SSCN Voumes 1-10, 1994-2004

St. Shenouda Coptic Newsletter

for computer writing of Coptic. they were primarily used with Microsoft Word for Windows (Winword), which was well behaved with respect to typing using all three fonts. Most of the work done during this period was to convert the texts previously inputted in the MLS DOS-format to Windows-format. This process began with a conversion that was done from MLS to a delimited-ASCII text, using a conversion program supplied with the MLS program. Then these ASCII files were imported into Winword, where all the text delimiters were deleted and the entire file was then converted to Coptic by changing the font to the Antonious Normal font. However, during the conversion, all Jinkims and Superlineal strokes were lost and they had to be re-inputted in the Winword text manually. 4. PC-Windows work 1995-Now: During this period, the Society began to widen the scope of computer-use in Coptic Studies. At first, we acquired the distribution and development rights to the Coptic Antonious fonts, from its owners Dr. Wisam Michael and St. Mary Coptic Church in Los Angeles. Our early emphasis was placed in Electronic publishing of some of the material and tools that the Society has developed. This started with simple programs distributed on disks, using available PC applications. Later on we began to expand the publishing work by developing HTML documents on the Internet. Now we are working on Multimedia publishing of Coptic material on Computer Compact Disks (CD). Independently we began to digitize the microfilms of Coptic Manuscripts that we have accrued over the years for archival and study purposes. Finally we are developing Microsoft Access applications to analyze texts and provide tools for researches in the field. III. Current Methodology: 1. Word-processing: Using Winword macro- language capabilities, we developed shortcuts for adding jinkims and superlineal strokes to type the Coptic characters. We also developed shortcuts to convert texts for bilingual publication. Using

macro-buttons and bookmarked texts we were also able to generate command forms that would generate single documents out of a collection of various files. This was particularly useful in generating Coptic Grammar lessons and Church lectionaries. 2. Publishing using Windows Help format: For secure-publishing of Biblical texts, the Windows help format was selected. There are advantages and disadvantages in using such technique. The user advantages are in its friendly interface, viewing and printing capability of the Coptic characters when the fonts are installed, hyperlinks, and lack of special software to run it. The disadvantages are to the developer as well as the user. The developer can not include table borders to divide up the text and will have to add a carriage-return at the end of each line of Coptic text to preserve the word division. This is due to the fact that the font uses characters that are not considered normal characters by the program while compiling. For the user the disadvantages are in lack of formatting control of the printed text and lack of search capability of the text unless provided by the developer. The help documents are usually prepared using a Word-processor, capable of producing "Rich Text Format (RTF)" documents. This file is then compiled using the Help compiler. The necessary parameters for compiling are stored in a project text file. There are many special applications that can be used to facilitate the creation of these files. But an intermediate-level developer can produce such files manually. The Society employed this method in publishing the Coptic-English Dictionary, a modified Coptic Language Lessons, the Coptic New Testament, and a modified Coptic-English Lectionary. The "pop- up" window feature is particularly useful in adding footnotes and variant readings lists for Coptic texts. 3. Visual Basic Applications: Visual Basic language was utilized by the Society for the purpose of generating command screens to launch the applications that were developed in Winword as

St. Shenouda Coptic Newsletter

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