[Ubuntu-PH] Philippines National Keyboard Layout

JC 施洗 John ᜑᜓᜏᜈ᜔ Sese 謝 Cuneta ᜃᜓᜈᜒᜆ jcjohn.sesecuneta at laibcoms.com
Tue Oct 12 11:48:45 UTC 2010


Hi Ren²,

Thank you, will do the changes.  I agree, much better.  I guess I was
limited because I chose to stick as close as possible with ISO9995, and
as I think more about it, I see less value into sticking to that, since
our main objective is to get this used by Filipinos so it should be
easier for everyone.

Is the Dvorak-Filipino keyboard also in XKB format?  We can merge it
into the file, then a new option will be able if a user wants to use
QWERTY or Dvorak Filipino.

~ JC


On Tuesday, 12 October, 2010 04:03 PM, Ren² Gabás wrote:
> Hi JC:
>
> As you mentioned, the dead-key method for combining acutes, graves and
> circumflexes is indeed more common than the newer Unicode way. In
> fact, I use it everyday on a Dvorak-Filipino keyboard (with acutes,
> graves, circumflexes, peso, and other signs).
>
> I suggest the following changes to expose the common symbols with
> simpler and easier-to-remember combinations,
>
>     * Changing the circumflex from Y to 6 or (^).   â = a then AltGr-6
>       or AltGr-^ (so that the circumflex is related easily with the ^
>       symbol on the 6 key. having it on 6 will make it easier to type,
>       because ^ will entail an extra Shift key pressed.)
>     * Exchange the þ and ₱, so peso signs are more easily typed than
>       the þ sign.
>     * Move the × symbol to AltGr-x
>     * Move the ÷ symbol to AltGr-d or AltGr-/
>     * Move the ± symbol to AltGr-=, Move the ∓ symbol to AltGr-+
>       (Shifted version of the ± sign) [both these are related to the +
>       key]
>     * Exchange the ß and § as the Section symbols are more likely to
>       be used in a Philippine setting than the German ß
>     * Move the ™ symbol to AltGr-t
>     * Move the © symbol to AltGr-c
>     * Move the ® symbol to AltGr-r
>     * Move the inverted question mark to the question mark key, ¿ to
>       AltGr-/ (which is the unshifted version of ? Shift-/ to produce
>       ?, AltGr-/ to produce ¿)
>     * Use the unshifted version for the ¡ symbol so it maps to
>       AltGr-1, with Shift-1 producing ! (same principle as the ? symbol)
>
> Best regards,
> Ren²
>
> Noong Oktubre 11, 2010 22:06, JC 施洗 John ᜑᜓᜏᜈ᜔ Sese 謝 Cuneta ᜃᜓᜈᜒᜆ
> si <jcjohn.sesecuneta at laibcoms.com
> <mailto:jcjohn.sesecuneta at laibcoms.com>> ay sumulat:
>
>     Hello again everyone,
>
>     Here's the new version with the accent symbols listed below
>     added.  But the way to use it is the Unicode-way (letter first,
>     then accent after).
>
>     *To type:*
>     combining tilde as in "ng̃": g then AltGr+Shift+~
>     combining acute as in "Pahilís": i then AltGr+'
>     combining grave as in "Paiwà": a then AltGr+`
>     combining circumflex as in "Pakupyâ": a then AltGr+y (just below
>     number 6 [which has the non-combining ^ character])
>
>
>     The four changes above are not ISO-based, I moved them to where I
>     think we're already familiar with exception of ^ which is in
>     AltGr+y (which is also easier to access than the number 6).
>
>     *Other changes in this version (v3.4)*
>     - changed all codings from XKB Keysyms to Unicode hexadecimal for
>     greater compatibility with non-US standard (physical) keyboard
>     models/designs.
>     - added more extra characters
>
>
>     To see the keymappings, just open the attached file in your
>     favorite Unicode text editor.
>
>     Wanted: feedbacks
>     Do try to use it, as in, install then type away (I suggest getting
>     an /ancient/ :þ Philippine book in any Philippine language).
>
>     ~ JC
>
>
>
>     On Monday, 11 October, 2010 01:37 PM, Pablo Manalastas wrote:
>>     I believe that any Filipino keyboard has to have provisions for
>>     accenting words. The accent key is pressed first, and the the
