Difference between revisions of "Tibetan Input Method for Linux"

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====Installing a Tibetan input method for gnome====
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[[image:IBus-Language.jpg|thumb|300px|'''Img. 1''': IBus needs to be enabled in ''Language settings'']]
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[[image:IBus-General.jpg|thumb|300px|'''Img. 2''': IBus preferences, hotkeys for switching input methods]]
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[[image:IBus-InputMethod.jpg|thumb|300px|'''Img. 3''': IBus preferences, input method selection]]
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Linux supports a number of different input method implementations to support different Tibetan keyboards:
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* [http://code.google.com/p/ibus/ IBUS], the Intelligent input bus. This provides the currently recommended method for typing Tibetan in Linux.
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* [http://code.google.com/p/uim/ UIM], for older linux versions that do not yet support IBus
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* [http://www.scim-im.org/ SCIM], not described here.
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==Installing a Tibetan IBUS input method for gnome==
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You should have installed the packages: ibus, ibus-m17n, m17ndb.
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Ubuntu users need to make sure (10.04 and higher) that IBus is the active input method: Go to System / Administration / Language support: On the bottom of the screen is the Input Method selector, make sure it is on "IBus". (See Img. 1)
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==Installing a Tibetan UIM input method for gnome==
 
For gnome you need the packages <code>uim</code>, <code>uim-m17nlib</code>, <code>uim-applet-gnome</code>.
 
For gnome you need the packages <code>uim</code>, <code>uim-m17nlib</code>, <code>uim-applet-gnome</code>.
 
This installs a Wylie input method (as part of <code>uim-m17nlib</code>) and a keyboard switcher that can be added to the gnome panel:
 
This installs a Wylie input method (as part of <code>uim-m17nlib</code>) and a keyboard switcher that can be added to the gnome panel:
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* You should now be able to type Tibetan.
 
* You should now be able to type Tibetan.
  
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====Advanced customization====
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==Advanced customization==
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All input methods (scim, uim, and ibus) rely on a configuration file that is installed as part of m17n.lib.
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It is possible to exchange or change the way the input method <code>"m17n-bo-wylie"</code> works: Simply edit (as root, make a backup first!)
 
It is possible to exchange or change the way the input method <code>"m17n-bo-wylie"</code> works: Simply edit (as root, make a backup first!)
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  /usr/share/m17n/bo-wylie.mim
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  <code>/usr/share/m17n/bo-wylie.mim</code>
 
to add or modify the translation from wylie into Unicode Tibetan.
 
to add or modify the translation from wylie into Unicode Tibetan.
 
This file serves as documentation of the input method and is also a good way to understand how the input method translates Wylie into Tibetan Unicode.
 
This file serves as documentation of the input method and is also a good way to understand how the input method translates Wylie into Tibetan Unicode.
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* Unicode, at Wikipedia [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unicode http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unicode]
 
* Unicode, at Wikipedia [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unicode http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unicode]
 
* Wylie transliteration, at Wikipedia [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wylie_transliteration http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wylie_transliteration]
 
* Wylie transliteration, at Wikipedia [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wylie_transliteration http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wylie_transliteration]
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* Description of the IBus project [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intelligent_Input_Bus http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intelligent_Input_Bus]
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* IBus project home page [http://code.google.com/p/ibus/ http://code.google.com/p/ibus/]
  
 
[[Category:Tools]][[Category:How-to]][[Category:Software]]
 
[[Category:Tools]][[Category:How-to]][[Category:Software]]

Revision as of 11:32, 13 August 2010

Img. 1: IBus needs to be enabled in Language settings
Img. 2: IBus preferences, hotkeys for switching input methods
Img. 3: IBus preferences, input method selection

Linux supports a number of different input method implementations to support different Tibetan keyboards:

  • IBUS, the Intelligent input bus. This provides the currently recommended method for typing Tibetan in Linux.
  • UIM, for older linux versions that do not yet support IBus
  • SCIM, not described here.

Installing a Tibetan IBUS input method for gnome

You should have installed the packages: ibus, ibus-m17n, m17ndb. Ubuntu users need to make sure (10.04 and higher) that IBus is the active input method: Go to System / Administration / Language support: On the bottom of the screen is the Input Method selector, make sure it is on "IBus". (See Img. 1)


Installing a Tibetan UIM input method for gnome

For gnome you need the packages uim, uim-m17nlib, uim-applet-gnome. This installs a Wylie input method (as part of uim-m17nlib) and a keyboard switcher that can be added to the gnome panel:

  • Right-click the gnome-panel, select "Add to Panel..." and add the "Input Method Indicator (uim)".
  • Within the configuration of UIM, enable the input method "m17n-bo-wylie" or the newer m17n-bo-ewts, .
  • Now open gnome text editor (gedit), select a Tibetan font, e.g. Tibetan Machine Uni and activate the input method "m17n-bo-wylie".
  • You should now be able to type Tibetan.

Advanced customization

All input methods (scim, uim, and ibus) rely on a configuration file that is installed as part of m17n.lib.

It is possible to exchange or change the way the input method "m17n-bo-wylie" works: Simply edit (as root, make a backup first!) 

/usr/share/m17n/bo-wylie.mim

to add or modify the translation from wylie into Unicode Tibetan. This file serves as documentation of the input method and is also a good way to understand how the input method translates Wylie into Tibetan Unicode.

More information

External Links

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