Urdu Word Processing

اردو وڑد پروسیسرس پر تبصرہ

To see the above marquee in Urdu you must have a Unicode compatible font installed on your system.

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Urdu Samples
Free Urdu Word Processing/DTP Programs ( Raakim\Kaatib )
Urdu Nastalique Font Development
Installation Guide, Tips & Help Page For Kaatib And Raakim
UrduNaqsh Font
UrduNaqsh Nastalique Font
UrduNaqsh Nastalique Unicode Font
UrduNaqsh Nastalique Unicode Font with Samples
Parsenagar I Keyboard Definition File & Font Definition File for UrduNaqsh/UrduNaqsh Natalique
ParseNagar II Keyboard Definition File & Font Definition File for UrduNaqsh/UrduNaqsh Nastalique
Urdu Word Processor Reviews
How To Send/Receive Urdu E-mails

Samples of Urdu HTML Pages

• Chitta Kukkar Bunerrey Te ( A Punjabi folk song in Unicode Compatible Encoding Using Tahoma font)

• Pakistani National Anthem (In Urdu Naqsh Version)

• Pakistani National Anthem (In Urdu Nastalique Version)

• Chitta Kukkar Bunerrey Te (A Punjabi folk song in Urdu Naqsh)

• Chitta Kukkar Bunerrey Te ( A Punjabi folk song in Urdu Nastalique)

   I have now started creating pages in Urdu using Unicode compatible fonts such as Tahoma etc. At the moment I have only created one web-page using Unicode but it's a start anyway :) In the future I aim only to use Unicode compatible fonts and encoding because this is where the future of computing lies. So with a sniffle I will say Allah-Haafiz to the old proprietary standards. Sorry it was fun while it lasted. To view a sample of a web-page using the Unicode compatible font please see Chitta Kukkar Bunnerey Tey.
 I thought I would use Udd Kothey Uttey Kanwan vey from Choorian but I couldn't be bothered to find it's lyrics ;)
 Prior to this I was using Urdu Naqsh (created by Ali Shah Hussain)/Urdu Nastalique . As long as you have either of the fonts installed on your computer (Win/Mac/Unix) you can view the webpages properly. As a sample of my efforts read the Pakistani National Anthem or read the Punjabi Folk Song Chitta Kukkar Bunerre Te. To do Urdu Authoring or just install the font download the following packages.

• People wishing to download the Unicode compatible font may download either the Font itself or the Font with samples.  

• Windows users wishing to have the Old font plus the UrduNaqsh/Urdu Nastalique font and keyboard definition files for ParseNagar should download Naqshwin.zip/Naqsswin.zip.

• Macintosh users should download the file Naqshmac.zip and unzip it on their computer to install the font.

• Unix users should meanwhile download Naqshunx.zip and unzip it on their computers to instaal the font.

For obtaining Winzip go to www.winzip.com

So far using the UrduNaqsh font in conjunction with Parsenagar, I have been able to:

• Create Urdu WebPages using FrontPage 98 and other visual based editors

• Create Urdu documents in Word

• Send and Receive e-mails in Urdu

• Create Urdu PowerPoint presentations with Animation.
  (Note that Urdu 98 Urdu PowerPoint animations cannot have animations on the text, only transition animation can be used this is because Urdu 98 uses Active X technology and thus your whole text as block is treated as one object. What a Shame)

Samples of Urdu HTML Pages in the Urdu Naqsh Format

• Pakistani National Anthem

• Chitta Kukkar Bunerrey Te ( A Punjabi folk song)

Click here to Download Urdu Programs and Fonts
& Obtain UrduNaqsh/Urdu Nastaliques Definition Files for Parsenagar I & II

Free Word Processor

I have searched far and wide for an Urdu Word Processor/DTP (Desktop Publishing Program), and even though I have seen some good programs I believe there is still much that needs improving. Though I must admit that before I knew of programs such as Urdu 98, Inpage, Page Pro, Page Composer 3 the DOS based  Kaatib and Raakim did certainly help in fulfilling most of my Urdu Word Processing needs though.

If you want to have a good free program to type Urdu in which you can do lots of things that you always wanted to. Then Kaatib and Raakim are the best programs you can have.

Go to my Urdu Word-processing Help File to not only download these two programs but also a guide which tells you how to install and use these programs properly (i.e. Key-Settings, Column Layouts, Accessing Menus, Creating Shortcuts and Program Groups for them etc. ). Trying to learn how to use Kaatib and Raakim without any help I must admit was a pain in the neck, therefore I am most willing to help anybody else who will use these programs as much as I can.

