The Input Method Protocol

X Consortium Standard

Masahiko Narita

FUJITSU Limited.

Hideki Hiura

SunSoft, Inc.

X Version 11, Release 7.7

Version 1.0

Copyright © 1993, 1994 FUJITSU LIMITED, Oracle and/or its affiliates

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Copyright © 1993, 1994 X Consortium

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Except as contained in this notice, the name of the X Consortium shall not be
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this Software without prior written authorization from the X Consortium.

X Window System is a trademark of The Open Group.

This specifies a protocol between IM library and IM (Input Method) Server for
internationalized text input, which is independent from any specific language,
any specific input method and the transport layer used in communication between
the IM library and the IM Server, and uses a client-server model. This protocol
allows user to use his/her favorite method for all applications within the
stand-along distributed environment.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Table of Contents

Introduction
    Scope
    Background
    Input Method Styles
Architecture
    Implementation Model
    Structure of IM
    Event Handling Model
    Event Flow Control
Default Preconnection Convention
Protocol
    Basic Requests Packet Format
    Data Types
    Error Notification
    Connection Establishment
    Event Flow Control
    Encoding Negotiation
    Query the supported extension protocol list
    Setting IM Values
    Getting IM Values
    Creating an IC
    Destroying the IC
    Setting IC Values
    Getting IC Values
    Setting IC Focus
    Unsetting IC Focus
    Filtering Events
    Synchronizing with the IM Server
    Sending a committed string
    Reset IC
    Callbacks
Acknowledgements
References
A. Common Extensions
B. Transport List
C. Protocol Number
D. Implementation Tips

Introduction

Scope

The internationalization in the X Window System Version 11, Release 5 (X11R5)
provides a common API which application developers can use to create portable
internationalized programs and to adapt them to the requirements of different
native languages, local customs, and character string encodings (this is called
"localization"). As one of its internationalization mechanisms X11R5 has
defined a functional interface for internationalized text input, called XIM (X
Input Method).

When a client-server model is used with an IM (Input Method) implementation, a
protocol must be established between the client and the server. However, the
protocol used to interface Input Method Servers (IM Servers) with the Input
Method libraries (IM libraries) to which applications are linked was not
addressed in X11R5. This led application developers to depend on
vendor-specific input methods, decreased the user's choice of available input
methods, and made it more difficult for developers to create portable
applications. This paper describes the Input Method Protocol developed for
X11R6 to resolve the above problems and to address the requirements of existing
and future input methods.

The Input Method Protocol is independent from the transport layer used in
communication between the IM library and the IM Server. Thus, the input method
protocol can be built on any inter-process communication mechanism, such as TCP
/IP or the X protocol.

In addition, the protocol provides for future extensions such as differing
input model types.

Background

Text input is much more simple for some languages than others. English, for
instance, uses an alphabet of a manageable size, and input consists of pressing
the corresponding key on a keyboard, perhaps in combination with a shift key
for capital letters or special characters.

Some languages have larger alphabets, or modifiers such as accents, which
require the addition of special key combinations in order to enter text. These
input methods may require "dead-keys" or "compose-keys" which, when followed by
different combinations of key strokes, generate different characters.

Text input for ideographic languages is much less simple. In these languages,
characters represent actual objects rather than phonetic sounds used in
pronouncing a word, and the number of characters in these languages may
continue to grow. In Japanese, for instance, most text input methods involve
entering characters in a phonetic alphabet, after which the input method
searches a dictionary for possible ideographic equivalents (of which there may
be many). The input method then presents the candidate characters for the user
to choose from.

In Japanese, either Kana (phonetic symbols) or Roman letters are typed and then
a region is selected for conversion to Kanji. Several Kanji characters may have
the same phonetic representation. If that is the case with the string entered,
a menu of characters is presented and the user must choose the appropriate one.
If no choice is necessary or a preference has been established, the input
method does the substitution directly.

These complicated input methods must present state information (Status Area),
text entry and edit space (Preedit Area), and menu/choice presentations
(Auxiliary Area). Much of the protocol between the IM library and the IM Server
involves managing these IM areas. Because of the size and complexity of these
input methods, and because of how widely they vary from one language or locale
to another, they are usually implemented as separate processes which can serve
many client processes on the same computer or network.

Input Method Styles

X11 internationalization support includes the following four types of input
method:

               The client application is directed by the IM Server to display
- on-the-spot: all pre-edit data at the site of text insertion. The client
               registers callbacks invoked by the input method during
               pre-editing.

-              The client application provides display windows for the pre-edit
off-the-spot:  data to the input method which displays into them directly.

-              The input method displays pre-edit data in a window which it
over-the-spot: brings up directly over the text insertion position.

- root-window: The input method displays all pre-edit data in a separate area
               of the screen in a window specific to the input method.

Client applications must choose from the available input methods supported by
the IM Server and provide the display areas and callbacks required by the input
method.

Architecture

Implementation Model

Within the X Window System environment, the following two typical architectural
models can be used as an input method's implementation model.

- Client/ A separate process, the IM Server, processes input and handles
Server    preediting, converting, and committing. The IM library within the
model:    application, acting as client to the IM Server, simply receives the
          committed string from the IM Server.

- Library All input is handled by the IM library within the application. The
model:    event process is closed within the IM library and a separate IM
          Server process may not be required.

Most languages which need complex preediting, such as Asian languages, are
implemented using the Client/Server IM model. Other languages which need only
dead key or compose key processing, such as European languages, are implemented
using the Library model.

In this paper, we discuss mainly the Client/Server IM model and the protocol
used in communication between the IM library (client) and the IM Server.

Structure of IM

When the client connects or disconnects to the IM Server, an open or close
operation occurs between the client and the IM Server.

The IM can be specified at the time of XOpenIM() by setting the locale of the
client and a locale modifier. Since the IM remembers the locale at the time of
creation XOpenIM() can be called multiple times (with the setting for the
locale and the locale modifier changed) to support multiple languages.

In addition, the supported IM type can be obtained using XGetIMValues().

The client usually holds multiple input (text) fields. Xlib provides a value
type called the "Input Context" (IC) to manage each individual input field. An
IC can be created by specifying XIM using XCreateIC(), and it can be destroyed
using XDestroyIC().

The IC can specify the type of IM which is supported by XIM for each input
field, so each input field can handle a different type of IM.

Most importantly information such as the committed string sent from the IM
Server to the client, is exchanged based on each IC.

Since each IC corresponds to an input field, the focused input field should be
announced to the IM Server using XSetICFocus(). (XUnsetICFocus() can also be
used to change the focus.)

Event Handling Model

Existing input methods support either the FrontEnd method, the BackEnd method,
or both. This protocol specifically supports the BackEnd method as the default
method, but also supports the FrontEnd method as an optional IM Server
extension.

The difference between the FrontEnd and BackEnd methods is in how events are
delivered to the IM Server. (Fig. 1)

BackEnd Method

In the BackEnd method, client window input events are always delivered to the
IM library, which then passes them to the IM Server. Events are handled
serially in the order delivered, and therefore there is no synchronization
problem between the IM library and the IM Server.

Using this method, the IM library forwards all KeyPress and KeyRelease events
to the IM Server (as required by the Event Flow Control model described in
Event Flow Control) and synchronizes with the IM Server (as described in
Filtering Events).

FrontEnd Method

In the FrontEnd method, client window input events are delivered by the X
server directly to both the IM Server and the IM library. Therefore this method
provides much better interactive performance while preediting (particularly in
cases such as when the IM Server is running locally on the user's workstation
and the client application is running on another workstation over a relatively
slow network).

However, the FrontEnd model may have synchronization problems between the key
events handled in the IM Server and other events handled in the client, and
these problems could possibly cause the loss or duplication of key events. For
this reason, the BackEnd method is the core method supported, and the FrontEnd
method is made available as an extension for performance purposes. (Refer to
Common Extensions for more information.)

The flow of events

Event Flow Control

This protocol supports two event flow models for communication between the IM
library and the IM Server (Static and Dynamic).

Static Event Flow requires that input events always be sent to the IM Server
from the client.

Dynamic Event Flow, however, requires only that those input events which need
to be processed (converted) be sent to the IM Server from the client.

For instance, in the case of inputing a combination of ASCII characters and
Chinese characters, ASCII characters do not need to be processed in the IM
Server, so their key events do not have to be sent to the IM Server. On the
other hand, key events necessary for composing Chinese characters must be sent
to the IM Server.

Thus, by adopting the Dynamic Event Flow, the number of requests among the X
Server, the client, and the IM Server is significantly reduced, and the number
of context switches is also reduced, resulting in improved performance. The IM
Server can send XIM_REGISTER_TRIGGERKEYS message in order to switch the event
flow in the Dynamic Event Flow.

