Hindi/Sanskrit Fonts: FAQ
yash...@my-deja.com
Devanagari Fonts: FAQ
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Basics:
1. Where can I find Devanagari fonts?
A: You can download many fonts free from the web without
cost. You can also buy some from venders. See the URL
below.
2. Is it hard to install fonts on a PC?
A: It is fairly simple. It should take 5-10 minutes,
a little more if you are doing it for the first time.
Often you will find directions for installing in the
same web page.
3. How much disk space does a font file take?
A: In the range of 50-80K. You can easily install
4-5 fonts if you like without making a significant
dent in you gigabytes of harddisk storage.
4. Can I use a Hindi font with MS Word, without using any
special packages?
A: Yes. Provided you have the keyboard map for the
font. The shusha font is easiest to use in this way.
However for any significant amount of text, it is better
to use an editor. You can also use Hindi fonts with
most publishing packages.
5. I want to read some of the Hindi newspapers that are
on the web. If I install font for one of them, will I be
able to read all Hindi newspapers on the web?
A. No, you need to install fonts for each newspaper
separately. However since the fonts do not take much space,
it is not a problem.
Hindi fonts on WWW:
1. I want to make a web page with Hindi font. Which font
I should use?
A: Try to use a font that many have already installed.
See the URL below. If the Hindi text is very small, you
should create a GIF file. If you use dynamic fonts, people
do not need to download and fonts (it will be done
automatically).
2. We publish a Hindi magazine using some fonts acquired
in India. Can we put selected articles on the web without
too much rework?
A: It is quite possible that one of the fonts already
available on the web is compatible with your text.
You then just need to specify the font face in HTML.
3. Can I do something so that people will not have
to install a font to see my web page?
A: If the text is small, you can put it up as .gif
files. Alternatively, you can use dynamic fonts.
Hindi email:
1. Can I send email in Hindi using Devanagari?
A: Yes. You will have to send it as embedded HTML
text with properly embedded tags. The person receiving
should have the same font installed and should have a
suitable mail reader. As an example, you can try epatra.com
interface (at NaiDunia newspaper site).
Note that copying and pasting can corrupt some
fonts. Both this and #7 require some platform specific
skill.
Newsgroups:
1. Can I post on newsgroups in Hindi using Devanagari?
A: Yes, you will have to post it as embedded HTML
text with proper tags. The persons reading should have
the same font installed and should have a mailreader like
MS Outlook, Netscape Messenger or hotmail that can display
HTML.
2. Can a post using Devanagari font be seen using DejaNews
archives?
A: No, it is not possible to do so directly with the new
Deja.Com. But you can copy the funny looking text into
MSWord and apply the appropriate font to see it in
Devanagari.
*********************************Updated 8/10/99
Please send any suggestions, additions or corrections.
Have any of you used software tools (text editors/WPs)?
Please share your experiences.
Yashwant
Devanagari Fonts: Information
http://www.cs.colostate.edu/~malaiya/devafonts.htm
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