Urdu Typing - miniHowTo

[Frugal]

I have assembled a little tutorial along with the required files on how to setup Urdu Typing on WindowsXP.

How to Type in Urdu on WindowsXP
Version 1.2

Step 1: Adding Urdu Keyboard

1. Open "Regional and Language Options" from Control Panel
2. Choose 'Language tab'.
3. Check the "Install files for Complex Script and right-to-left languages (Including Thai)".
4. Press 'Apply' to proceed.
5. Click "Details" button.
6. Click on "Add" button from "Input Language" list box select Urdu.
7. Press 'OK'


Step 2: Manage Files

1. Download and unzip the 'Urdu Font' file.
2. It contains two files: Urdu Nastaleeq Font & M$ Urdu Keyboard Layout.
3. Remember the location of this folder.

Step 3: Install Font

1. Open "Fonts" from Control Panel.
2. Click 'File' --> 'Install New Font...'
3. Select the location of the 'Urdu Font' folder created previously
4. Select the font [Nafees Nastaleeq (True Type)] form the 'list of fonts' section of the 'Add Fonts' window.
5. Press 'OK'


Step 4: Configure Keyboard Shortcut

1. Open "Regional and Language Options" from Control Panel
2. Choose 'Language' tab.
3. Click "Details" button.
4. Click "Key Settings..."
5. Highlight a language and click 'Change Key Sequence'.
6. Select the shortcut, you preffer, to activate the highlighted language.
7. Click 'OK' when done.
Now you can switch between languages while typing, using the keyboard.

Alternative: language can be selected using the 'Language Bar' visible on the taskbar. (A small icon displaying EN or UR)


Step 5: Type Urdu

1. Run MsWord, Write, Notepad (any text processor supporting unicode).
2. Change the language to Urdu using the keyboard shortcut or language bar
3. Select Nafees Nastaleeq font from the 'font' menu (where available)
4. Enjoy typing.



Tips

• Use the Microsoft Windows Urdu Keyboard pdf file to view the Urdu Keyboard layout. It can be found in the 'Urdu Font' folder
• To do away with the hassle of remembering the Urdu keyboard layout, run the On-Screen Keyboard (OSK). Now you can use the mouse to type. Run OSK form 'Start Menu' --> 'All Programs' --> 'Accessories' --> 'Accessibility' --> 'On-Screen Keyboard'

Add 'Phonetic' Keyboard
typing Urdu made easy with latin sounds

1. Unzip 'UrduKeyboard_Photenic' and run Phonetic.msi.
2. After the confirmation message 'Phonetic has been successfully installed' appears (be patient), go to the control panel.
3. Double click 'Regional and Language options' icon.
4. Press 'Language' tab.
5. Press 'Detail' button.
6. Press 'Add' button.
7. Select 'Input Language:' Urdu, and 'Keyboard layout/IME:' Phonetic



Download Links
Urdu Font [alt]
Phonetic Keyboard [alt]
Phonetic Keyboard v1.1

Refference
Microsoft Products and Arabic Support
CRULP

[eterrestrial32]

Cool Stuff man. Does away with all that inpage etc etc

[DeaD-DAWG]

thnx dude nice

[Doomer D. Great]

never thought of creating a tutorial on this... excellent share!

[Frugal]

Update A
Add 'Phonetic' Keyboard

Most new converts to Urdu typing face the problem of coping with the new keyboard layout. Urdu has more alphabets than its counter part English, or even Arabic. For the beginners I recommended OSK (reffer to Tips). OSK will help those who seldom use Urdu.

For the needy ones, I have added 'Phonetic Keyboard Layout' to the tutorial. This makes life easier for eager Urdu typists. Now you can type Urdu with latin sounds. 'p' points to 'pay' پ, 'k' reffers to 'kaf' ک, 'j' sounds like 'jeem' ج, and so on. With a little effort and a lot of frustration, you may even make it.

[Frugal]

Update B
'Phonetic' Keyboard Update v1.1 for Vista

CRULP has released a new version 1.1 for the Urdu 'Phonetic' Keyboard. This is compatible with Windows Vista and Unicode 5.1. New characters have been added as well. For more details visit the CRULP site.

Download Phonetic Keyboard v1.1

[JuGnO]

Nice Work

Reps added

One Major kick back
the font file and the keyboard layout are not being downloaded.... plz help