You can write a u-trans file, which will be almost exactly like your HTML file, and use either the font tag or Style Sheet for specifying the Urdu font. When you enter the text, start with a line containing only the word "#beginurdu". Then enter the text in ArabTeX code, which is reasonably phonetic. For example, you would write, "mae.n urdU mE.n likhnA pasand kartA ,hU.n". ArabTeX coding is very simple, and easy to learn. End the text with a line containing the word "#endurdu". This can be repeated many times in a page and wherever required, even inside a table caption.
When this file is run through U-TRANS, it produces an HTML file which has all the HTML code which you put in as it is, except that the coded text is replaced by Urdu Unicode characters.
Now if you have a font, supporting Urdu Unicode, loaded on your computer, your browser will display this webpage in Urdu script!
- One advantage is that if you are familiar with ArabTeX transliteration code, you can just write an HTML file as usual complete with images, tables and alignment, without taking any special precaution for writing Urdu text.
- Most webusers are familiar with english, and would find editing an Urdu page with transliteration code, much simpler than using a WYSIWYG editor where one has to learn key associations.
Also, it only just manages to do the job - although it can be made much better with some effort, I do not have time to do it. Maybe I will do it sometime later.
Write a U-TRANS file as explained above. Look at the following example
Type the text displayed below in a file called example.utx. Now give the
following command on your shell
prompt, in the directory containing U-TRANS files:
u-trans < example.utx > example.html
This HTML file, when displayed in a Web browser will appear as displayed
in the image below:
<HTML>
<HEAD> </HEAD>
<BODY>
This is my first Urdu web page. <P>
<font face="Urdu Nastaliq Unicode" size=+3>
#beginurdu
ab urdU kA zamAn,h ,hae.
#endurdu
</font>
<P>
</BODY>
</HTML>
- No HTML tags are allowed within #beginurdu and #endurdu
- Lines will be broken when the line of the input code is broken.
- As Urdu is written from right to left, your Unicode compatible browser (e.g. Internet Explorer, Netscape 6.2, Mozilla) will automatically display it right to left.
- It is not necessary to use Urdu Nastaliq Unicode font. You can use any Urdu/Arabic Unicode font, e.g., TITUS Cyberbit Basic.
- H E R E ! (This is a 120kB self extracting zip file urdu.exe which contains a Windows 95/98 executable in addition to the source code and support files, including the Urdu Nastaliq Unicode font.)
- Do not know ArabTeX coding? Read this help page.
- Do not have Urdu Nastaliq Unicode font? Get it HERE.