The protocol for this process is described in Event Flow Control.

Default Preconnection Convention

IM Servers are strongly encouraged to register their symbolic names as the ATOM
names into the IM Server directory property, XIM_SERVERS, on the root window of
the screen_number 0. This property can contain a list of ATOMs, and the each
ATOM represents each possible IM Server. IM Server names are restricted to
POSIX Portable Filename Character Set. To discover if the IM Server is active,
see if there is an owner for the selection with that atom name. To learn the
address of that IM Server, convert the selection target TRANSPORT, which will
return a string form of the transport address(es). To learn the supported
locales of that IM Server, convert the selection target LOCALES, which will
return a set of names of the supported locales in the syntax X/Open defines.

The basic semantics to determine the IM Server if there are multiple ATOMs are
found in XIM_SERVERS property, is first fit if the IM Server name is not given
as a X modifier's category im.

The address information retrievable from the TRANSPORT target is a
transport-specific name. The preregistered formats for transport-specific names
are listed in Transport List. Additional transport-specific names may be
registered with X Consortium.

For environments that lack X connections, or for IM Servers which do not use
the X Window System, the preconnection convention with IM Server may be given
outside the X Window system (e.g. using a Name Service).

Protocol

The protocol described below uses the bi-directional synchronous/asynchronous
request/reply/error model and is specified using the same conventions outlined
in Section 2 of the core X Window System protocol [1]:

Basic Requests Packet Format

This section describes the requests that may be exchanged between the client
and the IM Server.

The basic request packet header format is as follows.

          major-opcode:               CARD8
          minor-opcode:               CARD8
          length:                     CARD16

The MAJOR-OPCODE specifies which core request or extension package this packet
represents. If the MAJOR-OPCODE corresponds to a core request, the MINOR-OPCODE
contains 8 bits of request-specific data. (If the MINOR-OPCODE is not used, it
is 0.) Otherwise, the MAJOR-OPCODE and the MINOR-OPCODE are specified by
XIM_QUERY_EXTENSION message. (Refer to 4.7. Query the supported extension
protocol list.) The LENGTH field specifies the number of 4 bytes elements
following the header. If no additional data is followed by the header, the
LENGTH field will be 0.

Data Types

The following data types are used in the core X IM Server protocol:

BITMASK16
     CARD16
BITMASK32
     CARD32
PADDING FORMAT
     Where N is some expression, and Pad(N) is the number of bytes needed to round N up to a

          Pad(N) = (4 - (N mod 4)) mod 4

LPCE
  1          A character from the4 X Portable Character Set in Latin Portable
             Character Encoding

STRING
     2     n              length of string in bytes
     n     LISTofLPCE     string
     p                    unused, p=Pad(2+n)

STR
     1     n              length of name in bytes
     n     STRING8        name

XIMATTR
     2     CARD16         attribute ID (*1)
     2     CARD16         type of the value (*2)
     2     n              length of im-attribute
     n     STRING8        im-attribute
     p                    unused, p = Pad(2+n)

The im-attribute argument specifies XIM values such as XNQueryInputStyle.

XICATTR
     2     CARD16         attribute ID (*1)
     2     CARD16         type of the value (*2)
     2     n              length of ic-attribute
     n     STRING8        ic-attribute
     p                    unused, p = Pad(2+n)

(*1) XIMATTR and XICATTR are used during the setup stage and XIMATTRIBUTE and
     XICATTRIBUTE are used after each attribute ID has been recognized by
     the IM Server and the IM library.

(*2) The value types are defined as follows:

┌──────┬───────────────────┬───────────────┬──────────────┬───────────────────┐
│values│data               │format         │              │                   │
├──────┼───────────────────┼───────────────┼──────────────┼───────────────────┤
│#0    │Separator of       │-----(*3)      │              │                   │
│      │NestedList         │               │              │                   │
├──────┼───────────────────┼───────────────┼──────────────┼───────────────────┤
│#1    │byte data          │CARD8          │              │                   │
├──────┼───────────────────┼───────────────┼──────────────┼───────────────────┤
│#2    │word data          │CARD16         │              │                   │
├──────┼───────────────────┼───────────────┼──────────────┼───────────────────┤
│#3    │long data          │CARD32         │              │                   │
├──────┼───────────────────┼───────────────┼──────────────┼───────────────────┤
│#4    │char data          │STRING8        │              │                   │
├──────┼───────────────────┼───────────────┼──────────────┼───────────────────┤
│#5    │Window             │CARD32         │              │                   │
├──────┼───────────────────┼───────────────┼──────────────┼───────────────────┤
│#10   │XIMStyles          │2              │n             │number of XIMStyle │
│      │                   │               │              │list               │
├──────┼───────────────────┼───────────────┼──────────────┼───────────────────┤
│      │                   │2              │              │unused             │
├──────┼───────────────────┼───────────────┼──────────────┼───────────────────┤
│      │                   │n              │CARD32        │XIMStyle list      │
├──────┼───────────────────┼───────────────┼──────────────┼───────────────────┤
│#11   │XRectangle         │2              │INT16         │X                  │
├──────┼───────────────────┼───────────────┼──────────────┼───────────────────┤
│      │                   │2              │INT16         │Y                  │
├──────┼───────────────────┼───────────────┼──────────────┼───────────────────┤
│      │                   │2              │CARD16        │width              │
├──────┼───────────────────┼───────────────┼──────────────┼───────────────────┤
│      │                   │2              │CARD16        │height             │
├──────┼───────────────────┼───────────────┼──────────────┼───────────────────┤
│#12   │XPoint             │2              │INT16         │X                  │
├──────┼───────────────────┼───────────────┼──────────────┼───────────────────┤
│      │                   │2              │INT16         │Y                  │
├──────┼───────────────────┼───────────────┼──────────────┼───────────────────┤
│#13   │XFontSet           │2              │n             │length of Base font│
│      │                   │               │              │name               │
├──────┼───────────────────┼───────────────┼──────────────┼───────────────────┤
│      │                   │n              │STRING8       │Base font name list│
├──────┼───────────────────┼───────────────┼──────────────┼───────────────────┤
│      │                   │p              │              │unused, p = Pad    │
│      │                   │               │              │(2+n)              │
├──────┼───────────────────┼───────────────┼──────────────┼───────────────────┤
│      │                   │               │              │number of          │
│#15   │XIMHotKeyTriggers  │4              │n             │XIMTRIGGERKEY list │
│      │                   │               │              │(*4)               │
├──────┼───────────────────┼───────────────┼──────────────┼───────────────────┤
│      │                   │n              │XIMTRIGGERKEY │XIMHotkeyTrigger   │
│      │                   │               │              │list               │
├──────┼───────────────────┼───────────────┼──────────────┼───────────────────┤
│      │                   │n              │XIMHOTKEYSTATE│HotKey processing  │
│      │                   │               │              │state              │
├──────┼───────────────────┼───────────────┼──────────────┼───────────────────┤
│#17   │XIMStringConversion│XIMSTRCONVTEXT │              │                   │
├──────┼───────────────────┼───────────────┼──────────────┼───────────────────┤
│#18   │XIMPreeditState    │XIMPREEDITSTATE│              │                   │
├──────┼───────────────────┼───────────────┼──────────────┼───────────────────┤
│#19   │XIMResetState      │XIMRESETSTATE  │              │                   │
├──────┼───────────────────┼───────────────┼──────────────┼───────────────────┤
│#x7fff│NestedList         │-----          │              │                   │
└──────┴───────────────────┴───────────────┴──────────────┴───────────────────┘

(*3)  The IC value for the separator of NestedList is defined as follows,
            #define   XNSeparatorofNestedList   "separatorofNestedList"
      , which is registered in X Consortium and cannot be used for any other purpose.

(*4) LISTofFOO
            A Type name of the form LISTof FOO means a counted list of elements of type FOO.
            The size of the length field may vary (it is not necessarily the same
            size as a FOO), and in some cases, it may be implicit.
XIMTRIGGERKEY
     4     CARD32       keysym
     4     CARD32       modifier
     4     CARD32       modifier mask

ENCODINGINFO
     2     n            length of encoding info
     n     STRING8      encoding info
     p                  unused, p=Pad(2+n)

EXT
     1     CARD8        extension major-opcode
     1     CARD8        extension minor-opcode
     2     n            length of extension name
     n     STRING8      extension name
     p                  unused, p = Pad(n)

XIMATTRIBUTE
     2     CARD16       attribute ID
     2     n            value length
     n                  value
     p                  unused, p = Pad(n)

XICATTRIBUTE
     2     CARD16       attribute ID
     2     n            value length
     n                  value
     p                  unused, p = Pad(n)



XIMSTRCONVTEXT
     2    CARD16                      XIMStringConversionFeedback
          #x0000001                   XIMStringConversionLeftEdge
          #x0000002                   XIMStringConversionRightEdge
          #x0000004                   XIMStringConversionTopEdge
          #x0000008                   XIMStringConversionBottomEdge
          #x0000010                   XIMStringConversionConvealed
          #x0000020                   XIMStringConversionWrapped
     2     n                          byte length of the retrieved string
     n     STRING8                    retrieved string
     p                                unused, p = Pad(n)
     2     m                          byte length of feedback array
     2                                unused
     m     LISTofXIMSTRCONVFEEDBACK   feedback array(*1)

(*1)   This field is reserved for future use.

