Android text and input-create input method (5)

Select the ime subtype from the notification bar

The Android system manages all the child types exposed by IME. The IME subtype is considered as the dependent mode of the ime. In the notification bar, you can select a valid subtype for the current IME, as shown in:

Figure 4. Select the ime subtype from the notification bar.

Figure 5. Set your preferred subtype in system settings.

Select the ime subtype from system settings

You can control how to use the subtype in the language & input settings Panel of the system settings area. In the soft keyboard example, the inputmethodsettingsfragment. Java file contains the implementation to enable child types in ime settings. For more information, see android
Softkeyboard example in the SDK.

Figure 6. Select the ime language.

Considerations for IME

When implementing your IME, consider the following:

1. provide users with Direct setting options in the ime UI;

2. Because multiple types of IME can be installed on the device, you must provide users with a direct IME switching method in the UI of the input method;

3. to quickly display the ime UI, you must pre-install or load large-sized resources as needed so that you can see the ime after entering the text domain. You need to cache resources and views for subsequent calls to the input method.

4. On the contrary, after the input window is hidden, you should release large blocks of memory so that the application can have enough memory to run. If it takes several seconds to hide IME, you need to use delayed messages to release resources.

5. Make sure that you can enter as many characters as possible in the language that matches the ime. Remember that users can use punctuation marks in passwords or user names. Therefore, it is necessary for your IME to provide different characters for users to enter passwords and access devices.