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General Programming Concepts: Writing and Debugging Programs


Traditional Chinese Input Method (TIM)

The Traditional Chinese code sets consist of two character groups:

The Traditional Chinese character set contains more than 100,000 characters, but only about 5000 are frequently used. Each character is comprised of one to five components known as radicals.

The pronunciation of Traditional Chinese is represented by phonetic symbols called Dsu-Yin or Bo-Po-Mo-Fo. There are 37 phonetic symbols plus four intonation indicators. Chinese characters are represented by one to three phonetic symbols. The character can include one intonation symbol. The omission of an intonation symbol implies a fifth intonation accent.

TIM Features

TIM features the following characteristics:

The TIM file is found in the /usr/lib/nls/loc/TW.im directory.

The TIM keymap is found in the /usr/lib/nls/loc/zh_TW.IBM-eucTW.imkeymap directory.

Traditional Chinese Character Processing

TIM 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 Tsang-Jye and Internal Code input, a character is generated when the conversion key is pressed. Simplified Tsang-Jye and Phonetic 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 Traditional Chinese Input Method are defined on the Traditional Chinese 106-key keyboard.

Special Traditional Chinese Keys

Key Function Keysym Description of Function
Tsang-Jye Shift key XK_Chinese _Tsangjei Invokes both the Tsang-Jye and Simplified Tsang-Jye input methods.
Phonetic Shift key XK_Chinese _Phonetic Invokes the Phonetic input method.
Half/Full-Width toggle key XK_Chinese _Full_Half Toggles between half-width and full-width.
Conversion key XK_Convert Converts radical and phonetic symbols or EUC code symbols into characters. Displays the candidate list in an auxiliary window, if needed.
Non-Conversion key XK_Non _Convert Interprets a phonetic symbol as a character.
English/Numeric key XK_Alph_Num Invokes ASCII mode.
ALT-Tsang-Jye Shift key XK_Internal _Code Invokes Internal Code input method.
ALT plus number keypad

Invoke the decimal value input method.

Related Information

Chapter 16, National Language Support, Input Method Overview, Simplified Chinese Input Method (ZIM-UCS).

ISO Code Sets.


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