XIMFEEDBACK
     4    CARD32       XIMFeedback
          #x000001     XIMReverse
          #x000002     XIMUnderline
          #x000004     XIMHighlight
          #x000008     XIMPrimary
          #x000010     XIMSecondary
          #x000020     XIMTertiary
          #x000040     XIMVisibleToForward
          #x000080     XIMVisibleToBackward
          #x000100     XIMVisibleCenter

XIMHOTKEYSTATE
     4    CARD32       XIMHotKeyState
          #x0000001    XIMHotKeyStateON
          #x0000002    XIMHotKeyStateOFF

XIMPREEDITSTATE
     4    CARD32       XIMPreeditState
          #x0000001    XIMPreeditEnable
          #x0000002    XIMPreeditDisable

XIMRESETSTATE
     4    CARD32       XIMResetState
          #x0000001    XIMInitialState
          #x0000002    XIMPreserveState

Error Notification

Both the IM Server and the IM library return XIM_ERROR messages instead of the
corresponding reply messages if any errors occur during data processing.

At most one error is generated per request. If more than one error condition is
encountered in processing a request, the choice of which error is returned is
implementation-dependent.

XIM_ERROR (IM Server <--> IM library)

          2     CARD16          input-method-ID
          2     CARD16          input-context-ID
          2     BITMASK16       flag (*1)
                #0000           Both Input-Method-ID and Input-Context-ID are invalid
                #0001           Input-Method-ID is valid
                #0002           Input-Context-ID is valid
          2     CARD16          Error Code
                #1              BadAlloc
                #2              BadStyle
                #3              BadClientWindow
                #4              BadFocusWindow
                #5              BadArea
                #6              BadSpotLocation
                #7              BadColormap
                #8              BadAtom
                #9              BadPixel
                #10             BadPixmap
                #11             BadName
                #12             BadCursor
                #13             BadProtocol
                #14             BadForeground
                #15             BadBackground
                #16             LocaleNotSupported
                #999            BadSomething (*2)
          2     n               byte length of error detail.
          2     CARD16          type of error detail (*3)
          n     STRING8         error detail (*4)
          p                     unused, p = Pad(n)

(*1)  Before an IM is created, both Input-Method-ID and
      Input-Context-ID are invalid.
      Before an IC is created, only Input-Method-ID is valid.
      After that, both of Input-Method-ID and Input-Context-ID are valid.

(*2) Unspecific error, for example "language engine died"

(*3) This field is reserved for future use.

(*4) Vendor defined detail error message

Connection Establishment

XIM_CONNECT message requests to establish a connection over a
mutually-understood virtual stream.

XIM_CONNECT (IM library -> IM Server)
     1                      byte order
           #x42             MSB first
           #x6c             LSB first
     1                      unused
     2     CARD16           client-major-protocol-version (*1)
     2     CARD16           client-minor-protocol-version (*1)
     2     CARD16           number of client-auth-protocol-names
     n     LISTofSTRING     client-auth-protocol-names

(*1) Specify the version of IM Protocol that the client supports.

A client must send XIM_CONNECT message as the first message on the connection.
The list specifies the names of authentication protocols the sending IM Server
is willing to perform. (If the client need not authenticate, the list may be
omitted.)

XIM_AUTH_REQUIRED message is used to send the authentication protocol name and
protocol-specific data.

XIM_AUTH_REQUIRED (IM library <--> IM Server)

     1     CARD8              auth-protocol-index
     3                        unused
     2     n                  length of authentication data
     2                        unused
     n     <varies>     data
     p                        unused, p = Pad(n)

The auth-protocol is specified by an index into the list of names given in the
XIM_CONNECT or XIM_AUTH_SETUP message. Any protocol-specific data that might be
required is also sent.

The IM library sends XIM_AUTH_REPLY message as the reply to XIM_AUTH_REQUIRED
message, if the IM Server is authenticated.

XIM_AUTH_REPLY (IM library -> IM Server)
     2     n                 length of authentication data
     2                       unused
     2     n                 length of authentication data
     2                       unused
     n     <varies>      data
     p                       unused, p = Pad(n)

The auth data is specific to the authentication protocol in use.

XIM_AUTH_NEXT message requests to send more auth data.

XIM_AUTH_NEXT (IM library <--> IM Server)
     2     n                 length of authentication data
     2                       unused
     n     <varies>      data
     p                       unused, p = Pad(n)

The auth data is specific to the authentication protocol in use.

The IM Server sends XIM_AUTH_SETUP message to authenticate the client.

XIM_AUTH_SETUP (IM Server -> IM library)
     2     CARD16           number of client-auth-protocol-names
     2                      unused
     n     LISTofSTRING     server-auth-protocol-names

The list specifies the names of authentication protocols the client is willing
to perform.

XIM_AUTH_NG message requests to give up the connection.

XIM_AUTH_NG (IM library <--> IM Server)

The IM Server sends XIM_CONNECT_REPLY message as the reply to XIM_CONNECT or
XIM_AUTH_REQUIRED message.

XIM_CONNECT_REPLY (IM Server -> IM library)
     2     CARD16     server-major-protocol-version (*1)
     2     CARD16     server-minor-protocol-version (*1)

(*1) Specify the version of IM Protocol that the IM Server supports.
This document specifies major version one, minor version zero.

Here are the state diagrams for the client and the IM Server.

State transitions for the client

              Use authorization function -> client_ask
init_status:
              Not use authorization function -> client_no_check

              Send XIM_CONNECT

start:        If client_ask -> client_wait1

              If client_no_check, client-auth-protocol-names may be omitted -> 
              client_wait2

              Receive XIM_AUTH_REQUIRED -> client_check
client_wait1:
              Receive <other> -> client_NG

              If no more auth needed, send XIM_AUTH_REPLY -> client_wait2

client_check: If good auth data, send XIM_AUTH_NEXT -> client_wait1

              If bad auth data, send XIM_AUTH_NG -> give up on this protocol

              Receive XIM_CONNECT_REPLY -> connect Receive XIM_AUTH_SETUP -> 
              client_more

client_wait2: Receive XIM_AUTH_NEXT -> client_more

              Receive XIM_AUTH_NG -> give up on this protocol

              Receive <other> -> client_NG

client_more:  Send XIM_AUTH_REQUIRED -> client_wait2

client_NG:    Send XIM_AUTH_NG -> give up on this protocol

State transitions for the IM Server

              Use authorization function -> server_ask
init_status:
              Not use authorization function -> server_no_check

              Receive XIM_CONNECT
start:
              -> start2 Receive <other> -> server_NG

              If client_ask, send XIM_AUTH_REQUIRED -> server_wait1

              If client_no_check and server_ask, send XIM_AUTH_SETUP -> 
start2:       server_wait2

              If client_no_check and server_no_check, send XIM_CONNECT_REPLY ->
              connect

              Receive XIM_AUTH_REPLY -> server2

server_wait1: Receive XIM_AUTH_NEXT -> server_more

              Receive <other> -> server_NG

server_more   Send XIM_AUTH_REQUIRED -> server_wait1

              If server_ask, send XIM_AUTH_SETUP -> server_wait2
server2
              If server_no_check, send XIM_CONNECT_REPLY -> connect

              Receive XIM_AUTH_REQUIRED -> server_check
server_wait2
              Receive <other> -> server_NG

              If no more auth data, send XIM_CONNECT_REPLY -> connect

server_check  If bad auth data, send XIM_AUTH_NG -> give up on this protocol

              If good auth data, send XIM_AUTH_NEXT -> server_wait2

server_NG     Send XIM_AUTH_NG -> give up on this protocol

XIM_DISCONNECT message requests to shutdown the connection over a
mutually-understood virtual stream.

XIM_DISCONNECT (IM library -> IM Server)

XIM_DISCONNECT is a synchronous request. The IM library should wait until it
receives either an XIM_DISCONNECT_REPLY packet or an XIM_ERROR packet.

XIM_DISCONNECT_REPLY (IM Server -> IM library)

XIM_OPEN requests to establish a logical connection between the IM library and
the IM Server.

XIM_OPEN (IM library -> IM Server)
     n     STR     locale name
     p             unused, p = Pad(n)

XIM_OPEN is a synchronous request. The IM library should wait until receiving
either an XIM_OPEN_REPLY packet or an XIM_ERROR packet.

