Local Language Website Using Unicode
I am helping to redesign a website readgujarati.com in local Gujarati(Indian) language. Currently they are using images for the content of the site, and I am helping to built a new site using Unicode characters for Gujarati language. Here is some useful information about creating non-English website that I gathered during the process.
- Unicode
- The official line at http://www.unicode.org says, ‘Unicode provides a unique number for every character, no matter what the platform, no matter what the program, no matter what the language’.
OS Support
Windows 2000/XP
Arial Unicode MS contains full fonts for Arabic, Indian (Hindi, Gujarati, Tamil,…), Japanese, etc. in addition to all the charaters in Arial font. For list of langauages please refer to Microsoft support site. Using Arial Unicode MS font user can read different langauage documents including websites without installing specific langauage font(s).
Windows 95/98
Unicode fonts are not provided with windows 95/98. Windows 95/98 user must download and Install unicode font in order to view local language website.
Mac:
Mac users (OS X 10.3 and above) are advised to install the optional Languages Support package, found in the OS X installation CD/DVD.
Linux:
Most linux distribution supports unicode. Search Google for more information about unicode support in particular langauage.
Example of Hindi & Gujarati
- English:
- My name is Dharmesh
- Hindi:
- मेरा नाम धमेॅश है.
Should look like:
- Gujarati:
- માર� નામ ધમૅેશ છે.
Should look like:
Language tags:
Search Engine:
Google and Yahoo supports unicode text search, that means you can search in you own language. For an example: Searching for America in Gujarati langauge.
Other Useful Links:
- Why use Unicode encoding?
- Support for Indian Langauages and unicode Fonts
- BabelPad: Free Unicode Text Editor for Windows
- Online Hindi editor with Keyboard layout(IE Only)
- Microsoft Help site for Indian language
- Microsoft: Download Page in Gujarati
