What this Unicode to Chenet converter does
Chenet turns up in older Tamil documents, newsletters and web pages from the font-based era. When such a file travels without its font, the Tamil appears as accented Latin letters. If a workflow requires Chenet, you do not have to retype anything. Write or paste Unicode Tamil, convert it, and copy the Chenet output.
What Chenet output looks like
Do not be alarmed if the result looks like gibberish in the output box. To give you something concrete, this converter stores தமிழ் in Chenet as RÁr, வணக்கம் as YQdLm and நன்றி as SuÈ. Chenet is compact. தமிழ் is only three stored characters (RÁr), because consonant plus vowel sign and consonant plus pulli each get a single code. That also means one missing accented character removes a whole syllable, so check copied text carefully for dropped symbols.
Getting the output
Paste Unicode Tamil into the left box and press Convert text. The Chenet version appears on the right. Use Copy result to move it into your destination program, or Download .txt for a plain-text file. If your source is long, convert it in sections and keep the Unicode original beside it for comparison.
Before you send it on
A quick way to test is to paste a short passage into the target program and choose Chenet. If it reads as Tamil, convert the rest. If not, the destination may expect another format and you may need a different tool.
Where this comes up
Most visitors have a deadline and a destination that is stubbornly old. Maybe it is a template, a typesetting file or a shared document that only accepts a font-based format. Converting from Unicode lets you write comfortably in a modern editor and still deliver what the other side expects.
Tips for cleaner results
Keep the source file safe and work on a copy. Paste in plain text where possible, and avoid copying from places that quietly change characters, such as some PDF viewers. When a passage mixes formats, split it up and treat each part separately. Press Clear between jobs so the boxes start fresh.
Keep your Unicode master
A legacy copy is fine for one job but a poor place to keep your writing. Searching, spell-checking and web publishing all work on Unicode, so keep that as the file you maintain.
Related tools
To move legacy text back into Unicode, use Chenet to Unicode. To write new Tamil from an English keyboard, try English to Tamil typing, or look through all Tamil font converters.
Unicode to Chenet: common questions
Why does Chenet text contain so many accented letters?
Because the font reuses positions in the Latin character set for whole Tamil syllables. Characters such as Á or È are not typos; each one stands for a complete Tamil letter combination.
Is Chenet related to Jeeva or Ka?
They are separate formats and should be treated that way. The codes we saw for the same word differ, for example தமிழ் is RÁr in Chenet and Rªr in Jeeva. Use the tool that matches the original font.
The result has odd letters in it. What should I try?
Most often the format is not quite the one the file used, or a character changed when it was copied from a PDF or another program. Test a short, familiar line and compare it with the original.
Is there a limit on how much I can convert?
There is no account and no fee. Very long documents are easier to check if you convert them in manageable sections, so the review does not feel overwhelming.
Does formatting survive the conversion?
Only the characters are converted. Headings, bold, tables and font choices are not part of the process, so expect to restyle the result.
Will I see Tamil letters without the Chenet font?
Not outside an application that has it. The legacy characters only look like Tamil with the matching font, so test the result where it will actually be used.
Can I upload a document?
Not here. You paste text into the box and download the output as a plain .txt file if you want to keep it. For Word or PDF files, copy the text out first.