MiKTex and coptic - example needed

Question

Does anybody use the cbcoptic package for Coptic?

I am using MikTex 2.9 with Babel. I downloaded the files from https://www.ctan.org/tex-archive/language/coptic/cbcoptic

I compiled the testcop.tex file and it looks great. But the file itself has some imprintable characters which show up as \xB0 when opened in TeXnicCenter. There seem to be macros, but no explanation or list whatsoever, and I have no idea how to enter and compile a text I created. I have started a University Coptic course, please, somebody help that I can articulate myself! Angelika

Welcome to TeX.SE. Can, please, you see this link if is it an help for you? https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/419957/latest-miktex-suggestions-on-how-to-install-new-fonts-using-the-miktex-console — Sebastiano, Apr 22 '20 at 10:31
In the package that you linked to, there is a README file - under "MAPPINGS AND LIGATURES" is a list of coptic characters and how to write them. Is this what you need to be able to edit? — Alex Watson, Apr 22 '20 at 12:37

score 2 · Answer 1 · answered Apr 22 '20 at 12:31

2

There is no need to install the package manually, it is both in miktex and texlive.

The style tries to make use of byte B0 (the degree symbol in latin1 encoding) as a command (looks like something to enable a hyphenation). This is not the greatest idea in the time of utf8. But it also define \0 as a replacement. If I exchange every ° (8bit encoded) by 0 in the test file it compiles.

But probably it would be better if you used an unicode engine like lualatex or xelatex and a suitable font:

\documentclass[]{article}

\usepackage{fontspec}
\setmainfont{FreeSerif}
\begin{document}
ⲀⲁⲂⲃⲄⲅⲆⲇⲈⲉ
\end{document}

answered Apr 22 '20 at 12:31

Ulrike Fischer

327,261

Hi, all,
sorry to get back so late to your answers, I was extremely busy with Egyptology.

A late "Thank you very" much to all, especially Ulrike. One question remains though: How do I get what is between \begin{document} and \end{document} into my TechnicCenter editor? Looks like I am missing some fonts in Windows (Windows 7) \documentclass[]{article} \usepackage{fontspec} \setmainfont{FreeSerif} \begin{document} ⲀⲁⲂⲃⲄⲅⲆⲇⲈⲉ \end{document}
– Fuzzy Jul 10 '20 at 08:31
sorry I have no idea how good the support for unicode is in windows 7 (probably not so good, ...). I have windows 10 since quite some time. – Ulrike Fischer Jul 10 '20 at 08:35
Thanks, Ulrike, I am fine with unicode when I use XeLatex. But that is not the question. In your example you have some coptic characters between \begin{document} and end{document}. The question is about my TexnicCenter editor, an Ascii editor: How do I get those coptic letters into my file so I can compile them. Do I use the Unicode numbers= – Fuzzy Jul 10 '20 at 08:38

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered Apr 23 '20 at 17:28

If switching to lualatexor xelatex is an option (and your system is up to date) you can set Coptic text with babel.

\documentclass{article}

\usepackage{babel}

\babelprovide[import, main]{coptic}

\babelfont{rm}[Renderer=Harfbuzz]{FreeSerif}
% A nice alternative:
% \babelfont{rm}[Renderer=Harfbuzz]{new_athena_unicode.ttf}

\begin{document}

ⲟⲩⲙⲁⲉⲓⲛ ⲡⲉ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉ ⲧⲉϥϭⲟⲙ.

ⲛⲓⲙ ⲧⲉ ⲧⲙⲁⲁⲩ ⲛ̅ ⲓⲱϩⲁⲛⲛⲏⲥ?

ⲙⲉϣⲁⲕ ⲛ̅ⲧⲟϥ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲉⲭ̅ⲥ̅.

\end{document}

I found these texts in the net, but I don't remember where.

MiKTex and coptic - example needed

3 Answers3