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Installing Sindhi support to Windows XP is very easy as
the operating system is basically geared to process
Sindhi flawlessly. Since Sindhi is not formally
presented as a language choice, we have to presently
choose one of the available Arabic script languages. We
can use any of the Arabic locales, Farsi or Urdu for the
purpose. Since there are many Arabic locales, I prefer
using one of these, but any other choice will do equally
well. |
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Here are the necessary steps outlined. |
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1. Arabic script support |
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It is assumed that Arabic script support is already
installed, in which case you can skip this step and go
to 2. If is not, then install it now. Start >> Control
Panel >> Regional and Language ... >> Languages >>
Install file for complex script and rignt-to-left
languages... You may be asked for the Windows XP CD at
this point, so keep it handy. |
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2. Run MBSindhi installer |
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Double click the installer. It will install the MBSindhi
2004 keyboard to your system. |
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3. Add MBSindhi Keyboard |
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Add an Arabic script language and choose MBSindhi 2004
as IME/Keyboard for it. You do this by: Start >> Control
Panel >> Regional and Language ... >> Languages >>
Details... >> Add.. >> Here you first select Input
language (Arabic, Farsi or Urdu) and then check the box
Keyboard layout/IME and from the drop down list select
MBSindhi 2004. |
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4. Install MBLateefi Font |
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Copy and paste MBLateefi (Version 2.000) font in the
fonts folder (which you can access through Control
Panel). If an earlier version of the font is already
present in the system, delete it before
installing/pasting the new font. I have also inculded MB
Sindhi Web (Version1.100) font which may also be
installed. More fonts will follow soon |
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5. Turn on the Font Smoothing |
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Right click on the desktop and then Properties >>
Appearance >> Effects. Then check the box for "Use the
following method to smooth edges of screen fonts:" and
select Standard (not the Cleartype). |
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Having done all this open this file again and you should
be able to see the verse at the top of the page in
MBLateefi font and with properly smoothed edges. |
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Now you can use all the MS Office applications, Wordpad,
Notepad, Dreamweaver and many other applications for
Sindhi. View the keyboard layout image. You can also use
the system applet OnScreen Keyboard (which can be
reached through Start >> All Programmes >> Accessories
>> Accessibility) to view the keyboard layout in normal,
shift, cntrl+alt and shift+cntrl+alt states. In MS Word
you can use the Insert Symbol menu and select the
characters and symbols which cannot be accessed through
the keyboard directly. |
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A Note on Compatibility Issues |
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You may notice some differences between this and the
earlier versions, which were unavoidable since this is
the most complete and accurate version of standard
Sindhi fonts so far. However, what is more important
that you may also find some compatibility issues when
you use Microsoft's core or system Arabic script fonts.
Ideally and in principle there should be no such issues
but we live in a world which is a little less than
perfect. There are some issues relating to Sindhi letter
Heh, Sindhi Comma and Sindhi Semi Colon due to which as
of now a font has to be different in these areas.
Hopefully, these issues will be resolved in time. I have
also included Arabic full stop which can be accessed by
pressing Right Alt and Full Stop key. You might want to
use this full stop in the web pages if you find that
normal full stop is not getting placed at the end of the
line. |
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IMPORTANT: Do uninstall and remove previous
versions of keyboard and font. |
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Enjoy Sindhi Computing and promote it. I have done my
service to the language and people of Sindh: now it is
your turn. So use Sindhi on computers and the internet
and encourage other Sindhis to do the same. |
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With best wishes, |
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Abdul-Majid Bhurgri
Seattle, WA USA
20 July 2004 |
