19481 - Mozilla does not support Global IME

Status: VERIFIED DUPLICATE of bug 22311

(Core :: Internationalization, defect, P3)

Description

[vorlon]

Overview Description:
Microsoft's "Japanese Input Method Editor" option for Windows (see
http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com) provides a Japanese IME for "any language
version of Windows".  It does not function with recent builds of Mozilla (and
presumably old ones).


Steps to Reproduce:
1) Run Mozilla
2) Find a text entry area (for navigator, I used the search field on
http://www.altavista.com).  The behavior is not specific to this URL.
3) Left-click system tray IME icon in a futile attempt to switch languages to
Japanese


Actual Results:
Only English is selectable, rendering the IME useless.


Expected Results:
Both English and Japanese should be selectable; the latter opens the IME
interface for switching between the kana/kanji and various width forms.


Build Date & Platform Bug Found:
Mozilla Seamonkey, M11 build
Microsoft Windows 98 (4.10.98), English Language version
Microsoft Global Japanese IME 5.0


Additional Builds and Platforms Tested On:
  Also occurs in...
    Nightly build downloaded 11-21-99

  Does not occur in...
    Internet Exploder 5.0 (5.00.2314.1003IC)
    Outlook Express (5.00.2314.1300)


Additional Information:
The IME help file has this to say for itself...

"Note: Global Japanese IME 5.0 is currently supported in html text input areas
of Internet Explorer 4.0 or greater, Outlook Express and Outlook (version 98 or
greater). The Microsoft Global IME will not be enabled nor its icon visible in
the multilanguage taskbar menu when the cursor is placed in non-supporting
areas or applications."

Presumably this means that Mozilla must make a conscious effort to get this IME
to function.

I am well aware of this phenomenon; Borland's Delphi language supports programs
that use an IME, and gives a drop-down box of installed IME's.  This IME will
not show up in said list.

There are other IMEs available on Microsoft's site (Chinese, etc.), but I did
not test them.


Speculation:
Perhaps on English language versions of Windows (as opposed to Japanese
versions), there is an unusual API for IMEs?

Perhaps Microsoft is conspiring to prevent people from entering Japanese text
in competing products?  :-)

Comment 1

[Frank Tang]

I belive you didn't read the user agreement carefully when you download that
one.... Read that part again....
I don't understand what does this [4.xP] mean.
Change the Summary from "[4.xP] Microsoft Japanese IME fails to enable Japanese
Input" to "Mozilla does not support Global IME"
Mark it as M18

bob and momoi- we got first Global IME bug....

Comment 2

[Makoto Kato [:m_kato] (fever, slow response)]

Frank, this should be as duplicate of #22311?

Comment 3

[Makoto Kato [:m_kato] (fever, slow response)]

*** This bug has been marked as a duplicate of 22311 ***

Comment 4

[Teruko Kobayashi]

Verified as dup.