XIM_OPEN_REPLY (IM Server -> IM library)
     2     CARD16             input-method-ID
     2     n                  byte length of IM attributes supported
     n     LISTofXIMATTR      IM attributes supported
     2     m                  byte length of IC attributes supported
     2     CARD16             unused
     m     LISTofXICATTR      IC attributes supported

XIM_OPEN_REPLY message returns all supported IM and IC attributes in
LISTofXIMATTR and LISTofXICATTR. These IM and IC attribute IDs are used to
reduce the amount of data which must be transferred via the network. In
addition, this indicates to the IM library what kinds of IM/IC attributes can
be used in this session, and what types of data will be exchanged. This allows
the IM Server provider and application writer to support IM system enhancements
with new IM/IC attributes, without modifying Xlib. The IC value for the
separator of NestedList must be included in the LISTofXICATTR.

XIM_CLOSE message requests to shutdown the logical connection between the IM
library and the IM Server.

XIM_CLOSE (IM library -> IM Server)
     2     CARD16     input-method-ID
     2                unused

XIM_CLOSE is a synchronous request. The IM library should wait until receiving
either an XIM_CLOSE_REPLY packet or an XIM_ERROR packet.

XIM_CLOSE_REPLY (IM Server -> IM library)
     2     CARD16     input-method-ID
     2                unused

Event Flow Control

An IM Server must send XIM_SET_EVENT_MASK message to the IM library in order
for events to be forwarded to the IM Server, since the IM library initially
doesn't forward any events to the IM Server. In the protocol, the IM Server
will specify masks of X events to be forwarded and which need to be
synchronized by the IM library.

XIM_SET_EVENT_MASK (IM Server -> IM library)
     2     CARD16        input-method-ID
     2     CARD16        input-context-ID
     4     EVENTMASK     forward-event-mask (*1)
     4     EVENTMASK     synchronous-event-mask (*2)

(*1)  Specify all the events to be forwarded to the IM Server by the IM library.
(*2)  Specify the events to be forwarded with synchronous flag on by the IM library.

XIM_SET_EVENT_MASK is an asynchronous request. The event masks are valid
immediately after they are set until changed by another XIM_SET_EVENT_MASK
message. If input-context-ID is set to zero, the default value of the
input-method-ID will be changed to the event masks specified in the request.
That value will be used for the IC's which have no individual values.

Using the Dynamic Event Flow model, an IM Server sends XIM_REGISTER_TRIGGERKEYS
message to the IM library before sending XIM_OPEN_REPLY message. Or the IM
library may suppose that the IM Server uses the Static Event Flow model.

XIM_REGISTER_TRIGGERKEYS (IM Server -> IM library)

     2     CARD16                  input-method-ID
     2                             unused
     4     n                       byte length of on-keys
     n     LISTofXIMTRIGGERKEY     on-keys list
     4     m                       byte length of off-keys
     m     LISTofXIMTRIGGERKEY     off-keys list

XIM_REGISTER_TRIGGERKEYS is an asynchronous request. The IM Server notifys the
IM library of on-keys and off-keys lists with this message.

The IM library notifys the IM Server with XIM_TRIGGER_NOTIFY message that a key
event matching either on-keys or off-keys has been occurred.

XIM_TRIGGER_NOTIFY (IM library -> IM Server)
     2     CARD16           input-method-ID
     2     CARD16           input-context-ID
     4     CARD32           flag
           #0               on-keys list
           #1               off-keys list
     4     CARD32           index of keys list
     4     EVENTMASK        client-select-event-mask (*1)

(*1)  Specify the events currently selected by the IM library with XSelectInput.


XIM_TRIGGER_NOTIFY is a synchronous request. The IM library should wait until
receiving either an XIM_TRIGGER_NOTIFY_REPLY packet or an XIM_ERROR packet.

XIM_TRIGGER_NOTIFY_REPLY (IM Server -> IM library)
     2     CARD16     input-method-ID
     2     CARD16     input-context-ID

Encoding Negotiation

XIM_ENCODING_NEGOTIATION message requests to decide which encoding to be sent
across the wire. When the negotiation fails, the fallback default encoding is
Portable Character Encoding.

XIM_ENCODING_NEGOTIATION (IM library -> IM Server).sp 6p
     2     CARD16                 input-method-ID
     2     n                      byte length of encodings listed by name
     n     LISTofSTR              list of encodings supported in the IM library.
     p                            unused, p = Pad(n)
     2     m                      byte length of encodings listed by detailed data
     2                            unused
     m     LISTofENCODINGINFO     list of encodings supported in the IM library

The IM Server must choose one encoding from the list sent by the IM library. If
index of the encoding determined is -1 to indicate that the negotiation is
failed, the fallback default encoding is used. The message must be issued after
sending XIM_OPEN message via XOpenIM(). The name of encoding may be registered
with X Consortium.

XIM_ENCODING_NEGOTIATION is a synchronous request. The IM library should wait
until receiving either an XIM_ENCODING_NEGOTIATION_REPLY packet or an XIM_ERROR
packet.

XIM_ENCODING_NEGOTIATION_REPLY (IM Server -> IM library)
     2     CARD16     input-method-ID
     2     CARD16     category of the encoding determined.
           #0         name
           #1         detailed data
     2     INT16      index of the encoding determined.
     2                unused

Query the supported extension protocol list

XIM_QUERY_EXTENSION message requests to query the IM extensions supported by
the IM Server to which the client is being connected.

XIM_QUERY_EXTENSION (IM library -> IM Server)
     2     CARD16        input-method-ID
     2     n             byte length of extensions supported by the IM library
     n     LISTofSTR     extensions supported by the IM library
     p                   unused, p = Pad(n)

An example of a supported extension is FrontEnd. The message must be issued
after sending XIM_OPEN message via XOpenIM().

If n is 0, the IM library queries the IM Server for all extensions.

If n is not 0, the IM library queries whether the IM Server supports the
contents specified in the list.

If a client uses an extension request without previously having issued a
XIM_QUERY_EXTENSION message for that extension, the IM Server responds with a
BadProtocol error. If the IM Server encounters a request with an unknown
MAJOR-OPCODE or MINOR-OPCODE, it responds with a BadProtocol error.

XIM_QUERY_EXTENSION is a synchronous request. The IM library should wait until
receiving either an XIM_QUERY_EXTENSION_REPLY packet or an XIM_ERROR packet.

XIM_QUERY_EXTENSION_REPLY (IM Server -> IM library)
     2     CARD16      input-method-ID
     2     n           byte length of extensions supported by both the IM library and the IM Server
     n     LISTofEXT   list of extensions supported by both the IM library and the IM Server


XIM_QUERY_EXTENSION_REPLY message returns the list of extensions supported by
both the IM library and the IM Server. If the list passed in
XIM_QUERY_EXTENSION message is NULL, the IM Server returns the full list of
extensions supported by the IM Server. If the list is not NULL, the IM Server
returns the extensions in the list that are supported by the IM Server.

A zero-length string is not a valid extension name. The IM library should
disregard any zero-length strings that are returned in the extension list. The
IM library does not use the requests which are not supported by the IM Server.

Setting IM Values

XIM_SET_IM_VALUES requests to set attributes to the IM.

XIM_SET_IM_VALUES (IM library -> IM Server)
     2     CARD16                 input-method-ID
     2     n                      byte length of im-attribute
     n     LISTofXIMATTRIBUTE     im-attributes

The im-attributes in XIM_SET_IM_VALUES message are specified as a
LISTofXIMATTRIBUTE, specifying the attributes to be set. Attributes other than
the ones returned by XIM_OPEN_REPLY message should not be specified.

XIM_SET_IM_VALUES is a synchronous request. The IM library should wait until
receiving either an XIM_SET_IM_VALUES_REPLY packet or an XIM_ERROR packet,
because it must receive the error attribute if XIM_ERROR message is returned.

XIM_SET_IM_VALUES_REPLY (IM Server -> IM library)
     2     CARD16     input-method-ID
     2                unused

XIM_SET_IM_VALUES_REPLY message returns the input-method-ID to distinguish
replies from multiple IMs.

Getting IM Values

XIM_GET_IM_VALUES requests to query IM values supported by the IM Server
currently being connected.

XIM_GET_IM_VALUES (IM library -> IM Server)
     2     CARD16           input-method-ID
     2     n                byte length of im-attribute-id
     n     LISTofCARD16     im-attribute-id
     p                      unused, p=Pad(n)

XIM_GET_IM_VALUES is a synchronous request. The IM library should wait until it
receives either an XIM_GET_IM_VALUES_REPLY packet or an XIM_ERROR packet.

