A new way of typing Hebrew with vowel points in Microsoft Word

Antioch is a keyboard and font utility for Word 97 and later which allows fast typing of Hebrew with vowel points and common accents. It uses the new Unicode system for Hebrew, which is rapidly becoming the world standard.

Antioch works in normal Windows 95, 98 or ME -- you don't have to buy an expensive special Windows version (and please note, Antioch does not work with Hebrew Windows). Although at present this restricts you to typing in lines with hard carriage returns, we have added useful features to simplify typing, such as a reversal of the functions of the Enter key so that you can move the last word of a line down to a new line.

Please note that the Hebrew side of the current version of Antioch, 1.13a, does not work fully in Windows 2000 or XP. We have provided a temporary arrangement without Antioch's special features. We are still working on a new version for Win 2000/XP's native right-to-left system. Registered users of existing versions can update to the new version free when it comes out.

Two default keyboards are offered: a transliterating one for QWERTY, AZERTY and QWERTZ layouts, and a duplicate of the modern Israeli national keyboard. You can also create your own layout. Vowel points may be added by using the keypad or the top row of the keyboard; here too you can change the layout. The vowel system is uniquely simple to use, allowing post-editing of any vowel simply by typing a different one on top of it. There is a menu which you can use as a training aid to learn the vowel system. For fast typists, a direct layout is also offered which inserts most vowels with a single keystroke.

You can even speed up your typing of common words by allowing Word’s AutoCorrect procedure to add the vowels automatically, which is not normally possible in a right-to-left language. A starter list of words is available free from the main Antioch page. It includes macros to add or remove groups of words to or from the AutoCorrect list.

There is a converter which translates the Hebrew output of the popular GrkConv program into Unicode.

Antioch also offers support for classical Greek and Coptic, making it an indispensable tool for religious study.

Click here to go to the main Antioch page, where you can download a trial copy.