What exactly do you mean by “enabling Sinhala Unicode” on a computer?
As we have emphasized before, this is NOT about copying a font into your fonts folder. This happens due to the present status of operating systems and Sinhala Unicode itself. Operating systems like XP, 98, 2000 etc [and even Vista] came into existence way before Sinhala Unicode became sort of “established” as the norm. Therefore, if I put it simply, we need to install some sort of a patch to enable our language. But in the future, more and more OSs will come with Sinhala language support inbuilt. Example : Fedora Linux already comes with 100% Sinhala language support. I’m using it right now. No extra installations needed. No patches :-)
When you watch The Sinhala Blog Marathon or read any other online content in Sinhala, your web browser should to be able to “display” or “render” the content properly. This requires some additional stuff. More than a font. If you are hoping to use a word processor to type Unicode Sinhala, same applies. If you wish to post a comment on a blog, this requirement pops in again. Therefore we’d better enable Sinhala correctly, instead of copying a font.
How to install Sinhala?
First find the answer to this : What is the operating system you use? Is it Windows XP or something Pre XP (like 2000, 98 etc)? Or is it Windows Vista? GNU/Linux ? Mac?
Then get the suitable Sinhala pack for your system:
For more background stuff and help :
visit Siyabas.lk the official Sinhala Unicode website and its English version www.locallanguages.lk
Please read the instructions carefully to avoid mistakes :-)
To be continued…
And in the meantime, join the Marathon . Read more about it here
As we have emphasized before, this is NOT about copying a font into your fonts folder. This happens due to the present status of operating systems and Sinhala Unicode itself. Operating systems like XP, 98, 2000 etc [and even Vista] came into existence way before Sinhala Unicode became sort of “established” as the norm. Therefore, if I put it simply, we need to install some sort of a patch to enable our language. But in the future, more and more OSs will come with Sinhala language support inbuilt. Example : Fedora Linux already comes with 100% Sinhala language support. I’m using it right now. No extra installations needed. No patches :-)
When you watch The Sinhala Blog Marathon or read any other online content in Sinhala, your web browser should to be able to “display” or “render” the content properly. This requires some additional stuff. More than a font. If you are hoping to use a word processor to type Unicode Sinhala, same applies. If you wish to post a comment on a blog, this requirement pops in again. Therefore we’d better enable Sinhala correctly, instead of copying a font.
How to install Sinhala?
First find the answer to this : What is the operating system you use? Is it Windows XP or something Pre XP (like 2000, 98 etc)? Or is it Windows Vista? GNU/Linux ? Mac?
Then get the suitable Sinhala pack for your system:
Get the Sinhala enabling pack that suits your Windows version from Siyabas websiteThere are more helpful tips and guides on both www.siyabas.lk and www.locallanguages.lk/
See also Sinhala Bloggers Union website help pages
Linux
Please go to http://sinhala.sourceforge.net for information on setting up Sinhala in Linux
For a more comprehensive guide: Enabling Sinhala Linux
Mac OS/X
Currently Free Sinhala support is not available for Mac. But you can purchase a Sinhala Enabling Pack from this site: http://www.xenotypetech.com/osxSinhala.html
For more background stuff and help :
visit Siyabas.lk the official Sinhala Unicode website and its English version www.locallanguages.lk
Please read the instructions carefully to avoid mistakes :-)
To be continued…
And in the meantime, join the Marathon . Read more about it here