RE: Query about Tamil & Kannada Word Processing and Presentation Software

["Irfan Khan" <khania@super.net.pk>]

From:           	"Karthik Venkatesh" <karthik.venkatesh@oneworld.net>
To:             	<owner-s-asia-it@lists.apnic.net>
Copies to:      	<kanti.kumar@oneworld.net>, "Devjyot" 
<devjyot@mithi.com>
Subject:        	RE: Query about Tamil & Kannada Word Processing and 
Presentation Software
Date sent:      	Fri, 22 Feb 2002 10:56:47 +0530

Dear Dr.Surinder,

Your mail was forwarded to me by my colleague who is a member of your
list. We are developing some ICT training materials here in Indian
languages, so I think I can help you.

For Word Format:
1.) You could just download and install  Tamil and Kannada fonts 
available freely on the Web and use them from within MSWord. But, 
this assumes that your people have a fair degree of skill in typing 
in Kannada and Tamil using the English keyboard. It has many other 
disadvantages.  

2.)You could purchase software which will replace Word, give you
several fonts for most Indian languages, come with different keyboard
layouts that will help people to key in the translated content using
the regular keyboard, spell check in Indian languages, save in HTML
and UNICODE formats, besides a host of other useful features. Two of
the more prominent solutions are: IndiaPage(from Mithi Software)and
LEAP Office or ISM Office 2000(from CDAC).

As you can see, the second solution is a lot more elegant and makes 
it easier to web-enable your translated documents at a later date, if 
you so wish. At OneWorld, we are using IndiaPage, since Mithi seems 
to provide better technical support . You can contact Mr.Devjyot of 
Mithi Software- devjyot@mithi.com - for more information and also see 
their web site(www.mithi.com).  

For Powerpoint:

I am not so sure about this. Devjyot would be in a better position to
help you out. One alternative solution would be to use Flash. We know
a partner who has developed excellent training resources using Flash
and embedding the language font in the Flash movie.

Glad to be of help. Please feel free to contact us if you think we 
can be of further assistance.  

Regards,

R. Karthik Venkatesh
ICT Support Centre Editor
OneWorld South Asia.


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