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This is the technical description of a DBT Translation table. If you want more general information about languages and template choices, please see the list of templates.
Initially, the language table for braille translation is determined by the selected template, and may be changed using the Document / Translation Tables menu. Using those menus does not require use of the table designator. However, to switch to a different translation table partway through a file, one must enter a DBT code and the designator for the table to switch to. For switching secondary languages within a base language table, see the [lng~X] command. For switching from one base language to another, see the [lnb~...] command.
The Greek (Modern) tables support print-to-braille translation of Greek-language literary text in uncontracted modern Greek braille. English text may also be processed as a secondary language, uncontracted. The American Computer Braille Code (CBC) and Nemeth Math code are also supported (with modifications as appropriate for Greek context).
Braille-to-print translation is supported for this language. However, braille-to-print translation may not be perfect, therefore beware that errors can occur. If you find errors or have suggestions, please send both the *.dxb and *.dxp files along with an explanation to: languages@duxsys.com. Please be sure to include sample files!
Although DBT version 10.5 and later can display Greek characters properly, it is often more convenient to use an external word processor to compose and edit the print text that is to be translated. When doing so, it is necessary to use a facility that encodes the text in Unicode so that it can be imported correctly to DBT.
Some methods of entering Greek rely upon using a variant font to display standard ASCII characters as Greek. Those methods cannot be used, as those ASCII characters are imported according to their standard interpretation, not as Greek Characters.
Microsoft Word, properly used, fulfills the above requirements.
English text can be entered as a secondary language, and converted to uncontracted English braille.
Note that it is also possible to switch to any of the available translation tables listed in DBT. (See the [lnb~...] code below.)
The Computer Braille Code, as in the English/American tables, is supported.
In addition, it is possible to switch to any of the available translation tables listed in DBT (see the [lnb~...]code below), many of which do support various technical codes, such as for mathematics or computer notation, or which support “unified” treatment of technical notation as well as literary text in the base language associated with the table.
The following DBT translation codes are available when using the Greek (Modern) table. Any other translation codes used are ignored, or indeed, may cause unexpected results. If using an alternative translation table, i.e., when switching to another base language table by means of the[lnb~...] code, please refer to the relevant topic and available codes for that table.
[/]
[ab] is equivalent to [g2]
[cz]
[fte~b]
[fte~i]
[fte~u]
[fts~b]
[fts~i]
[fts~u]
[g1] switches to "grade 1" (uncontracted) braille. This has no effect in this table.
[g2] switches to "grade 2" (contracted) braille. This has no effect in this table.
[in] is equivalent to [g1]
[lnb]
[lnb~...] for switching to another base [primary] language table.
[lng~en] switches to English language.
[lng~el] or [lng] switches back to Greek language.
[tx] resumes normal translation, ending "direct braille."
For mathematics and computer notation, the same codes as used for those purposes in the English/American tables are generally allowed.
These tables were initially developed in July 2000 by Duxbury Systems, Inc., based on information supplied by Professor Georgios Kouroupetroglou.
Starting in September 2008, Nemeth Math Code (as modified for use with Greek) was implemented in these tables.
In March 2010, support for contracted English as a secondary language was removed. (Note that [lnb~...]can be used if English contractions are required, which would be unusual in Greek context.)
(Documentation reviewed: July 2010.)