My Ubuntu Blog

Enabling Urdu Support in Ubuntu

Writing and Reading in Urdu on Ubuntu is not configured properly in a default installation. So most Urdu users face trouble once they have installed Ubuntu. Sometimes they give up too quickly and get back to windows and sometimes they spend hours figuring out a solution.

First of all I would like to assure that any one using Ubuntu can read and write Urdu just like they did it while using Windows. Ubuntu has full Urdu support, the problem is that you don’t have a few packages installed and a few settings tweaked. Just follow this step by step tutorial and you would have full Urdu support available with in minutes.

Step 1: Make sure that you have these packages installed:

• language-pack-ur
• language-pack-ur-base
• language-pack-gnome-ur
• language-pack-gnome-ur-base
• language-support-ur
• openoffice.org-l10n-ur-in
• ttf-nafees

If you are using Kubuntu then you would need:

• language-pack-kde-ur
• language-pack-kde-ur-base

To install these packages quickly use this command:


sudo apt-get install language-pack-ur language-pack-ur-base language-pack-gnome-ur language-pack-gnome-ur-base language-support-ur openoffice.org-l10n-ur-in ttf-nafees language-pack-kde-ur language-pack-kde-ur-base


Step 2:Note: If you are using Ubuntu 7.10 Gutsy or later releases then you don’t need to do this step instead jump to step 3.

Since Dapper, there is a problem with Firefox in Ubuntu that it doesn’t render the Urdu web pages the way they should be rendered. Firefox that comes with Ubuntu has Pango disabled by default. We need to enable it so lets do it

Type this in Terminal:


sudo gedit /etc/environment


This command will open the environment file in your text editor with super user priviledges. Add this line in environment file:


MOZ_DISABLE_PANGO=0


Save the file and exit the editor. Now we have Firefox ready to render Urdu web pages.

Step 3: With Firefox working fine and all required packages installed. We still need to download and install fonts. While downloading packages we have installed ttf-nafees (Nafees Web Naskh) but there is another popular Urdu font that you need in order to view most Urdu webpages correctly. The font is BBC’s Urdu Naskh Asiatype. You can download it from here.

Open Terminal and type this:

sudo nautilus /usr/share/fonts/truetype

this will open a Nautilus window, paste your fonts here.

Step 4: Now we need to download a Urdu phonetic keyboard layout. You have many choices here you can use Crulp’s Phonetic Urdu Keyboard Layout or use Urdu Web’s keyboard layout. I use Urdu Web’s keyboard layout and you can download it here. After downloading your keyboard layout rename it to pk not pk .txt just pk and type this command in terminal:


sudo nautilus /etc/X11/xkb/symbols


This command will open a Nautilus window. Paste the pk file in symbols directory replacing the pk keyboard layout that comes with Ubuntu by default.

Step 5: Point your mouse to an empty space on your Top or Bottom Panels, right click and select Add to panel. A window will open giving you choices of applets to add on your panel. Select Keyboard Indicator and then press Close button. Now you have an applet on your panel showing the default USA. Take your mouse over there and right click to select Keyboard Preferences. In the Layouts tab press the Add button. Now select Pakistan from the list of Available layouts and then press Ok and then press Close.

Now you have Phonetic Urdu keyboard layout and you can switch between US English and Urdu by clicking on the indicator or by pressing both ALT keys together.

Step 6: Restart your computer.

Now check if you can not read, write and edit Urdu web pages, text files and documents on your Ubuntu box. Still having problems? Please make sure that you have followed the instructions exactly as provided above. If every thing is all right and you think you have followed the instructions then leave a comment so that we can improve this tutorial.

Posted in Firefox, Pakistan, Ubuntu, Urdu | 7 Comments »

Five Reasons to Love Ubuntu

If you never used any operating system but Windows, then looking at all the Ubuntu related news on the web, you might be asking yourself, “What is so special about this Operating System?”. For you I have shortlisted my reasons that describe why I love Ubuntu so much. Remember that I am not someone you might identify as a geek. I am just a regular guy like you, a guy who has found something truly great and desperately wants to share it with everyone.

