Input modes
This section discusses the modes in the Japanese Input Method.
The Japanese input method's (JIM) has the following modes that can be used to control the input processing:
- Keyboard Mapping
Allows invocation of alphanumeric, Katakana, or Hiragana modes.
- Character Size
Inputs in Zenkaku (full-width) or Hankaku (half-width) mode.
- RKC off/on
Inputs Kana directly or invokes the pre-edit composing mode to input Kana with a combination of alphabetic characters. The pre-editing facility allows processing of characters before they are committed to the application.
When the keyboard-mapping mode is alphanumeric and the character size mode is Hankaku, the JIM maps keys to Romaji characters. This mode combination is known as the "English" mode. Pre-editing is not needed in English mode and cannot be invoked regardless of the RKC mode setting. The other mode combinations may initiate pre-editing and characters generated in these modes are not ASCII.
The following keys are used to perform Kana-to-Kanji conversion by the JIM.
| Keysym | Keyboard mapping |
|---|---|
| Katakana | Katakana shift |
| Eisu_toggle | Alphanumeric shift |
| Hiragana | Hiragana shift |
| Keysym | Character size |
|---|---|
| Zenkaku_Hankaku | Full-width or Half-width toggle |
| Hankaku | Half-width |
| Zenkaku | Full-width |
| Keysym | RKC on/off |
|---|---|
| Alt-Hiragana | Enables/Disables Romaji-to-Kana conversion |
| Romaji | *The same effect |
* Keysyms unique to the manufacturer
The following keys are also used when the JIM is pre-editing a Kanji string.
| Keysym | Kanji pre-edit |
|---|---|
| Muhenkan | Non-conversion - commit Kana |
| Henkan | Conversion - get next candidate |
| Kanji | Same as Henkan |
| BunsetsuYomi | *Moves back a phrase |
| MaeKouko | *Moves to previous candidate |
| LeftDouble | *Moves cursor two characters left |
| RightDouble | *Moves cursor two characters right |
| ErInput | *Discards the current pre-edit string |
| Keysym | Auxiliary pre-edit |
|---|---|
| Alt-Henkan | All candidates |
| Touroku | Run-time registration |
| ZenKouho | *All candidates (the same effect) |
| KanjiBangou | *Kanji Number Input |
| HenkanMenu | *Changes conversion mode |
* Keysyms unique to the manufacturer