Input Method Editor (IME)

The Input Method Editor (IME) is a front-end-processor (FEP) which handles keyboard input and generates DBCS strings. Typically, the IME is a component of the operating system, but it may be a single product or a part of another application like a word processor.

DBCS users can generate thousands of different characters using a regular-sized keyboard. Typically a user types a sequence of characters and then uses the IME to convert the sequence to double-byte characters. The conversion may have to be retried because there may be several possible translations, or candidates, for the same sequence of characters. While this conversion process is going on, the text logically belongs to the IME. After the conversion process, the user then uses the IME to commit the converted double-byte characters to the application. ZIETrans supports use of the IME for committing double-byte characters into ZIETrans fields.

If the user tries to enter characters into the IME that exceed the maximum length of the rendered ZIETrans field, then the behavior differs depending on the Eliminate maximum length in DBCS fields and Eliminate maximum length in SBCS fields settings. For more information about the Eliminate maximum length in DBCS fields setting, see Eliminate maximum length in DBCS fields. For more information about the Eliminate maximum length in SBCS fields setting, see SBCS eliminate maximum length.