1. Freedom

Ubuntu gave me the freedom to install my operating system, modify it, redistribute it to friends and family without worrying about License.

2. Reliability

I am using Ubuntu since an year now and I haven’t seen any virus, trojan or adware on my system during this whole time. An year is quite a lot for an average windows user who often finds himself combating with some silly malicious software. The Ubuntu version I am currently using is supported for three years. This means that I receive free security updates for three years.

3. A whole lot of free software

Firefox, Open Office, Gimp, and a huge repository of free and not so free software that I can download and install without any hassle.

4. Community

Ubuntu introduced me to a community where people are always eager to help. I met some wonderful people online while asking for help. These wonderful people volunteer to maintain the help documents, support forums, mailing lists and IRC channels. I know I can always visit any of these places and ask for help, advise or have a little chat about just how cool this whole new Ubuntu world is.

5. Pride

I love to tell people that “I use Ubuntu Linux!” In fact I love the part when people ask, “Really? Whats so cool about this Ubuntu Linux that you are using?” While explaining them just how wonderful the world of open and free software is, I feel like I am a warrior saving the world from harmful side effects of not so free operating systems.

Posted in Ubuntu, activism | 27 Comments »

Troubleshooting Volume and Sound Card Configuration in Debian

I had a problem with gnome-volume-control. It didn’t save my volume control settings and displayed a mute sign on every startup.

While trying to solve this issue, I did something (I don’t remember what it was) that totally messed my sound configuration and now gnome-volume-control stopped working at all. Today I solved this problem and thought that I should write it here may be some one would find it useful. Please note that these instructions are written for Gnome. You can use these settings for KDE too but for that you will have to set sound system to use Alsa.

The first step is to make sure that you have following packages installed:

• alsa-base
• alsa-source
• alsa-tools
• alsa-tools-gui
• alsa-utils

ALSA is Advanced Linux Sound Architecture. It provides sound drivers and provides audio and MIDI functionality to Linux Operating System. With the above packages installed we are now equipped to move on. Now start the Terminal and run:

# alsaconf

This command will start a wizard ‘Alsa Configurator’ to assist you configure your ALSA settings. Read and follow the instructions, they are self explanatory and you just need to press the enter button on your keyboard. This script automatically closes gnome-volume-control and a notification appears informing you about that and asking you whether or not you want to reload gnome-volume-control applet. Choose Don’t load or do nothing and press the Reload button when you are done with Alsa Configurator script.

Now if you pressed the Don’t load button then you will have to start gnome-volume-control. I will tell you only the easiest way. Move your mouse to the panel, right click and select Add to Panel and then add Volume Control applet. Double click the volume icon on your panel and set the sound. Don’t worry we are going to test it later.

Exit volume control and type

# alsactl store

now run

# speaker-test

You hear the sound?

Yes: Thats good now close the terminal to get rid of this annoying noise. You can now set your volume control settings to your desired levels.

No: Try again, reboot your system and they try to play some music or sound files. Sound doesn’t work at all? Then I suggest you read the expert advise. If the expert advise is too difficult for you to follow then you should try Debian IRC chat room for help.

Posted in Debian, Gnome, Linux, Tips | No Comments »

What’s New in Ubuntu 7.04 Feisty Fawn

Canonical has announced the release of Ubuntu 7.04 Feisty Fawn . Jane Silber, director of Operations at Canonical said:

In the coming months, many individuals and businesses will be making the decision to upgrade their existing computer systems and their operating systems. With added features to both the desktop and server editions, Ubuntu 7.04 is the most user-friendly version to date and is ideally suited to anyone who wants to make the switch to Linux and join the community of Ubuntu users. In fact, with this version of Ubuntu, it is easier than ever to move away from proprietary platforms.

