
- Add Tamil as one of the layouts
Right click on the Keyboard Layout Switcher applet
Choose Preferences...
Click add
Select the language you want to add
When the Keyboard Layout Swither shows Tamil, we will able to type in Tamil. You can press and Left alt and Left Shift to switch between the layouts.
###### KDE
- Enable the Keyboard Layout Switcher
Open KDE Control Center
Choose Regional & Accesibility
Choose Keyboard Layout
Select Layout tab
Select Enable keyboard layouts
- Add Tamil as one of the layouts
Choose Tamil from Available layouts list
Click Add
- Assign a shortcut to switching between US and Tamil keyboard layouts.
Select Xkb Options tab
Select Enable Xkb options
Select an option from the Group Shift/Lock Behaviour category in the Options list
Click Apply
Close Control Center
You should now see Keyboard Layout Switcher in the notification area. You can switch keyboard layouts by clicking on the Keyboard Layout Switcher or by using the keyboard shortcut you have chosen.