IME (Input Method Editor) Usage in Windows 95

IMEs (Input Method Editors) are dynamic-link libraries that allow users to type complex ideographic characters using a standard keyboard. IMEs are available in Asian versions of the Microsoft Windows operating system, and help minimize the effort needed by users to enter text containing characters from Unicode and double-byte character sets (DBCS). IMEs relieve users of the need to remember all possible character values. Instead, IMEs monitor the user's keystrokes, anticipate the character the user may want, and present a list of candidate characters from which to choose.

Asian versions of Windows 3.1 and Windows NT each have a separate IME application programming interface (API). However, these APIs have been merged into a single API for Windows 95.

Applications for Far East versions of Windows 95 can choose from three levels of IME support:

1. IME-unaware: Merely retrieves double-byte characters through two WM_CHAR messages.
2. IME-aware: Takes control of the IME module's default user interface and properly handles Kanji strings passed to it by the IME.
3. Fully IME-aware: Controls the entire process of composing characters, including the display of intermediate keystrokes, and can customize the IME user interface.

IME, by default, provides an IME window through which users enter keystrokes and view and select candidate characters. Applications developed for the WIN32 APIs can use the Input Method Manager(IMM) functions and messages to create and manage their own IME windows, providing a custom interface while using the conversion capabilities of the IME.