When you need TAC output
TAC is different from the other formats here because it does not borrow ordinary Latin letters. It stores Tamil in private-use character positions. Unicode is the right format for almost everything today, but occasionally a printer, an old layout file or a colleague insists on TAC. Paste your Unicode Tamil here and the page produces the TAC version.
The converted text is not meant to look like Tamil on its own
Because this format uses private-use characters rather than readable Latin letters, there is no tidy string to quote here. In TAC, தமிழ் is three private-use code points. Those characters have no meaning outside the TAC font, so in a normal font they show as empty boxes or nothing at all. That makes missing-font problems easy to spot, but it also means you need the font to read TAC output. Without the matching font the result will not look like Tamil, which is normal for this kind of format and not a fault in the conversion.
How to use the converter
Copy the Unicode text, paste it in, convert, and then copy the TAC 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 TAC.
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 TAC 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 TAC to Unicode. To write new Tamil from an English keyboard, try English to Tamil typing, or look through all Tamil font converters.
Unicode to TAC: common questions
Why does TAC text show as empty boxes?
Private-use characters have no standard appearance. They only look like Tamil in the font designed for them. The converter reads the underlying code points, so the boxes are not a problem for conversion.
Can I read TAC output without the font?
No. Without the TAC font in the application where you paste it, the characters will not look like Tamil. Keep the Unicode version as your readable master.
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 TAC 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.
Can I convert a Word file or PDF directly?
This is a paste-in tool, so there is no file upload. Copy the text out of the document, paste it in, then copy or download the result. A PDF has to contain real selectable text; scanned pages need OCR first.
Will the conversion change what my text says?
No. Only the way the characters are stored changes, not the language or the wording. Even so, read names, numbers and punctuation once after converting.
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.