What this Unicode to TAM converter does
TAM, like TAB, is generally linked to Tamil Nadu government-backed encoding efforts of the late 1990s and shows up in older official-style material. If a workflow requires TAM, you do not have to retype anything. Write or paste Unicode Tamil, convert it, and copy the TAM output.
What TAM 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 TAM as îI›, வணக்கம் as õí‚è‹ and நன்றி as ï¡P. TAM keeps single codes for consonant plus vowel sign, so தமிழ் is only three stored characters (îI›). The same word takes five characters in TAB. If your result is almost right, confirm you did not pick TAM when the file was TAB, or the other way round.
Getting the output
Paste Unicode Tamil into the left box and press Convert text. The TAM 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 TAM. 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 TAM to Unicode. To write new Tamil from an English keyboard, try English to Tamil typing, or look through all Tamil font converters.
Unicode to TAM: common questions
TAM or TAB: how do I decide?
Count and compare. A word like தமிழ் is three characters in TAM and five in TAB. If you still have the original font name or file properties, use that. Otherwise test a short line in both.
Does the converter handle numbers and punctuation in TAM text?
Standard digits and common punctuation generally carry through, but treat numerals and symbols as items to review after conversion.
Does the text I paste leave my computer?
The page does the conversion locally in your browser. Nothing you paste into the boxes needs to be sent anywhere for the converter to work.
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 TAM 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.