There are many keyboard layouts and transliteration schemes to Type in Telugu. Many of users who type Telugu on computers use proprietary encodings and keyboard layouts like Modular, Apple, and Roma. If they have a way to type in Telugu in Unicode using the layout they are familiar with, it would boost the usage of Telugu on the Web specifically and on computers generally. This post explores the problem of keyboard layouts and introduces some Keyboard Layout Creators.
Lot of people who work with/write/publish Telugu on computers (ignoring Telugu bloggers and Wikipedians) use applications like Anu Script Manager (Anu Fonts), Shree-Lipi, iLEAP, etc. (Through out this post, I’ll refer to them as ‘these applications’.) These applications are good for printing purposes, but not for producing content for the Web. They are not good because they produce non-Unicode text. Non-Unicode text is bad on the web because–
- user must have the font that supports particular encoding/mapping (the mappings that these applications use are different)
- search engines do not understand it (because of the point 1 above, most people put the content as images, as against text)
Most people stuck with these applications and non-Unicode text because there was no other alternative until support for Unicode is available in Operating Systems and other software applications. Even the people who realize the benefits of Unicode are in a difficult position to move to Unicode. Reason one is their process gets disturbed. They need to use new set of tools.
Most of these applications support multiple keyboard layouts (including Inscript Keyboard Layout, which is the default keyboard layout that comes with Windows and Linux operating systems). However, most users of these applications are used to other layouts than Inscript. If any of these users want to use Unicode, they need to type using a different layout. If they frequently switch back and forth between Unicode and non-Unicode texts, remembering two layouts is very confusing. And, in those cases, they most likely decide abandon using Unicode.
It would be helpful if they can type in Unicode using the keyboard layout they are familiar with. And, the good news is that it is possible to make your own keyboard layout. There are at least a handful of options:
- Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator or MSKLC (Free, Genuine Windows Authentication required, easy to create layouts, the created layouts work on Windows XP and Vista)
- Keyman Developer (For fee, needs Keyman Desktop to use the layouts created.)
- Aksharamala (Free, needs Aksharamala to use the layouts created.)
- XKB in Linux (more)
Modular layout is the famous layout on non-Unicode Telugu generation applications. Using the MSKLC, I created Telugu Modular Keyboard Layout for Windows. By using this, you can type in Telugu wherever you can type in English.
Here are the instructions on how to use it:
- Download the Modular Telugu Keyboard Layout.
- Unzip the downloaded zip file.
- Execute the
Setup.exefile inte_mdlrfolder - After the installation is complete, you can switch to the Modular Keyboard Layout by pressing Left Alt + Shift. Pressing again the same keyboard shortcut brings you back to the English.
- If you want to see an indication of which layout is in use, you can enable Language Bar in Windows.
I hope people would take forward this initiative and create all the keyboard layouts that are in use for Telugu and more number of people start using Telugu on the web and computers.
Update: I also created Apple Telugu Keyboard Layout for Windows.
Update 2011-02-03: In case you didn’t know any Telugu keyboard layout yet, I recommend you learn INSCRIPT keyboard layout, which is standardized by the Government of India. You can use my Inscript Lekhini for leaning or typing Telugu using Inscript layout.
Thanks for the info! Linux lo support bavundi.. found SCIM very useful.. this post just came handy when I’m working in windows..
could you please send to me, sheet of telugu font order in anu script?
I have Anu Script Manager 7.0. But I am not able to type doublings (vatgthulu). Could you please help.
Sudhir Jangam
After the letter k type f and then type another consonant like l and you get “kla”
hope this serves your question.
@Sudhir Jangam
In joinings, you should give the vowel after, instead of before, the linking character ‘&’.
Sir
In win xp with the inscript keyboard there is a problem in forcing “pollu”. For example if I have to type “wordlo type chesanu” I want ‘word’ with pollu. But the software combines the ‘lo’ with it, unless I give space. How to overcome this problem?
