Copyright: Monday, August 12, 2002 12:25:58


Specifies the default language that you use to insert text. The default language is used every time you start or log on to your computer.

For example, if you insert text in German most of the time, but have also added English as an input language, select German as your default language. When you want to insert text in English, you can switch to that language.

A language must be added under Installed services to be available as a default.


Displays the languages and text services that are installed and loaded into memory when you start your computer. Text services include keyboard layouts, Input Method Editors (IMEs), and handwriting and speech recognition options. IMEs are programs that are used for entering East Asian language characters using a keyboard.

Click Add to install additional languages and text services. To delete an option, select it and click Remove. You must have at least one text service.


Click to install additional languages and text services. When you start or log on to your computer, all the languages and text services that you have added are loaded into memory.


Click to delete the selected language or text service from the list. The deleted option will no longer be loaded into memory when you start or log on to your computer.


Click to display the properties of the selected text service.


Click to change the look and behavior of the Language bar. You can display or close the Language bar, display text labels for each button, and set other options.

This button is not available unless at least one of the following is installed and added as a text service: speech recognition, handwriting recognition, or an Input Method Editor (IME). IMEs are programs that are used for entering East Asian language characters using a keyboard.


Click to define the key combinations you use to switch between multiple input languages or between multiple keyboard layouts. You can also determine which key you use to turn CAPS LOCK off.


Lists the input languages that can be loaded into memory when you start or log on to your computer. To be able to insert text in a particular language, click the language.

You must select at least one text service, such as a keyboard layout, for each language.


Lists the keyboard layouts and Input Method Editors (IMEs) that are available for the selected language.

Select the check box to enable this option. Clear the check box if you don’t want to add a keyboard layout or IME for the selected language. You cannot add a new language without selecting at least one text service.

An IME is a program that is used to enter East Asian language characters using a keyboard.


Lists the handwriting recognition programs that are available for the selected language. Handwriting recognition enables you to insert text using a handwriting device, such as a digital pen and tablet or your mouse.

Select the check box, and then select a handwriting recognition program to make that program available.

If this option is not available, there are no handwriting recognition programs installed for the selected language, or they have been already added.


Lists the speech recognition programs that are available for the selected language. Speech recognition enables you to insert text by speaking into a microphone connected to your computer.

Select the check box and then select a speech recognition program to make that program available.

If this option is not available, there are no speech recognition programs installed for the selected language, or they have been already added.


Specifies whether the Language bar is displayed on your desktop. Clear the check box if you are not using the Language bar. Select the check box to display the Language bar.

Turning off the Language bar does not turn off text services that are loaded into memory. If there are text services that you are not using, you should remove them from the list of Installed Services. Text services require computer memory and can affect performance.


Specifies that when the Language bar is inactive, it will be visible, but nearly transparent. The Language bar returns to normal when you move your mouse pointer over it.


Specifies that an icon for each type of text service appears on the taskbar when you minimize the Language bar. For example, if you have added handwriting recognition as a text service, a handwriting icon will appear on the taskbar when you minimize the Language bar. You can click the icon to display a menu of options.


Specifies whether the buttons on the Language bar are labeled. Text labels provide easier identification for the buttons but require more space on your desktop.


Specifies whether advanced text services, including handwriting recognition, speech recognition, East Asian keyboard input services, and accessibility options, are turned on or off. Select the check box to turn off the advanced text services. Clear the check box to turn them back on.

Use this option to turn off text services temporarily when you are not using them. Text services require computer resources and can affect performance. Be sure only those languages and text services you use are listed under Installed services. Remove any services you don't use.


Specifies how you turn off CAPS LOCK. To turn off CAPS LOCK by pressing the CAPS LOCK key, select Press the CAPS LOCK key. To turn off CAPS LOCK by pressing the SHIFT key, select Press the SHIFT key. The method you select will apply to all input languages you add or use.


Lists the key combinations that are used to switch between input languages and between keyboard layouts.

If you have selected multiple languages or multiple keyboard layouts, click Change Key Sequence if you want to use a key combination other than the default. You can also customize a key combination to switch to a particular language.


Click to specify the keys used to switch between installed input languages or keyboard layouts. You can also customize the key sequence for each input language by selecting the language and then clicking this button.


Specifies the key combinations used to switch between input languages and between keyboard layouts. Select the check box to turn on an option, and then click the key combination you want to use for that option.


