SofType 4.5 has been designed specifically for use with international languages in addition to American English. It uses the "Input Locals" capability within Windows for specific characters and their keyboard locations in each language. SofType 4.5 and Windows work together to automatically make these keyboard changes once the input locals have been properly configured. If SofType 4.5 is only used with one language, configuration is not required. If multiple languages are used on one machine, then SofType 4.5 will change the keyboard layout as applications associated with different languages are used. When focus is transferred between applications the keyboard will change to the language associated with that application. These changes are handled automatically by Windows and SofType 4.5.
Windows installations that generally use the Roman character set are compatible with SofType 4.5. For more information regarding the use of multiple languages please refer to "Input Locals" within the Windows Help system. Please reference the screen-shots below depicting layouts for languages other than American English.
Below are additional differences between SofType 4.2 and SofType 4.5. With SofType 4.5:
- Users can log on to a Windows system at boot time. (This is different than having the keyboard launch from the Start up directory after Windows starts.)
- Users can enter a Windows Screen Saver password
- The appearance of the Hide/Show button on the Dragger Toolbar now indicates Draggers state
- There are additonal display capabilities, such as rounded keys
It is important to note that SofType 4.5 and SofType 4.2 do not use the same keyboard layout file format. Therefore, layout files created for SofType 4.2 must be modified before they can be used with SofType 4.5.
German keyboard
Norwegian keyboard
These two examples are indicative of the keyboard layouts available using SofType 4.5 with Windows Input Locals feature. Although not shown in the two examples above, the word lists can be setup for one language or for each language used on one machine.
Order SofType 4.5
Downloads:
A demonstration version of SofType is available for evaluation
from our demonstration page. The SofType Manual is also available for download. Try it out today!
Requirements:
- IBM PC Compatible Computer capable of running Windows 2000 or Windows XP
- Requires at least the Microsoft minimum required RAM per operating system
- CD-ROM disc drive for installation
- Input device such as a HeadMouse Extreme, mouse, trackball, or any Windows compatible pointing device
- 2 megabytes free hard drive space
Origin Instruments also an on-screen keyboard for Mac OS called, KeyStrokes.