XIM_GET_IM_VALUES_REPLY (IM Server -> IM library)
     2     CARD16                 input-method-ID
     2     n                      byte length of im-attributes returned
     n     LISTofXIMATTRIBUTE     im-attributes returned

The IM Server returns IM values with XIM_GET_IM_VALUES_REPLY message. The order
of the returned im-attribute values corresponds directly to that of the list
passed with the XIM_GET_IM_VALUES message.

Creating an IC

XIM_CREATE_IC message requests to create an IC.

XIM_CREATE_IC (IM library -> IM Server)
     2     CARD16                 input-method-ID
     2     n                      byte length of ic-attributes
     n     LISTofXICATTRIBUTE     ic-attributes

The input-context-id is specified by the IM Server to identify the client (IC).
(It is not specified by the client in XIM_CREATE_IC message.), and it should
not be set to zero.

XIM_CREATE_IC is a synchronous request which returns the input-context-ID. The
IM library should wait until it receives either an XIM_CREATE_IC_REPLY packet
or an XIM_ERROR packet.

XIM_CREATE_IC_REPLY (IM Server -> IM library)
     2     CARD16     input-method-ID
     2     CARD16     input-context-ID

Destroying the IC

XIM_DESTROY_IC message requests to destroy the IC.

XIM_DESTROY_IC (IM library -> IM Server)
     2     CARD16     input-method-ID
     2     CARD16     input-context-ID

XIM_DESTROY_IC is a synchronous request. The IM library should not free its
resources until it receives an XIM_DESTROY_IC_REPLY message because
XIM_DESTROY_IC message may result in Callback packets such as XIM_PREEDIT_DRAW
and XIM_PREEDIT_DONE.

XIM_DESTROY_IC_REPLY (IM Server -> IM library)
     2     CARD16     input-method-ID
     2     CARD16     input-context-ID

Setting IC Values

XIM_SET_IC_VALUES messages requests to set attributes to the IC.

XIM_SET_IC_VALUES (IM library -> IM Server)
     2     CARD16                 input-method-ID
     2     CARD16                 input-context-ID
     2     n                      byte length of ic-attributes
     2                            unused
     n     LISTofXICATTRIBUTE     ic-attributes

The ic-attributes in XIM_SET_IC_VALUES message are specified as a
LISTofXICATTRIBUTE, specifying the attributes to be set. Attributes other than
the ones returned by XIM_OPEN_REPLY message should not be specified.

XIM_SET_IC_VALUES is a synchronous request. The IM library should wait until
receiving either an XIM_SET_IC_VALUES_REPLY packet or an XIM_ERROR packet,
because it must receive the error attribute if XIM_ERROR message is returned.

XIM_SET_IC_VALUES_REPLY (IM Server -> IM library)

     2     CARD16     input-method-ID
     2     CARD16     input-context-ID

Getting IC Values

XIM_GET_IC_VALUES message requests to query IC values supported by the IM
Server currently being connected.

XIM_GET_IC_VALUES (IM library -> IM Server)

     2     CARD16           input-method-ID
     2     CARD16           input-context-ID
     2     n                byte length of ic-attribute-id
     n     LISTofCARD16     ic-attribute-id
     p                      unused, p=Pad(2+n)

In LISTofCARD16, the appearance of the ic-attribute-id for the separator of
NestedList shows the end of the heading nested list.

XIM_GET_IC_VALUES is a synchronous request and returns each attribute with its
values to show the correspondence. The IM library should wait until receiving
either an XIM_GET_IC_VALUES_REPLY packet or an XIM_ERROR packet.

XIM_GET_IC_VALUES_REPLY (IM Server -> IM library)
     2     CARD16                 input-method-ID
     2     CARD16                 input-context-ID
     2     n                      byte length of ic-attribute
     2                            unused
     n     LISTofXICATTRIBUTE     ic-attribute

Setting IC Focus

XIM_SET_IC_FOCUS message requests to set the focus to the IC.

XIM_SET_IC_FOCUS (IM library -> IM Server)
     2     CARD16     input-method-ID
     2     CARD16     input-context-ID

XIM_SET_IC_FOCUS is an asynchronous request.

Unsetting IC Focus

XIM_UNSET_IC_FOCUS message requests to unset the focus to the focused IC.

XIM_UNSET_IC_FOCUS (IM library -> IM Server)
     2     CARD16     input-method-ID
     2     CARD16     input-context-ID

XIM_UNSET_IC_FOCUS is an asynchronous request.

Filtering Events

Event filtering is mainly provided for BackEnd method to allow input method to
capture X events transparently to clients.

X Events are forwarded by XIM_FORWARD_EVENT message. This message can be
operated both synchronously and asynchronously. If the requester sets the
synchronous flag, the receiver must send XIM_SYNC_REPLY message back to the
requester when all the data processing is done.

Protocol flow of BackEnd model

With BackEnd method, the protocol flow can be classified into two methods in
terms of synchronization, depending on the synchronous-eventmask of
XIM_SET_EVENT_MASK message. One can be called on-demand-synchronous method and
another can be called as full-synchronous method.

In on-demand-synchronous method, the IM library always receives
XIM_FORWARD_EVENT or XIM_COMMIT message as a synchronous request. Also, the IM
Server needs to synchronously process the correspondent reply from the IM
library and the following XIM_FORWARD_EVENT message sent from the IM library
when any of the event causes the IM Server to send XIM_FORWARD_EVENT or
XIM_COMMIT message to the IM library, so that the input service is consistent.
If the IM library gets the control back from the application after receiving
the synchronous request, the IM library replies for the synchronous request
before processing any of the events. In this time, the IM Server blocks
XIM_FORWARD_EVENT message which is sent by the IM library, and handles it after
receiving the reply. However, the IM Server handles the other protocols at any
time.

In full-synchronous method, the IM library always sends XIM_FORWARD_EVENT
message to the IM Server as a synchronous request. Therefore, the reply to it
from the IM Server will be put between the XIM_FORWARD_EVENT message and its
XIM_SYNC_REPLY message. In case of sending XIM_FORWARD_EVENT or XIM_COMMIT
message, the IM Server should set the synchronous flag off. Because the
synchronization can be done by the following XIM_SYNC_REPLY message.

Following chart shows one of the simplest protocol flow which only deals with
keyevents for preediting operation.

Sample Protocol Flow

Following chart shows one of the complex protocol flow, which deals with
multiple focus windows and button press event as well as keyevent, and the
focus is moved by the application triggered by both of keyevent and button
press event.

Sample Protocol Flow 2

XIM_FORWARD_EVENT (IM library <--> IM Server)
     2     CARD16         input-method-ID
     2     CARD16         input-context-ID
     2     BITMASK16      flag
           #0001          synchronous
           #0002          request filtering (*1)
           #0004          request lookupstring (*2)
     2     CARD16         serial number
           XEVENT         X event

(*1)  Indicate the receiver should filter events and possible preedit may be invoked.

(*2)  Indicate the receiver should only do lookup string. The IM Server is expected
to just do a conversion of the key event to the best candidate. This bit may
affect the state of the preedit state (e.g. compose of dead key sequences).

XEVENT format is same as the X Protocol event format(xEvent). As the value of
xEvent's sequenceNumber is the bottom of 16 bit of XEvent's xany.serial, the
top of 16 bit is sent by serial number(INT16).

XIM_FORWARD_EVENT message is used for forwarding the events from the IM library
to the IM Server in order for IM to be able to filter the event. On the other
hand, this message is also used for forwarding the events from the IM Server to
the IM library if the event forwarded from the IM library is not filtered. The
IM Server, which receives XIM_FORWARD_EVENT message without synchronous bit,
should set synchronous bit. If both "request event filtering" and "request
lookupstring" flag are set, then both filtering and lookup should be done for
the same event.

Synchronizing with the IM Server

XIM_SYNC message requests to synchronize the IM library and the IM Server.

XIM_SYNC (IM library <--> IM Server)
     2     CARD16     input-method-ID
     2     CARD16     input-context-ID

This synchronization can be started either on the IM library side or on the IM
Server side. The side which receives XIM_SYNC message should process all XIM
requests before replying. The input-context-ID is necessary to distinguish the
IC with which the IM library and the IM Server are synchronized.

XIM_SYNC_REPLY (IM Server <--> IM library)
     2     CARD16     input-method-ID
     2     CARD16     input-context-ID

The side which receives XIM_FORWARD_EVENT, XIM_COMMIT or any other message with
synchronous bit, should process all XIM request before replying, and send
XIM_SYNC_REPLY message as the reply to the previous message.

Sending a committed string

When the IM Server commits a string, the IM Server sends either the committed
string or list of KeySym, or both, by XIM_COMMIT message.

