اَول الله عَلِيمُ، اعليٰ،
عالَمَ جو ڌَڻِي؛
قادِرُ پنهنجي قُدرت سين، قائم آهِ قديم؛
والي، واحِدُ، وَحۡدَهٗ، رازق، رَبُّ رَحِيم؛
سو ساراه سچو ڌڻي، چئِي حَمدُ حَڪِيم؛
ڪري پاڻ ڪَرِيمُ، جوڙُون جوڙَ جهان جي.
سَائِين سَدائِين، ڪَرِين مَٿي سِنڌ سُڪار؛
دوست مِٺا دِلدار، عالم سڀ آباد ڪَرِين.
How to Install Sindhi Support to Windows XP
Installing Sindhi support to Windows XP is very easy as the operating system is basically geared to process Sindhi flawlessly. Since Sindhi is not formally presented as a language choice, we have to presently choose one of the available Arabic script languages. We can use any of the Arabic locales, Farsi or Urdu for the purpose. Since there are many Arabic locales, I prefer using one of these, but any other choice will do equally well.
Here are the necessary steps outlined.
1. Arabic script support
It is assumed that Arabic script support is already installed, in which case you can skip this step and go to 2. If is not, then install it now. Start >> Control Panel >> Regional and Language ... >> Languages >> Install file for complex script and rignt-to-left languages... You may be asked for the Windows XP CD at this point, so keep it handy.
2. Run MBSindhi installer
Double click the installer. It will install the MBSindhi 2004 keyboard to your system.
3. Add MBSindhi Keyboard
Add an Arabic script language and choose MBSindhi 2004 as IME/Keyboard for it. You do this by: Start >> Control Panel >> Regional and Language ... >> Languages >> Details... >> Add.. >> Here you first select Input language (Arabic, Farsi or Urdu) and then check the box Keyboard layout/IME and from the drop down list select MBSindhi 2004.
4. Install MBLateefi Font
Copy and paste MBLateefi (Version 2.000) font in the fonts folder (which you can access through Control Panel). If an earlier version of the font is already present in the system, delete it before installing/pasting the new font. I have also inculded MB Sindhi Web
(Version1.100) font which may also be installed. More fonts will follow soon
5. Turn on the Font Smoothing
Right click on the desktop and then Properties >> Appearance >> Effects. Then check the box for "Use the following method to smooth edges of screen fonts:" and select Standard (not the Cleartype).
Having done all this open this file again and you should be able to see the verse at the top of the page in MBLateefi font and with properly smoothed edges.
Now you can use all the MS Office applications, Wordpad, Notepad, Dreamweaver and many other applications for Sindhi. View the keyboard layout image. You can also use the system applet OnScreen Keyboard (which can be reached through Start >> All Programmes >> Accessories >> Accessibility) to view the keyboard layout in normal, shift, cntrl+alt and shift+cntrl+alt states. In MS Word you can use the Insert Symbol menu and select the characters and symbols which cannot be accessed through the keyboard directly.
A Note on Compatibility Issues
You may notice some differences between this and the earlier versions, which were unavoidable since this is the most complete and accurate version of standard Sindhi fonts so far. However, what is more important that you may also find some compatibility issues when you use Microsoft's core or system Arabic script fonts. Ideally and in principle there should be no such issues but we live in a world which is a little less than perfect. There are some issues relating to Sindhi letter Heh, Sindhi Comma and Sindhi Semi Colon due to which as of now a font has to be different in these areas. Hopefully, these issues will be resolved in time. I have also included Arabic full stop which can be accessed by pressing Right Alt and Full Stop key. You might want to use this full stop in the web pages if you find that normal full stop is not getting placed at the end of the line.
IMPORTANT: Do uninstall and remove previous versions of keyboard and font.
Enjoy Sindhi Computing and promote it. I have done my service to the language and people of Sindh: now it is your turn. So use Sindhi on computers and the internet and encourage other Sindhis to do the same.
With best wishes,
Abdul-Majid Bhurgri
Seattle, WA USA
20 July 2004
عبدالماجد ڀرڳڙي