IndoWord is a comprehensive Tamil typing solution that offers several useful features designed for flexibility and ease of use. One of its standout features is the support for multiple keyboard layouts, allowing you to choose the one that best fits your typing style. Key Layout Features
Romanised (Phonetic) Layout: Ideal for beginners, this layout uses English mappings to type Tamil text (e.g., typing "raamaa" to get "ராம").
Tamil99 Layout: A government-standardized layout designed for fast and simple typing on a normal QWERTY keyboard, following a consonant-vowel pattern.
DOE Phonetic Layout: Standardized by the Department of Electronics, this layout remains identical across all Indian languages, making it useful if you type in multiple Indic scripts.
Typewriter Layout: Perfect for professional typists who are already familiar with traditional Tamil typewriter mappings. Useful Software Capabilities
Direct Entry: You can type directly into popular Windows applications like MS-Word, PageMaker, and Corel Draw without needing to copy and paste.
Language Toggle: Use the NUM LOCK key as a quick toggle to switch between typing in Tamil and English while staying within the same application. indoword tamil keyboard layout best
Multilingual Support: IndoWord supports 12 Indian languages, allowing you to create multilingual documents or transliterate between different Indian languages.
Database Manager: Includes an Indian Language Database Manager, which is particularly useful for publishing voter lists, ID cards, or certificates.
Built-in Tools: The software provides essential writing aids such as a spell checker, dictionary, and auto-correction to improve typing speed and accuracy. IndoWord - Lastech - Software Development
Title: Mastering the Indoword Tamil Keyboard Layout: The Best Choice for Fast Typing
Meta Description: Looking for the best Tamil keyboard layout? The Indoword layout bridges the gap between phonetic typing and Tamil script logic. Learn why it beats Tamil 99 and InScript in this detailed guide.
Look at your keyboard (A, S, D, F, J, K, L). IndoWord is a comprehensive Tamil typing solution that
Switching layouts is hard. But following this plan makes it the best decision you’ll make.
Day 1: Install the Right Software Download InDoword 2022 or the free InDoword Viewer. Configure your Windows keyboard to add the “InDoword (Tamil)” layout. Do NOT use the default Tamil 99.
Day 2: Memorize the Vowels (Uyir) Print a keyboard sticker map for InDoword. Notice:
a = அA (Shift+a) = ஆi = இI (Shift+i) = ஈ
Practice typing just the 12 vowels for 15 minutes.Day 3: The Consonants (Mei) The genius: Consonants without the inherent vowel.
k = க்c = ச்t = ட்T (Shift+t) = த்p = ப்
Practice: k, c, t, T, p.Day 4: The Magic Modifiers – ] and [
This is the secret sauce. Type a consonant (e.g., k for க்). Then press ]. It cycles: க் -> க -> கா -> கி -> கீ.
Type k then [ to cycle backwards.
This single trick eliminates learning hundreds of combinations.
Day 5: Compound Letters (Uyirmei)
Type "ka" in Bamini? Slow.
In InDoword: Type k (க்) then a (அ) to get 'க'? No. Type k (க்) then press ] twice to get 'கா'. Or, type k then A (Shift+a) to jump directly to 'கா'.
Golden Rule: For 'கா': k + ] (one press). Done. Title: Mastering the Indoword Tamil Keyboard Layout: The
Day 6: Grantha and Numbers
The number row: 1 = ஜ, 2 = ஷ, 3 = ஸ, 4 = ஹ, 5 = க்ஷ.
Practice typing "ஜூன்" (June): 1 (ஜ) + u (ுஉ) + Shift + n (ன்).
Day 7: Speed Drill Use the InDoword practice software. Type the Thirukkural couplets. Time yourself. By day 7, you should hit 30 WPM. By day 30, 60+ WPM is normal.
After using every Tamil layout for over a decade, the answer is nuanced but clear:
Why? Because it respects the QWERTY typist's muscle memory, reduces repetitive strain by minimizing key presses, and provides logical shortcuts for the most complex Tamil characters.
You don't need 247 different keys. You need 47 smart combinations. InDoword gives you that.