Using SYM Key IME

The SYM key is a hotkey that is used to invoke the Symbol IME (Input Method Editor). Use the Symbol IME to enter accented character and other special symbols.

This option is disabled by default. To enable it, open the Built-In Keyboard settings utility and select the Sym Key option. See Configuring built-in keypad settings.

If the SYM Key IME is not enabled when you press the SYM key (Fn+ Space bar), a warning message displays. Tap the message to open the Built-In Keyboard settings utility.

Selected Input Method Indicator

The Windows 10 operating system shows which input method is selected in one of several ways depending on whether the language bar is enabled, and the state of the language bar.

  • If the language bar is disabled (the default) the selected input method is indicated on the taskbar:

  • If the language bar is enabled and maximized, the selected input method is indicated on the language bar at the top of the screen:

  • If the language bar is enabled and minimized, the selected input method is indicated on the minimized language bar in the taskbar:

Selecting the SYM Key IME

The SYM Key IME can be selected as the active input method by one of the following methods:

  • Repeatedly pressing the Windows+Space bar hotkey combination until the SYM Key IME is selected.

  • If the language bar is disabled, clicking on the input method icon on the taskbar and selecting the SYM Key IME from the popup menu:

  • If the language bar is enabled and maximized, clicking on the input method selector and selecting the SYM Key IME from the dropdown menu:

  • If the language bar is enabled and minimized to the taskbar, clicking on the input method selector and selecting the SYM Key IME from the popup menu:

Using the SYM Key IME

When you type, the SYM Key IME highlights characters that have accented versions or alternate symbols (that is, different currency or punctuation symbols). The SYM Key IME works in one of two modes:

  • Inline Mode. In Inline mode, characters that have alternates are highlighted as you type. When a character is highlighted, press the SYM key (Fn+ Space bar) to change the character to the next available character in the list of possible characters. Repeatedly press the SYM key until the desired character is shown, and then continue typing normally. To accept a highlighted character, press Enter.

    For example, to type fenêtre:

    1. Type fene ; the first e and the n are highlighted and then the second e is highlighted.

    2. Press Fn+Space bar (SYM) three times to select the ê character.

    3. Type tre.

    4. Press Enter to accept the final e.

  • Popup Mode. In Popup mode, characters that have alternates are highlighted as you type and a popup window of the list of alternate characters is shown. When a character is highlighted, press the SYM key (Fn+ Space bar) to change the character to the next available character in the list of possible characters. To select the character you want to use from the popup window, do one of the following:

    • Repeatedly press the SYM key until the desired character is highlighted in the popup window.

    • Use the cursor keys to select a character from the popup window.

    • Press the number key associated with the desired character in the popup window.

    • Tap the desired character in the popup window.

    When the popup window is open, you can select the currently highlighted character and close the popup window in the following ways:

    • Press Enter.

    • Continue to type characters other than the cursor movement keys.

    You can also press the Escape key (ESC) to close the popup window; this deletes the character being input.

    For example, to type fenêtre:

    1. Type fene; ignore the popups that appear for the first e and the n. The second e is highlighted, with a popup window.

    2. Press Fn+Space bar (SYM) three times to highlight the ê character.

    3. Type t ; the ê character is accepted.

    4. Then type re. A popup remains open.

    5. Press Enter to close the final popup.

Switching Modes

There are two ways to switch between inline and popup modes.

  • Press the Ctrl+Space bar key combination.

  • Tap the mode button on the language bar.

    • If the language bar is maximized this is at the top of the screen.

    • If the language bar is minimized, this is at the bottom of the screen

Application Support for SYM IME

SYM IME only works with applications which support Text Services Framework (TFS).

For information about adding TFS support to your application, go to:
https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/ms629032(v=vs.85).aspx

SYM IME issues and limitations

The following are known issues and limitation with version 1.0.3 of SYM IME:

  • Edit Controls.

    • If a composition is active, a character is highlighted by SYM IME for editing, and you mouse-click or tap somewhere else in the text of the edit control, the composition highlighted character is moved to the location of the mouse-click / tap. This is usually not what you intended. To avoid this, press Enter to close the composition before you click or tap at the new location.

  • ComboBox Controls.

    • If a composition is active when leaving a ComboBox control then the highlighted character is moved to the beginning of the string. For example, if you type abc into a ComboBox control and then click on another control, the typed string changes to cab if the c was still highlighted. To avoid this, press Enter to end the composition before you click on another control.

    • The ComboBox drop listbox can interfere with the SYM IME popup window. Sometimes the list box will be on top and sometimes the popup window will be on top.