Language Resources
An easy way to enter complex Chinese characters is by using an Input Method Editor (IME). For Windows versions before XP, read about and download Microsoft's Global IME with Language Pack. This IME will work with Word 2000, Internet Explorer, and Outlook Express.
Windows XP comes with IMEs. Follow these steps to use the XP IME for Chinese. You may need your Windows CD:
- Click Start > Settings > Control Panel.
- Open Date, Time, Language, and Regional Options (category view), or Regional and Language Options (classic view).
- Click "Add other languages" (category view).
- Under the Languages tab, check "Install files for East Asian languages".
- Click OK on the dialogue box that appears.
- Click the Apply button. Windows will begin the install. At this point, you may be prompted for your XP CD.
- After the install is done, click the Details button near the top of the Languages page.
- Click the Add button. Under "Input language", chose "Chinese (PRC)". "Keyboard layout/IME" should show "Chinese (Simplified) - Microsoft Pinyin". Click OK to close out the Control Panel dialogue boxes.
- To use the IME, open an application that supports Chinese, then click the Language icon on the taskbar (which should currently show EN), and click "CH Chinese (PRC)". Type the phonetic pronounciation of the characters you want and hit Enter.