Khmer Software Initiative

Java finally works in Khmer Unicode!! The latest release of Java 6 is finally able to display Khmer Unicode correctly. The effort to ensure that Java can display Khmer Unicode started in 2004, and it has taken over two years for it to finally reach the official release. The Java 6 Runtime Environment (for individual users), or develelopment tools for Java can be downloaded from: http://java.sun.com/javase/downloads/index.jsp This development opens the way of localising to Khmer programs that are written in Java, such as CMap Tools, FreeMind or SUN's localisation tools.

Hello! Khmeros just created new khmer unicode font called KhmerOSMoulBali . It looks like Bali script written on Slekrit. Now we are testing it and hope that it will be available for download soon. Thanks!

A new version (version 3) of the KhmerOS and KhmerOS System fonts is now available for download. These fonts now have better hinting (they are easier to read on the screen in small sizes) and the vertical space of Khmer OS has been modified, so that all parts of the text are now always visible.

It is quite reasonable to think that -with the use of Unicode- all old fonts will be phased out. In order to reduce the cost of changing from an old system to this one, it is important that files and documents written using old Khmer fonts (pre-Unicode) be translated easily to Khmer fonts. An application to translate old documents need to be developed.

You can download these fonts from our server, The new fonts are now available on Sourceforge.net

• All KhmerOS fonts(V.5.0) (2.5 MB)
• Khmer OS (259 KB)
• Khmer OS System (258 KB)
• Khmer OS Moul (311 KB)
• Khmer OS Freehand (244 KB)
• Khmer OS Fasthand (232 KB)
• Khmer OS Metal Chrieng (226 KB)
• Khmer OS battambang (202 KB)
• KhmerOS bokor (209 KB)
• Khmer OS muol light (227 KB)
• Khmer OS muol pali (137 KB)
• Khmer OS siemreap (129 KB)
• Khmer OS content (195 KB)

Computer fonts for the Khmer language have existed now for almost 15 years. They were not developed using Unicode, as Khmer Unicode did not exist at the time. These fonts are now being widely used for word processing as well as for newspaper and magazine typesetting. Keyboards for these fonts exist and are used. The Unicode coding of Khmer has become considered finalized by the Cambodian government (except for possible bugs) in the version 4.0 of Unicode (it was already included in versions 3 and 3.1). Unicode not only establishes which code is assigned to each letter of the Khmer alphabet, but also specifies in which order they are typed, which changes from the prior systems. In handwriting and with non-standard fonts, Khmer was typed from left to right, in the same order that characters are printed. With Unicode, Khmer is typed in the order that letters are pronounced (different), which requires an "intelligent behavior" from the system or word processor.

We release Khmer OS Moul. A much needed Moul font (normally used for signs and titles).

We release Khmer OS Fasthand. An even more stylish hand writing font.

We release:

• Khmer OS 2.0, which seems to be quite well adapted for modern Khmer.
• Khmer OS System 2.0, a hinted, not too high font specially designed for menus of applications.
• Khmer OS Freehand. A beautiful hand-writing font that has been modeled after the hand writing found in Franklin Huffman's "Cambodian System of Writing" book.

KhmerOS 1.6 family delivered. KhmerOSSystemC hinted font, with equivalent sizes for Khmer and Latin delivered, working correctly on Windows and Linux.