Input methods in Mac OS fall into several categories:
Option-Key modifiers (typically for those using a roman key layout)
Keyboards layouts
Input Methods (keystrokes to achieve a specific character)
Input palettes.
The Option Key (⌥)
For Roman scripts (the focus of this article), the option key is used the most to get character variations. The most common use is for accented characters, such as an umlaut. The procedure is simple:
Press option and a modifier key (⌥ + ` (backtick), e, i, n, o or u).
then press key of the character to be accented (A, a, E, e, I, i, N, n, O, o, U, u, Y or y).
Table of ⌥ modifications
Table of ⌥ combinations
⌥`
⌥e
⌥i
⌥n
⌥u
\s
`
´
ˆ
˜
¨
A
À
Á
Â
Ã
Ä
a
à
á
â
ã
ä
E
È
É
Ê
Ë
e
è
é
ê
ë
I
Ì
Í
Î
Ï
i
ì
í
î
ï
N
Ñ
n
ñ
O
Ò
Ó
Ô
Õ
Ö
o
ò
ó
ô
õ
ö
U
Ù
Ú
Û
Ü
u
ù
ú
û
ü
Y
Ÿ
y
ÿ
Other characters
A variety of other characters are available via the option key:
Inputmethods are software components that interpret user operations such as typing keys, speaking, or writing using a pen device to generate text input for applications.
Inputmethods written in the Java programming language and using the inputmethod engine SPI can be installed into any Java application environment and support any text component running in that Java application environment.
Which inputmethod is used to enter text for a given language is the user's choice, and text components should be written to work with any inputmethod.
Inputmethods are normally used to input text for languages which have more characters than can fit on a standard keyboard.
Since the inputmethod needs to draw text in an area of the applications window, the application needs to register a Geometry negotiation callback with the system so that the inputmethod can request a larger area if necessary, or can be informed of changes to the application window's geometry.
PreeditDraw is called when the inputmethod wants the application to display the preedit region or changing some of the highlighting or the various inputmethod clauses.
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