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AIX Version 4.3 General Programming Concepts: Writing and Debugging Programs

Simplified Chinese Input Method (ZIM)

The IBM-eucCN code set consists of two character groups:

Simplified Chinese (GB2312.1980) contains 6,763 Chinese characters. It is divided into two parts: first level and second level. The characters belonging to the first level are frequently used. Each character is comprised of one to six components known as radicals.

The pronunciation of Simplified Chinese is represented by phonetic symbols called Bo-Po-Mo-Fo. There are 25 phonetic symbols. A Simplified Chinese character is represented by one to three phonetic symbols.

ZIM features the following characteristics:

The ZIM files are in the /usr/lib/nls/loc directory.

The ZIM keymap is in the /usr/lib/nls/loc/zh_CN.IBM-eucCN.imkeymap directory.

Simplified Chinese Character Processing

ZIM is invoked by pressing one of the input method keys. Each radical or phonetic symbol is assigned to a key. The user inputs radicals or phonetic symbols to an over-the-spot pre-editing area. For row/column input, a character is generated when the conversion key is pressed. PinYin, English-to-Chinese, and ABC input generate a list of candidates that appear in a pop-up window. The user chooses the desired character by selecting the candidate number. Invalid input generates a beep and an error message.

The following special keys for the Simplified Chinese input method are defined on the Simplified Chinese 101-key keyboard.

Special Simplified Chinese Keys
Key Function Keysym Description of Function
Row/Column Shift key XK_Row _Column Invokes Row/Column input method.
Phonetic Shift key XK_Pin_Yin Invokes the phonetic input method.
Legend Shift key XK_Legend Under phonetic input method, invokes phonetic legend mode.
English-to-Chinese Shift key XK_English _Chinese Invokes the English-to-Chinese input method.
ABC Shift key XK_ABC Invokes ABC input method.
ABC Set Option Shift key XK_ABC_Set _Option Under ABC input method, invokes ABC Set Option mode.
Half/Full-Width toggle Shift key XK_Half_Full Toggles between half-width and full-width.
Conversion Shift key XK_Convert Converts radical and phonetic symbols into characters. Displays the candidate list in an auxiliary window, if needed.
Non-Conversion Shift key XK_Non _Convert Interprets a phonetic symbol as a character.
English/Numeric key XK_Alph_Num Invokes ASCII mode.
Five Stroke Shift key XK_Five_Stroke Invokes five stroke input method.
User Defined Shift key XK_User _Defined Invokes user-defined input method.

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