Ubuntu is great and even greater for people who are trying to Install Linux for the first time and Feisty Fawn is the easiest and the most rock solid Ubuntu release since Dapper. People like me who are now relatively old and loyal users of Ubuntu, would like to know about what is so new in this new release? This helps them make their mind for an upgrade.

• It will be supported for 18 months.
• Ubuntu 7.04 Feisty has a Windows migration tool which recognizes Internet Explorer bookmarks, Firefox favorites, desktop wallpaper, AOL IM and Yahoo IM contacts, and imports them all into Ubuntu during installation. It can also import other or all user accounts and their settings from Windows.
• Wireless Networking improvements with Avahi that makes wireless connections easy.
• Ubuntu Feisty Fawn offers easier Multimedia codecs and third party software installation. These packages were available already with early releases as restricted and copyrighted proprietory packages. Now Ubuntu makes it even easier to install proprietory, restricted and third party applications/drivers and codecs.
• There are two new games in Gnome Games, glches the Chess game in Gnome style and sudoku. I don’t even remember playing any of the default Gnome games. I hope that the new Gnome Games team would realize the urgency of this matter and would consider adding something really fun and addictive.
• Once you have installed Feisty don’t forget to check out the new Desktop effects. These Desktop effects are preview of upcoming Linux Desktop world. Turned off by default for users with older machines.

Those who are going to try their first ever Linux, will be surprised to find out that how easy it is to install Ubuntu and how pretty it looks. Those migrating from Dapper would appreciate the easy codec, third party tools and proprietory software installations.

Posted in Feisty, Ubuntu | 4 Comments »

Using Terminal as FTP Client

Ok so you have installed Ubuntu and loved the pretty and easy Gnome interface, now what? May be you are thinking, that this Ubuntu is just another operating system. It is indeed just another operating system. But, this one is a Debian Linux based operating system. Sooner or later you are going to realize that your OS is equipped with powerful tools and utilities. Most of these power tools and utilities show their true powers when they are run from the Terminal.

For example there is an FTP client that you can run from Terminal.


$ ftp
ftp>
ftp> open ftp.example.com
Connected to ftp.example.com.
220 ProFTPD 1.3.0rc2 Server (YourHost FTP) [XXX.XXX.XXX.XX]
Name (ftp.sabza.org:nom): yourusername
331 Password required for yourusername.
Password:
230 User yourusername logged in.
Remote system type is UNIX.
Using binary mode to transfer files.
ftp>


Playing with this ftp tool for a while would make you feel that it is not all that powerful. So you need a powerful ftp tool that you can run from Terminal? Try ncftp.


$ sudo apt-get install ncftp

$ ncftp
NcFTP 3.2.0 (Aug 05, 2006) by Mike Gleason (http://www.NcFTP.com/contact/).
ncftp>


Want something even more powerful? Well you have ssh but to use ssh your remote host should have SSH enabled.


$ ssh yourusername@ftp.example.com
yourusername@ftp.example.com's password:
[hostmachine]$


Using Terminal gives you the power to do things quickly. Head over to The Linux Terminal - a Beginners’ Bash and learn to do things the Linux way.

Tags: Linux

Posted in Debian, Free Software, Gnome, Tips, Ubuntu, applications | No Comments »

Google Office

I have uninstalled Open Office from my Ubuntu because I have found web based Office tools to be more reliable. I am talking about Google Docs & Spreadsheets. Using such a web based tool instead of a fully featured super sophisticated Office suite has many benefits.

• My documents are accessible from every where. To access my documents I just need an internet connection.
• I can share documents with friends, colleagues and any one and publish it easily on the web to make it accessible for everyone to read.
• Searching the documents is easier with tags and Google’s superior search powers.
• I have Ubuntu 6.06 and Debian Testing installed on my computer. So no matter what operating system I boot at the startup, I can still work on my documents. This feature alone is a great reason for me to use Google Docs. With the Google’s Browser Sync Firefox plugin my browser settings get automatically synchronized on both Operating systems so now it doesn’t really matter what operating system I am using I just need Firefox or Debian’s Iceweasel to resume my working environment.