XIM_COMMIT (IM Server -> IM library)

     2     CARD16          input-method-ID
     2     CARD16          input-context-ID
     2     BITMASK16       flag
           #0001           synchronous
           #0002           XLookupChars
           #0004           XLookupKeySym
           #0006           XLookupBoth = XLookupChars | XLookupKeySym

If flag is XLookupKeySym, the arguments continue as follows:

     2                unused
     4     KEYSYM     KeySym

If flag is XLookupChars, the arguments continue as follows

     2     m              byte length of committed string
     m     LISTofBYTE     committed string
     p                    unused, p = Pad(m)

If flag is XLookupBoth, the arguments continue as follows

     2                    unused
     4     KEYSYM         KeySym
     2     n              byte length of committed string
     n     LISTofBYTE     committed string
     p                    unused, p = Pad(2+n)

The IM Server which receives XIM_COMMIT message without synchronous bit should
set synchronous bit.

Reset IC

XIM_RESET_IC message requests to reset the status of IC in the IM Server.

XIM_RESET_IC (IM library -> IM Server)
     2     CARD16     input-method-ID
     2     CARD16     input-context-ID

XIM_RESET_IC is a synchronous request. The IM library should wait until
receiving either an XIM_RESET_IC_REPLY packet or an XIM_ERROR packet.

XIM_RESET_IC_REPLY (IM Server -> IM library)

     2     CARD16         input-method-ID
     2     CARD16         input-context-ID
     2     n              byte length of preedit string
     n     LISTofBYTE     preedit string
     p                    unused, p = Pad(2+n)

XIM_RESET_IC_REPLY message returns the input-context-ID to distinguish replies
from multiple ICs.

Callbacks

If XIMStyle has XIMPreeditArea or XIMStatusArea set, XIMGeometryCallback may be
used, and if XIMPreeditCallback and/or XIMStatusCallback are set, corresponding
callbacks may be used.

Any callback request may be sent from an IM Server to an IM client
asynchronously in response to any request previously sent by the IM client to
the IM Server.

When an IM Server needs to send a callback request synchronously with the
request previously sent by an IM client, the IM Server sends it before replying
to the previous request.

Negotiating geometry

The IM Server sends XIM_GEOMETRY message to start geometry negotiation, if
XIMStyle has XIMPreeditArea or XIMStatusArea set.

XIM_GEOMETRY (IM Server -> IM library)

     2     CARD16     input-method-ID
     2     CARD16     input-context-ID

There is always a single Focus Window, even if some input fields have only one
IC.

Converting a string

XIM_STR_CONVERSION (IM Server -> IM library)

     2     CARD16     input-method-ID
     2     CARD16     input-context-ID
     2     CARD16     XIMStringConversionPosition
     2                unused
     4     CARD32     XIMCaretDirection
           #0         XIMForwardChar
           #1         XIMBackwardChar
           #2         XIMForwardWord
           #3         XIMBackwardWord
           #4         XIMCaretUp
           #5         XIMCaretDown
           #6         XIMNextLine
           #7         XIMCPreviousLine
           #8         XIMLineStart
           #9         XIMLineEnd
           #10        XIMAbsolutePosition
           #11        XIMDontChange
     2     CARD16     factor
     2     CARD16     XIMStringConversionOperation
           #0001      XIMStringConversionSubstitution
           #0002      XIMStringConversionRetrieval
     2     INT16      byte length to multiply the XIMStringConversionType

XIM_STR_CONVERSION message may be used to start the string conversion from the
IM Server.

XIM_STR_CONVERSION_REPLY (IM library -> IM Server)

     2     CARD16             input-method-ID
     2     CARD16             input-context-ID
     4     CARD32             XIMStringConversionFeedback
           XIMSTRCONVTEXT     XIMStringConversionText

XIM_STR_CONVERSION_REPLY message returns the string to be converted and the
feedback information array.

Preedit Callbacks

The IM Server sends XIM_PREEDIT_START message to call the
XIMPreeditStartCallback function.

XIM_PREEDIT_START (IM Server -> IM library)

     2     CARD16     input-method-ID
     2     CARD16     input-context-ID

The reply to this message must be sent synchronously. The reply forwards the
return value from the callback function to the IM Server.

XIM_PREEDIT_START_REPLY (IM library -> IM Server)

     2     CARD16     input-method-ID
     2     CARD16     input-context-ID
     4     INT32     return value

XIM_PREEDIT_START_REPLY message returns the input-context-ID to distinguish
replies from multiple IC's. The return value contains the return value of the
function XIMPreeditStartCallback.

The IM Server sends XIM_PREEDIT_DRAW message to call the XIMPreeditDrawCallback
function.

XIM_PREEDIT_DRAW (IM Server -> IM library)

     2     CARD16                input-method-ID
     2     CARD16                input-context-ID
     4     INT32                 caret
     4     INT32                 chg_first
     4     INT32                 chg_length
     4     BITMASK32             status
           #x0000001             no string
           #x0000002             no feedback
     2     n                     length of preedit string
     n     STRING8               preedit string
     p                           unused, p = Pad(2+n)
     2     m                     byte length of feedback array
     2                           unused
     m     LISTofXIMFEEDBACK     feedback array

The fields "caret", "chg_first" and "chg_length" correspond to the fields of
XIMPreeditDrawCallbackStruct. When the "no string" bit of the status field is
set, the text field of XIMPreeditDrawCallbackStruct is NULL. When the "no
feedback" bit of the status field is set, the text feedback field of
XIMPreeditDrawCallbackStruct is NULL. When the above bits are not set, "preedit
string" contains the preedit string to be displayed, and the feedback array
contains feedback information.

The IM Server sends XIM_PREEDIT_CARET message to call the PreeditCaretCallback
function.

XIM_PREEDIT_CARET (IM Server -> IM library)

     2     CARD16     input-method-ID
     2     CARD16     input-context-ID
     4     INT32      position
     4     CARD32     direction
           #0         XIMForwardChar
           #1         XIMBackwardChar
           #2         XIMForwardWord
           #3         XIMBackwardWord
           #4         XIMCaretUp
           #5         XIMCaretDown
           #6         XIMNextLine
           #7         XIMCPreviousLine
           #8         XIMLineStart
           #9         XIMLineEnd
           #10        XIMAbsolutePosition
           #11        XIMDontChange
     4     CARD32     style
           #0         XIMInvisible
           #1         XIMCPrimary
           #2         XIMSecondary

Each entry corresponds to a field of XIMPreeditCaretCallbackStruct. Since this
callback sets the caret position, its reply must be sent synchronously.

XIM_PREEDIT_CARET_REPLY (IM library -> IM Server)

     2     CARD16     input-method-ID
     2     CARD16     input-context-ID
     4     CARD32     position

The position is the value returned by the callback function after it has been
called.

The IM Server sends XIM_PREEDIT_DONE message to call the XIMPreeditDoneCallback
function.

XIM_PREEDIT_DONE (IM Server -> IM library)

     2     CARD16     input-method-ID
     2     CARD16     input-context-ID

Preedit state notify

XIM_PREEDITSTATE (IM Server -> IM Library)
     2     CARD16        input-method-ID
     2     CARD16        input-context-ID
     4     BITMASK32     XIMPreeditState
           #x0000000     XIMPreeditUnknown
           #x0000001     XIMPreeditEnable
           #x0000002     XIMPreeditDisable

XIM_PREEDITSTATE message is used to call the XIMPreeditStateNotifyCallback
function.

Status Callbacks

The IM Server sends XIM_STATUS_START message to call the XIMStatusStartCallback
function.

XIM_STATUS_START (IM Server -> IM library)

     2     CARD16     input-method-ID
     2     CARD16     input-context-ID

The IM Server sends XIM_STATUS_DRAW message to call the XIMStatusDrawCallback
function.

XIM_STATUS_DRAW (IM Server -> IM library)

     2     CARD16     input-method-ID
     2     CARD16     input-context-ID
     4     CARD32     type
           #0         XIMTextType
           #1         XIMBitmapType

If type is XIMTextType, the arguments continue as follows.

     4     BITMASK32            status
           #x0000001            no string
           #x0000002            no feedback
     2     n                    length of status string
     n     STRING8              status string
     p                          unused, p = Pad(2+n)
     2     m                    byte length of feedback array
     2                          unused
     m     LISTofXIMFEEDBACK    feedback array

If type is XIMBitmapType, the arguments continue as follows.

     4     PIXMAP     pixmap data

The field "type" corresponds to the field in XIMStatusDrawCallbackStruct.

The IM Server sends XIM_STATUS_DONE message to call the XIMStatusDoneCallback
function.

XIM_STATUS_DONE (IM Server -> IM library)

     2     CARD16     input-method-ID
     2     CARD16     input-context-ID

Acknowledgements

This document represents the culmination of several years of debate and
experiments done under the auspices of the MIT X Consortium i18n working group.
Although this was a group effort, the author remains responsible for any errors
or omissions.