Now that you will have an Urdu Word Processor. Imagine the possibilities of using these i.e. sending the love-letter you always wanted to without getting in trouble (That is if Nobody knows you have a computer). Posting your hopeless rubbish poetry around the town without the fear of your real identity being discovered. Being able to write comprehensively in Urdu without having the worry that maybe somebody might not be able to read it. Or on a more serious note you could use it for business correspondence, with your business associates and impress them no end (Yes not many businesses in Pakistan use their computers for Urdu). The possibilities are indeed endless.

Urdu Nastalique Font Development

Download either Font or Font with Samples

  The Urdu Nastalique Font is now Unicode compliant thanks to the efforts of Brother Tabish Qureshi please note though that the Unicode font is not compatible with the older font so please decide which version is more suitable to your needs. You must also note that because the Unicode version of the font exceeds a typical ASCII font of 256 characters it is no longer compatible with ParsNegar I or II because either version does not support Unicode. Those wishing to make WebPages from the Unicode font are advised to use either U-Trans or Urdu Scratchpad or if they are using Windows XP/2000 they can use Notepad or Word/FrontPage 2000 onwards (BTW if you are using Word 2000 to create web pages and are finding your pages slow to download then download this utility which will fix the bug for you by removing un-needed HTML tags: Office 2000 HTML Filter 2.0). Out of the two solutions available to Windows 9x users I personally prefer Urdu Scratchpad because it is more versatile and easier to use.
 If you are using Unix/Linux then may I point you to a program called SimRedo. It supports the Arabic keyset irregardless of whether or not your system has it installed.
 I know also of another program called BabelPad which works well under Windows 2000. I do not know not know how it works under Win 9x. It might work for you. Let me know if it does.
 I have now begun work on a font which has better glyphs and a nicer look and feel.
 The Urdu Naqsh Nastalique font, although being a Nastalique font it is not an ideal Nastalique font because it still has faults in it which I do not like e.g. the way the font looks for starters in some situations is totally unappealling. Please Note that this is also only meant to be a test version for a completely realistic Urdu Nastalique font.
  When I initially discussed creating a Urdu Nastalique font I was told it was impossible to make a completely realistic standard font without having lots and lots of support fonts (e.g. Jang's Rehman Font or Inpage's Fonts). I believed that that opinion was wrong so I set out to make one. Along the way when things went terribly wrong I sometimes wish I hadn't however the end result of a Nastalique font more then made up for the troubles.
  However do note that making a font and debugging it (font metrics, typographic layout, glyph placement) will take some time so please have patience. I would also like help on packaging this font for the Macintosh and Unix platforms so if anybody can help me please do do so. I don't profit from the font only Urdu does so please help. Thanks
Shehzad.

Updated 14/01/2003
 I was contacted a few weeks ago by a user who said he could not type in Windows Notepad using the Urdu Nastalique unicode font. I had noticed this problem too and contacted Tabish regarding it but I did not not know what the cause of it was. I believe Tabish is a Linux user so he might not have come across the problem. The problem apparently is that the glyphs while being mapped correctly to the Arabic Presentation Forms A & B set of the Unicode layout do not map correctly to the standard Arabic set. Insha-Allah this problem should be resolved shortly.

Parsenagar I Keyboard Definition File & Font Definition File for UrduNaqsh/UrduNaqsh Nastalique

I have updated the Urdu Naqsh font file originally created by Ali Hussain Shah so that you can now type eraabs without having to constantly turn Contextual analysis on and off. In Parsenagar I their is a bug though which makes it mishandle zeer. If their are any further refinements possible to either the keyboard file or Definition file me and Ali would be glad to hear of it.
  I have put the file in a zip format and seperate formats so just in case you need to download just one file you can do that instead of downloading the whole zip file.
The Urdu Natalique Font is only available for windows download right now hence only the Windows authoring package.

