Introduction
AppsTML Sinhala Keyboard a is single file browser-based application that enables you to type in Sinhala to a user
defined textarea. The typed content can be cut and pasted to (as well as pasted from) MS applications (windows, word,
notepad, wordpad, etc…) , internet applications ( e.g. e-mail, textboxes in html documents, etc. ) and other applicable
programs. It operates off-line thus an internet connection is not needed. Requirements
for satisfactory operation of the application is listed in subsequent sections.
System Requirements
- Given that the application runs via an internet browser, a functioning
browser program is essential (internet connection is not required).
The functionality and the appearance of the program will vary with the
browser and version. Internet Explorer 8+ and comparable browsers should
enable the application to function as intended. Earlier versions may
produce none or partial functionality.
- System requirements in terms of the speed, memory etc. for the application
itself is insignificant compared to the requirement of the browser program
and Sinhala language support (see details).
- The layout of the keyboard was arranged with a minimum screen resolution
of 1024 x 768. Display settings of a lower resolution is likely to produce
irregular results. In such cases consider an adjustment of the browser window
zoom feature and workspace setup in the AppsTML Sinhala Keyboard.
Sinhala Language Support
In order to view Sinhala script on the on-screen keyboard and textarea,
the computer must have Sinhala language support. MS Windows Vista and subsequent
releases of Windows have Sinhala language support. However,
Xp and older version of windows require Sinhala language support (Sinhala
Unicode) to be installed from an external source. Sinhala Unicode support
kits are available to download from sources such as:
http://www.siyabas.lk/sinhala_how_to_install.html
On-Screen Keyboard
Mouse click on a key (button) in the on-screen keyboard generates the character
in the allocated textarea. The character is generated as the last of the
content in the textarea (irrespective of the position of the cursor). Clicking
an on-screen keyboard key cannot generate a character in the middle of the
content in the textarea. Inserting a character or characters (ie. words)
within the content in the textarea a requires different procedure (
see Inserting text). Such restriction do not apply when inserting text
via pressing keys on the physical keyboard. Other keys in the on-screen
keyboard:
- Clear All – Deletes all content in a textarea.
- Delete (last) – Deletes the last character in the main textarea
(irrespective of the cursor position). To delete characters
within the contents in the textarea use the appropriate key (i.e. Backspace
, delete) in the physical keyboard.
- Space – Creates an empty space in the last position of the textarea
(irrespective of the positioning of the cursor).
Sinhala Script Keyboard Arrangement
- The first row of the keyboard contains the vowels in the Sinhala alphabet (except ඔ and එ).
- Consonants and characters that are termed as signs (or vowel signs e.g. kombuva, ketti paa-pilla etc..) are
positioned in the remaining rows. Signs in the Sinhala script are attached to Consonants to produce vocalic variations.
- Relative positioning of keys are comparable to SLS 1134 (keyboard layout). Characters that are produced
by pressing the shift key along with a standard key in QWERTY keyboard are generally positioned vertically adjacent
to characters produced without the shift key (e.g. න is positioned directly below ණ whilst බ is positioned directly
above භ). Vowel signs are positioned predominately on the left side of the keyboard.
Typing in Sinhala:
- Vowels are typed in as a single character. Signs generally are not
conjoined to vowels.
- Consonants should be typed before the sign even if the sign appears
prior to the consonant in sequence of characters ( e.g. ක then ෙ produces
කෙ).
- Special signs,්ර
(or ්ර) and
්ය(or
්ය) should be typed in straight after the consonant. Additional signs
can be inserted thereafter.
- Certain signs keys produce varying character shapes based on the attached consonant
( eg. ම + ු → මු whereas ක + ු →
කු and ක + ් → ක් whereas ම + ් → ම් )
NB: AppsTML Sinhala keyboard does not contain all the characters used
in the Sinhala script. However, attempts were made to ensure that most frequently
used characters in the alphabet are available. Those that do not appear
could be inserted into the textarea by changing the language setting of
the physical keyboard and pressing the appropriate keys.
Workspace setup
AppsTML Sinhala keyboard allows you to resize the main textarea and change
the font size in the textarea. Simply replace default values and click ok
to change settings.
- Width – The default width of the text area is 800px. It can be increased (e.g. 1000px) or
decreased (e.g. 500px) as an amount of pixels or another appropriate unit of measurement (e.g. 500em,
50%, etc.).
- Height – Change the height of the textarea from the default (200px)
by replacing the value to a desired height in an appropriate unit
of measurement (px, em).
- Font size – Is the size of the font in the textarea/s . It is not
the size of the font that would appear once pasted to a html or text
document (e.g. word document). The option was created to allow the user
to view the content at a desired font size.
- Fixed keyboard and menu - Checking the selection box locks the keyboard
and menu in to a fixed position on the screen.
- Default button – Returns editable values back to default settings.
Menu Features
Undo/Redo – The undo button can retrieve content from upto 10 previous
actions. The redo button returns the content back to the original from an
undo step.
Insert text
Sinhala script keys on-the screen keyboard cannot directly insert content
to any position within the textarea. However the application does have a
feature which allows you to insert text to a selected position. It utilises
a secondary textarea (smaller textarea located besides the menu buttons)
which can be activated by clicking the "main textarea" button. Upon activation
the text on the button changes to “secondary textarea” and the background colour of the secondary textarea changes.
Now if a key on the on-screen keyboard is clicked, the corresponding
character is inserted in the secondary textarea. The main textarea is deactivated
from the on-screen keyboard, but mouse actions and physical keyboard operations
are still active. Text content can be inserted into desired position in the
main textarea via the following steps:
- Type the required content in the secondary textarea.
- Make a selection in maintext area (It must be a selection spaning
at least a single space. Placing the cursor on specific location is
ineffective. Selection could even be an empty space within the textarea.)
- Clicking "Insert Text" button should insert content from the secondary
textarea to the initial position of the selection.
- Alternatively you can copy the text from the secondary textarea
to the clipboard and then paste to the desired location within the main
textarea.
To deactivate the secondary textarea, click the “secondary textarea”
button. Text and colour should revert back to the original.
Copyright and Disclaimer
AppsTML Sinhala Keyboard 1.1 Copyright © 2012 Ráj. A. Paksha
Viewing, accessing or otherwise using any of the services or information
created, collected or compiled in this software or associated documentation
you accept and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of service
listed on the current page and elsewhere within associated documentation.
Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any persons obtaining
a copy of this software and associated documentation, to deal in the software
without restriction, including without limitation the rights to use, copy,
modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of the
software, and to permit persons to whom the software is furnished to do
so, subject to the following conditions:
The copyright statement shall be included in all copies or substantial
portions of this software.
The authors, copyright holders nor agents give any guarantees or warranty,
expressed or implied, including warranties of merchantability and fitness
for a particular purpose, are made as to the currency, accuracy, quality,
completeness, availability or usefulness of data, information, apparatus,
product, or process disclosed, provided through this service, and no responsibility
or legal liability is assumed for any damages from its use, including, but
not limited to direct, indirect, incidental, punitive, and consequential
damages.