CommCare supports many languages and some require Unicode fonts to display. You may enable native language support in your application so users can enter text in the local language. This only works if your phone model supports the language preferred by your users.
For the application to recognize local language and display it correctly, the text needs to be unicode-enabled/friendly. This is largely an issue for special scripts. See information below on software you can use to ensure your text is recognized in CommCare and displays correctly on the phone.
Word processing programs like Word often allow people to install fonts that look like another language but they only work in that application (and often only if you have the font installed). If you want to use special characters in CommCare you have to use the unicode (text standard) equivalent of the characters.
| Unicode Friendly | Non Unicode Friendly |
|---|---|
Displays like on any computer regardless of whether the font is installed or not. Better for sharing content. Readable on mobile phone. |
Displays like this if font is not installed on local computer. Even if font is installed on computer, will display like on the mobile phone, because you cannot install the same font on the phone. |
Unicode Friendly Softwares
Google Input Tools
Go to this website and choose "Hindi" on the right panel before downloading- free download. This works very similar to Hindi Indic Input or Google Transliterate, in that you type phonetically, but it has a built-in dictionary. It guesses/suggests the word that you are typing and provides alternatives, similar to Google Translate. It works offline and also supports a bunch of other Indian languages (Bengali, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, etc.)
Hindi Indic Input 2
Click here to download: Hindi Indic Input 2.zip (also available in Dropbox\Dimagi\Software)
This is a plugin software for the Windows Language Bar, which allows you to type phonetically in Devanagari script in any open application. When you start typing, character suggestions pop-up to show you which pair of keyboard strokes will produce which Devanagari character.
The Language Bar allows you to easily switch between your standard language and Hindi Indic input (Devanagari script). You can configure a keyboard shortcut to switch between languages in the Language Bar preferences (default is Left Alt+Left Shift). Go to Control Panel->Region and Language->Keyboards and Languages to enable the language bar if you don't see it already
Baraha Software
Note : More useful to stick to google input tools as far as possible
Baraha software supports Kannada, Konkani, Tulu, Hindi, Marathi, Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Gujarati, Punjabi, Bengali, Assamese and Oriya languages. Runs on Windows XP/Vista and Windows 7. http://www.baraha.com/ The download link is at the bottom of the homepage. You will have to register to download the free version of the software.
Converting Non-Unicode Text to Unicode Format
This is a handy tool for converting garbled kruti-dev fonts so that they're readable and usable on CommCareHQ
This next tools is useful for converting garbled Preeti font (used for Nepali typing) so that they are readable and usable on CommCareHQ
Installing Google Hindi input tool on an Android phone (for LAVAs)
- Locate and open the Google Play Store.
- Search for Google Hindi input tool.
- Download and install the tool.
Later when using the application, you will have the option of switching input tools when you click on the settings symbol in the pop-up keyboard. Here, you can choose the Google Hindi Input and the keyboard will appear. The keyboard has two options: type in roman letters that will appear in Hindi script or type directly in Hindi script.
Other Regional Resources
Myanmar: Android Zawgyi and Unicode