Google Docs & Spreadsheets are near to perfect for me, but still there are a few limitations. Below is a small list of features I would like to see implemented in Google docs in near future.

• I don’t know how to set page margins. May be the functionality is around but I can not see it. I needed this functionality because sometimes I am being asked to create documents with page margins set to half an inch or more. I can do this in MS office and Open office I don’t know how to do that in Google Docs.
• There are no document templates available. I believe that templates are necessary, they save time and improve the productivity. Google docs should have some templates available and there should be functionality to create, save and share templates.
• In the Style menu, there should be functionality to add new user defined styles.
• Users should have ability to add new fonts in the font menu for a particular document. This is specially useful for people who are writing documents in other languages. I can do this by going to ‘Edit HTML’ and add the font manually. But I guess it wouldn’t be easy for all users.
• Adding images works great but I have a problem with this tool. A document takes more time to load when I add a larger picture and resize it to fit in a paragraph. A better solution would be that Google automatically creates different optimized versions of the image, displays them in a table with their size in caption and asks the users to select one of them or insert the original one. I believe that most people do not have time to open some graphic tool to resize image and optimize it to be used on the web.
• When publishing a document from Google Docs to my Wordpress blog, Google Docs doesn’t insert my Document title as the post title and Tags as categories.

Even with limitations I will be using Google Office suite for my daily needs as it promises easy sharing, collabration, hassle free storage and publishing.

Posted in Google, Google Office, Open Office, applications | 3 Comments »

Photo Management Applications

After disliking camera phones and people using camera phones for a long long time, I finally gave up and bought myself one. I am totally in love with my new camera phone. I love it for making things so easier. I can plugin my phone and share pictures and videos with the world. It is time for me to install some nice software to organize these audio, video and image files. Specially I am looking for some tool to organize image files and upload them to Flickr.

Unfortunately there is no plenty of such tools. I only found Picasa and F-spot. Picasa is Google’s proprietary software, I don’t mind using proprietary software but it is too slow, cluttery and doesn’t match with the rest of the environment. I don’t like installing software if they are not available via synaptic. But the lack of good alternates forced me to try Glimmr and Gnickr. Glimmr installed but I can not do anything with it as the program freezes often, doesn’t connect to my flickr account and crashes whenever I try to use anything in the Go menu. I installed the deb package for Gnickr but was unable to launch it for some unknown reasons.

Now my only choice is F-spot ubuntu’s photo management utility with the release of Edgy Eft(ubuntu 6.10). I am using Dapper Drake (ubuntu 6.06 LTS) so I had to install F-spot via synaptic.

The problem I am facing with F-spot is that I would prefer adding tags in a much more easier way. I just want to select an image right click and enter all the tags I want. F-spot also comes with some pre defined categories. May be I will learn how to do these things easily with f-spot after using it for sometime.

Right now I am using Nautilus to manage photos on my hard drive. It is much easier that way. Though I am unable to tag images but I can save them in different folders and nautilus’ default preview generation makes it easy to browse these galleries. There is a Nautilus script available to upload images to flickr directly from the file manager, but I was unable to try it as the script depends on a perl module and that perl module has other dependency issues.

After spending sometime looking at the available tools for photo management on Ubuntu I have made a set of features that I want from my ideal photo management utility:

1. There is no need to import and make copies of image files stored on my computer.
2. Tagging should be simpler. The application should use xml and save meta data inside the image.
3. Clicking on a image provides me a menu to fill meta data information such as camera used, date picture taken, whether its a modified or an original version, who owns this image, tags, notes, comments, etc.
4. Image editing is a plus but it should be simpler. I would rather use image editing applications to create different versions of image.
5. Uploading to flickr or web albums should be easier.

Update: I tried Digikam with Kipi-plugins under Gnome desktop environment. Unfortunately it needs Konqueror to communicate with Flickr.

Posted in Dapper, Gnome, Linux, Ubuntu, applications | 4 Comments »