IMEStatus Function

Returns an Integer indicating the current Input Method Editor (IME) mode of Microsoft Windows.

Syntax

IMEStatus()

Parameters

None

Return Value

Returns an Integer representing the current IME mode:

Remarks

The IMEStatus function provides information about the Input Method Editor:

• Returns the current state of the IME for the active window
• IME is used primarily for Asian language input (Japanese, Chinese, Korean)
• Only meaningful on systems with IME support installed
• Returns vbIMENoOp (0) if no IME is installed or available
• The return value reflects the IME state at the moment the function is called
• Can be used to detect if the user is in native language input mode
• Useful for applications that need to work with multibyte character sets
• The actual modes available depend on the installed IME and Windows version

Typical Uses

1. IME Detection: Check if an IME is installed and active
2. Input Mode Validation: Verify the user is in the correct input mode
3. Localization: Adjust application behavior based on IME state
4. Data Entry: Ensure proper input mode for specific fields
5. User Guidance: Provide instructions based on current IME mode
6. Form Validation: Check input mode before processing data

Basic Usage Examples

' Example 1: Check if IME is available
Sub CheckIME()
If IMEStatus() = vbIMENoOp Then
MsgBox "No IME is installed"
Else
MsgBox "IME is available"
End If
End Sub

' Example 2: Check if IME is active
Sub CheckIMEActive()
If IMEStatus() = vbIMEOn Then
MsgBox "IME is currently on"
Else
MsgBox "IME is currently off"
End If
End Sub

' Example 3: Display current IME mode
Sub DisplayIMEMode()
Dim mode As Integer
mode = IMEStatus()
Debug.Print "Current IME mode: " & mode
End Sub

' Example 4: Detect Japanese input mode
Function IsJapaneseInput() As Boolean
Dim status As Integer
status = IMEStatus()
IsJapaneseInput = (status = vbIMEHiragana Or _
status = vbIMEKatakanHalf Or _
status = vbIMEKatakanaFull)
End Function

Common Patterns

' Pattern 1: Check if IME is enabled
Function IsIMEEnabled() As Boolean
IsIMEEnabled = (IMEStatus() <> vbIMENoOp And IMEStatus() <> vbIMEDisable)
End Function

' Pattern 2: Determine if using double-byte characters
Function IsDoubleByte() As Boolean
Dim status As Integer
status = IMEStatus()

Select Case status
Case vbIMEHiragana, vbIMEKatakanaFull, vbIMEAlphaFull, vbIMEHangulFull
IsDoubleByte = True
Case Else
IsDoubleByte = False
End Select
End Function

' Pattern 3: Get IME mode description
Function GetIMEModeDescription() As String
Select Case IMEStatus()
Case vbIMENoOp
GetIMEModeDescription = "No IME"
Case vbIMEOn
GetIMEModeDescription = "IME On"
Case vbIMEOff
GetIMEModeDescription = "IME Off"
Case vbIMEDisable
GetIMEModeDescription = "IME Disabled"
Case vbIMEHiragana
GetIMEModeDescription = "Hiragana"
Case vbIMEKatakanHalf
GetIMEModeDescription = "Half-width Katakana"
Case vbIMEKatakanaFull
GetIMEModeDescription = "Full-width Katakana"
Case vbIMEAlphaHalf
GetIMEModeDescription = "Half-width Alphanumeric"
Case vbIMEAlphaFull
GetIMEModeDescription = "Full-width Alphanumeric"
Case vbIMEHangulHalf
GetIMEModeDescription = "Half-width Hangul"
Case vbIMEHangulFull
GetIMEModeDescription = "Full-width Hangul"
Case Else
GetIMEModeDescription = "Unknown mode"
End Select
End Function

' Pattern 4: Validate input mode for specific field
Function ValidateInputMode(expectedMode As Integer) As Boolean
ValidateInputMode = (IMEStatus() = expectedMode)
End Function