We would like to thank to all members of this group. And we would like to make
special thanks to the following people (in alphabetical order) for their
participation in the IM Protocol design, Hector Chan, Takashi Fujiwara, Yoshio
Horiuchi, Makoto Inada, Hiromu Inukai, Mickael Kung, Seiji Kuwari, Franky Ling,
Hiroyuki Machida, Hiroyuki Miyamoto, Frank Rojas, Bob Scheifler, Makiko
Shimamura, Shoji Sugiyama, Hidetoshi Tajima, Masaki Takeuchi, Makoto Wakamatsu,
Masaki Wakao, Nobuyuki Tanaka, Shigeru Yamada, Katsuhisa Yano, Jinsoo Yoon.

References

X Window System Protocol Version 11. Robert W. Scheifler.

Xlib - C Language X Interface". Robert W. Scheifler.

A. Common Extensions

Extension opcodes and packet names (e.g. XIM_EXT_SET_EVENT_MASK ) for
additional extensions may be registered with X Consortium. The following is a
commonly well-known extended packet.

(1) Extension to manipulate the event handling\fP

XIM_EXT_SET_EVENT_MASK message specifies the set of event masks that the IM
library should manipulate.

XIM_EXT_SET_EVENT_MASK (IM Server -> IM library)

     2     CARD16        input-method-ID
     2     CARD16        input-context-ID
     4     EVENTMASK     filter-event-mask (*1)
     4     EVENTMASK     intercept-event-mask (*2)
     4     EVENTMASK     select-event-mask (*3)
     4     EVENTMASK     forward-event-mask (*4)
     4     EVENTMASK     synchronous-event-mask (*5)

     (*1) Specify the events to be neglected by the IM library via XFilterEvent.
     (*2) Specify the events to be deselected by the IM library with XSelectInput.
     (*3) Specify the events to be selected by the IM library with XSelectInput.
     (*4) Specify all the events to be forwarded to the IM Server by the IM library.
     (*5) Specify the events to be forwarded with synchronous flag on by the IM library.

The IM library must reply XIM_SYNC_REPLY message to the IM Server. This request
is valid after the ic is created.

(2) Extension for improvement of performance.

The following requests may be used for improvement of performance.

XIM_EXT_FORWARD_KEYEVENT message may be used instead of XIM_FORWARD_EVENT
message.

XIM_EXT_FORWARD_KEYEVENT (IM Server <--> IM library)
     2     CARD16     input-method-ID
     2     CARD16     input-context-ID
     2     BITMASK16     flag
          #0001     synchronous
     2     CARD16     sequence number
     1     BYTE     xEvent.u.u.type
     1     BYTE     keycode
     2     CARD16     state
     4     CARD32     time
     4     CARD32     window

XIM_EXT_MOVE message may be used to change the spot location instead of
XIM_SET_IC_VALUES message. It is effective only if the client specified
XIMPreeditPosition.

XIM_EXT_MOVE (IM library -> IM Server)

     2     CARD16     input-method-ID
     2     CARD16     input-context-ID
     2     INT16     X
     2     INT16     Y

XIM_EXT_MOVE message is a asynchronous request.

B. Transport List

The list of transport specific IM Server address format registered

The following format represents the ATOM contained in XIM_SERVERS property and
the string returned from the request converting selection target LOCALES and
TRANSPORT.

     "{category=[value,...]}..."

The following categories are currently registered.

server;: IM Server name (used for XIM_SERVERS)
locale;: XPG4 locale name (LOCALES)
transport;: transport-specific name (TRANSPORT)

The preregistered formats for transport-specific names are as follows:

TCP/IP Names

The following syntax should be used for system internal domain names:

<local name>  ::= "local/"<hostname>":"<pathname>

Where <pathname> is a path name of socket address.

IM Server's name should be set to <pathname> to run multiple IM Server at the
same time

The following syntax should be used for Internet domain names:

<TCP name>  ::=  "tcp/"<hostname>":"<ipportnumber>

where <hostname> is either symbolic (such as expo.lcs.mit.edu) or numeric
decimal (such as 18.30.0.212). The <ipportnumber> is the port on which the IM
Server is listening for connections. For example:

tcp/expo.lcs.mit.edu:8012
tcp/18.30.0.212:7890

DECnet Names

The following syntax should be used for DECnet names:

<DECnet name>  ::=  "decnet/"<nodename>"::IMSERVER$"<objname>

where <nodename> is either symbolic (such as SRVNOD) or the numeric decimal
form of the DECnet address (such as 44.70). The <objname> is normal,
case-insensitive DECnet object name. For example:

DECNET/SRVNOD::IMSERVER$DEFAULT
decnet/44.70::IMSERVER$other

X Names

The following syntax should be used for X names:

<X name>  ::=  "X/"

If a given category has multiple values, the value is evaluated in order of
setting.

C. Protocol Number

Major Protocol number

XIM_CONNECT                                  #001
XIM_CONNECT_REPLY                            #002
XIM_DISCONNECT                               #003
XIM_DISCONNECT_REPLY                         #004

XIM_AUTH_REQUIRED                            #010
XIM_AUTH_REPLY                               #011
XIM_AUTH_NEXT                                #012
XIM_AUTH_SETUP                               #013
XIM_AUTH_NG                                  #014

XIM_ERROR                                    #020

XIM_OPEN                                     #030
XIM_OPEN_REPLY                               #031
XIM_CLOSE                                    #032
XIM_CLOSE_REPLY                              #033
XIM_REGISTER_TRIGGERKEYS                     #034
XIM_TRIGGER_NOTIFY                           #035
XIM_TRIGGER_NOTIFY_REPLY                     #036
XIM_SET_EVENT_MASK                           #037
XIM_ENCODING_NEGOTIATION                     #038
XIM_ENCODING_NEGOTIATION_REPLY               #039
XIM_QUERY_EXTENSION                          #040
XIM_QUERY_EXTENSION_REPLY                    #041
XIM_SET_IM_VALUES                            #042
XIM_SET_IM_VALUES_REPLY                      #043
XIM_GET_IM_VALUES                            #044
XIM_GET_IM_VALUES_REPLY                      #045

XIM_CREATE_IC                                #050
XIM_CREATE_IC_REPLY                          #051
XIM_DESTROY_IC                               #052
XIM_DESTROY_IC_REPLY                         #053
XIM_SET_IC_VALUES                            #054
XIM_SET_IC_VALUES_REPLY                      #055
XIM_GET_IC_VALUES                            #056
XIM_GET_IC_VALUES_REPLY                      #057
XIM_SET_IC_FOCUS                             #058
XIM_UNSET_IC_FOCUS                           #059
XIM_FORWARD_EVENT                            #060
XIM_SYNC                                     #061
XIM_SYNC_REPLY                               #062
XIM_COMMIT                                   #063
XIM_RESET_IC                                 #064
XIM_RESET_IC_REPLY                           #065

XIM_GEOMETRY                                 #070
XIM_STR_CONVERSION                           #071
XIM_STR_CONVERSION_REPLY                     #072
XIM_PREEDIT_START                            #073
XIM_PREEDIT_START_REPLY                      #074
XIM_PREEDIT_DRAW                             #075
XIM_PREEDIT_CARET                            #076
XIM_PREEDIT_CARET_REPLY                      #077
XIM_PREEDIT_DONE                             #078
XIM_STATUS_START                             #079
XIM_STATUS_DRAW                              #080
XIM_STATUS_DONE                              #081
XIM_PREEDITSTATE                             #082

(*) The IM Server's extension protocol number should be more than #128.

D. Implementation Tips

(1) FrontEnd Method

FrontEnd method is recognized as a performance acceleration by the trade off of
the variety of the reliability.

In order to use the FrontEnd method, the IM library must query the IM Server to
see if the FrontEnd extension is available. The query is made by using the
XIM_QUERY_EXTENSION message. The IM Server may send XIM_EXT_SET_EVENT_MASK
message with intercept-event-mask, forward-event-mask, and
synchronous-event-mask values set after replying XIM_QUERY_EXTENSION_REPLY
message.

FrontEnd method can be implemented in a couple of ways depending on how the IM
Server utilize XIM_EXT_SET_EVENT_MASK message.

One approach is to update both of the input mask and the filter-event-mask
depending on the preeidting state. The sample protocol sequence using the
static event flow is as follows:

The flow of events

To pursuit a maximum performance regardless of the preediting mode, the IM
Server may use the dynamic event flow with the following sample protocol
sequence.

