BarahaIME

BarahaIME in MS Word

Baraha Input Method Editor (previously called BarahaDirect) can be used to type Indian language text in applications such as MS Office, PageMaker, Internet Explorer, Notepad, ... It has several premium features which enable the user to create documents with speed and efficiency. When BarahaIME editor is started, it shows as an icon in the system tray at the bottom-right portion of the screen.

BarahaIME icon in the system tray

System requirements: BarahaIME runs on Windows 95/98, Windows ME, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7. However, if you use BarahaIME for typing Unicode text, your PC should meet the Unicode requirements.

See: Using BarahaIME in MS Office

Definitions:

UNICODE Text:
The Indian language text that uses Unicode fonts such as BRHKan01, BRHDev01, BRHTel01, so on... See: Unicode vs ANSI

ANSI Text:
The Indian language text that uses Baraha Fonts such as BRH Kannada, BRH Devanagari, BRH Telugu, so on...

Target Application:
The application in which you are typing Indian language text using BarahaIME. Example: MS Word

Menu commands:

Menu commands can be accessed by clicking on the system tray icon OR by pressing the F12 key.

ANSI:
Unicode:
Select ANSI or Unicode encoding. Depending on this setting: 1) BarahaIME will send either ANSI or Unicode characters to the target application. 2) The output of Sort and Convert To operations is either ANSI or Unicode. (Note: While typing in ANSI encoding, you have to select the appropriate font in the target application.)

Language:
Select the language. You should select appropriate fonts based on the selected language.

Keyboard:
Select the keyboard. Phonetic Keyboard, Brhkbd Keyboard, Inscript Keyboard.

Sort:
Provides various sorting options. See: Sorting text

Convert to:
Provides various conversion options. See: Converting text

Editing text:

After starting BarahaIME, when you start a new application window or switch to an existing window, the application will have the system default (English) keyboard. You have to select the Indian language to activate the Indian language keyboard.

To type Indian language text:

Open the target application where you want to type Indian language text.
In BarahaIME menu, click Language--> menu and select the desired Indian language.
Start typing.

To type English text:

In BarahaIME menu, select Language-->English command. (You may press F11 key anytime to switch between Indian language and English.)
Continue typing.

During the session, BarahaIME keeps track of the language settings for individual application windows. For example, let's say the user is running two MS Word application windows one for editing Kannada and the other for editing Hindi. Once the languages for individual windows are set, everytime he switches to a window, the language is automatically set. This way, he can switch between applications without having to select the langauges again and again.

BarahaIME keeps track of the characters typed in an internal buffer. During editing, if you use the Backspace key, it deletes the last character typed and re-generates the whole word. If the keyboard is idle for more than 8 seconds, the internal buffer gets cleared automatically. Therefore, if you use Backspace key after 8 seconds delay, the whole word is not re-generated. Instead, characters (glyphs in ANSI case) are deleted one by one. The internal buffer also gets cleared when you use the navigational keys such as arrows, page down, page up, e.t.c.

Converting text:

Converion commands allow you to convert Indian language text from one script to another AND/OR from one data encoding to another. The text to be converted may contain different scripts in either ANSI, UNICODE. For example, In MS Word, let's say the user has Kannada text in ANSI encoding along with Telugu text in UNICODE encoding. Now, he can convert this entire text to Devanagari in UNICODE encoding.

Indian language text can also be converted to ISO 15919 and IAST(see: Latin) encodings. Text in ISO 15919 or IAST encoding can be converted back to Indian language text.

The conversion operation consists of 3 simple steps.

Step 1: In MS Word, select the Indian language text you want to convert and copy it by clicking Edit | Copy menu command.

Step 2: In BarahaIME menu, select Convert To --> ... command.

Step 3: In MS Word, paste the text by clicking Edit | Paste menu command.

Note: BarahaIME remembers the conversion command last selected. You can press F10 key to perform the same operation later.

Sorting text:

Sorting commands allow you to sort Indian language text in the correct alphabetical order specific to the language. The text to be sorted may contain different scripts in either ANSI or UNICODE encoding.

The sorting operation consists of 3 simple steps.

Step 1: In MS Word, select the Indian language text you want to sort and copy it by clicking Edit | Copy menu command.

Step 2: In BarahaIME menu, select Sort --> ... command.

Step 3: In MS Word, paste the text by clicking Edit | Paste menu command.

Note: BarahaIME remembers the sort command last selected. You can press F9 key to perform the same operation later.

Some tips:

If you are editing in MS Office applications in ANSI encoding...

You SHOULD NOT use any of the AutoCorrect options. These options automatically change the characters as you type, to correct them, which is good only for the English language. Click Tools | AutoCorrect menu command in MS Word/Excel to go to AutoCorrect options dialog box and DISABLE all the AutoCorrect options.

Some of the AutoCorrect options to be disabled are given below. But, it is better if you disable all other options also.

Correct TWo INitial CApitals
Capitalize first letter of sentences
Straight quotes with smart quotes

Disable the Check spelling as you type option in the Tools | Options | Spelling & Grammar dialog box. This will avoid the red underline for the Kannada words.