Chapter 8. Input from Keyboard

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8.2 X Softwares

X11R5 is the first internationalized version of X Window System. However, X11R5 supplied two

sample implements of international text input. They are Xsi and Ximp. Existence of two different

protocols was an annoying situation. However, X11R6 determined XIM, a new protocol for inter 

nationalized text input, as the standard. Internationalized X softwares should support text input

using XIM.

They are designed using server client model. The client calls the server when necessary. The server

supplies conversion from key stroke to internationalized text.

Kinput and kinput2 are protocols for Japanese text input, which existed before X11R5. Some

softwares such as

kterm

and so on supports kinput2 protocol.

kinput2

is the server software.

Since the current version of

kinput2

supports XIM protocol, you don't need to support kinput

protocol.

8.2.1 Developing XIM clients

***** Not written yet *****

Development of XIM client is a bit complicated. You can read source code for

rxvt

and

xedit

to

study.

Programming for Japanse characters input (

http://www.ainet.or.jp/~inoue/im/index e.

html

) is a good introduction to XIM programming.

8.2.2 Examples of XIM softwares

The following are examples of softwares which can work as XIM clients.

  X Terminal Emulators such as

krxvt

,

kterm

, and so on.

  Text editors such as

xedit

,

gedit

, and so on.

  Web rowser

mozilla

.

The following are examples of softwares which can work as XIM servers.

kinput

and

skkinput

for Japanese.