Modular infotech’s Shree-Lipi Dev Ratna is a multi-lingual software that supports multiple Indian languages–Devnagari, Gujarati, Punjabi, Bengali, Oriya, Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, Sanskrit, Assamese and, of course, English. It’s easy to install and works with all flavors of Windows.

To prevent unlicensed use, it comes with a parallel port lock. The software is usable only if the lock is plugged into the parallel port of the system it’s installed in. At the time of installation you can also select the language and fonts you wish to install. Apart from the installation CD, the software comes with two CDs with additional fonts (over 4,500) and cliparts (5,400).

The package comes with a number of utilities, which include “Patrika”, its own Indian Language word processor, Label maker for printing labels, a Language server that includes services like phonetic transliteration, conversion of numbers to words, Inserting Date and Time in the language of your choice, sorting text, etc. There is also a Database manager that lets you create and enter records in the language of your choice. It includes an office language dictionary to search the meaning of a word. You also have a text styler that lets you add different style effects to words. 

When installed the software sits in your system tray. You’d also see Shree-Lipi as a menu item in the applications it supports, which include CorelDraw (9/10), PageMaker (6/6.5/7), Quark Express, Director, Lotus Freelance, Flash, 3dMax, MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Adobe InDesign, Lotus FreeLance and Adobe PhotoShop. Under each language you’d also see a list of supported fonts. There is also a toggle key to switch between English and the regional language while writing. 

The Bottom Line. A feature-rich software for those needing multi-lingual support. 

Neelima Vaid at PCQ Labs