When you need Ka output
Ka is one of the shorter font names in the legacy Tamil list, which makes it easy to overlook when you are trying to work out what an old file used. Unicode is the right format for almost everything today, but occasionally a printer, an old layout file or a colleague insists on Ka. Paste your Unicode Tamil here and the page produces the Ka version.
The converted text is not meant to look like Tamil on its own
To give you something concrete, this converter stores தமிழ் in Ka as Rªr, வணக்கம் as YQdLm and நன்றி as Su±. Ka stores தமிழ் as three characters (Rªr) and gave the same codes as Jeeva for our sample words. Because short stored forms depend on every character surviving, make sure nothing was lost when the text was copied out of the original document. In a program without the matching font, the result will not look like Tamil. That is how legacy text behaves, and it is not a fault in the conversion.
How to use the converter
Copy the Unicode text, paste it in, convert, and then copy the Ka result. The best test is to paste a small piece into the real destination and apply the correct font there before converting the whole document.
Testing in the destination
Do not judge the result in a plain editor. Open the application that will receive it, apply the right font, and look at names, numbers and conjunct letters. If the destination expects a slightly different format, a letter or two will come out wrong.
Who tends to need this
People usually need legacy output for a specific reason: a print shop with an older layout setup, a publication that still works in a font-based pipeline, or a recipient who cannot open Unicode files. If that is not you, keep working in Unicode and skip this step. Convert only when something downstream really asks for Ka.
Small habits that save time
Work from the original text whenever you can, not from a screenshot or a re-typed copy. Convert a short sample first and keep the original file untouched. If a document mixes several fonts, convert each section with its own tool. Clear both boxes before pasting something new so that old text does not sneak into the next job.
Do not throw away the original
Once you have the Ka output, save it under a separate name. Keep editing the Unicode text instead, then convert again when you need an updated legacy file. That way you never lose the clean version.
Related tools
To move legacy text back into Unicode, use Ka to Unicode. To write new Tamil from an English keyboard, try English to Tamil typing, or look through all Tamil font converters.
Unicode to Ka: common questions
What does Ka text look like when the font is missing?
Mostly like mixed Latin letters with accents and symbols, such as Rªr for தமிழ். It rarely looks like a normal word, so judging by sight alone is unreliable.
Can I convert Ka text that was typed in Word?
Yes. Copy the text out of Word as plain text and paste it into the input box. The Word font setting itself does not come along; only the characters do.
Is my text uploaded anywhere?
No. The conversion runs in your browser on this page, so the text you paste is processed on your own device. It is still sensible to avoid pasting anything confidential on a shared computer.
Why does my converted text still look wrong?
Check three things in order: that you chose the format that matches the original, that the text was copied rather than retyped, and that the direction of the tool (legacy to Unicode or the reverse) is the one you meant.
Is it free, and do I need an account?
It is free and there is no sign-up. Paste your text, convert it, then copy it or download it as a .txt file.
Will bold, colours and fonts carry over?
No. The converter deals with plain text only. Fonts, sizes, colours and layout have to be reapplied in your editor afterwards.
Do I need the Ka font to read the result?
You need it only to see Tamil in the program where you paste the result. Without the matching font, legacy output looks like unrelated letters and symbols, which is normal.