Skip to content

Configure Reflection X to Use Your Local IME

If you already use an IME (Input Method Editor) that is available on your workstation, you may want to enable Native IME Support.

note

An input method editor is an application that allows you to enter characters and symbols that are not available on your keyboard.

This feature lets you use your workstation's IME to compose text. The XIM server provided by Reflection X obtains the composed text from your IME and passes it to XIM-aware clients. This means that you can work with varied X clients without having to learn new input techniques.

The Reflection XIM server supports:

  • On-the-spot and over-the-spot editing

  • All Unicode characters, including Japanese, Chinese, and Korean characters

Before you begin, review the following requirements:

  • You must have a native IME (such as Windows IME) installed on your workstation.

  • The X client must use the XIM protocol.

  • The client locale (usually specified by the LANG environment variable) must be one of the following: ja_JP.UTF-8, ja_JP.EUC-JP, ja_JP, C, en_US.UTF-8, ko_KR.UTF-8, ko_KR. (Additional locales can be specified using the Reflection X command-line parameter, "rxaim.locales".)

To configure Reflection X to use your local IME

  1. Under Session Definitions, select an existing session or create a new one.

  2. In the Session Definition pane, click the Keyboard tab.

  3. Select Launch XIM Server.

  4. Select Force X clients to use Reflection's XIM server.

  5. Under X Clients, select a client definition:

    1. For Session, select the name of the session you just modified to launch the XIM server.

    2. Add the following environment variables to the X client command:

      XMODIFIERS=@im=RXAIM - This configures the XMODIFIERS environment variable to identify the Reflection X XIM server.

      GTK_IM_MODULE=xim - This configures clients based on GTK (formerly GIMP Toolkit) to use X Input Method (XIM)

      QT_IM_MODULE=xim - This configures clients based on Qt (Gimp Toolkit) to use X Input Method (XIM)

      For example:

      XMODIFIERS=@im=RXAIM QT_IM_MODULE=xim /usr/bin/kwrite --display=%IP#%

      XMODIFIERS=@im=RXAIM GTK_IM_MODULE=xim /usr/bin/gedit --display=%IP#%

    note

    It is safe to set both GTK_IM_MODULE and QT_IM_MODULE in the environment and is useful when multiple X clients based on different toolkits may subsequently be launched as in the case of a terminal X client.

    With older systems, you may not need to set the XMODIFIERS variable. If your client is already configured to use a different XIM server, selecting Force X clients to use Reflection's XIM server automatically redirects the client to the Reflection X XIM server. In some cases, additional modifications may be required. For more information see IME Troubleshooting.

  6. Start your client.

    You can now start your local input editor and enter text as you usually do. Depending on your X client, you may see on-the-spot or over-the-spot editing.

note

If you complete this procedure and you are still unable to use your local IME to enter text into the X client, review the information in IME Troubleshooting.

More information

Back to top