Input Method Editor
An input method editor (IME) is a program that allows computer users to enter complex characters and symbols, such as Japanese Kanji characters, by using a standard keyboard.
输入法编辑器(IME)是一个程序,这个程序允许计算机用户使用标准键盘就能输入复杂的字符与符号,例如日文中的汉字(严重反对!中文是世界上使用人口最多的文字,这里应该是中文才好!)字符。
This overview describes the IME and explains how to use the input method manager functions to create and manage IME windows.
本预览描述了IME,并且解释说明了如何使用输入法管理程序(IMM)函数来创建和管理IME窗口。
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The input method editor relieves users of the need to remember all possible character values. Instead, the IME monitors the user's keystrokes, anticipates the characters the user may want, and presents a list of candidate characters from which to choose.
By default, the IME provides an IME window through which users enter keystrokes and view and select candidates. Applications can use the input method manager (IMM) functions and messages to create and manage their own IME windows, providing a custom interface while using the conversion capabilities of the IME.
IMM is only enabled on East Asian (Chinese, Japanese, Korean) localized Windows. On these systems, call GetSystemMetrics with SM_DBCSENABLED to determine if IMM is enabled. Note that Windows 2000 provides full-featured IME support in all localized language versions, however, that IMM is enabled only when an Asian language pack is installed. An IME-enabled application can callGetSystemMetrics with SM_IMMENABLED to determine if IMM is enabled.
Status, Composition, and Candidates Windows
The status, composition, and candidates windows form the user interface for the IME. The status window indicates that the IME is open and provides the user the means to set the conversion modes. The composition window appears when the user enters text and, depending on the conversion mode, either displays the text as entered or displays converted text. The candidates window appears in conjunction with the composition window. It contains a list of "candidates" (alternative characters) for the selected character or characters in the composition window. The user can scroll through the candidates list and select the desired characters, then return to the composition window. The user can compose the desired text in this way until the composition string is finalized and the window is closed. The IME sends the composed characters to the application in the form of WM_IME_CHAR or WM_IME_COMPOSITION/GCS_RESULT messages. If the application does not process these messages, the DefWindowProc function translates them into one or more WM_CHARmessages.
By default, the system automatically creates and manages status, composition, and candidates windows for all windows that require text input. For many applications, this default processing is sufficient. These applications rely entirely on the system for IME support and are said to be IME-unaware because they are unaware of the many tasks the system carries out to manage the IME windows.
An IME-aware application, on the other hand, participates in the creation and management of IME windows. Such applications control the operation, position, and appearance of the default windows by sending messages to and by intercepting and processing messages intended for these windows. In some cases, applications create their own IME windows and provide complete processing for their custom status, composition and candidates windows.
IME Window Class
The "IME" window class is a predefined system global class that defines the appearance and behavior of the standard IME windows. The class is similar to common control classes in that you create a window of this class by using the CreateWindowEx function. Like static controls, an IME window does not respond to user input by itself. Instead, it notifies the IME of user input actions and processes control messages sent to it by the IME or applications to carry out a response to the user action.
IME-aware applications sometimes create their own IME windows using the IME class. This allows the application to take advantage of the default processing of the IME window while having control of the positioning of the window.
“IME”窗口类是一个预定义的系统全局类,它定义了标准IME窗口的外观与行为。在使用CreateWindowEx函数生成窗口时,这个类与普通的控件类很相似。像静态控件一样,IME窗口类自己不响应用户的输入。取而代之,它将用户的输入操作通知给IME并且处理由IME或者应用程序为了响应用户行为而发送给它的控制消息。
The system sends IME window messages to the window procedure of the application when certain events occur that affect the IME windows. For example, the system sends the WM_IME_SETCONTEXTmessage to the application when a window is activated. IME-unaware application pass these messages to the DefWindowProc function which sends them to the corresponding default IME window. IME-aware applications either process these messages or forward them to their own IME windows.
You can direct an IME window to carry out a command, such as change the position of composition window, by using the WM_IME_CONTROL message. The IME notifies the application about changes to the composition string by using the WM_IME_COMPOSITION message and about general changes to the status of the IME windows by sending the WM_IME_NOTIFY message.
Input Context
An input context is an internal structure, maintained by the IME, that contains information about the status of the IME and is used by IME windows. By default, the system creates and assigns an input context to each thread. Within the thread, this default input context is a shared resource and is associated with each newly created window.
To retrieve or set information in the IME, an application must first retrieve a handle to the input context associated with a specified window. You retrieve the handle by using theImmGetContext function. You can use the retrieved handle in subsequent calls to the input method manager functions to retrieve and set IME values, such as the composition window style, the composition style, and the status window position. Once you have finished using the context, you must release it using the ImmReleaseContext function.
Because the default input context is a shared resource, any changes you make to it apply to all windows in the thread. However, you can override this default behavior by creating and associating your own input context to one or more windows of the thread. The changes you make to your own input context apply only to the windows with which it is associated.
You can create an input context by using the ImmCreateContext function. To assign the context to a window, call the ImmAssociateContext function. This function returns a handle to the previously associated input context. If you have not associated an input context with the window before, the returned handle is for the default input context. Typically, you save this handle and later reassociate it with the window when you no longer want to use your own input context.
Once an input context is associated with a window, the system automatically selects that context when the window is activated and receives the input focus. The style and other information in the input context affects subsequent keyboard input for that window, determining whether and how the IME operates.
You must destroy any input context you create before terminating your application. First, you must remove the input context from any association it has with windows in the thread by using theImmAssociateContext function. Then, call the ImmDestroyContext function.