Indic Language Support in Windows XP

Microsoft has introduced Punjabi/Gurmukhi support in Windows XP. You could compare this to Chinese/Japanese support. With this support we can make webpages, software, keyboards and devices using Gurmukhi.

For example, if you did't have a Gurmukhi font installed and I were to write my name using a gurmukhi font, it would appear as "mnjoq isMG Kwlsw" which is just useless if we want to reach a wide audience, the majority of which does not have a gurmukhi font installed, or may have a different font than I am using. But with this new support (known as unicode characters) I can write my name whether you have the font or not: "ਮਨਜੋਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਖਾਲਸਾ."

This is a huge stride for us. With this we can promote Gurmukhi to the masses. Another huge advantage is that search engines cannot understand a Gurmukhi font (like GurbaniLipi or WebAkhar) but ALL search engines support unicode characters, because that is what japanese, chinese, arabic websites all use.

So how can you get this working on your computer so you can type in Gurmukhi in every program including your email, messenger, web addresses?

Go to your control panel by clicking on Start->Settings->Control Panel

Open "Regional and Language Options" Control Panel by double clicking on the icon.

Click on the "Languages" tab. Then place a check, by clicking on the box, next to "Install files for complex script and right-to-left languages (including Thai)." Click "OK" or "Apply."

A dialog box will come up saying it will install it when you hit "OK." Click on "OK."

It may ask you for your Windows XP disc. Insert it and press "OK."

Windows will begin copying the files needed.

After it has finished copying files, Windows will ask you to restart. Hit "Yes."

After you have restarted, go back into the "Regional and Language Options" Control Panel. Go to the "Languages" tab. Click on the "Details..." button.

Once you have clicked the "Details..." button a new window will come up called "Text Services and Input Languages." Click the "Add..." button under the "Installed Services" section.

The "Add Input Language" dialog box will appear. Click on the "Input Language:" drop down list and select "Punjabi."

Click "OK." Click "OK." Click "OK."

You have now installed Gurmukhi support on your computer. You can easily switch between Gurmukhi and English in any program by pressing the Left Alt key and the Shift Key together.

Anybody, whether they have the font or not, can read Gurmukhi e-mails, websites, and word documents made by you. For messenger and notepad support other users must also follow these simple instructions to see the Gurmukhi writing.

The keyboard layout is a bit different than normal Gurmukhi fonts and may take some time to get used to, after awhile it is actually intuitive. To see which keys correspond to which Gurmukhi letters go to this website: http://www.datacal.com/dce/catalog/punjabi-overlays_l.htm. Incidentally, they also sell Gurmukhi Keyboards.

If you don't want to learn new keys for unicode Gurmukhi, you can get an easy installer to change the keyboard layout to the standard GurbaniLipi style we are all used to. You can get the installer here: http://www.mkhalsa.com/download/unitogl.html.

If you want a program that will convert from a Gurmukhi font to unicode Gurmukhi go to http://guca.sourceforge.net/ and download the "Guca Executable" file.

--Mkhalsa