No matter which computer user, you definitely need to use an input method. Among the users of input methods, there are a large number of users who use Pinyin input method. The author is both a Pinyin input method user and a Wubi input method user, and has accumulated some small tips during regular use, which I will share with everyone today.
1. Spelling Correction Technique
Because the basic input unit of Pinyin input method is a sentence, when typing a sentence, if you find a typo, don't rush to correct it, but instead correct the entire sentence before confirming it. During the input process, the Pinyin input method will automatically adjust according to the context, modifying the sentence into what it considers the most likely scenario. Often after its adjustment, many errors will be automatically corrected. It's best to start correcting sentences from the beginning.
2. Quick Return to Sentence Start Technique
After typing a sentence, pressing the right arrow key can quickly return to the beginning of the sentence. This is because the cursor movement keys function in a loop.
3. Zero Initials and Syllable Split Symbols
In Chinese Pinyin, there are some zero-initial characters, i.e., characters without initials, such as "奥" (ao4) and "欧" (ou1). When entering these zero-initial characters in a sentence, using a syllable split symbol can double your efficiency. For example, when entering "皮袄", typing the Pinyin with a syllable split symbol "pi ao" (with a space in between), can save a lot of trouble with modifications.
4. Confirmation Techniques
(1) After entering a valid Pinyin, the Pinyin input method does not rush to close the Pinyin window so that the user can further modify the entered Pinyin. At this time, to confirm the previously entered Pinyin, you can press the space bar or the enter key, and the Pinyin code will then be converted into Chinese characters.
(2) At the end of a sentence, to confirm the previously entered Pinyin, you can input a punctuation mark, and the Pinyin window will disappear, converting the last Pinyin code and the punctuation mark simultaneously into components in the character composition window.
(3) If the entire sentence requires no modification, input a punctuation mark at the end of the sentence (including “，”, “。”, “；”, “？”, and “！”). When entering the first Pinyin code of the next sentence, the previous sentence will be automatically confirmed.
5. Tips for Improving Input Efficiency
(1) The longer the input sentence, the slower the sentence conversion speed.
(2) Incomplete input can reduce the number of keystrokes and improve input efficiency; on the other hand, too much incomplete input slows down the sentence conversion speed.
(3) When using the Southern fuzzy sound feature, due to the increased number of candidate words, the selection process increases, making the input efficiency lower.
(4) Users should decide which features to use based on their computer's performance and language habits, and make necessary settings to achieve the highest usage efficiency.
6. Cleverly Use Full Pinyin Input Method to Enter Chinese Radical
The full Pinyin input method only requires users to have basic Pinyin knowledge to input, without the need for learning, hence its popularity. Since I work in educational teaching at a primary school, I often help colleagues print things. During my use of the full Pinyin input method, I discovered a quick way to input radicals: switch to the full Pinyin input method, then directly input "pianpang" (the Pinyin for "radical"), and then some radicals of Chinese characters will appear. If you find that the radical you need is not among them, you can flip through pages forward or backward by pressing the "+" or "-" key, which is very convenient.
1. Let Windows 2000/NT/XP use Wubi
Have you noticed? There is no support for Wubi input method in Windows 2000/NT/XP. General Wubi input methods cannot be installed and used under them. Actually, now Wubi versions that can support Windows 2000/NT/XP include Intelligent Wubi and Universal Wubi, which can be downloaded freely.
However, currently, only the built-in Wubi in Pinyin Input Method 2.0 is free (Microsoft is really generous), while the other two must be registered. Besides, if you want to use Wubi input methods designed for Windows 9x.
Just copy all files of the Wubi input method designed for Windows 9x, including the code table file .MB, the input method file .IME, the phrase file, the help file .HLP, and the installation program .EXE, to the System32 folder of Windows 2000/NT/XP (this is very important, not the System folder), and then execute the installation program from the System32 folder, and you will find that it has been correctly installed in the taskbar.
The reason is simple: Windows 9x, including Windows Me, copies the input method files to the System folder, while Windows 2000 and later versions like Windows NT copy the input method files to the System32 folder to be usable. However, Wubi input methods designed for Windows 9x simply copy them to the System folder.
2. Add Wangma 98 Input Method
Some people may not know that Wangma Wubi input method has released two versions, the first being Wangma 86, and the second being Wangma 98, with more people using Wangma 86. However, Wangma 98 was modified by Professor Wang Yongmin based on the original Wangma 86, making it more scientific and efficient. Therefore, many people still use it (at least one of my friends from Computer Weekly uses Wangma 98).
However, general Wangma input methods on the market, including those bundled with Kingsoft WPS2000 and after installing Windows Me, are Wangma 86. Actually, we just need to insert the Windows Me CD into the drive, find the WIN_19.CAB file, open it with WinZip, find the winwb98.mb file inside, extract it to a temporary folder, and then compile and install it with the Input Method Generator (for how to use the Input Method Generator, refer to the Windows Help Manual).
3. Upgrade Your Wubi Character Shape Input Method
Input speed largely depends on the size of the word library. The number of phrases in the Happy Wubi input method included with Legend Computers is significantly more than in general Wubi character shape input methods. Actually, we just need to copy lxwb.mb from Happy Wubi to the System folder (Windows 9x, Windows ME) or the System32 folder (Windows 2000, NT, XP) to overwrite the general Wubi input method code table file wbx.mb (this operation may need to be done in pure DOS), and restart the computer to use its word library.
4. Reverse Lookup of Chinese Character Wubi Codes
When using Wubi character shape input, sometimes some characters are difficult to separate into strokes, and you can't type them out no matter what, wasting a lot of time. In the end, you have to resort to Pinyin input, and the next time you encounter these characters, you have to try again for a while, ultimately having to rely on Pinyin once more. Friends who have used UCDOS might remember that we could look up the Wubi input code of a certain character by pressing Ctrl+F2. Actually, in Windows, we can fully utilize the full Pinyin input method to help us "break down characters" and look up the Wubi input code of Chinese characters. This way, for characters we don't know how to input, as long as we use the full Pinyin input method to input them, the corresponding Wubi character shape encoding will appear in the encoding box. The next time we encounter this character, we can input it using the Wubi character shape code, avoiding the pain of deliberate memorization.
For example, the character "韶". If you don't know its Wubi encoding, switch to Pinyin input, right-click the full Pinyin input bar with the mouse, select "Properties" in the pop-up menu, check "Full Pinyin Input Method" in the "Keyboard Properties" dialog box, click "Properties", select "Wubi character shape code" in the popped-out "Input Method Settings" box, confirm and exit. After entering "shao" in full Pinyin input mode, find the character "韶", select it with the numeric key, and the green "ujv" will appear in the encoding box (the complete encoding should be "ujvk", using "ujv" can also input, saving more memory). This is the Wubi encoding for the character "韶". Remember it according to the breakdown rules, and you can input this character using the Wubi character shape code in the future. To reverse lookup the encoding of other input methods, of course, you can follow this method.