• Urdu Naqsh Font Definition File (Updated File 3.38 KB) (Right-Click on the Link and select Save-File As)

• Urdu Naqsh Nastalique Font Definition File (3.39 KB) (Right-Click on the Link and select Save-File As)

• Urdu Naqsh Keyboard Definition File (1.28 KB) (Right-Click on the Link and select Save-File As)

• Urdu Naqsh Nastalique Keyboard Definition File (1.29 KB) (Right-Click on the Link and select Save-File As)

• NaqshWin.Zip File with both of the above updated files and samples (42.5 KB)

• NaqssWin.Zip File with both of the above updated files and samples (45.0 KB)

• NaqshMac.Zip File for Macintosh Users with both of the above files and samples (70.5 KB)

• NaqshUnx.Zip File for Unix Users with both of the above files and samples (77.1 KB)

ParseNagar II Keyboard Definition File & Font Definition File for UrduNaqsh

• Urdu Naqsh Parsenagar II Keyboard File (1.63 KB) (Right-Click on the Link and select Save-File As)

• Urdu Nastalique Parsenagar II Keyboard File (1.66 KB) (Right-Click on the Link and select Save-File As)

• Urdu Naqsh Font Definition File (Updated File: 3.38 KB, This is the same file as above for ParseNagar I) (Right-Click on the Link and select Save-File As)

• Urdu Nastalique Font Definition File (3.39 KB This is the same file as above for ParseNagar I) (Right-Click on the Link and select Save-File As)

How to Send & Receive Urdu E-mails

• By Using ParseNagar in conjunction with a e-mail program which supports sending and receiving e-mails in HTML format

• By going to www.raakim.com , downloading the Active-X control then logging onto the service and sending receiving Urdu e-mails

• By Using Ruqqa developed by Pakdata, you can use Outlook Express (or any other modern e-mail program) to send Urdu e-mails. Since this technology uses Active-X again as Raakim it is limited to Windows 9x and Windows NT Users.

Using Parsenagar
First install ParseNagar use any major font you like ( e.g. Umair1 or UrduNaqsh) as long as it has been set up properly in ParseNagar. Type the message up in Parsenagar and then select it and copy it . Next start your e-mail program up. Read the help file of the program as to how to compose e-mail messages . Outlook Express and Netscape's E-mail program do support HTML message sending just to name the obvious ones.
  Now paste the text into your e-mail message. At first it may look like gobble-dee-gook but next select the text and then set the font to the appropriate one (In my case mostly Urdu Naqsh). The text should now look like Urdu.
  As long as the other person has the font installed they will be able to read Urdu text. If not as a matter of courtesy send the font top them to avoid them having to go look for it themselves.
  That's about all their is to sending e-mails in Urdu via ParseNagar.

Using Raakim's Web Service
Just follow the following steps. However to use this service you must be using a Windows 9x or Windows NT computer because this service uses Active-X technology which is only compatible with these platforms. Sorry about that. Tell me if a emulator on any system can be made to use Active-X technology. I suppose under Linux you can use WINE but my knowledge of it's Active-X support is non-existent.

1. Go to www.raakim.com

2. Download the Active-X plug-in.

3. Install the plug-in on your system

4. Return to www.raakim.com and register yourself as a new user

5. Enter your details and once they accept you click on compose and start typing away. E-mail me in Urdu at [email protected] However please also e-mail me at my normal e-mail address so I can find out that I have been sent an urdu e-mail because I hardly ever check their (To date from 1999 I have only recieved two e-mails there).

• Windows 2000/Xp Notepad

  Not really a word processor because by default the two Operating Systems supports Unicode which allows the user to type in Urdu, Arabic etc in any program that is fully compatible with these Operating Systems.
   That little point aside
  This is a beta program at the moment which is being made by Abdullah Siddiqui. It is indeed a very very good effort and I wish that we can see more developers wishing to create programs like this for free. Insha-Allah it will live up to its potential and prove to be a good program for Windows Users.
   Unfortunately you need to download the rather hefty Windows.Net Framework (19 MB) to make it work but Windows XP users will not need to download this.

  Challenge
  Try copying more then 1 line of text (As of Version 0.03).

   
• Urdu Scratchpad

  This is a beta program at the moment which is being made by Abdullah Siddiqui. It is indeed a very very good effort and I wish that we can see more developers wishing to create programs like this for free. Insha-Allah it will live up to its potential and prove to be a good program for Windows Users.
   Unfortunately you need to download the rather hefty Windows.Net Framework (19 MB) to make it work but Windows XP users will not need to download this.

  Challenge
  Try copying more then 1 line of text (As of Version 0.03).

• Inpage version 1.1

  This is a 16-bit Urdu Program. This is very good and has very good support for features such as text-boxes, tables, and story-lines. It allows the user to use languages such as Sindhi, various keyboard typesets e.g Monotype, Phonetic are supported as well. It is used extensively throughout the industry.
    However it has appalling Urdu-English support within the same file. It's graphic-box handling method is poor, resulting in badly dithered pictures. However pasting the picture into the box solves the problem.