>>     letter to which to apply the accent is pressed next.
>>
>>     You need the following accent marks:
>>
>>
>>           ´
>>
>>     	
>>
>>
>>         Pahilís (Acute)
>>
>>
>>           `
>>
>>     	
>>
>>
>>         Paiwà (Grave)
>>
>>
>>           ˆ
>>
>>     	
>>
>>
>>         Pakupyâ (Circumflex)
>>
>>     For example to type the word Paiwà, you need to type the
>>     characters in the order P-a-i-w-`-a, where [`] is the key for
>>     "grave accent", not the back slash key. Typing [`]-[a] produces
>>     the accented letterà. Similarly for the acute accent key and the
>>     circumflex accent key. Other examples of accented words are:
>>     mabilís, mayumÌ, maragsâ.
>>
>>     Salamat.
>>
>>     ~Pablo Manalastas~
>>
>>
>>
>>     2010/10/10 JC 施洗 John ᜑᜓᜏᜈ᜔ Sese 謝 Cuneta ᜃᜓᜈᜒᜆ
>>     <jcjohn.sesecuneta at laibcoms.com
>>     <mailto:jcjohn.sesecuneta at laibcoms.com>>
>>
>>         Hi everyone,
>>
>>         Attached is the X Keyboard file that you can use to try out
>>         v2 of the Philippines National Keyboard Layout, hopefully
>>         will become the official one down the road.  Before the long
>>         explanation, here's a HowTo install:
>>
>>         ----------------------------------
>>
>>         * Just put the "ph" file in: /usr/share/X11/xkb/symbols
>>
>>         Step 1.0: Open these two files
>>             gksu gedit /usr/share/X11/xkb/rules/evdev.lst
>>             gksu gedit /usr/share/X11/xkb/rules/base.lst (xfree86.lst)
>>
>>         Step 1.1 Search for: ! variant
>>         Step 1.2 before it, add
>>           ph              Philippines
>>
>>         Step 2.0: Open these two files
>>             gksu gedit /usr/share/X11/xkb/rules/evdev.xml
>>             gksu gedit /usr/share/X11/xkb/rules/base.xml (xfree86.xml)
>>
>>         Step 2.1 Search for: </layoutList>
>>         Step 2.2 before it, add
>>             <layout>
>>               <configItem>
>>                 <name>ph</name>
>>                 <shortDescription>Phi</shortDescription>
>>                 <description>Philippines</description>
>>                 <languageList><iso639Id>eng</iso639Id></languageList>
>>               </configItem>
>>               <variantlist/>
>>             </layout>
>>
>>         ----------------------------------
>>
>>         Now for the long explanation:
>>         First of all, I decided to base this new National keyboard
>>         layout on the (soon-to-be standard) ISO/IEC 9995-3:2009
>>         keyboard layout.  This is to make sure that if ever this
>>         becomes the official or /de facto/ keyboard for Filipinos,
>>         the characters will not change much if we bought a different
>>         keyboard or we're in another country (well, that was the idea
>>         of ISO but only Canada and some other country uses the ISO
>>         layout, we might become the third).
>>
>>         Secondly, I only "activated" the characters that I have
>>         personally seen in used by Filipinos here in the Philippines
>>         (regular citizens to businesses).  That means this is only a
>>         partial ISO-based keyboard.  My guideline is, if there is no
>>         valid reason to add a character, then do not add it.
>>
>>         Third, I added the ₱eso sign and enye Ññ both of which are
>>         not part of ISO/IEC 9995-3:2009 keyboard layout.  The reason
>>         is simple, this is a "National" keyboard for us, it is only
>>         appropriate to add these two characters since we use these.
>>
>>         The guidelines I used:
>>         a) Prioritized the layout of ISO/IEC 9995-3
>>         b) Next, prioritized the keys that Filipinos actually use
>>         c) Next, do not deviate away from the methods used by ISO in
>>         typing similar characters (eg: ¥ and ₱, as explained below)
>>
