====== HOWTO Configure SCIM to enable Chinese input ======

This howto details the steps required to enable Chinese input (Japanese, Arabic, and other languages) on a English (or other language) interface in #!CrunchBang Linux. 

For details on installing applications and the terminal, see [[explanation_of_linux|here]].

===== Install Chinese fonts =====

In the terminal enter:
<code>
sudo apt-get install ttf-arphic-gbsn00lp ttf-arphic-gkai00mp ttf-arphic-bsmi00lp ttf-arphic-bkai00mp xfonts-wqy
</code>
To install the relevant fonts. 

===== Install input method packages =====

In the terminal enter:
<code>
sudo apt-get install scim scim-pinyin scim-qtimm
</code>
To install Scim and scim-pinyin.

===== Create a custom SCIM startup =====

In the terminal enter:
<code>
sudo touch /etc/X11/Xsession.d/74custom-scim_startup
</code>
To create a file, then to modify the permissions for it:
<code>
sudo chmod 646 /etc/X11/Xsession.d/74custom-scim_startup
</code>

Then:
<code>
sudo echo 'export XMODIFIERS="@im=SCIM"' >> /etc/X11/Xsession.d/74custom-scim_startup
</code>
<code>
sudo echo 'export GTK_IM_MODULE="xim"' >> /etc/X11/Xsession.d/74custom-scim_startup
</code>
<code>
sudo chmod 644 /etc/X11/Xsession.d/74custom-scim_startup
</code>

===== Edit /etc/profile =====

In the terminal enter:
<code>
sudo nano /etc/scim/global
</code>

and check the line:
<code>
SupportedUnicodeLocales 
</code>

if:
<code>
SupportedUnicodeLocales = en_US.UTF-8 
</code>

then in the terminal enter:
<code>
sudo echo 'export LANG="en_US.UTF-8"' >> /etc/profile
</code>


===== To start SCIM at login =====

In the terminal enter:
<code>
echo 'scim -d' >> ~/.config/openbox/autostart.sh
</code>
or see this [[howto/autostart_programs|page]] on autostarting applications.


===== To enable switch between English and Chinese input mode =====
In the terminal enter:
<code>
locale | grep LANG=
</code>

The answer would be something like
<code>
LANG=en_US.UTF-8
</code>

Type in the terminal: 
<code>
im-switch -z YOUR_LOCALE -s scim # replace "YOUR_LOCALE" by something like "en_US.UTF-8"
</code>

===== To enable modifications =====

Log off or reboot the computer for the modifications to take hold. Log back into the newly-configured user account. Note the keyboard icon that appears in the system tray.

Right-click on it to access the SCIM Setup menu and configured as preferred.

Open up Firefox. Hit Control+Space to toggle scim on/off.


===== Notes =====

Evidence of this howto is working :  谢谢 

===== Links =====

  * [[http://www.scim-im.org/|Scim homepage]]
  * [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_Common_Input_Method|Wikipedia article on Scim]]
  * [[https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SCIM/Chinese|SCIMChinese]]