@I S Rao
In Inscript layout, Ctrl + Shift + 2 inserts the zero width non-joiner character. So for your problem, after typing ‘word’ press Ctrl + Shift + 2, then type ‘lo’.
However this may not work when you type in browser. Try in Notepad or Word.
@veeven
Thanks for the solution. It worked.
i have joined ur group.i just love telugu as a
language. what are there to explore?
I am composing Telugu Keyboard in MSKLC. But MSKLC is not supporting two Unicodes for Dead Key compose. Please solve my problem, how to compose tow different unicodes in Dead Key. Thank you.
Praveen
Sir,
I want to use Anu Script with “ROMA” key board lay out. Have you any suggestions for me. I am using Office 2007, but the ANU SCRIPT V.7 is not justifying my typed documents.
Mohd. Shareef, I do not know the answer myself because I do not use Anu Script Manager. You can ask for help in Computer Era Chat.
Praveen, sorry to be late on this.
But, what Telugu letters are actually the problem for you in getting in MSKLC? Also, what keyboard layout you are trying to make?
I think we need to make few compromises with MSKLC.
I have used Anu 7 for typing in MS Word 2007. The following are my observations:
1. The new fonts added in Anu 7 after Anu 6 are only giving results, the old fonts, i.e available in Anu 6, like Anupama, Bapu, Ramana, Pallavi, Priyanka etc are not giving result, but the new fonts like Aradhana, amrutha, Rachana and the all other new ones are giving correct results.
2. There is no much significant difference found between left alignment and justify, very little difference.
hellow Sir, I want Anuscript telugu applekey board in xp so where website free down load anuscript please send me.
A.Srinivas, see this: http://crossroads.koodali.org/2007/12/25/apple-keyboard-layout/
hello friends, apple keyboard is Best. but initially it is tough to learn, later on it is very easy. I’m using apple keyboard from last 6 months.
Hi Veeven,
I have Anu Graphic Software that works well in Windows 98, but it not run in XP, please help me.
abc, I think the new version should work on XP. However, I never used Anu software. You can probably ask in Computer Era forums.
Friends, I wish to instal Roma key board in my PC operating on vista to use Anu fonts ( anupama etc) Can any one give the step by step procedure?
Jamardham Gaaru, Anu Script Manager 7 will work perfectly on Windows Vista with all keyboard modules including Roma. If you are not getting Roma in your Anu Script Manager, it may be modified or pirated version. I am attaching a screenshot of Roma keyboard selection in my Vista system in the following link:
http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/51/46834138eg6.png
ABC Gaaru, you are using old version prior to Anu 6 and 7. That version donot have any setup file, you need to Add PS fonts in Adobe Type Manager manually. That old version does not works on XP. You need to install Anu 6 or Anu 7 for XP and Vista. If you want any clarification regarding this you can post your doubts in the following link:
http://computerera.co.in/forum
Nallamothu Sridhar
COMPUTER ERA
Thaks a lot. Had been searching for this as I use sree lipi at home, but always blog at work 🙂
Best trasliteration scheme invented for encoding Telugu script in ASCII is the Rice Inverse Transliteration scheme (RIT). It used English characters intuitively & phonetically to type Telugu text in English.
Native microsoft keyboard for the familiar Gautami fonts (that came with the keyboard layout manager suggested here) does not use an “intuitively phonetic” mappping scheme. One has to learn the key mappings explicitly – which deters most people from typing in Telugu.
Kindly suggest how one can use RIT with this keyboard layout manager.
Thanks,
taaDEpalli hari kRshNa :-), my name in RIT
(“Tadepalli Hari Krishna”)
@Tadepalli Hari Krishna
First off, these layouts I made are intended for people who are already using such layouts with Anu Script Manager, etc. For them, managing in two layouts is difficult (say for their usual work Apple layout and for unicode related work RIT or other layout). So, the ones I made would be handy.
Of course, as you say, Phonetic way is the easiest to start.
