Instructions for Ubuntu 8.10 (Intrepid Ibex) and 9.10 (Karmic Koala)

1. Log in as administrator

OR

As a regular user, open the terminal:

application->accessories->terminal

Write the code line (or copy and paste):

gksudo nautilus

Press Enter. Enter password when requested. A navigator window will open.

2. Copy the following location:

/usr/share/X11/xkb/symbols

Paste it into the ‘location’ box, near the top left of your navigator. If there is no box labelled ‘location’, this is probably because you are viewing the button-based location bar. Press the icon at the far left that looks like a paper document with a pencil. This will toggle between button and text-based location bar. Then you can paste the address and press ‘Enter’.

Alternatively, you can navigate to the folder in the normal way, stating with the ‘File System’ icon in your ‘Places’ sidebar.

Copy the file pi, and paste it into this folder.

3. In the same navigator window go to the following location:

/usr/share/X11/xkb/rules

With ‘Text Editor’ open the file evedev.xml

Copy the following:

</layoutList>

Use the ‘Find’ function (Ctrl + F) to find it.

Copy the following lines and add them ABOVE the line </layoutList> :

<layout>

<configItem>

<name> pi </name>

<shortdescription>pli</shortdescription>

<description>Pali</description>

<languageList><iso639Id>pli</iso639Id></languageList>

</configItem>

</layout>

Save and close.

Find the file base.xml in the same folder and do the same there.

4. In the same folder open with ‘Text Editor’ the file evdev.lst.

Find the layout list, either using ‘Find’ or by scrolling down. At the end of layout list add:

pi Pali

Save and close.

Do the same in the file base.lst found in the same folder.

You will now be able to find Pali in your keyboard layout:

system->preference->keyboard->layout->add (+) -> find Pali ‘By Language’ and choose it.

However, ‘Pali’ will NOT appear in the ‘by country’ list.

When you choose Pali the system might give an error message – ignore it.

5. Choose a ‘third level operating key’.

This means you define which key will let you use the special characters.

system->preference->keyboard->layout options->Third level chooser

Choose one option – that will be the key that will allow you to access the special character. We use ‘Left Alt’.

6. If you want to toggle between two sets of keyboard layouts:

Add a layout from the list in the keyboard layout option. Don’t mark any of them as default.

Then choose the switch option:

layout option-> other options button -> layout switching -> choose which ever combination you like.

Alternatively, you can download instructions and code in zip format: PaliKeyboardUbuntu

Keyboard bindings

This is the list of keyboard bindings for the Pali/Sanskrit Unicode characters. For the capitals, use Alt + Shift + [character].

ā = Alt a
ī = Alt i
ū = Alt u
ṁ = Alt m
ṅ = Alt g
ñ = Alt j
ṭ = Alt t
ḍ = Alt d
ṇ = Alt n
ḷ = Alt l
ḥ = Alt h
ś = Alt z
ṣ = Alt s

These keys will work if you choose, at step 5 of the installation, ‘left Alt’ as the ‘third level operating key’. If you want to use a different layout, choose a different key at this stage.