LaTeX/XeTeX setup Tamil/Indic languages

Question

I use TexMaker and LyX in Ubuntu. I'd like to typeset Tamil/Telugu/Hindi text, and so far I've been unsuccessful.

Please suggest me a working TeX/LaTeX/variants setup for Indic languages, especially Tamil.

edit: XeTeX seems to have good Unicode support, and I read TexMaker has XeteX support too. I installed all XeTeX, latex-tamil packages etc. But couldn't make them work yet.

Documentations talk about Arabic or Korean text. Nothing mentioned about Tamil/Indic text.

Answer 1

I was able to typeset Tamil using LaTeX on Ubuntu by installing the itrans and itrans-fonts packages via synaptic (or apt-get). It doesn't let you type in Tamil directly, rather you have to key in the ASCII transcription, then process it with itrans from the command prompt, then run (pdf)latex on the resultant file.

Say I have the following file nandri-pre.tex:

\documentclass{minimal}
\usepackage[preprocess]{itrans}

\newfont{\tmlb}{wntml12}
\newfont{\tmls}{wntml10}
\hyphenchar\tmlb=-1 
\hyphenchar\tmls=-1 

#tamilifm=wntml.ifm
#tamilfont=\tmlb

\begin{document}
Hi! {#tamil na^nRi #endtamil}
\end{document}

Process it with itrans:

$ itrans -i nandri-pre.tex -o nandri.tex

Then run (pdf)latex on nandri.tex, which is of course the file to edit if you have further text to add.

Answer 2

To use various indic languages in latex with texmaker I recommend following steps to be followed by viewers of this post.

1. Download latest version of MikTeX. Install it in your system. I use the C:/latex/ directory.

2. Download devnag developed by velthuis from CTAN. Install it in your system. I use the c:/latex/velthuis directory.

3. Open mycomputer->all programmes->miktex->miktex settings. Go to root tab and add c:/latex/velthuis directory and click OK.

4. Install TeXMaker and go to "user" tab and open "user command" and then "edit user command". Enter "devnagari" in menu item and commands

   c:/latex/velthuis/bin/devnag.exe %.dn|c:/latex/miktex/bin/latex.exe -interaction=nonstopmode %.tex|"C:/latex/MiKTex/miktex/bin/yap.exe" %.dvi     
   

   in command field. Click OK.

5. Now devnagri will appear in dropdown in menu bar after arrow. You can add extra command using | having no space before and after |.

6. Now copy misspal file from c:/latex/velthuis/doc/generic/ folder in TeXMaker and save it as misspall.dn. Now run devnagri command and you will see out put in DVI preview in devnagari script. If you want write document in tamils then use itrans instead of devnag. It is also working with LaTeX and TeXMaker very well.

7. Remember %.dn means % denotes to filename without extension and .dn extension of file. Users must read doc or manual of devnag or itrans.

Answer 3

For Hindi, you can probably use the devanagari package for LaTeX. I've used it for Sanskrit. Just note that the "internal" codes for the script is a bit obtuse, so it is suggested that you follow the documentation and type in a more readable format, and then pass the source file through a preprocessor. (Included in the distribution.)

There are also language packages for Telugu and Tamil, but not having used either I cannot say more about them.