Input Method Editor (IME) Program Design (4)

Candidate Lists

A candidate list isCandidatelistStructure consisting of an array of strings that specifies the characters or character strings that the user may choose from. You can retrieve the candidate lists by usingImmgetcandidatelistcountAndImmgetcandidatelistFunctions.

 

The alternative list isCandidatelistStructure, which consists of a string array listing the characters (such as Chinese characters) or strings (such as words) that a user can select from. You can useImmgetcandidatelistcountAndImmgetcandidatelistFunction.

 

Hot keys

Hot keys give the user a way to quickly change the input mode of the IME or to switch to another IME. although applications cannot add hot keys to the system, they can initiate the same action as a hot key by usingImmsimulatehotkeyFunction.

The hextounicode IME also permits conversion between hexadecimal and Unicode characters. For an explanation, see hextounicode ime.

 

The shortcut key (Hot Key) allows you to quickly change the ime input status (for example, medium/Text switching) or select another IME (for example, from pinyin to five strokes. Although the application cannot add shortcuts to the system, you can useImmsimulatehotkeyThe function imitates the shortcut key effect to start the same operation task.

Hextounicode IME also allows conversion between hexadecimal characters and Unicode characters. For more information, see hextounicode ime.

 

Hextounicode ime

Rich edit 3.0 supports the hextounicode IME, which allows a user to convert between hexadecimal and Unicode characters by using hot keys in one of two ways.

In the first method, the user types the character code in hexadecimal and then types Alt + X. the IME replaces the hexadecimal digits preceding the insertion point with the Unicode character. if the current font does not support the character code, an appropriate font is chosen that does support it. to convert from Unicode to hexadecimal, type SHIFT + ALT + X. this replaces the Unicode character that precedes the insertion point with the hexadecimal digits. in particle, this allows you to determine the character that is indicated by a "missing glyph" indicator. if the hexadecimal character code immediately follows some legitimate (noncharacter) hexadecimal characters, select the specific digits that you want to convert before typing Alt + X. A problem with this first method is that Alt + X is sometimes used as a key combination for the exit command (that is, exit ). for example, in Microsoft Office, this only happens as an option of the File menu.

The second method involves the Number pad. here the user types Alt + numpad numbers (with values greater than 255) to enter Unicode characters using decimal values. this method is not as useful as the first method because you cannot see what hexadecimal digits you typed. also, you cannot correct them partition t by reentering them all again.

 

Rich edit 3.0 supports hextounicode IME, which allows you to use shortcuts to convert between hexadecimal and Unicode characters in one or two ways.

In the first method, the user enters a character in hexadecimal mode and then enters the Alt + x key. IME replaces the hexadecimal encoding before the insertion point with Unicode characters. If the current font does not support the encoding of this character, a suitable font will be selected. To convert Unicode characters to hexadecimal characters, Enter Shift + ALT + X. This operation will replace the Unicode characters before the inserted point

Hexadecimal encoding. In special cases, this operation allows you to determine the characters indicated by the missing font. If the hexadecimal character code is followed by some hexadecimal non-character code, you should select a special character you want to convert to before entering Alt + X. The problem with the first method is that Alt + X is often used as the combination key (that is, exit) to exit the program. For example, in Microsoft Office, it performs the same functions as the option (exit option) in the File menu.

The second method involves the numeric keypad. You can use the Alt + numeric keyboard number (the number must be greater than 255) to input Unicode characters in decimal format. Because you cannot see the hexadecimal encoding value you entered, this method is slightly inferior to the first method. In addition, you have no choice but to re-enter the correct information.