Allows you to specify a customized key combination for switching to the language selected in the Hot keys for input languages list.


Select this check box to assign a function key, a special-purpose key (such as the Esc key), or a symbol key (such as the + key) to switch to Dictation mode or Voice Command mode when you are using speech recognition to enter text. The default keys are F11 to switch into Dictation mode and F12 to switch into Voice Command mode. To change the default key settings, click Settings.


Click to define the keys you use to switch between voice input modes (Dictation mode and Voice Command mode).


Select this check box to display the current command mode, various speech status messages, and any text that the speech engine recognizes, in the Language bar.


Select this check box to add new words that are recognized during dictation into the temporary speech dictionary. This addition can add context information that can make it possible for the speech engine to more easily recognize new or special words such as a first name or last name. This can be valuable, for example, when you are dictating an e-mail reply (using Microsoft Word as your e-mail editor).


Select this check box to require speech engine to have high confidence in its recognition of the word in question before including it in text. The word dictated will otherwise be discarded. This can prevent some random noises (such as a cough) from being recognized and injected into the document.


Select this check box to save the speech information from your dictation with the document when it is saved. This is possible only with some programs that support a richer set of speech recognition features such as Microsoft Word. Saving the speech information to the document will make the file much larger, but when the document contains speech information, the next time you open the document you can continue to correct any or all of your previous dictation.


Select this check box to automatically adjust the amount of white space at the end of a phrase or sentence after you add punctuation. For example, if the speech engine automatically inserted a space after each word, it will remove the space after the last word when you then follow the word with a period.


Select this check box to force the program to ignore any dictation that is received while the program is receiving keyboard input.


Select this check box to play back the saved audio of your dictation of the word or phrase that you are correcting while the correction is being made.


Select this check box to allow you to dictate a new word or phrase that is not on the alternate list (the pop-up list of suggested corrections) while you are correcting a word or phrase. The program will then use that dictated word or phrase as the correction.


Click to define which types of voice commands you want Windows to make available for you to use when you are using speech recognition. These commands are available during dictation only if the Enable commands in dictation mode check box is selected.


Click to open the Speech Control Panel to configure speech engines, speech profiles, and microphone settings.


Click to open the Text Services and Input Languages dialog box of the Regional and Language Options Control Panel, to configure input languages, install or remove text services (such as handwriting recognition or keyboards), and to set Language bar preferences.


Select this check box to make selection and correction voice commands available when you are using speech recognition. For example, you could say "Correct word" immediately after dictating a phrase. For more detailed information on speech recognition commands, click the Help button on the Language bar.


Select this check box to make navigation voice commands available when you are using speech recognition. Navigation commands are commands such as "Go to top," "Go to bottom," or "Insert before word." For more detailed information on speech recognition commands, click the Help button on the Language bar.


Select this check box to make voice commands available that control the text case. Text case commands are commands such as "All Caps," "Capitalize," or "No caps." For more detailed information on speech recognition commands, click the Help button on the Language bar.


Select this check box to make editing voice commands available when you are using speech recognition. Editing commands are commands such as "Copy," "Paste," or "Cut." For more detailed information on speech recognition commands, click the Help button on the Language bar.


Select this check box to make keyboard simulation voice commands available when you are using speech recognition. Keyboard simulation commands are commands such as "Tab," "Backspace," or "Spacebar." For more detailed information on speech recognition commands, click the Help button on the Language bar.


Select this check box to make text-to-speech voice commands available when you are using speech recognition. Text-to-speech commands are commands that control how and when text that was not dictated is read back to you, such as "Speak Text," "Stop speaking," or "Pause speaking." For more detailed information on speech recognition commands, click the Help button on the Language bar.


Select this check box to make Language bar management voice commands available when you are using speech recognition. Language bar management commands are commands that replace clicks on the Language bar, such as "Correction," "Voice command" (available only in Dictation mode), or "Microphone." For more detailed information on speech recognition commands, click the Help button on the Language bar.


Select this check box to makes a variety of voice commands available while you are dictating text, so that you do not have to explicitly switch to Voice Command mode to use them. To set up the voice commands you want to be made available after checking this check box, click Voice Command.


Lists the available keys you can use to switch to Dictation mode. The default is F11.


Lists the available keys you can use to switch to Voice Command mode. The default is F12.