>>         Next, I'm going to run down the characters I added
>>         1) ₱eso sign - to type press: AltGr+Shift+P
>>         -- Why?  The Japanese ¥en / Chinese ¥uan sign is typed as:
>>         AltGr+Shift+Y.  I do not want to deviate away from that method.
>>         -- Why not 3, 4 or 5?  3 have #³£; 4 already have $¼€; 5 have %½↑
>>         -- And Guideline letter C above.
>>
>>         2) Ññ - to type press: AltGr+Shift+N for uppercase; AltGr+n
>>         for lowercase
>>         3) Number keys from 1 to 0 have the following: Level 3
>>         (AltGr) --> ¹²³¼½¾⅛⅜⅝⅞; Level 4 (AltGr+Shift) --> ¡¤£€↑↓←→±™
>>
>>         From hereon, it is always: Level 3 (AltGr) first then
>>         followed by Level 4 (AltGr+Shift)
>>         4) e: œ Œ - "oe", still being used in English today. 
>>         fœderal; diarrhœa
>>         5) r: ¶ ® - "¶" signifies end of paragraph; and Registered
>>         Trademark sign
>>         6) y: ɼ ¥ - I have to add ɼ (AltGr+y) so AltGr+Shift+Y (¥)
>>         will work.
>>         7) p: þ ₱ - I have to add þ (AltGr+p) so AltGr+Shift+P (₱)
>>         will work.  The þ character looks like the emoticon :p anyway.
>>         8) a: æ Æ - "ae", still being used in English today. 
>>         Archœology; Æon Flux
>>         9) ;: ° (degrees sign), so we can now type easily: It's too
>>         hot today!  Ubuntu weather reports 28°C T_T
>>         10) \: ə Ə (schwa, usually used in text books and by linguists)
>>         11) z: « - double-left arrow
>>         12) x: » - double-right arrow
>>         13) c: ¢ © - cents and Copyright
>>         14) v: “ ‘ - a stylish double quote and single quote; Office
>>         suites and WYSIWYG's actually use these ones
>>         15) b: “ ‘ - a stylish double quote and single quote; Office
>>         suites and WYSIWYG's actually use these ones
>>         16) n: ñ Ñ
>>         17) m: µ º - micro symbol, example: µblog.  º means an
>>         "ordinal number", so if I put 1º it reads as "1st"; 2º it
>>         reads as 2nd.  We don't really use this, maybe mathematicians
>>         and physicists do.  Besides, there's a space for
>>         AltGr+Shift+M if I don't add it, might as well use it.
>>         18) ,: … × - "…" is a *single* character "..." (ellipsis).
>>         Useful for microbloggers, saves you two characters.  Next is
>>         the Multiplication sign "×", compare that to lowercase letter
>>         'x': ×x×x
>>         19) .: · ÷ - middle dot and division sign
>>         20) ]: a combining tilde - example g with a tilde: g then
>>         AltGr+]  = g̃  historically, Philippine languages puts a tilde
>>         above the letter g.  Read:
>>         http://laibcoms.com/the-history-of-mr-nang-and-ms-ng 
>>         Educators, historists, linguists may need this ability.
>>
>>
>>         So far, I'm cool with this version (v2).  I'm looking for
>>         feedbacks specially if there are experts out there or if
>>         there is a "committee" of sorts that handles this type of
>>         "National" things (DOST?)  If not, then it is up to us to
>>         decide on which format the first "Philippines National
>>         Keyboard Layout" will take form.
>>
>>         Feel free to pass this to the rest of the Philippine Linux
>>         community and any other lists that might be interested in
>>         this project.  If the feedback is good, then I'll start
>>         creating a Windows7 version, then we can start spreading this
>>         new layout and submit to X.org too.
>>
>>         Thank you very much.
>>
>>
>>
>>         --
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>>         ubuntu-ph at lists.ubuntu.com <mailto:ubuntu-ph at lists.ubuntu.com>
>>         https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-ph
>>
>>
>
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>
>
>
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