Q9 input method: Difference between revisions

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The '''Q9 input method''' ({{zh|九方輸入法}}), invented by Qcode Information Technology Ltd. of Hong Kong, is an [[Chinese input methods for computers|input method]] that uses only the number keys on a [[numeric keypad]] to input Chinese characters into a digital device. It is considered an easy method to use even though it is a "structural" input method. (Most "structural" methods are considered difficult.) It is used on some [[mobile phones]] in [[Hong Kong]]. It provides an alternative to [[Cangjie input method]] as well, as this utilizes the numeric keypad on personal computers.

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The '''Q9 input method''' ({{zh|九方輸入法}}), invented by Qcode Information Technology Ltd. of Hong Kong, is an [[Chinese input methods for computers|input method]] that uses only the number keys on a [[numeric keypad]] to input Chinese characters into a digital device.<ref name="Ge2017">{{cite book |last=Ge |first=Wenjun 革文軍 |date=2017 |title=李嘉誠管理模式 |trans-title=Li Ka-shing management model |language=zh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uFFADwAAQBAJ&pg=PT195 |___location=Taipei |publisher=崧博出版 |via=[[Google Books]] |accessdate=2024-02-18 }}</ref><ref name="HK2000">{{cite journal |date=2000 |title=Hong Kong Industrialist article |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bZu3AAAAIAAJ |journal=Hong Kong Industrialist |publisher=[[Federation of Hong Kong Industries]] |via=[[Google Books]] |pages=38–39 |accessdate=2024-02-18 }}</ref> Invented in 1999 by Vincent Lau Man-kin,<ref name="Ng2001-05-11">{{cite news |last=Ng |first=Eric |date=2001-05-11 |title=GEM listing candidate cites 'very strong patent protection' as deterrent |url=https://www.scmp.com/article/346614/gem-listing-candidate-cites-very-strong-patent-protection-deterrent |newspaper=[[South China Morning Post]] |accessdate=2024-02-18 |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20240218114557/https://www.scmp.com/article/346614/gem-listing-candidate-cites-very-strong-patent-protection-deterrent |archivedate=2024-02-18 }}</ref><ref name="Oriental2019-03-29">{{cite news |date=2019-03-29 |title=曾創九方輸入法 應科院總監涉瞞利益批53萬訂單被控 |trans-title=He previously created the Q9 input method. Director of ASTRI was accused of concealing profits and approving an order worth HK$530,000 |language=zh |url=https://hk.on.cc/hk/bkn/cnt/news/20190329/bkn-20190329163840477-0329_00822_001.html |newspaper=[[Oriental Daily]] |accessdate=2024-02-18 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20240218120122/https://hk.on.cc/hk/bkn/cnt/news/20190329/bkn-20190329163840477-0329_00822_001.html |archivedate=2024-02-18 }}</ref> it is considered an easy method to use even though it is a "structural" input method. (Most "structural" methods are considered difficult.) It is used on some [[mobile phones]] in [[Hong Kong]]. It provides an alternative to [[Cangjie input method]] as well, as this utilizes the numeric keypad on personal computers.

Lau's previous experience was as a television screenwriter for three decades.<ref name="Sing2004-04-27">{{cite news |date=2004-04-27 |title=九方科技控股有限公司主席梁立人 |trans-title=Vincent Lau Man-kin, Chairman of Q9 Technology Holdings Co., Ltd. |language=zh |newspaper=[[Sing Tao Daily]] |page=B8 }}</ref> A friend asked Lau in 1999 if he could create an input method capable of using the numeric keypad on the mobile phone to output Chinese characters. He spent three days creating the Q9 input method. Making the input method his company's primary product, he renamed the company from Quick Code Information Technology ({{Lang-zh|t=快碼資訊科技}}) to Q9 Information Technology ({{zh|t=九方資訊科技}}).<ref name="Metro2003-12-29">{{cite news |date=2003-12-29 |title=梁立人料九方明年轉虧為盈 |trans-title=Vincent Lau Man-kin expects Q9 to turn losses into profits next year |language=zh |newspaper=[[Metro Daily]] |page=P12 }}</ref>

However, besides its use for cell phones, the use of this input method on personal computers is limited, due to its proprietary nature and that personal computers do not have Q9 input method pre-installed. Since the speed of the input method relies upon using numeric keypad on PCs, this method is impractical for use on most laptops.

Q9 input method is available as aan [[List of FEP software for Symbian S60 3rd Edition|FEP]] on [[Symbian S60]] 3rd Edition [[Cellphone|mobile devices]].

==Basic usage==

The 9 positions of the number pad are shown with 9 Chinese characters and 9 stroke shapes; the first 5 of these stroke shapes are the same as in the [[Wubihua method]], and the others are more elaborate shapes generated according to context (see below). At any time, you may choose either a character or a stroke shape from any one of the 9 squares (with mobile phones, press 0 to switch between character and stroke shape; with pointing devices, you can

point to either one or the other). If the character you want is not available, choose a stroke shape that closest to the character's first stroke (i.e. at the character's top left); the stroke shape in position 5 is a general concept of "other strokes". If the character

is still not available, choose either the character's second stroke shape, or elaborate on the first stroke shape (some stroke shapes cause additional elaborations of themselves to appear in positions 6 to 9). If the character is still not available after this second shape has been entered, the third

stroke shape to enter is that corresponding to the character's '''last''' stroke (usually at bottom right). Finally, if the character is not listed, then you can press 0 to see another page of similar characters (or you may have entered the wrong stroke shapes). Usually, only

full-form (Traditional) Chinese characters are available on the Q9 method, although some versions allow Simplifiedsimplified characters to be found as well. Additional controls are usually available to reset the input method's state, and to switch to English letters, digits or punctuation.

==Problem & ErrorIssues with Q9 with MACon OSmacOS==

YouMac willOS encounterX problemshad withissues theirrelating Mac OSXto Q9 input, particularly if you are using Safari Version 5.x andIn Firefoxcertain Versionscenarios, 4.x. Thethe selection bar for the input method willwould getappear "grey out"gray when youbeing areselected. tryingSome toolder selectprograms it.support the Probleminput method remainmore unsolvedreliably.

Please refer to video on YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjSUMiY4sgg

Service and support are relatively slow.

==Ways round Q9 and Mac OS Browser==

User older version browser, such as Firefox Version 3.63 or below. Q9 will work normally under that version.

==iPhone support on Q9 input==

They also offer 30 days trail version on iPhone input platform. But the Q9 perform pretty badly on iPhone. It will eat up a lot of resource and you will find it very slow as well.

==See also==

*[[Chinese input methods for computers]]

*[[Predictive text]] - input technologies for Western texts on mobile phones

*[[List of FEP software for Symbian S60]]

==External linksReferences==

{{reflist}}

*[http://www.q9tech.com/eng/index.html Q9 Technology Holdings] (parent company of Qcode Information Technology Ltd.)

==External links==

[[Category:Han character input]]

*[http://www.q9tech.com/engweb10/index.html Q9 Technology Holdings] (parent company of Qcode Information Technology Ltd.)

[[Category:Han characterCJK input methods]]

[[zh-yue:九方輸入法]]

[[zh:九方輸入法]]