The native keyboard layout that comes with Windows is InScript, a standard made by Department of Electronics (of Government of India). It’s also known as DOE layout. It takes some time to learn it. Even typing tutors are available. Indian Government’s Department of IT is offering one for free (their Telugu site). Commercially, there is Anupama Typing.
If we want a phonetic keyboard layout, we need to make one. But, there are other alternatives like Baraha and Aksharamala.
There are some limitations in making a phonetic layout with MSKLC. We cannot use same key for different letters. For example, in RIT “A” would produce a different characters (either ఆ or ా based on its surrounding characters). Thinking in terms of keyboard layout, we need a modifier, like Shift, or a dead key. Why not try making a phonetic layout yourself.
how to get a telugu web site using html scripting
please tell the eaier way of software to create pages in telugu and how to add css style sheet to the text
please
how to create a telugu website using html scripting
which is the easier software to create and how to add a text in the script and how to add a css style sheet as if we add in our regular html pages
please if any one have idea please post asap urgent
i want to develop a site in telugu
thanks
regards
balreddy
k. balreddy,
Creating a Telugu website is no different from creating English sites. You can use same software, except that you type the text in Telugu. See, various tools available for typing in Telugu.
If you have no idea of web designing and development, please start from w3schools.com
hai sir,naku anu script manager 7.0 link dorakadam ledu daya chei naku pampinchagalaru naa id
dileep,
I do not think Anu Script Manager is available for free download. You need to buy it. To know locations where you can buy, see in the contact page of Anu Graphic Systems.
Hi Veeven
I am using a Modular key board. First thing is am not an expert on system. Today I installed Aksharamala to use Telugu fonts. I followed all the steps which is in this page. After completing all the things am not able to type Telugu characters peperly. For example … I need to type “a” twice to get the telugu letter “aa”. And not getting vathulu properly. Kindly suggest me what to do.
@Anil Kumar
If you did not already know Modular layout, that is not the best thing to start with. Try Inscript.
By default, Aksharamala comes with RTS layout. To get aa, you need to type aa or A. You can type vattulu as follows: for akka, type akka; for other words you can just type prEma, mukti, etc.
I have ileap telugu software, i know typing telugu, theefore i am using keyboard of telugu while typing ileap telugu software. Kindly help anyone the exact keyboard layout and send to my mail please. I NEED ILEAP TELUGU KEYBOARD FOR TYPING. AM USING TYPING MODE. KINDLY SEND TO MY EMAIL I.D. THE WHICH KEY BELONGS TO WHICH IMPRESSON. PLEASE
Adbutham!
I am searching for the Modular Keyboard to type in Windows. At last I found it in this site. Thanks for the development. Keep Roccckking
hi i am sachin Dhalgade php developer from pune. i use shree font in my script(web page form). typing problem occurs in my script. if i use shree licence product copy PC then when i type some words type good but later text not match shree font means type other characters. i not understand this problem but when i type in ms-word with shree fond and copy and paste in my form field then it’s ok but i cant use this method
so can you help me
sachin
[Veeven: I didn’t have much experience with Shree fonts. But, I can advice you to depend on Unicode (instead of proprietory encodings) for web development. You would save a lot of headache. Please read The Absolute Minimum Every Software Developer Absolutely, Positively Must Know About Unicode and Character Sets (No Excuses!).]
Hi, I have Anu Script Manager 6.0. Could you please give me the hints as to how to type Telugu using ‘Roma’ Keyboard. For example, I don’t know how to type ‘ta’ in pattanamu (City). I would be grateful if you could give me the full list of such hints to type in Telugu.
[Veeven: Sorry, I myself never used Roma keyboard layout. And, I didn’t have that layout with me. I cannot help you.]
@ M.SRINIVASAN:
http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/9710/ileap.jpg
See this image. It will clear your ileap typing problem.
Nj (capital N small j) gives ini, dny gives inya, dot r gives bandi ra.
