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You are here: Encoding > Unicode > Training
Short URL: https://scripts.sil.org/UTTSetupMap

How to Setup Your Computer to do a Conversion Mapping

Joan Wardell, 2005-09-27

Goals for this Step:

This page explains how to set up your computer in order to write a conversion mapping.

This step is part of the procedure How to Write a Conversion Mapping for your Legacy Font. The rest of this procedure will increase in difficulty and may require expertise on the level of a computer support or IT professional. It depends on your font, your data, and you. If you found the first 3 steps easy, we encourage you to continue.

This setup step was originally the first step, but some preliminary steps were added to help you understand whether you really need to write a conversion mapping.

Your Setup

These directions are designed for Windows. You should have or be able to provide:

  • a Windows computer with Microsoft Windows XP installed. Windows 2000 may work, but is untested.
  • a legacy font 1
  • a simple legacy document
  • the software downloadable below under Software Installations
  • a text editor such as Microsoft's NotePad or WordPad (under Accessories in the All Programs menu)
  • the Windows Calculator (under Accessories in the All Programs menu) or a calculator that can handle hexadecimal
  • Microsoft Word (XP or 2003) or something similar for making a chart of 250 characters
  • Microsoft Excel or something similar for making multi-column charts of 250+ characters

Software Installation

You need to download the following files and install the software as directed. Although some of the items are not used until later, it is recommended that you install all these files now.

If you have been following the procedure How to Write a Conversion Mapping for your Legacy Font, you will have already installed some of these items.

  •  Font Properties Extension This link takes you to the Microsoft website to download a system level program that lets you see information about the fonts on your computer.
  • Unicode Macros Simple Install (recommended, requires Word) These are macros for Word versions 97 and later that allow you to see and manipulate Unicode characters. Be sure to install the correct version of the macros for the version of Word you are using.
  • Encore2Unicode This program will make a rough draft of a TECkit mapping for you, if you have an Encore legacy font. Choose the latest zip or exe version.
  • TECkit This is the main program that does the actual font conversion. You need to supply it with an appropriate mapping file for it to do the conversions. Choose the latest Windows release.
  • Yourfont2003.doc This zip file contains a Word document that allows you to print out a handy one page reference sheet for your legacy fonts.
    YourFont2003.zip
    Joan Wardell, 2005-07-25
    Download "YourFont2003.zip", ZIP archive, 9KB [2964 downloads]
  • LegacyMappingWorkbook.xls This zip file contains an Excel spreadsheet that helps you to create a TECkit mapping file for your legacy fonts.
    Legacy Mapping Workbook
    Bob Hallissy, 2004-08-06
    Download "LegacyMappingWorkbook.zip", ZIP archive, 224KB [4322 downloads]
  • PADTools This is a set of old DOS programs. wccount.exe counts characters in a legacy text file and is used in these instructions.
    Character and Diacritic Count programs
    Joan Wardell, 2005-06-24
    Download "PADTools.exe", Windows application, 467KB [3594 downloads]
  • Legacy Character Count:This is the source file for an easier legacy character count utility. You must have Perl installed to use this file. We may add a compiled version for Windows later.
    MakeCharList Perl Source
    Joan Wardell, 2005-12-02
    Download "MakeCharListPL.zip", ZIP archive, 1KB [4627 downloads]
  • Unicode Character Count utility Choose the most recent Unicode Character Count Windows executable under Downloads. This is a Windows application that does not require any installation. This utility counts the characters in a Unicode file.

Shortcuts

We recommend setting the following shortcuts on your desktop. See Microsoft's  How to Create a Shortcut on the Desktop if you want to know how.

  • Calculator
  • NotePad
  • WordPad
  • Word XP or 2003
  • Excel XP or 2003
  • TECkit Mapping Editor (You create these three during your TECkit install.)
  • DropTEC
  • E2U TECkit
  • WindowsFonts
  • wccount.exe or MakeCharList.pl
  • a work folder

The three TECkit shortcuts, and wccount.exe are required. (You must have shortcuts on your desktop in order to follow these directions.)

Page History

2008-02-21 JW: reviewed

2005-09-27 JW: Page created


1 If the legacy font has been lost, you may substitute a hard-copy printout showing as many of your legacy characters as possible along with the actual legacy file for producing that printout.

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