Input Methods and Conversion Modes for Entering Text

The following input methods and conversion modes are available for entering ASCII/English, Simplified Chinese, and other text:

In zh, zh.GBK and zh.UTF-8:

• New QuanPin input method, the default method (F8)

• New ShuangPin input method (F11)

• Quanpy input method (F5 or Control-Q with input conversion on)

In zh:

• Input conversion off (Control-spacebar toggle); for ASCII input

• Location input method (F2 or Control-A with input conversion on)

• Pinyin input method (F3 or Control-P with input conversion on)

• Stroke input method (F4 or Control-B with input conversion on)

• Golden input method (F6 or Control-J with input conversion on)

• Intelligent Pinyin input method (F7 or Control-S with conversion on)

• Simplified Chinese Symbol input method (F12 or Control-T)

In zh.GBK:

• GBK Code input method (F2)

• Japanese input method (F4)

• Hanja input method (F6)

• Zhuyin input method (F7)

• Unicode input method (F10)

In zh.UTF-8:

• Unicode input method (F2)

• Japanese input method (F4)

• Korean Hanja input method (F6)

• Zhuyin input method (F7)

Press Control-spacebar to toggle on or off the Simplified Chinese input conversion. The Function and Control keys listed (for example, F6, F7, and Control-A) turn on the corresponding input methods. The input conversion modes listed above are discussed in the following sections.

In the zh.GBK locale, you can modify input method properties, such as the Page Up and Page Down keys, candidate selection keys, and GBK switch keys, using the Properties Editor tool.

Typing ASCII Text

Each tool first starts with all Simplified Chinese input modes off, the window's status area blank. This mode is for typing ASCII text:

Simplified Chinese input conversion mode is toggled on and off by pressing Control-spacebar. After Simplified Chinese input conversion has been turned on once and input conversion is then turned off, the status area is no longer blank, but instead shows that conversion is off.

Typing Non-ASCII Text

Each tool starts ready to receive only ASCII text, as shown by a blank status area.

To type Simplified Chinese or other non-ASCII symbols, press Control-spacebar to toggle on Simplified Chinese input conversion.

The status area then shows conversion on:

After you turn on input conversion, you must turn on one of the input modes (such as Location or Stroke) by pressing the appropriate Function key or Control key. You can then enter Simplified Chinese characters. To change from one input mode to another, press the appropriate Function key or Control key.

When you toggle off input conversion (by pressing Control-spacebar) the Conversion Manager notes which input mode is on. Then when you later toggle the conversion mode back on, the Conversion Manager automatically turns on the last input mode.

Some input methods offer a lookup choice page for symbol/character selection. Most input methods support pressing the period (.) or comma (,) keys to page among the available input method choices. Special keyboard definitions are documented with their input methods.

Pressing Delete, Backspace, or Control-H deletes the last character or symbol that was typed while Simplified Chinese input conversion mode is on.