@David:
I dont know about Anu SM 6. But in ASM7 q gives ta, qfq gives tta. ] gives shri, x gives shtra @ roo, @ gives ru ^ gives ppu in pappu | (shift +back slash key) gives ou (Ex:Avunu)
If you go on typing all keys including by holding shift you will realise which key gives which letter.
Still I am unable to find some key strokes for letters like Ksha, kow, gna (Gnapakam) etc. Hope some one will reply for this.
@dileep,
View this Google cached page:
http://74.125.153.132/search?q=cache:-HnUX08BHCAJ:www.lazydesis.com/software/42402-anu-script-manager-7-0-telugu.html+%22anu+script+manager+7%22+%2B+rapidshare.com/files&cd=7&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=in
Dear Veeven, thanks for your reply. Could you please send me other keyboard layouts, i.e., DOE Phonetic, Apple, Modular. Thank you!
k shift v gives ‘kou’
I am still looking for a solution for ksha and gna. Presently a am creating these letters in DOE and copying. Can any one suggest a direct method for ROMA?
@ Anand Kumar Reddy:
Thanks for your input brother.
I typed telugu documents on Office 2007 with the ANU SCRIPT V.7. But i have not justifying my typed documents. How can I justify my documents.
There is no much significant difference found between left alignment and justify, very little difference.
Have you any one give solution for my problem
[Veeven: Sorry, I really do not now.]
Dear viven Sir,
I have downloaded New Telugu Font : e-Telugu
from INDOLIPI and established in my system. I request please let me know the key, to be operated in my key board, ” Gr ” [ AltGr ; ShAGr ; ]. Due to this I am unable to
write this message in Telugu
Thanking You Sir,
With regards,
K.V.V.SATYANARAYANA.
Dear Shri Viven,
I salute your great service to the Telugu community. I too need your advice. I have installed Shree-Tel-0900 font in my system. I need to create word documents in that font. I am not able to do so. Kindly help.
[Veeven: I’ve replied in detail to your email.]
Mukundam
sir i want to know how we can type ksha.gna letters in anuscript6.0 roma keyboard
I do not know. Sorry, this is not Anu help forum.
I can type Anu Script Manager7.0 Hindi DOE Phonetic Keyboard but I didn’t get ARASUNNA & VISARGA in Telugu Anu Script ManagerDOE Phonetic Keyboard.
Can anyone tell me how to type Telugu in Anu Script Manager 7.0 DOE-Phonetic Key board because with Anu Script Manager DOE phonetic key board Hindi & Telugu board are same.
Sir how to type Telugu in Anu Script Manager 7.0 …. word ” vaa ” , in apple key board . now i am typing to letters ” f+e ” but not typed “vaa” in telugu … diffrent letter was printed in telugu how to display chracter ” vaa ” in telugu …..
As per Apple keyboard layout,
fe(+ is not needed) should give you vaa. However, I have no experience with Anu Script Manager.Hello Sir,
i am practicing telugu inscript key board. I already have filed typed in pagemaker using anu 7. Now I want to update those files. By using DOE i am confused because are different. Can i myself prepare inscript like keyboard to use in pagemaker.
I found indica key board which is like inscript. From where to downlaod this file.
Please help me.
bye.
I am using ileap software to type telugu words , but when it comes to vothullu, i am unable to find them, if you have any solution for it then please let me know…
how to type vignani in telugu. i use roma keyboard in anu 7.0
‘saibab’ telugu lo ela type cheyali(in anu script)
Mr.Ravi Kumar! For typing words like ‘vignani’, ‘kshaya’ in Anu-Roma layout, you’ll have to activate ‘scroll lock’ button (You need to keep F-Key pressed for that). Now, you type ‘vija’ followed by ‘f+scrolllock+k'(this gives ‘iNi’ vatthu below ‘ja’) and ‘ni’. For ‘jna’ as in ‘aajna’, type ‘j+f+scrolllock+k’. For ‘ksha'(as in ‘kshaya’), press ‘scrolllock+x’.
can you please tell me how to get apple-telugu layout in ubuntu