Embedded Files
Pali Resource Guide
Pali keyboard
<https://tipitaka.org/keyboard.html>
This link will help you type Pāli in Roman script with all the necessary diacritics by installing a simple custom keyboard layout for Windows, macOS, or Linux. Once installed, you can type ā, ī, ū, ṭ, ḍ, ṇ, ṁ, and all other diacritical characters directly – no need for copy-paste or special symbol dialogs. For many Pali practitioners, this is the quickest and most reliable way to type correct canonical-form Pali on their devices. If you're a Windows user, you may also want use my new AutoHotkey script, which you can download here. It adds support for the modern niggahīta "ṁ" (dot-above 'm') according to the ISO 15919 standard, as well as all the other required letters in both lowercase and uppercase.
How to install a Pali Windows Keyboard
How to install a Pali Windows Keyboard
PALI UNICODE HOTKEYS FOR WINDOWS
Overview
This AutoHotkey script lets you type all the Pali diacritics (and several extended letters) quickly using Alt, Shift, and Ctrl combinations. It is based on an earlier script by Ānandajoti Bhikkhu, expanded to include the extra characters I needed.
How to use
Alt + key gives the lowercase diacritic letter
Alt + Shift + key gives the uppercase
Ctrl is used for dot-below vs dot-above variants where both exist
FULL HOTKEY LIST
Vowels (macrons)
Alt + a = ā
Alt + i = ī
Alt + u = ū
Alt + e = ē
Alt + o = ō
Alt + Shift + a = Ā
Alt + Shift + i = Ī
Alt + Shift + u = Ū
Alt + Shift + e = Ē
Alt + Shift + o = Ō
Consonants with dot below
Alt + t = ṭ
Alt + d = ḍ
Alt + n = ṇ
Alt + l = ḷ
Alt + s = ṣ
Alt + Shift + t = Ṭ
Alt + Shift + d = Ḍ
Alt + Shift + n = Ṇ
Alt + Shift + l = Ḷ
Alt + Shift + s = Ṣ
Nasals / special letters
Alt + m = ṁ
Alt + Shift + m = Ṁ
Alt + Ctrl + m = ṃ
Alt + Ctrl + Shift + m = Ṃ
Alt + Ctrl + n = ṅ
Alt + Ctrl + Shift + n = Ṅ
Alt + h = ḥ
Alt + Shift + h = Ḥ
Additional diacritics
Alt + r = ṛ
Alt + Shift + r = Ṛ
Alt + Ctrl + r = ṝ
Alt + Ctrl + Shift + r = Ṟ
Alt + Ctrl + s = ś
Alt + Ctrl + Shift + s = Ś
INSTALLATION
Option A — Create your own shortcut in the Startup folder
Right-click Pali-Unicode-Jaya2025.exe → Create shortcut
Press Win + R, type: shell:startup → Enter
Or go to: C:\Users\YOURUSERNAME\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
Move the shortcut there
Double-click once to allow Windows to trust the file
Option B — Run the included EXE normally
Double-click Pali-Unicode-Jaya2025.exe
To autostart: copy the .exe to the same Startup folder as above
Option C — Use the AHK script
Install AutoHotkey from https://www.autohotkey.com
Double-click Pali-Unicode-AutoHotkeyScript-Jaya2025.ahk
To autostart: copy the .ahk file to the same Startup folder
Notes
Option A is the most reliable to avoid Windows blocking
If characters show incorrectly, use a Unicode font: Noto Serif, Gentium, or Charis SIL
Hotkeys can be edited by opening the .ahk file in a text editor
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
This script is based on an earlier version by Ānandajoti Bhikkhu, expanded to include extra characters.
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