Japanese Input Methods (Windows CE 5.0)
The Microsoft® Windows® CE operating system (OS) provides eight input methods (IMs) and an input method selector for the Japanese locale. The following table describes the input methods and samples.
| IM | Description |
|---|---|
| Bushu-kensaku | A search by radical engine that enables complex Kanji character selection based on radicals. UI is provided as a sample for customization. |
| Soukakusu-kensaku | A search by stroke engine that enables complex Kanji character selection based on character strokes. UI is provided as a sample for customization. |
| Microsoft Kana | An on-screen keyboard that enables input of Hiragana and Katakana directly. This IM is provided as sample code. |
| Microsoft Roma | An on-screen keyboard that enables input of the Western alphabet. This IM is provided as sample code. |
| Multibox | A sample UI for Japanese handwriting input that works with IME 3.1 and with Pocket IME. The source code is located in %_WINCEROOT%\Public\Common\Sdk\Samples\Multibox. |
| All Character IM | A sample IM that enables character input based on a comprehensive character list. |
| Character Auto Complete (CAC) | A sample UI that works with the handwriting recognition engine. This IM automatically updates a list of possible character candidates with each character stroke that the user draws. |
| Handwriting Recognizer Engine (HWX) | A handwriting recognition engine for supporting user-drawn ideographs and characters. You can use the Multibox and CAC IM samples to develop an IM for this engine, or create an entirely new UI. |
These input methods provide a convenient way for users to enter Japanese characters on a target device through a keyboard or an input panel using a stylus. The Japanese input methods support the full range of characters used in the Japanese alphabet: Kanji, the Chinese character set, the two syllabaries hiragana and katakana, and the Western alphabet (Romaji).
Windows CE provides two search panel engines that allow users to search for a specific Kanji character: the radical search engine, Bushu-kensaku, and the character-stroke engine, Soukakusu-kensaku. The radical search engine lets users perform a character search based on a specific radical. Radicals are small collections of strokes, which often indicate parts of the meaning of a Kanji character and are traditionally used to organize Kanji into dictionaries. The character-stroke search engine lets users search for a specific character by specifying the number of strokes that are required to write that character.
Windows CE also provides two on-screen keyboards that support the input of hiragana and katakana characters as well as the Western alphabet through an input panel.
See Also
Software-based Input Panel | Handwriting Recognizer Engine (HWX) | Japanese Pocket IME | Japanese IME 3.1 | Japanese Input Method Architecture | Using Japanese Input Methods
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