IndoWord is a veteran Tamil typing software developed by Lastech Systems that remains a reliable choice for professional publishing and everyday documentation. When choosing the "best" layout within IndoWord, your decision depends entirely on your prior experience with typing tools. Best Layout Options in IndoWord
IndoWord offers several layouts to accommodate different users, from professional typists to beginners: Tamil99 Layout (Best for Efficiency):
Description: This is the standard layout approved by the Tamil Nadu government. It is designed specifically for modern QWERTY keyboards and follows a logical consonant-vowel pattern.
Best For: Users who want to learn a layout designed specifically for the Tamil language to achieve high typing speeds. Romanised / Phonetic Layout (Best for Beginners):
Description: This layout allows you to type Tamil using English phonetics. For example, typing "amma" results in "அம்மா".
Best For: Casual users or those who are not familiar with traditional Tamil typewriter layouts and prefer using English key mappings. Typewriter Layout (Best for Professionals):
Description: This mimics the traditional mechanical Tamil typewriter.
Best For: Professional typists or those who have previous experience using manual or electronic Tamil typewriters. DOE Phonetic:
Description: A standardized layout by the Department of Electronics (DOE), Government of India.
Best For: Users who type in multiple Indian languages, as the layout remains consistent across different scripts (e.g., the 'k' key consistently represents 'ka'). Key Features of IndoWord
Broad Compatibility: It supports a wide range of font encodings, including Unicode, TAB, TAM, and TSCII, ensuring your documents are compatible with different platforms and older systems.
Multi-App Integration: IndoWord functions as a keyboard driver, allowing you to type directly into applications like Microsoft Word, PageMaker, and CorelDRAW.
Language Tools: Beyond simple typing, it includes features for transliteration between Indian languages and English. How to Get Started indoword tamil keyboard layout best
Download: Obtain the software from the official Lastech website.
Select Layout: Upon installation, you can select your preferred layout (e.g., Tamil99 or Typewriter) from the menu.
Choose Encoding: For modern web use and cross-platform sharing, always prefer the Unicode encoding option.
IndoWord is a comprehensive multilingual word processor and keyboard driver widely recognized for its robust support of Tamil and other Indian languages. It is particularly favored by publishers and journalists for its ability to handle diverse font encodings and provide a seamless typing experience across various Windows applications. Top IndoWord Tamil Keyboard Layouts
Choosing the "best" layout depends entirely on your background and typing speed requirements. IndoWord supports several standardized formats:
Romanised (Phonetic) Layout: Best for beginners or those comfortable with English keyboards. It uses phonetic English mappings, so typing "raamaa" produces "ராம".
Tamil 99 Layout: Best for professional speed and efficiency. This layout was standardized by the Government of Tamil Nadu and uses a natural consonant-vowel pattern.
Typewriter Layout: Best for traditional typists. It mimics the classic Tamil typewriter layout, making it the top choice for those who transitioned from physical typewriters.
DOE Phonetic: A standardized layout by the Department of Electronics (India) where keys represent the same sounds across all supported Indian languages (e.g., 'k' always represents 'ka'). Key Features for Best Performance
Broad Encoding Support: IndoWord supports modern Unicode as well as legacy encodings like TSCII, TAB, TAM, and TACE16, ensuring your text is compatible with old and new systems.
Direct Application Entry: You can type directly into professional design and word processing tools like Adobe PageMaker, CorelDRAW, and Microsoft Word without needing to copy-paste.
Language Toggling: The driver often uses the Num Lock key as a quick toggle to switch between Tamil and English modes within an application. IndoWord is a veteran Tamil typing software developed
System-Wide Integration: Custom layouts are available via the Keyman platform, allowing IndoWord layouts to work on macOS, Linux, and mobile devices in addition to Windows. Setup and Installation Guide
To get started with IndoWord on a Windows system, follow these general steps found in the IndoWord User Manual and other IndoWord software guides:
Download: Obtain the software from official distributors like Lastech Systems.
Install Driver: Run the setup file and specifically select the keyboard driver icons (e.g., "IndoWord Tamilnet Typewriter Keyboard Driver") to activate them.
Activation: Once installed, launch your word processor (like MS Word).
Switching Modes: Turn Num Lock ON to start typing in Tamil. Turn it OFF to return to English.
Font Selection: In your application's font menu, ensure you have selected a compatible font (such as TAB or LT fonts) to display the characters correctly. Indoword Tamil Typing Software For Windows 7bfdcm
Tamil99 layout is widely considered the best keyboard layout for IndoWord
because it is the official standard of the Government of Tamil Nadu and is optimized for modern digital typing Top IndoWord Keyboard Layouts
IndoWord supports several layouts to cater to different user needs: Tamil99 (Best Overall) Standardization
: Officially approved by the Tamil Nadu government for use in all government offices Typing Style : Follows a logical consonant-vowel pattern
, making it fast and efficient for those fluent in the script Right hand presses க் (Ka)
: Vowels are primarily on the left and consonants on the right, allowing for a balanced typing flow Romanised / Phonetic (Best for Beginners) Ease of Use
: Users type using English (Latin) mappings that represent Tamil sounds (e.g., typing "raamaa" for "ராம")
: Those who do not want to learn a specific Tamil layout but are comfortable with a QWERTY keyboard Typewriter Layout (Best for Professionals) Legacy Support : Mimics the traditional Tamil typewriter layout
: Professional typists who were trained on physical Tamil typewriters and want to maintain their existing muscle memory DOE Phonetic (Best for Multilingual Users) Consistency
: Standardized by the Department of Electronics (DOE), Government of India
: The layout remains identical across different Indian languages (e.g., the 'k' key always represents 'ka' in any language chosen), making it ideal for users typing in multiple scripts Key Features of IndoWord for Tamil Direct Entry
: Allows direct Tamil input into popular Windows applications like Adobe PageMaker Tamil Virtual Academy Font Encoding : Supports multiple encodings including Transliteration
: Features built-in transliteration between Indian languages and English How to Activate Layouts in IndoWord IndoWord Keyboard Driver from the Start menu
Select your target application (e.g., Wordpad, Word, or "Others") as the language Select your preferred Keyboard Layout (Tamilnet-99, Typewriter, etc.) from the menu of specific key mappings for the versus the Indoword Tamil Typing Software For Windows 7bfdcm
❌ Using the number row for vowel signs. In Indoword, vowel signs are usually on the same key as the vowel, not the number row.
❌ Treating it like Anjal (Phonetic). If you type "amma" expecting "அம்மா", you will fail. You must type the consonant and vowel sign separately.
❌ Forgetting Grantha letters. If you need to type "Siva" (ஷிவா), remember the 'Sh' key is usually located at S or Shift + S depending on your version.
Tamil 99 requires you to remember which key gives you a vowel sign vs. a pure consonant. Indoword uses a "What You See Is What You Get" approach for the most part, with a predictable logic for compound letters.
Ergonomics experts measure keyboard efficiency by "finger travel distance." QWERTY English is notoriously inefficient. The Tamil InScript layout, however, is statistically optimized.
Because the vowels are clustered left and consonants right, the most common conjuncts (Uyir Mei) are formed by a simple left-hand/right-hand dance. For example, to type "கா" (Kaa):
க் (Ka).ா (Aa vowel sign).
The hands balance the load. This bi-manual operation allows for staggering typing speeds—experienced InScript users easily hit 50–70 words per minute (WPM) , compared to 20–30 WPM on mobile-style transliteration.Look at your keyboard (A, S, D, F, J, K, L).