Greek Tools Proficiencies – Part 1

Setting up your system:

In order to read and type Greek with accents, you need a Greek font and a way to type in Greek characters. The easiest way to accomplish this is to go to: "Fonts for Biblical Studies" (Tyndale House). Use the "Tyndale Unicode Font Kit" available for either PCs or Macs. (Note this this kit will also help you install the keyboards needed, but you may well wish to use a different keyboard layout. Check here.)

Once you've done that, be sure to go to the next section and confirm that your browser is good to go.

Set up your Internet browser to view Greek fonts

Note: The following directions assume you are using Internet Explorer 6 or higher. Directions are similar for Firefox users, and if you are using Firefox, you are probably clever enough to figure out how to make the necessary settings changes! Firefox does handle Unicode a bit differently, but the 

• Go to: http://www.gettysburgseminary.org/mhoffman/greek/lp.htm. If you have properly installed the Cardo font, you should see everything correctly on this page.  

• Now go to: http://www.gettysburgseminary.org/mhoffman/greek/lp2.htm. If you see some Greek with little boxes, you need to set your internet browser correctly. Follow the directions on that page.
• Still problems? These pages will tell you more: JSTOR Help Setting up Unicode Fonts or Unicode Polytonic Greek. These sites will also give directions for those of you using Macintosh/Apple computers.

   

Optional: Enabling ClearType

On some systems and monitors (especially if you are using an LCD monitor), the fonts may look fuzzy or 'thin.' Try enabling ClearType to improve the appearance.

1. Right click on a blank part of your desktop screen and left click on Properties
2. Choose the Appearance tab
3. Click on Effects
4. Check on the "Use the following method to smooth edges of screen fonts" and choose ClearType from the dropdown box
5. OK > OK
6. If this should make things worse, simply reverse the steps. Use of this option does not affect print quality in any way.

If you used the Tyndale Unicode Font Kit setup mentioned above, you will not need to do the following.

Install a Unicode font

The following directions assume a WindowsXP operating system. If you are using a preXP system, you cannot count on Unicode fonts or the keyboards to work reliably.

Install Cardo font (this is a free, downloadable, Unicode font, and it does work on Macs)

Option A

• Go to GreekGeek.Net > Choose "Fonts" in the left-hand menu > Choose "Advanced Mode Installer" > in the drop-down menu, choose "Unicode for scholars/publishing (Cardo Font) > click Go > follow setup
• (While you are here, it would be worth your while to at least get the SIL Apparatus font. If you are using Hebrew, be sure to get the SBL Hebrew.)

Option B

• More information about the Cardo Font and a free download is available at: http://scholarsfonts.net/cardofnt.html. Versions are available for both Mac (check at the web site) and Windows. 
• For more directions on downloading and installing this font, go HERE 

Set up a Greek keyboard

To install a Greek keyboard there are two methods you can choose, but the best on a WinXP system is to use the function built in with WinXP. If you used the "Tyndale Unicode Font Kit" noted at the top of this page, it installs a keyboard and gives excellent, step-by-by directions for installation. It is a good keyboard layout, but I prefer a different way of entering some characters and especially dealing with accents. If you want to try this out, follow the directions carefully on my Fonts Help page.

You may also choose to install a Hebrew keyboard at this time as well, but note that the process for that is more complicated.

If you have a pre-WinXP system, you should use the Tavultesoft Keyman program linked on the Fonts Help page. You will have to deal with some differences in layout as you work through the exercises below.

If you have a Mac, check this page or this page or this page.