Use kannada language in Windows 7

I many times get a mail asking how to write ottakshara in Kannada or arkavattu in Kannada keyboard for android phones. In order to explain I have to write answer, I will have to open blogger and change language to Kannada and type there. Some how my gmail has stopped showing language options. I downloaded my own qt application for kannada keyboard for windows.

But not anymore I have found a better way now to type in Kannada in windows 7

First go to - Control Panel-
 Clock Language and Region
and select
Region and Language
and select the tab 
 Keyboards and Languages

You should see a screen like this

Click on Change Keyboard button

 Now in the next screen you with existing languages and keyboards. Select the Add button

 

In the add Input Language screen shown below, move down and select Kannada as shown. You can optionally select Hindi also.

Once Kannada is enabled, you should select a key sequence to change to Kannada and back to English. For that go to the Advanced Key Settings tab in same dialog.

 Click on Change Key Sequence at the bottom and specify ctrl and requried number to change to Kannada keyboard and English keyboard etc.

ಲದೈ
This is what happens when you try to use hardware keyboard even after all these settings. So you should activate On-Screen keyboard

For that use
Control Panel
Ease of access center
Start On-screen Keyboard

 

 

And use for heaven's sake, use  the short cut you have set to go to kannada language. 

ಈಗ ಆರಾಮಾಗಿ ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ ಬರೆಯಿರಿ. (Of course, it will take some time getting used to it)

Or an easier option is there. :) Of course download my software. 

Download my Kannada Onscreen keyboard from here and use it.