I thoroughly endorse Bhikkhu Pesala's recommendation re the CSCD.
It is essential software for anyone interested in Pali.

Metta, John

--- In Pali@yahoogroups.com, "Bhikkhu Pesala" <pesala@...> wrote:
> I imagine that many members of this group already have a copy of
the
> CSCD Tipitaka. If not, it is well worth getting. If you're serious
> about studying the scriptures in the orginal Pali, the CD is
> invaluable.
>
> • One can find any passage from a reference to the Roman script
> edition or from a Sutta's name (if one knows the correct name).
>
> • One can view the Pali texts in a number of different scripts:
Roman,
> Devanagari, Myanmar, Thai, Khmer, Sinhalese, or Mongolian. Pali
has
> not script of its own as it was a spoken language and the texts
were
> not written down until some centuries after the passing of the
Buddha.
> Some of the oldest inscriptions are those of Asoka, which are in
the
> Brahmi Script: See this site on the Edicts of Emperor Asoka:
> http://www.worldpolicy.org/globalrights/religion/Asoka-edicts.html
>
> • One can look up any word and see how it is used in different
> contexts
>
> • There is an online Pali/English dictionary to look up words that
are
> unfamiliar.
>
> • One can cross-reference to the Commentary and subcommentary to
> clarify difficult passages.
>
> • One can save passages as a Rich Text File for importing into any
> word-processor or DTP software if you want to quote a passage in a
> Dhamma article.
>
> • The help menu includes a basic Pali course by Lily de Silva,
which
> will introduce a beginner to Pali grammar with simple sentences
and
> exercises.
>
> • The help menu also gives an overview of the Six Buddhist
Councils
> and a list of the books on the CD.
>
> To obtain a free copy of the CSCD Tipitaka contact the Vipassana
> Research Institute:
>
> http://www.vri.dhamma.org/publications/tpmain.html
>
> If you need any help with using the Tipitaka or related problems
with
> using Pali fonts, typing Pali, preparing Buddhist publications,
etc.,
> visit my MSN Group - Free Buddhist Publications:
> http://groups.msn.com/FreeBuddhistPublications/messages.msnw