Brahmi
Available for free download at http://brahmi.sourceforge.net/
1. Brahmi
The Brahmi project aims at producing Java Input Methods and
OpenType fonts for Indian languages.
Hence Brahmi consists of the following software
.
Brahmi Indic Input Methods
.
Brahmi OpenType fonts
.
Brahmi Word Processor
1.1 Brahmi Word Processor
The Brahmi Word Processor demonstrates the Brahmi Input
Methods in action. As a Word processor, it has the following features.
.
Open RTF and Text documents (with
multiple encoding)
.
Save document as RTF and Text
(with multiple encoding)
.
Print & Print Preview
.
Cut, Copy, & Paste
.
Undo & Redo editing
.
Find & Replace Unicode text
.
Bold, Italic, Underline, Strike
out, Superscript & Subscript
.
Paragraph alignment, Line spacing
& indenting
.
Text Styles & Colors
.
Input Method selection
.
Easy access graphical Toolbar
.
Help
.
Executable JAR file
1.2 Brahmi Indic Input Methods
Input Methods
enable user to input Unicode text. The current release, the Brahmi Kannada
Input Method is being released by which user can only input Kannada Unicode
text. To view the Unicode text, a free OpenType font for Kannada called Sampige.ttf
is also released. Input Methods for other languages will be
released as and when we have built OpenType fonts for those
languages.The Brahmi Kannada Input Method (BrahmiKannadaIM.jar) is Java Input Method can be
used by any Java2 application. This IM (Input Method) supports the KGP keyboard
layout, which is standardized and approved by Government of Karnataka.
The KGP layout is as shown in the picture below:
1.2.1 How to enter Kannada characters
When
the cursor is on a text component, select the Input Method by one of the
following ways:
.
Click on the application’s icon to
see the system menu; click on “Select Input Method” -> “Brahmi
Kannada Input Method”
.
Select the Input Method from the
application’s user interface if there is an option.
Please
refer to the above keyboard layout to input the characters.
1.2.1.2
To enter a Swara (Vowel)
Type
any of these characters:
1.2.1.3
To enter Anuswara and Visarga
Type
as shown in figure:
1.2.1.4
To enter a Vyanjana (Consonant)
Type
a character corresponding to that consonant. Look at the figure below.
1.2.1.5
To enter a Gunithakshara (Consonant-Vowel
combination)
Type
the keys corresponding to the consonant and vowel.
Below
figure gives example of all the Consonant-Vowel combinations for the consonant ‘ka”
Note: Halant (Virama)
is used to remove the inherent vowel from a Consonant. The key ‘f’ is
used to input halant character.
1.2.1.6
To enter a live Aardhakshara (Dead Consonant)
Type
the key corresponding to the consonant and then type ‘f’.
Example:
1.2.1.7
To enter a live Vattakshara (Consonant
Conjunct)
Type
the key corresponding to the first consonant, then type ‘f’ and then
type the corresponding key for the second consonant.
Examples:
1.2.1.8 To get a Arkavattu (Reph)
for a Vyanjana
Type
the key corresponding to the ‘ra’ consonant, then type ‘f’ and
then type the corresponding key for the second consonant.
Example:
1.2.1.9 Special Cases
When ‘ra’ consonant precedes as well as
follows a halant character, then a ‘ra-vattu’ is got
and not a ‘Arkavattu’. Look at the example:
To retain the halant in a word, type ‘f’ (halant) key
twice. Look at the example.
1.3 Brahmi OpenType fonts
A OpenType font for Kannada - Sampige is also released
along with this release of Brahmi. Sampige satisfies almost all the rendering
rules specified in the "South and South-east Asian Scripts"
chapter (No.9) in the Technical Introduction of Unicode in the website (http://www.unicode.org).
On the
same basis rendering rules for Kannada are documented and can be found at http://www.kannudi.org/ilts/
.
Note:
Current release of the Font does not satisfy the rule associated with the
characters - Zero Width Joiner (abbreviated as ZWJ and
occupies the position U+200D) and Zero Width Non-Joiner (abbreviated as ZWNJ
and occupies the position U+200C), by including which the Font is able display
independent vattus (Half Forms) of all the
consonants. These changes should be in sync with the Input Method.
These
changes would be supported in future releases of Sampige.ttf and Brahmi
Kannada Input Method
We are always in need for good fonts for Indian languages.
If you own OpenType fonts and willing to contribute, please contact us at:
harsha_pr@users.sourceforge.net
Your contribution will be acknowledged at your request.
1.4 Future releases
In the near future the following will be released
.
Updated versions of OpenType Font,
Sampige.ttf
.
Updated versions of the Input
Method, which will be in sync with Sampige.ttf
.
Updated internationalized version
of the Word processor with resource bundles for each Indian language.
Note:
This version of Brahmi (IM, OpenType font and the Word
Processor) is released for the purpose of internal testing only. Please check
for the latest release at http://brahmi.sourceforge.net/
Your inputs are very important to us and the best ones will be incorporated in future releases and listed on the homepage. We look forward to your co-operation - Brahmi Team.