Indian Linux (IndLinux) Files

IndLinuX Hindi Gnome  release 0.37 (codenamed 'milan')
------------------------------------------------------
Author: G Karunakar <karunakar@indlinux.org>
Date: 14 Feb 2003

IndLinux Hindi Gnome release contains all what is needed to work on Gnome 2 in Hindi. It contains required fonts ( in fonts/ ) , keymaps ( keymaps/ ) and hindi translations for Gnome 2 ( trans/ ).

What you can do now:
 - View and type Hindi in Gnome 2 applications - eg gedit, gnumeric, glade etc.
 - Use some Gnome 2 applications with Hindi interface -eg gedit, gconf-editor, balsa, anjuta2, nautilus

Work in progress:
 - Hindi translations for Gnome extra & fifth-toe applications
 - Desktop menu translations
 
What you cannot do:
 - Printing Hindi
 - Sorting Hindi - work for this is in progress, would be available by v0.5

Requirements
------------
This release has only been tested on Redhat 8.0 . So you need to have Redhat 8 installed. Testing is in progrees on Mandrake 9.0. There will soon be a release for Mandrake also.

Installing it
-------------
You need to be logged in as root to install it. If you are logged in as normal user the do a su 
 $ su -

Copy the release tarball into some temporary location ( say /tmp )
 # cp IndLinuxHindi-0.37.tar.gz /tmp
 # cd /tmp
 # tar zxvf IndLinuxHindi-0.37.tar.gz
 # cd IndLinuxHindi-0.37
 # ./install.sh

That will install all the needed stuff.

Using it
--------
Now start Gnome or X session. If your default desktop is not Gnome then you can switch to it by issuing following command.

 $ switchdesk gnome

Now doing 
 $ export LANG=hi_IN
 $ startx

This will bring up Gnome desktop in Hindi. Note: Right now you wont get everyting in Hindi, as there is lot of translation work still to be done. Read 'How to contribute section'

If you are already running Gnome , then you can start an application in Hindi from terminal by commands
 $ export LANG=hi_IN
 $ gedit &
or
 $ LANG=hi_IN gedit

Logging in from GDM
-------------------
 If you are using GDM to login, 
 then select  Language -> Hindi  (from the popup that comes)
 Then set your session to Gnome, and login
 Gnome will start in Hindi mode, though you wont get everything in Hindi yet. Clicking on you home icon on desktop will start the file manager in Hindi.

Note: If you dont get the Hindi option in GDM run following logged in as root.
# echo "Hindi			hi_IN" >> /etc/X11/gdm/locale.alias

How to type
-----------
At present Inscript keyboard layout as defined by Govt is being used. This layout is common for all languages & is easy to learn if you know the basic character set of Hindi.
For more on layout see http://www.indlinux.org/keymap/keymaps.php

To type in Hindi, you could either use CLI approach and  run following command.

$ setkmap dev
Then to switch to Hindi mode, press both Shift keys simultaenously, the scroll lock led will light up as visual indicator that keyboard is now in Hindi mode.

Or use GUI approach
You will need to add gkb - keyboard switching layout tool to Gnome panel - Right click on panel - Add -> Utility ->Keyboard layout switcher. Then Right click on Gkb applet when It appears on the panel. Select Prefrences , click Add. Then add all the indic layouts. Indic options are avaialble as Hindi -> India -> Hindi inscript xkbmap "
 Use Left Alt+ Left Shift to switch between layouts - The country flags change according to layout. When Hindi option comes, you can type in Hindi by pressing both Shift keys simultaneously - this acts as toggle between default english and Hindi layout. The scroll lock led will light up as visual indicator. Now you can type in Hindi. Press both shift to toggle back to english layout.

This should get things started.
Any feedback/suggerstions/flames give it on mailing lists http://www.indlinux.org/lists.php
Or subscribe to mailing lists at
http://lists.sourceforge.net/mailman/listinfo/indlinux-group
http://lists.sourceforge.net/mailman/listinfo/indlinux-hindi-gnome

How to contribute
-----------------
Join in at http://www.indlinux.org
Join the relevant lists
Lookup task list page to see if you can take up any unassigned task
at https://sourceforge.net/pm/?group_id=11495
If you would like to volunteer for Hindi translations, Then Join Gnome Hindi team at http://www.indlinux.org/hindi/gnome .

Also join in channels #indlinux and  #gnome-india at irc.gimp.org

Acknowlegements:
Fonts: Fonts have been collected from different sources. Read fonts/README for more details.
Translations: Gnome Hindi team , http://www.indlinux.org/hindi/gnome

Please give your feedback on mailing lists
http://www.indlinux.org/lists.php
https://lists.sourceforge.net/mailman/listinfo/indlinux-group
or Forums at
https://sourceforge.net/forum/?group_id=11495
Any bugs report on lists/forums or file a bug report at Bugs tracker at
https://sourceforge.net/tracker/?group_id=11495&atid=111495

Thanks,
on behalf of
IndLinux team.
http://www.indlinux.org