Finding a keyboard Layout

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Finding a keyboard Layout

Hello,

i've been using PC computers but I switched recetly to Mac systems. I added (via system preferences) the arabic keyboard layouts (Arabic + Arabic Qwetry). However, both layouts are different from the standard PC keyboard which confuses me when typing in arabic and makes it hard for me to type in arabic very quickly.

so is there any place I can find some arabic keyboard layouts to be installed on Mac?

thanks

MacBook: White, Mac OS X (10.4.10)

Posted on Jul 16, 2007 5:41 AM

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Answer 1

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

122,136 points

Jul 16, 2007 5:45 AM in response to Sword Man

so is there any place I can find some arabic keyboard
layouts to be installed on Mac?

You can find a couple (Arabic-Windows and WinArabic) on my iDisk:

http://idisk.mac.com/thgewecke-Public?view=web

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Answer 2

Sword Man Author

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Jul 18, 2007 4:44 AM in response to Tom Gewecke

Hi,

I downloaded the file, now how can i install the new layout?

thanks

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Answer 3

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

122,136 points

Jul 18, 2007 4:59 AM in response to Sword Man

I downloaded the file, now how can i install the new
layout?

Put the file in Home/Library/Keyboard Layouts, logout/login, open system preferences/international/input menu, check its box, then select it in the "flag" menu at the top right of the Finder.

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Answer 4

Sword Man Author

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Aug 14, 2007 1:07 AM in response to Tom Gewecke

hi,

I noticed there is a character which doesn't appear in the windows layout, I tried all buttoms (with shift as well) but I couldn't locate it
the letter looks like د (but with ' above it)

how can i find/add it?

bye

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Answer 5

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

122,136 points

Aug 14, 2007 3:13 AM in response to Sword Man

On mac layouts you must also try Alt and Alt + Shift.

Use Keyboard Viewer (activate and select this just like you activate a keyboard layout) to which key does what.

To customize the layout yourself you can use Ukelele:

http://scripts.sil.org/cms/scripts/page.php?siteid=nrsi&itemid=ukelele

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Answer 6

Sword Man Author

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Aug 15, 2007 1:30 AM in response to Tom Gewecke

hi,

thanks for alt and alt + shift, i got access to new symbols but the character i'm after hasn't appeared (although very similar one appears ڈ but it is different and becomes clear when i work in posters where the symbol has a dot above it, not another character!!!!)

i tried to open keyboard viewer, but i don't know how (i tried to the spotlight and i got to 'internatonal'), how can i see what each key gives in a given keyboard layout?

thanks

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Answer 7

Sword Man Author

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Aug 15, 2007 1:43 AM in response to Sword Man

hi,

i've found it!!!! it is there in "WinArabic layout" but not in "Arabic-Windows"... I don't why there are two, they are really similar except for that letter !!

thanks 🙂

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Answer 8

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

122,136 points

Aug 15, 2007 3:17 AM in response to Sword Man

i've found it!!!! it is there in "WinArabic layout" but not in "Arabic-Windows"... I don't why there are two, they are really similar except for that letter !!

These are custom layouts made by hand by different people I think. Thanks for the info that Arabic-Windows may be missing something.

For the Keyboard Viewer, you go to system prefs/international/input menu and check its box, just like for a keyboard layout.

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Answer 9

Sword Man Author

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Aug 15, 2007 2:24 PM in response to Tom Gewecke

hi,

another problem comes out!!!! WinArabic has some characters in different places!!!! I actually spotted the same character twice and the orgininal character(according to PC) has shifted to another place 😟

The problem is that it is hard to me to learn another layout because I type without looking and my keyboard has only english letters writtin on it

Keyboard viewer only shows me available keyboard layouts without telling me how characters are organised in each layout

Regards,

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Answer 10

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

122,136 points

Aug 15, 2007 2:41 PM in response to Sword Man

The problem is that it is hard to me to learn another layout because I type without looking and my keyboard has only english letters writtin on it

If you will tell me what corrections need to be made to the Arabic Windows I can try to fix it.

Keyboard viewer only shows me available keyboard layouts without telling me how characters are organised in each layout

It doesn't sound like you understand what Keyboard Viewer is yet. When you have the Input Menu in front of your in System Prefs/International, find the box next to Keyboard Viewer and check it. Then select Keyboard Viewer in the "flag" menu at the top right of the Finder. A virtual keyboard will appear on your screen, and its keys will change when you change the flag in the "flag" menu.

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Answer 11

Sword Man Author

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Aug 16, 2007 5:41 AM in response to Tom Gewecke

hi,

I'm trying to find the keyboard viewer but i couldn't; i followed your instruction but I don't see any thing to be checked for 'keyboard viewer' !!!

are u sure it is in Mac X 10.4 ???

regards

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Answer 12

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

122,136 points

Aug 16, 2007 5:57 AM in response to Sword Man

I'm trying to find the keyboard viewer but i couldn't;

That's strange. Here is how it should look in system prefs/international/input menu.

http://homepage.mac.com/thgewecke/kbv.png

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Answer 13

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

122,136 points

Aug 16, 2007 2:11 PM in response to Sword Man

PS I have put a new Arabic layout on my idisk, called WinVArabic101.keylayout. It is supposed to be the same as what is in Windows Vista. Let me know if it works and is better than the others.

http://idisk.mac.com/thgewecke-Public?view=web

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Answer 14

Sword Man Author

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Aug 17, 2007 10:46 PM in response to Tom Gewecke

hi,

the new layout has got the missing character(twice). However, another character is missing now!!!
in the new version, u need to change the character correspond to letter V in the english keyboard layout (as it is duplicated)... it should look like ر not ذ
The letter ذ is in its correct place (corresponding to ` in the english keyboard)

so one change to go and everything will be sweet!!! 🙂

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Answer 15

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

122,136 points

Aug 18, 2007 3:22 AM in response to Sword Man

I think I've fixed it now.

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