IME restores support for the Japanese Input Method Editor (IME) in Final Fantasy XI, allowing you to type text in Japanese.

In order to use it, Japanese language support must be installed, and Japanese must be selected as the default language for non-Unicode programs in Windows.

Note: You may be able to use AppLocale-style programs such as Locale Emulator instead of setting the default non-Unicode language, but this is currently untested.

Basic Usage

  1. Configure the Japanese IME for Windows 7 or Windows 10.
  2. Log into Final Fantasy XI and load the IME plugin.
  3. Use the Windows language bar to change your language.
  4. In the chat log, use the keyboard shortcut to change your input mode.

Known Issues

There are several known issues when using the IME plugin for Windower 4:

  • Keyboard shortcuts to switch to Japanese do not seem to work.

    For example, if you have keyboard layouts for German, English and Japanese installed, the typical Alt+Shift key combination to cycle languages will only switch between German and English. If you assign specific shortcuts, say Ctrl+Shift+1 for German, Ctrl+Shift+2 for English and Ctrl+Shift+3 for Japanese, only the first two will work.

    Workaround: Switch the language manually from the Windows language bar.

  • Keyboard shortcut to switch input modes does not work.

    Even after manually selecting Japanese from the Windows language bar, you cannot change the input mode.

    Workaround: Reconfigure the input mode keyboard shortcut.

  • The input mode can get stuck in Japanese.

    Occasionally, the input mode can get stuck and you won’t be able to type in any keyboard layout other than Japanese.

    Because the Japanese Romaji-Input mode is similar to the English layout, you may want to stick with the Japanese layout and keep it in Romaji mode most of the time. You’ll get used to it, and if you didn’t want to use Japanese input anyways, why do you have the IME plugin loaded? It doesn’t have to be on auto-load.

Configuration (Windows 10)

Note: The configuration steps for Windows 10 are performed in the Region and Language settings:

Windows Settings > Time & Language > Region and Language

Install the Japanese IME Keyboard

  1. In Region and Language settings, click Add a language and search for Japanese.

  2. Select the language, click Next, and proceed to install.

Set the non-Unicode program input language

  1. In Region and Language settings, click Additional date, time, & regional settings under Related settings.

  2. Click Region.

  3. Open the Administrative tab, and click Change system locale….

  4. Select Japanese (Japan), and click OK.

Note: You will need to reboot your computer for the locale change to take effect.

Reconfigure the Input Mode Keyboard Shortcut

  1. In Region and Language settings, select the Japanese keyboard, and click Options.

  2. Select Microsoft IME, and click Options.

  3. Under Advanced Settings, click Open advanced settings.

  4. In the Editing operation and behavior section, click Advanced.

  5. Locate the IME ON/OFF function in the table.

    Note: This function is generally assigned to a key that physically exists only on Japanese keyboards.

  6. Double-click the currently assigned key in the first column.

  7. Specify a new combination such as Ctrl+F2, and click OK.

  8. Verify the key combination in the table, and click OK.

Configuration (Windows 7)

Install the Japanese IME Keyboard

Set the non-Unicode program input language

Reconfigure the Input Mode Keyboard Shortcut