' Pattern 5: Detect Asian language input
Function IsAsianLanguageInput() As Boolean
Dim status As Integer
status = IMEStatus()

' Check for Japanese or Korean modes
IsAsianLanguageInput = (status >= vbIMEHiragana And status <= vbIMEHangulFull)
End Function

' Pattern 6: Check for alphanumeric mode
Function IsAlphanumericMode() As Boolean
Dim status As Integer
status = IMEStatus()
IsAlphanumericMode = (status = vbIMEAlphaHalf Or status = vbIMEAlphaFull)
End Function

' Pattern 7: Determine input width
Function GetInputWidth() As String
Select Case IMEStatus()
Case vbIMEKatakanHalf, vbIMEAlphaHalf, vbIMEHangulHalf
GetInputWidth = "Half-width"
Case vbIMEHiragana, vbIMEKatakanaFull, vbIMEAlphaFull, vbIMEHangulFull
GetInputWidth = "Full-width"
Case Else
GetInputWidth = "N/A"
End Select
End Function

' Pattern 8: Check if IME is in active input mode
Function IsActiveInputMode() As Boolean
Dim status As Integer
status = IMEStatus()
' Active modes are those actively converting input
IsActiveInputMode = (status >= vbIMEHiragana And status <= vbIMEHangulFull)
End Function

' Pattern 9: Detect Katakana mode
Function IsKatakanaMode() As Boolean
Dim status As Integer
status = IMEStatus()
IsKatakanaMode = (status = vbIMEKatakanHalf Or status = vbIMEKatakanaFull)
End Function

' Pattern 10: Check for Korean input
Function IsKoreanInput() As Boolean
Dim status As Integer
status = IMEStatus()
IsKoreanInput = (status = vbIMEHangulHalf Or status = vbIMEHangulFull)
End Function

Advanced Usage Examples

' Example 1: IME mode monitor
Public Class IMEMonitor
Private m_lastStatus As Integer

Public Sub Initialize()
m_lastStatus = IMEStatus()
End Sub

Public Function HasChanged() As Boolean
Dim currentStatus As Integer
currentStatus = IMEStatus()

If currentStatus <> m_lastStatus Then
m_lastStatus = currentStatus
HasChanged = True
Else
HasChanged = False
End If
End Function

Public Function GetCurrentMode() As String
GetCurrentMode = GetIMEModeDescription()
End Function
End Class

' Example 2: TextBox IME validator
Private Sub txtName_GotFocus()
' For name field, we want half-width alphanumeric or Katakana
If IMEStatus() <> vbIMEAlphaHalf And _
IMEStatus() <> vbIMEKatakanHalf And _
IMEStatus() <> vbIMEOff Then
MsgBox "Please switch to half-width alphanumeric or Katakana mode", _
vbInformation, "Input Mode"
End If
End Sub

' Example 3: Language-aware input handler
Function ProcessInput(userInput As String) As String
Dim imeMode As Integer
imeMode = IMEStatus()

Select Case imeMode
Case vbIMEHiragana, vbIMEKatakanaFull, vbIMEKatakanHalf
' Japanese input - special processing
ProcessInput = ProcessJapaneseText(userInput)

Case vbIMEHangulHalf, vbIMEHangulFull
' Korean input - special processing
ProcessInput = ProcessKoreanText(userInput)

Case Else
' Standard processing
ProcessInput = userInput
End Select
End Function

' Example 4: Form-wide IME status display
Private Sub tmrIMEStatus_Timer()
' Update status bar with current IME mode
Dim status As Integer
status = IMEStatus()

StatusBar1.Panels(1).Text = "IME: " & GetIMEModeDescription()

' Change indicator color based on mode
If status = vbIMENoOp Or status = vbIMEOff Then
StatusBar1.Panels(1).Picture = LoadPicture(App.Path & "\imeoff.ico")
Else
StatusBar1.Panels(1).Picture = LoadPicture(App.Path & "\imeon.ico")
End If
End Sub

