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Input of Foreign Languages |
  
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Input of Foreign Languages |
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A Foreign Language is a language, the characters of which can not be completely entered with the connected keyboard and the standard locale/input language.
Under Windows 2000, XP, Vista and 7, the On-screen Keyboard of Windows in connection with the input languages and the language bar is suitable for the comfortable input of text of foreign languages. This makes easier for example the input of place names like Athens - Αθήνa.
The On-screen Keyboard is opened by the function On-screen Keyboard... in the Tools menu. The appearance can be selected using the menu or the options button of the on-screen keyboard, depending on the used Windows version. The lettering and function of the buttons depends on the active input language. After changing the active input language in the language bar, the on-screen keyboard will adapt the lettering and function of its buttons. This happens under circumstances not before the mouse points to or clicks on the on-screen keyboard or the text gadget again.
Note: It was observed under Windows 64 bit operating systems occasionally that the on-screen keyboard could not be opened by this function. In such a case, use the key combination Windows button + U and start the on-screen keyboard there. Another possibility: Start the dialog Run (Start -> Run... or Start -> All programs -> Accessories > Run...) and enter osk.exe. |
The setup of the input languages and the language bar is started by the function Windows Input Languages... in the Tools menu. The further procedure depends on the Windows version:
| • | Windows 2000: In the Regional Options dialog select the Input Locales tab. In the area Installed input locales, use the function Add... to select all required input languages and appropriate keyboard layouts. Mark the checkbox Enable indicator on taskbar at the bottom. |
| • | Windows XP: In the Text Services and Input Languages dialog, Settings tab, Installed services area, use the function Add... to select all required input languages and appropriate keyboard layouts. In the Preferences area, click the Language Bar... button. In the Language Bar Settings dialog, mark the checkbox Show the Language bar on the desktop. After closing the Text Services and Input Languages dialog, minimize the language bar to move it from the desktop to the taskbar. There the language bar does not disturb the other windows and is attainable optimally. For minimizing click on the small line above on the right in the language bar. |
| • | Windows Vista and 7: In the Text Services and Input Languages dialog, General tab, Installed services area, use the function Add... to select all required input languages and appropriate keyboard layouts. On the Language Bar tab, mark the checkbox Docked in the taskbar. |
Changing the input language is the same in all Windows versions: Click on the symbol in the taskbar, which shows the abbreviation of the active input language, and select another language from the list.