CJR said:
Hi there, I type with Dvorak for the right hand in English. The keyboard
layout comes with Windows 2000. Its very convenient. Howevever all of the
available Chinese input methods use Qwerty as there standard keyboard layout.
How do I change the Chinese (or the Japanese for the matter) layouts to
recognise Dvorak for the right hand layout. At present I have to type really
slow in Chinese and Japanese cause the I have to do it in Qwerty!
Any help, pointers, advice or recomendations would be gratefuly
received.
Colin,
Short answers:
(a) install the Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator from Microsoft.
http://www.microsoft.com/globaldev/tools/msklc.mspx
(b) install key-mapping software. I use KeyTweak (search for it)
but only changed a couple of keys and don't know much about other
options.
(c) try asking your question here:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/altkeyboards/
Background:
I work as a translator, typing in English and Spanish. Several
times over the years I have been interested in Dvorak and other
keyboard layouts.
I once tried Dvorak, but then I spent a long time working in offices
using other people's computers. I decided that Dvorak was not
feasible for the time being. Mainly, I couldn't take the time and
lost productivity to switch. Another problem was the lack of
Spanish characters [áñü, etc.] on the standard Dvorak layout.
The third-best solution for me was the US-International keyboard
layout. it gives me the extra characters I need for Spanish. It's
not Dvorak, and has another little inconvenience that I put up with
for years.
Finally, earlier this year I did something about it. I used the the
Keyboard Layout Creator to change two or three keys on the
US-International layout, to make a new arrangement. That's what I
use now.
The ideal solution might be, a US-International-Dvorak layout. I
have created one, but it has some bugs and I'm still concerned about
the training period. Anyway, now I have the option, if I take the
time to develop it.
Note: The Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator also requires the ".NET
framework", which in my opinion is like installing a new
transmission on my car when all I wanted was to change the wiper
blades. Still, it works like it's supposed to, with some trial and
error.
P.S. The Help for the Keyboard Layout Creator includes a remark
that changing keyboard arrangements is more trouble than it seems.
That's true, but it is a interesting challenge anyway.
Hope that helps.
Steven
