Khmer keyboard

Khmer Keyboard Software

Khmer keyboard is a small free utility for Windows that lets you type text in Khmer, the official language of Cambodia. Its author describes it as a flexible keyboard for Khmer script that includes character input for all Khmer fonts. The program adds a Khmer keyboard layout that works alongside your default English layout, so you can switch between the two languages whenever you need to.

Khmer keyboard lets you switch between English and Khmer input from the system tray and type Khmer text in any program.

Features:

1. Unicode and legacy fonts: It supports the Unicode character encoding, used by fonts such as Khmer OS, as well as frequently used legacy Khmer fonts such as Limon and ABC. This matters because many older Khmer documents were typed with legacy fonts that place Khmer letters on Latin character codes, while current systems and websites use Unicode.

2. Three typing methods: There are three typing methods to choose from, each corresponding to a particular keyboard layout, so you can pick the method that matches the layout you already know.

3. System tray operation: Once installed, the application rests in the system tray. Clicking the tray icon switches the input between English and Khmer, and the icon changes from "En" to "Kh" to show that Khmer input is active.

4. Simple settings: The right-click menu of the tray icon gives access to the program's options, and the main window only contains the settings for choosing the font type and the typing mode.

5. Works in any program: Because it changes the keyboard input itself, you can type Khmer words, phrases and whole texts in word processors, text editors, browsers and other applications.

6. Built-in help: The Help section shows how the characters are entered in each layout, with images, key combinations and notes about dead keys, so the layouts can be learned with a little practice.

7. Small download: The program is distributed as a ZIP archive of about 1.3 MB from its SourceForge project page.

8. Freeware: Khmer keyboard is free to use. The SourceForge project was registered in 2011 and its files were last updated in 2016, so the program is no longer actively developed.

Khmer keyboard is a practical tool for Cambodians who live abroad and use computers set up for other languages, for students of the Khmer language and for anyone who needs to type Khmer text on a Windows PC. To display the typed text correctly, select a matching Khmer font in the application you type in, for example Khmer OS for Unicode text or a legacy font such as Limon for older documents.