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Syriac Keyboard

Posted: 2009-08-19 12:44:06
by jhermiz
I have used the following Syriac Keyboard: http://www.familie-reisser.de/michael/t ... yriac.html

But for some reason, not all of the diacritical marks, or vowel marks, are available on the keyboard (the remainder seem to be available in the Syriac Character Pallette but I don't know how to move them onto the keyboard) or they don't work appropriately when trying to place them on a letter.

Any help?

Re: Syriac Keyboard

Posted: 2009-08-19 18:17:40
by Kino
As of OS X 10.5, only AAT (Apple Advanced Typography) is supported for Syriac in Apple’s standard text engine (used in TextEdit, Nisus Writer Pro, etc.) and there seems to be no AAT Syriac font except XenoType’s Syriac Language Kit (shareware).
http://www.xenotypetech.com/osxSyriac.html

If you are already using it and you still have the problem, perhaps something is wrong with the keyboard layout. You can use Ukelele to modify it or create your own keyboard layout.
http://scripts.sil.org/ukelele

As I’m not familiar with Syriac, perhaps I misunderstand the problem, though.

Re: Syriac Keyboard

Posted: 2009-08-19 20:56:05
by jhermiz
Thank you for your help Kino!

Actually, I do not have the Syriac Language Kit that you provided in your link. However, from reading it seemed that 1) it's only fonts and not a keyboard 2) it is in the Western Script (I'm looking for Eastern script).

As far as fonts go, I am using Meltho Fonts that is provided by Beth Mardutho. However, I believe they only work effectively with Mellel.

I'm thinking that it just may be the Syriac QWERTY keyboard that I am using that isn't as comprehensive as the Meltho Windows Keyboard.

And as far as Ukelele goes, I downloaded the following as well: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/arts/clas ... nn/syriac/

However, the problem with this one is when it is selected from the Keyboard bar, it won't type, regardless if I am typing in Mellel or Nisus (grant it I am using Demo versions right now).

Overall, my problem comes down to the diacritical marks/vowels that aren't connecting words properly, and the fact that I cannot transfer all the characters from the Syriac Character Palette to the Syriac Keyboard.

Re: Syriac Keyboard

Posted: 2009-08-20 13:15:36
by jhermiz
I actually have made a keyboard with Ukelele that is exactly how I want, except, when I select it for usage nothing types at all. And I unfortunately cannot modify the Syriac QWERTY keyboard I have because I can't select it at all.

I hope that clears my concern up.

Re: Syriac Keyboard

Posted: 2009-08-21 05:35:14
by Kino
jhermiz wrote:And I unfortunately cannot modify the Syriac QWERTY keyboard I have because I can't select it at all.
You cannot open the keyboard layout bundle which is a folder. You have to open *.keylayout file inside the bundle using Finder's "Show Package Contents":

Syriac.bundle/Contents/Resources/Syriac QWERTY.keylayout