DRAFT
Font support, compatibility with OS/browser version
How to make my blog readable in every possible computing environment
Which is the widely supported encoding standard?
How to create content in Unicode Tamil?
How to make my Unicode encoded Tamil blog look good on many OS/Browser combinations?
Which OS/Browser combination displays what type of Tamil encoding?
How to setup my blog so that all the OS/Browser variations are supported?
Are there any specific tips to overcome display problems with Thamizha browser?
How to make use of dynamic encoded fonts?
How to make my blog readable in every possible computing environment
In order to make Tamil readable in any internet browser, ideally there are two basic requirements. First, the blog content must be in a widely supported encoding standard, next, the viewer should have the right OS/browser combination (and required additional downloaded software in certain cases) that recognizes and displays this content the way it was intended.
Which is that widely supported encoding standard?
After many encoding standardization efforts, now TSCII and Unicode have become the most widely used encoding standards for Tamil. Of these two, Unicode is expected to be the standard of the future. Hence Unicode is automatically the most widely supported. Unicode Tamil font ‘Latha’ is shipped along with Windows XP, making a computer running Windows XP support Unicode Tamil, right out of the box.
How to create content in Unicode Tamil?
Visit the FAQ section on
Software for creating content
........Basic Text editors
How to make my Unicode encoded Tamil blog look good on many OS/Browser combinations?
If the OS is older than Windows 2000, the Unicode support is not guaranteed. There are two ways the Tamil content can be displayed in these computers. One, by using dynamic encoded fonts, and another by asking the viewer to do a onetime download of Tamil editing software, freely available on the internet.
Which OS/Browser combination displays what type of Tamil encoding?
See the table below:
| OS | Browser | Preferred Type of encoding | Availability | User download required |
| Windows XP/ Windows 2000 | IE 6.x/ Mozilla 5.x/ Thamizha 1.4 | Unicode | Built-into OS | No |
| Windows NT/ Windows Me/ Windows 98 | IE 5.5 and above | Unicode | Through dynamic encoded font | No |
| Windows 98 | IE 5.0 and below | TSCII | Through Tamil editing software | Yes, onetime download. |
How to setup my blog so that all the above variations are always supported?
Yes. In order to do that, your blog must declare all three different type of fonts. It is possible to include a single html tag (a way of telling browser to use the right font) in the proper order.
An example html tag is given here:
<font face="Latha, TheneeUniTx, TSCu_InaiMathi, TSC_Avarangal, TSC_AvarangalFxd, TSC-Janani, TSCu-ArulMathi, TSCu_InaiKathir, TSCTimes, TSC-Sri, TSCMylai, TSCComic, TSC_Kannadaasan,TSC_Paranar" >
The html tag includes
- LATHA Unicode font (helps row 1 situation in the above table)
- The dynamic encoded Unicode font like TheneeUniTx (helps row 2 situation in the above table)
- Many possible TSCII fonts, like TSCu_Inaimathi, TSCu_Avarangal, etc. (helps row 3 situation in the above table)
Are there any specific tips to overcome display problems with Thamizha browser?
Check the following:
In order to make Thamizha 1.4 browser properly display your contents, you should have ‘Latha’ font precede other fonts.
The html tag <p align=”justify”> does not work well with Thamizha browser now. It is advisable to avoid this alignment tag.
How to make use of dynamic encoded fonts?
Visit the FAQ section on
Dynamic Encoded Fonts