  Challenge
  Try typing Hackney properly in this program. That is Hay-Yai-Kaf-Noon-Yai. For some bizarre reason Inpage cannot handle this word.

   
• Kaatib

  This is the Best DOS based Urdu program That I know of (Produced by Public Shareware Limited). A DOS Program. Includes features such as column editing, being able to set spacing, setting the number of lines you want per page etc. No support for ze'r, zubar, pesh, woaws and hamzas though. Getting Raakim and Kaatib to print out all the characters properly sometime since they do it incorrectly sometime. It doesn't also have all the characters you would want i.e. a semicolon or colon etc.

  Challenge:
  Try Typing Masha-Allah and Allah if you can properly.
  Try typing Sun-na (listening) in Kaatib or Raakim it'll look like sutna.
  No support for numerals.

• Raakim

  A stripped-down version of Kaatib. Without the facility of using columns, and setting the number of lines per page etc, but very good if all you want is just a simple word processor. Same comments and challenges as Kaatib

• Sadaf

  Good but I have only used the demonstration version. It has full support for ze'r, zubar, pesh, woaw and its keyboard settings are very logical. You can write anything you want in this and it will make sense which sometimes Kaatib or Raakim do not (Try typing Sun-na in Kaatib or Raakim it'll look like sutna).I asked for Silversoft to tell me how much it would cost me to buy the full version. They never replied. The demonstration version has rubbish frame support i.e you can only have one frame and one page per file in the demonstration version. A restriction also means checkerboard printouts.

  Challenge:
  Trying to print without lines in the demonstration version
  Trying to Get SilverSoft to reply to your sales enquiries
  Getting the version 4.02 of Sadaf that was promised five years ago

• Page Composer 3

  This is a very good 32-bit program it is quite similar to Inpage. However its Text-box handling is poor and confusing.
  The package comes with a Dos Urdu editor.

  Go to Islamic Software for more details.

• Page Professional (a.k.a Page Pro)

  I haven't actually seen this program yet, but its features look very, very good. I hope to receive a beta copy soon, courtesy of Softnet Systems. I'll keep you informed as soon as I see the beta.

  I couldn't help noticing though that Bullet points are not mentioned on the promotional literature.

• Parsenagar

  This is a Windows 3.11 based program. I previously thought it to be undoubtedly the worst out of all the programs I knew. Mainly because the program had not been developed specifically for Urdu, and even though I had tried to use the Umair1.font and the Urduweb keyboard definition I failed. I have now had to change my views about this program.
    After using the Urdu Naqsh Font and Urdu Naqsh keyset, I have managed to produce Urdu text that can be read by anybody on the internet as long as they have the appropriate font installed. Using the Umair1 font good Urdu text can be produced however I like using the Urdu Naqsh Keyset since it is Macintosh and Unix compatible.
  A program that if you have the correct plug-ins you can produce very good Urdu. Initially a bit hard to get used to but perseverance will bring good results. It also has the added feature of allowing you to export its files into RTF(Rich Text Format) thus allowing you to edit your Parsenagar text in other Windows programs. Buy it if you would like to use it longer than the trial version.
    Remember! Not everybody is as generous as Tooraj Enayati, who once they have created programs are willing to distribute their programs without any sort of restrictions.

  Challenge:
  Try to make the program handle two Urdu fonts in the same file.
  Try to have various font size's in one file.
  Please note the above two tasks are impossible :).

• Parsenagar II

  This is a Windows 95x\NT based program. It's a good program but it's main failing is that it does not support Unicode at all. Thus it seems as if this piece of software might become a thing of the past sadly. It does have some good feature though which I list below.

  1)	You can now have multiple font sizes in one document.
  2)	The program allows you to export to HTML  (Saves a lot of time when making Web Pages compared to the Old ParseNagar method of copying and pasting ), Plain Text and RTF file formats.
  3)	The keyboard has also been improved to shows character on right hand side previous version meant lots of squinting.
  4)	There is also a find function which allows you to search for highlighted text ( e.g. if you highlight Alif and then click find ParseNagar will search for Alif in the document). This feature is very useful for proof reading.
  5)	English and Arabic/Persian/Urdu can also now be typed into one document.
  6)	Images can be embedded in documents by copying and pasting them into ParseNagar (including OLE objects - limited in place editing is available).
  7)	One level Undo feature. The previous Undo feature just used to paste/unpaste deleted text.
  8)	The normal Windows edit keys, Ctrl X, C, V and Z now work as expected. This means you do not have to use the menus ever again unless needed.
  9)	Text can be highlighted and typed over.
  10)	Text can be dragged and dropped into other Windows applications. (Changes having to manually select font once pasted into other applications)
  11)	Text can be dragged and moved.
  12)	Parsenagar can now hold unlimited amount of text in a file because file size's can be larger than the previous 26 Kb filesize restriction in ParsNegar I.

