An Input Method for Malayalam

(This document is still in _DRAFT_ state)

This input is based on the Malayalam Inscript keyboard layout. and Malayalam unicode character set. This is the standared keyboard layout proposed by Kerala government. This layout will be default in the GNU/Linux with Malayalam support. Though now it requires X Window System and best support is available in GNOME. Inputting Malaylam numerals and other old characters are described below.

First of all download the following files :

Malayalam unicode font.
Malayalam XKB file.
Malayalam locale.
Malayalam Compose file.
Also make some changes in compose.dir file (descrption below) .
A simple script.

Inscript Keyboard layout is available here.

Add the font to your personal font directory (you need not be a superuser)
A detailed description for installing font is available here.
For the time being just do like this :
bash$ cp nonstdml.ttf $HOME/personal-fonts/
(If the directory is not existing just create it)
Now, add an entry to $HOME/personal-fonts/fonts.dir like :
nonstdml.ttf -misc-NonStdMl-medium-r-normal--0-0-0-0-p-0-iso10646-1
(this is the entry for the font available here)
A sample fonts.dir file is here.

To add this font directory to X font path :
bash$ cd $HOME/personal-fonts
bash$ xset fp+ `pwd`
bash$ xset fp rehash

Now copy the XKB file to /usr/X11R6/lib/X11/xkb/symbols/ (login as root)
bash# cp ml /usr/X11R6/lib/X11/xkb/symbols/

Now, compile Malayalam locale (login as root)
Copy the locale to /usr/share/i18n/locales/
bash# cp ml_IN /usr/share/i18n/locales/
bash# localedef -i ml_IN -f UTF-8 /usr/share/locale/ml_IN.UTF-8/

Then, copy the Compose file to
/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/locale/ml_IN.UTF-8 /
bash# cp Compose /usr/X11R6/lib/X11/locale/ml_IN.UTF-8/
( If directory not existing, just create it)

Open the file /usr/X11R6/lib/X11/locale/compose.dir
and add these two entries at appropriate positions :
ml_IN.UTF-8/Compose ml_IN.UTF-8
ml_IN.UTF-8/Compose: ml_IN.UTF-8
(Be carefull, the second line has a colon in between)
A sample compose.dir file is here.

Before that change the locale :
bash$ export LC_ALL=ml_IN.UTF-8
(Add this entry to $HOME/.bashrc for conveniance)

Run the shell script to select the keyboard layout. bash$ ./ml_setkb basic
(option basic is required, other option is 'mlplusnum' to include malayalm numerals in the shift locations of indo-arabic numerals)

Inputting Malayalam

To input someting select X Input Method (right click in GEdit)press both shift, now you are swithed to Malayalam mode now start typing. To input any "Koottaksharas" press the consonant (vyanchanam) then visarga (chandrakkala) and again the consonant. If you are inputing in correct order proper rendering will occur.

Inputting Malayalm old charcters

Suppose you want to input Malayalam vocalic LL just do like this :
bash$ xmodmap -e "keycode 33 = U0D0C"
Keycode 33 is 'w' so by pressing 'w' you will get the desired unicode value. Unicode values of old character are given below :

U0D0C

U0D60

U0D61

Note : Sorting order for these characters are not included

Author

Baiju M

Bugs

Please report any bug at baiju@freeshell.org

Verbatim copying and distribution of this entire article is permitted in any medium, provided this notice is preserved.

Updated: $Date: 2002/10/25 08:15:24 $ $Author: baijum81 $