+TITLE: fcitx-remote-for-windows

This is a fake =fcitx-remote= for Windows so that it can be used by [[https://github.com/cute-jumper/fcitx.el][fcitx.el]]. Inspired by [[https://github.com/CodeFalling/fcitx-remote-for-osx/][fcitx-remote-for-osx]].

For Vim users: This program might also be able to be used by =fcitx.vim=. I haven't tested it and I probably won't since I don't use Vim myself. If you're interested, help me out by submitting PRs or reporting issues.

• Build Instructions ** Build by Yourself You can change the key combination to toggle the input method if you build the program by yourself.

  In current code, =ALT+SHIFT= is set as the default key combination to toggle the input method.

  This project is built from Visual Studio 2013. Import the project into Visual Studio and build the executable file.

** Use pre-built releases You can download the pre-built releases in the GitHub project homepage. Two versions available:

• Use =ALT+SHIFT= as the toggle key: [[https://github.com/cute-jumper/fcitx-remote-for-windows/releases/download/alt-shift/fcitx-remote.exe][download link]]

• Use =WIN+SPACE= as the toggle key: [[https://github.com/cute-jumper/fcitx-remote-for-windows/releases/download/win-space/fcitx-remote.exe][download link]]

  Choose the one that fits you.

• Windows Setup This program toggles the input method by simulating =ALT+SHIFT= or =WIN+SPACE= keys, which means you need to make sure you can use =ALT+SHIFT= or =WIN+SPACE= to switch between English and Chinese input method.

• Emacs Setup If you're using =WIN+SPACE= to toggle the input method, add the following settings to your =init.el= so that =WIN+SPACE= can be handled by the Windows instead of Emacs:

  +BEGIN_SRC elisp

  (setq w32-pass-lwindow-to-system nil) (setq w32-lwindow-modifier 'super)

  +END_SRC

  Also, make sure =fcitx-remote= is in your =PATH= and =exec-path=. If not, use the following code in your =init.el=:

  +BEGIN_SRC elisp

  (let ((fcitx-path "C:/path/to/fcitx-remote")) (setenv "PATH" (concat fcitx-path ";" (getenv "PATH"))) (add-to-list 'exec-path fcitx-path))

  +END_SRC

• Problems Currently this program works great, but still has some minor problems:

  1. =SendInput= can't guarantee the keyboard input sequence it has sent to be processed before it returns. In some sense, it is not fully /synchronized/ (please correct me if I'm wrong). Therefore, sometimes if you're typing really fast, the input method may not be closed before your next input. I noticed this when I tested the =prefix-keys= feature of =fcitx.el=.
  2. =ALT+SHIFT= or =WIN+SPACE= is not configurable right now.

• TODO TODO

  • Better implementation instead of using =SendInput=.
  • Make the toggle key (=ALT+SHIFT= or =WIN+SPACE=) configurable.
  • Support more command line options. Currently only =-c= and =-o= are supported. =fcitx-remote= will print the status in all the other cases. The current approach is already enough to make =fcitx.el= work properly.
  • Check Vim plugin compatibility: help needed, since I don't use Vim myself.