Annexure - II Key Sequences For The Standard Tamil Typewriter Keyboard Layout The aim of providing the manual typewriter keyboard layout to the computer user is to help the professional typist who has already mastered the manual typewriter. He /she should be able to type in the computer also with ease, without any modification. This is necessary to help them to maintain their speed. As such, the same sequence of keys, which produced a character, should be available in the computer keyboard also. A few additional shortcuts are also provided. These are in addition to the above mentioned traditional sequences. The 11 vowels which are available as such are, �, �, �, �, �, �, �, �, �, �, � All the 18 + 5 = 23 consonants with akara vowel are available on separate keys. They are, �, �, �, �, �, �, �, �, �, �, �, �, �, �, �, �, �, �, �, �, �, �, �. The aaytham ( � )and sri (� ) are available as such. 17 other vowelised consonants are available as such. they are �, �, �, �, �, �, �, �, �, �, �, �, �, �, �, �, �. The four symbols � , �, � and � are available. There are six dead keys in the Typewriter keyboard . They are    �   �   � . All these six MUST be made available only as dead keys in the computer also. The sequences for producing a letter from more than one key are given below. For example, � + � --> � �+ � --> �   �+ � --> � �+ � --> �   �+ � --> �� � + � --> �� (same for all the 18 + 5 consonants) � + � --> � � + � --> � � + � --> � � + � --> � � + � --> �� � + � --> �� (same for all the 18 + 5 consonants) � + � --> � � + � --> � � + � --> � � + � --> � � + � --> �� � + � --> �� (same for all the 18 + 5 consonants) + � --> � + � --> � + � --> � + � --> � + � --> � (for these 5 letters only )

In the manual typewriter, the letter � and � cannot be typed. These should be typed in The computer keyboard by typing the, and symbols, corresponding to pu and poo, first and then typing the letter � . This sequence is in confirmity with the dead keys already in use

+ � --> � + � --> � + � --> � + � --> � + � --> � (for these 5 letters only) + � --> � + � --> � + � --> � + � --> � (for these 5 letters only) + � --> � � + -> � � + --> � � + --> � � + --> � � + --> � � + --> � � + --> � (for these 7 letters only)

For the sake of uniformity, the sequence regarding � is also included. The letter � is used to be typed as � and then (in the position of &). Similarly, � is Used to be typed as � and then . These sequences, given below, are also to be provided for the sake of compatibility with the manual system, even through � and � can be typed with single keys.

� + --> � � + � + --> �� � + � + --> �� � + + --> �

� + --> � � + � + --> �� � + � + --> �� � + + --> ��

Out of the six dead keys, the pulli and the two kokkis are available in the TAM and TAB font coding as separate symbols. So, they can be got by typing these dead keys followed by one space, as done in the manual typewriter.

� + Space � � + Space � � + Space �

The letter � is got by typing the keys at q and Q in the conventional way. This should be available as such. But this letter is available only as a single glyph in the TAM and TAB codings. Hence this letter is provided in the position of q. For compatibility with Manual keyboard, the upper case Q is left vacant.

 

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