' Example 5: Data validation with IME awareness
Function ValidateNameField(fieldValue As String) As Boolean
Dim imeMode As Integer
imeMode = IMEStatus()

' For Japanese systems, allow Katakana or alphanumeric
If imeMode = vbIMEHiragana Then
MsgBox "Please use Katakana or alphanumeric for names", vbExclamation
ValidateNameField = False
Exit Function
End If

' Additional validation
If Len(Trim$(fieldValue)) = 0 Then
ValidateNameField = False
Else
ValidateNameField = True
End If
End Function

' Example 6: IME-aware search
Function PerformSearch(searchTerm As String) As Collection
Dim results As New Collection
Dim searchMode As String

' Determine search strategy based on IME mode
Select Case IMEStatus()
Case vbIMEHiragana, vbIMEKatakanaFull, vbIMEKatakanHalf
searchMode = "Japanese"
' Use Japanese-specific search algorithm
Set results = SearchJapanese(searchTerm)

Case vbIMEHangulHalf, vbIMEHangulFull
searchMode = "Korean"
' Use Korean-specific search algorithm
Set results = SearchKorean(searchTerm)

Case Else
searchMode = "Standard"
' Use standard search
Set results = SearchStandard(searchTerm)
End Select

Set PerformSearch = results
End Function

Error Handling

The IMEStatus function rarely raises errors:

• Returns vbIMENoOp (0) on systems without IME support
• Does not raise errors if IME is not available
• Always returns a valid Integer value
• No error handling typically required

' Safe to call without error handling
Dim status As Integer
status = IMEStatus()

Performance Considerations

• Fast Operation: IMEStatus is a very fast system query
• No Overhead: Minimal performance impact even when called frequently
• Real-time Monitoring: Safe to call in timer events for status updates
• No Caching Needed: The function is efficient enough to call directly

Best Practices

1. System Compatibility: Always check for vbIMENoOp before assuming IME functionality
2. User Guidance: Provide clear instructions when specific IME modes are required
3. Non-intrusive: Don't force IME mode changes; suggest them to the user
4. Status Display: Show current IME mode in status bars for user awareness
5. Localization: Use IMEStatus to adapt UI for different language inputs
6. Testing: Test on both IME-enabled and non-IME systems
7. Documentation: Document IME mode requirements for specific fields

Platform and Version Notes

• Available in all VB6 versions
• Returns meaningful values only on Windows with IME support
• IME modes depend on installed Windows language packs
• Japanese Windows: Hiragana, Katakana modes available
• Korean Windows: Hangul modes available
• Chinese Windows: May have different mode constants
• Western Windows without IME: Typically returns vbIMENoOp

Limitations

• Only detects IME state, cannot change it (use SendKeys or Windows API for that)
• Return values depend on installed IME and language packs
• Some IME modes may not be available on all systems
• Does not detect which specific IME software is being used
• Limited to Windows IME implementation
• Cannot distinguish between different Chinese IME modes
• Return value reflects system state at call time (may change immediately after)

Related Functions and Properties

• IMEMode property: Sets/gets the IME mode for controls
• SendKeys: Can be used to change IME mode via keyboard shortcuts
• Windows API functions for IME control (ImmGetContext, etc.)

IME Mode Constants Reference

Public Const vbIMENoOp = 0         ' No IME
Public Const vbIMEOn = 1           ' IME On
Public Const vbIMEOff = 2          ' IME Off
Public Const vbIMEDisable = 3      ' IME Disabled
Public Const vbIMEHiragana = 4     ' Hiragana
Public Const vbIMEKatakanHalf = 5  ' Half Katakana
Public Const vbIMEKatakanaFull = 6 ' Full Katakana
Public Const vbIMEAlphaHalf = 7    ' Half Alphanumeric
Public Const vbIMEAlphaFull = 8    ' Full Alphanumeric
Public Const vbIMEHangulHalf = 9   ' Half Hangul
Public Const vbIMEHangulFull = 10  ' Full Hangul