Which steps are needed for an Unicode program in C++

Question

I want to write a C++ program which can support typing Unicode characters in text editors like LibreOffice, MS Office, Notepad, (because I'm a Vietnamese and my mother tongue language includes Unicode characters such as: đ, â, à ế, ẹ, ẻ, ...). That means when I use a text editor like those above or any applications which can support text editing such as Browsers (in address bar or search bar), Chat applications like Yahoo or Skype, ... and when I type a key or a group of keys in keyboard, my C++ program will notice that and convert it into Unicode character and send it back to text editor.

For example, when I type double 'e' key in text editor, C++ program with notice that and make it as 'ê' in text editor. Please tell me steps needed or mechanism to do a such application. I don't know where to start.

Answer 1

As far as I understood you want to write an IME (input method editor). There are plenty of them available already for Vietnamese, supporting various input methods.

You did not specify the platform. However for both Windows and Linux there are quite a many Vietnamese IMEs available - practically all are open source for Linux, and Unikey, which to my knowledge is one of the most popular IMEs for Windows, is also an open source program, and thus would provide an easy start for hacking your own favourite options to an IME.

Answer 2

Use a solid library like Qt, wxWidgets, or if you don't need extra ballast, plain old ICU