Android : how to use Tamil font

Question

This is my tamil html unicode string

முதல் பக்க செய்திகள்

I am using this code:

    TextView text=(TextView)findViewById(R.id.text); // initialize to your textview
    Typeface tf = Typeface.createFromAsset(this.getAssets(),"fonts/tamil.ttf");
    text.setTypeface(tf);
    text.setText("முதல் பக்க செய்திகள்");

In Android, is this possible?

Answer 1

First of all you have to understand that there is no Tamil Language support in Android OS (except few Samsung & SE mobiles) till ICS(4.0). Even then it had bugs and full support is provided with Jelly Bean (4.2).

You will only see boxes if you use Unicode Tamil font in your app. Reason is there are no Tamil fonts in the system.

There is a work around for this solution. All you have to do is, download the Bamini font and place it in your assets folder. And create TypeFace with the font Bamini and set it to the TextView.

Typeface font1 = Typeface.createFromAsset(getAssets(), "fonts/Bamini.ttf");
customText1.setTypeface(font1);

Now use a converter to convert Unicode font into Bamini encoding. instead of the Unicode text provide the converted Bamini encoded script into the setText method.

If you hate all these manual encoding conversion then check out this library

As I said in above line, if you like to change the encoding dynamically while running the application then consider using the library I wrote for Android. This library will help you to convert Unicode String to Bamini, TSCII, TAB, TAM and Anjal.

Set up is very simple. All you have to do is simply import the library into your Android project and call the library as below.

// Initialise the Typeface (assumes TSCII, Bamini, Anjal, TAB or TAM font located inside assets/fonts folder)
Typeface tf = Typeface.createFromAsset(getAssets(),"fonts/mylai.ttf");
// Initialises the TextView
TextView tv = (TextView)findViewById(R.id.textView1);
//Setting the Typeface
tv.setTypeface(tf);
//Magic happens here ;) encoding conversion
String TSCIIString = TamilUtil.convertToTamil(TamilUtil.TSCII, "வணக்கம் அன்ரொயிட்");
//Setting the new string to TextView
tv.setText(TSCIIString);

There is a sample app available along with the library. Check out the app on how the library is utilised to convert the Unicode String to Bamini, TAB, TAM, TSCII and Anjal.

Please make sure to read my comprehensive answer on how to tackle Tamil on Android Native apps and WebViews here in this Answer.