    All these improvements have made the program much better than before. I would thoroughly recommend this program to any windows 9x user wishing to do Urdu word processing which is compatible with other programs. This version of Parsenagar still doesn't support tables or bullets though.
    A brilliant program for bilingual use. This is still the only program to win 9x users can use to type Urdu easily, It is easy to get used to and a well polished program. Buy it if you would like to use it longer than the 30 day trial period. It retails at about $60/� 40.

  Click here to order Parsenagar at a 5% discount

  Comments:
  You are currently not able to have two non-English fonts (e.g. Arabic and Urdu) in one file.
  Table support would be appreciated.
  It's typing speed is slower then that of Parsenagar I
  The 30 Day limit. If you are used to ParsNegar I's unlimited usage you are in for a bit of a shock.

• Urdu 98

  This is at the moment the best overall Urdu solution on the market. With its ability to allow you to create Urdu web pages via ActiveX, Urdu Access Databases, PowerPoint presentations, Word 97 documents, Urdu Visual Basic/C++ programs and not to mention the ability to send Urdu e-mail via Outlook. I believe this to be the Urdu program which has the greatest potential at at the moment.  However the program does not support Unicode and is too much of a rigid solution. Using ActiveX might seem a good solution but ultimately it is a short-coming because of the limitations of using a ActiveX control i.e. its look and feel is not that of a windows GUI element and that only ActiveX supporting applications can use this plug-in. Anyway good work guys!
  Click here for more details.
  
  Comments:
  Since the technology in Urdu 98 is active X based. WebPages created in Urdu 98 cannot be viewed on Unix, Macintosh and Win 3.11 machines. In the best interests of Urdu, a technology that is more portable should be considered.

• Urdu Mahir
  
  Allows you to type Nastaleeq using a font menu in Office XP. However a full review still needs to be done because I seem to have lost the program files. Oops! :(

  Multilingual Capabilities:

  Ability to mix Urdu, Sindhi, Arabic, English or any other language in a single line. Full Unicode support. Nastaleeq and Naskh scripts Sindhi language option available

  All features of Microsoft WordXP including indentation, tabulation, Word Art, header/footer, master pages, columns, page layout, outline, styles are available in Urdu using Urdu Mahir

  Full support of Urdu in Microsoft Excel spreadsheets including Graphs/Charts

  Full support of Urdu in Microsoft Excel spreadsheets including Graphs/Charts

  Simple databases to complex and large database applications using MS Access as front-end and any RDBMS as back-end.

 Conclusion

There is a fairly good range of Urdu products available on the market yet for most people an urdu solution only seems to be DTP. How can we really call this Urdu computing if everything about the user interface, help files, data entry, GUI, is all still limited to English?
 Even the DTP programs suffer from being incompatible with windows fully let alone one another. You cannot copy text from any of these programs into other Windows program, apart from Urdu 98, Urdu Mahir, Parsenagar and Page Professional. Using these programs at least allows you (as long as the recipient has the appropriate font/platform) to be able to read your Urdu e-mails.

If there are any good other Urdu/Urdu Word Processing Programs you know of then please contact me, so I might be able to review them.

If there are any other good local languages word processors (i.e. Sindhi, Hindko etc.) you know of then please contact me, so I could also mention them in this Web page.

Thanks to Faisal Mahboob Chughtai for putting Kaatib And Raakim up on his Webpage in the first-place. Allowing many people to benefit from these programs. I've recovered his details now, so if you're having any problems in downloading the files from my site you can go to his site to download the no-frills plain DOS versions of the program. Click here for Faisal's version of Kaatib and here for his version of Raakim.Good on you Brother!

A note to Public Shareware Limited: I'll definitely Buy a windows version of Kaatib if you produce one. So what are you waiting for ? Make a copy just for me :)

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Last Updated: 25^th November 2002 Monday

PAGE CREATED BY:
ASHIQ ENTERPRISES ™ 2001
Clopyright held by: Shehzad Ashiq Ali