The flow of events

This method can reduce the XIM protocol traffic dramatically by updating
intercept-event-mask and select-event-mask accordingly. The tradeoff of this
performance improvement is that the key events may be lost or disordered in
some particular situation, such as when the user types the keyboard in
following sequence really fast:

<preediting on key>"some strings"<preediting off key>"another string"

Since this method requires the input mask updates to the both the IM Server and
Xlib when turning on and off the preediting, and there is a time lag till the
requests take effect when two client issues the input mask updates
simultaneously.

Another approach of the FrontEnd method is to update the filter-event-mask
depending on the preediting state and not to update the input mask. The IM
Server must register both of the preediting on key list and off key list by
XIM_REGISTER_TRIGGERKEYS message. In this method, Both the IM Server and the IM
client select the same events on the same client's window, so that the events
are delivered to both of the IM Server and the client. The preediting on and
off states are expressed by whether the key events are filtered or not. The
sample protocol sequence are as follows:

<<Using static event flow>>

The flow of events

<<Using the dynamic event flow>>

The flow of events

This method does not have the problem of the time lag when going across the
preediting on and off mode, however, the amount of the performance acceleration
is not as good as the method described above.

In general, the FrontEnd method requires some synchronization to some of the X
protocols, such as the ChangeWindowAttribute protocol for the event mask change
or the GrabKey protocol, since it relies on the X's principal event dispatching
mechanism. Any X protocol bindings do not consider the synchronization might
cause some mis-synchronization between the IM clients and the IM Server.

(2) Transport Layer

The Xlib XIM implementation is layered into three functions, a protocol layer,
an interface layer and a transport layer. The purpose of this layering is to
make the protocol independent of transport implementation. Each function of
these layers are:

The       implements overall function of XIM and calls the interface layer
protocol  functions when it needs to communicate to IM Server.
layer

The       separates the implementation of the transport layer from the protocol
interface layer, in other words, it provides implementation independent hook
layer     for the transport layer functions.

The       handles actual data communication with IM Server. It is done by a set
transport of several functions named transporters.
layer

The interface layer and the transport layer make various communication channels
usable such as X Protocol, TCP/IP, DECnet or STREAM. The following is a sample
implementation for the transporter using the X connection. Refer to "xtrans"
for the transporter using Socket Transport.

At the beginning of the X Transport connection for the XIM transport mechanism,
two different windows must be created either in an Xlib XIM or in an IM Server,
with which the Xlib and the IM Server exchange the XIM transports by using the
ClientMessage events and Window Properties. In the following, the window
created by the Xlib is referred as the "client communication window", and on
the other hand, the window created by the IM Server is referred as the "IMS
communication window".

Connection

In order to establish a connection, a communication window is created. A
ClientMessage in the following event's format is sent to the owner window of
XIM_SERVER selection, which the IM Server has created.

Refer to "The Input Method Protocol" for the XIM_SERVER atom.

Table D.1. The ClientMessage sent to the IMS window.

┌────────────────────┬────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  Structure Member  │Contents                                    │
├───────┬────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│int    │type        │ClientMessage                               │
├───────┼────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│u_long │serial      │Set by the X Window System                  │
├───────┼────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│Bool   │send_event  │Set by the X Window System                  │
├───────┼────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│Display│*display    │The display to which connects               │
├───────┼────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│Window │window      │IMS Window ID                               │
├───────┼────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│Atom   │message_type│XInternAtom(display, "_XIM_XCONNECT", False)│
├───────┼────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│int    │format      │32                                          │
├───────┼────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│long   │data.l[0]   │client communication window ID              │
├───────┼────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│long   │data.l[1]   │client-major-transport-version (*1)         │
├───────┼────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│long   │data.l[2]   │client-major-transport-version (*1)         │
└───────┴────────────┴────────────────────────────────────────────┘


In order to establish the connection (to notify the IM Server communication
window), the IM Server sends a ClientMessage in the following event's format to
the client communication window.

Table D.2. The ClientMessage sent by the IM Server.

┌────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  Structure Member  │Contents                                             │
├───────┬────────────┼─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│int    │type        │ClientMessage                                        │
├───────┼────────────┼─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│u_long │serial      │Set by the X Window System                           │
├───────┼────────────┼─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│Bool   │send_event  │Set by the X Window System                           │
├───────┼────────────┼─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│Display│*display    │The display to which connects                        │
├───────┼────────────┼─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│Window │window      │client communication window ID                       │
├───────┼────────────┼─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│Atom   │message_type│XInternAtom(display, "_XIM_XCONNECT", False)         │
├───────┼────────────┼─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│int    │format      │32                                                   │
├───────┼────────────┼─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│long   │data.l[0]   │IMS communication window ID                          │
├───────┼────────────┼─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│long   │data.l[1]   │server-major-transport-version (*1)                  │
├───────┼────────────┼─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│long   │data.l[2]   │server-minor-transport-version (*1)                  │
├───────┼────────────┼─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│long   │data.l[3]   │dividing size between ClientMessage and Property (*2)│
└───────┴────────────┴─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘


(*1) major/minor-transport-version

The read/write method is decided by the combination of major/
minor-transport-version, as follows:

Table D.3. The read/write method and the major/minor-transport-version

┌─────────────────┬─────────────────────────────────────┐
│Transport-version│read/write                           │
├────────┬────────┼─────────────────────────────────────┤
│major   │minor   │                                     │
├────────┼────────┼─────────────────────────────────────┤
│        │0       │only-CM & Property-with-CM           │
│        ├────────┼─────────────────────────────────────┤
│0       │1       │only-CM & multi-CM                   │
│        ├────────┼─────────────────────────────────────┤
│        │2       │only-CM & multi-CM & Property-with-CM│
├────────┼────────┼─────────────────────────────────────┤
│1       │0       │PropertyNotify                       │
├────────┼────────┼─────────────────────────────────────┤
│        │0       │only-CM & PropertyNotify             │
│2       ├────────┼─────────────────────────────────────┤
│        │1       │only-CM & multi-CM & PropertyNotify  │
└────────┴────────┴─────────────────────────────────────┘


only-CM            :    data is sent via a ClientMessage
multi-CM           :    data is sent via multiple ClientMessages
Property-with-CM   :    data is written in Property, and its Atom
                        is send via ClientMessage
PropertyNotify     :    data is written in Property, and its Atom
                        is send via PropertyNotify


The method to decide major/minor-transport-version is as follows:

  • The client sends 0 as major/minor-transport-version to the IM Server. The
    client must support all methods in Table D-3. The client may send another
    number as major/minor-transport-version to use other method than the above
    in the future.

  • The IM Server sends its major/minor-transport-version number to the client.
    The client sends data using the method specified by the IM Server.

  • If major/minor-transport-version number is not available, it is regarded as
    0.

(*2) dividing size between ClientMessage and Property

If data is sent via both of multi-CM and Property, specify the dividing size
between ClientMessage and Property. The data, which is smaller than this size,
is sent via multi-CM (or only-CM), and the data, which is lager than this size,
is sent via Property.

read/write

The data is transferred via either ClientMessage or Window Property in the X
Window System.

Format for the data from the Client to the IM Server

ClientMessage

If data is sent via ClientMessage event, the format is as follows:

Table D.4. The ClientMessage event's format (first or middle)

┌────────────────────┬────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  Structure Member  │Contents                                    │
├───────┬────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│int    │type        │ClientMessage                               │
├───────┼────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│u_long │serial      │Set by the X Window System                  │
├───────┼────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│Bool   │send_event  │Set by the X Window System                  │
├───────┼────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│Display│*display    │The display to which connects               │
├───────┼────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│Window │window      │IMS communication window ID                 │
├───────┼────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│Atom   │message_type│XInternAtom(display, "_XIM_MOREDATA", False)│
├───────┼────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│int    │format      │8                                           │
├───────┼────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│char   │data.b[20]  │(read/write DATA : 20 byte)                 │
└───────┴────────────┴────────────────────────────────────────────┘


Table D.5. The ClientMessage event's format (only or last)

┌────────────────────┬────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  Structure Member  │Contents                                    │
├───────┬────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│int    │type        │ClientMessage                               │
├───────┼────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│u_long │serial      │Set by the X Window System                  │
├───────┼────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│Bool   │send_event  │Set by the X Window System                  │
├───────┼────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│Display│*display    │The display to which connects               │
├───────┼────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│Window │window      │IMS communication window ID                 │
├───────┼────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│Atom   │message_type│XInternAtom(display, "_XIM_PROTOCOL", False)│
├───────┼────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│int    │format      │8                                           │
├───────┼────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│char   │data.b[20]  │(read/write DATA : MAX 20 byte) (*1)        │
└───────┴────────────┴────────────────────────────────────────────┘


(*1) If the data is smaller than 20 byte, all data other than available data
must be 0.

Property

In the case of large data, data will be sent via the Window Property for the
efficiency. There are the following two methods to notify Property, and
transport-version is decided which method is used.

  • The XChangeProperty function is used to store data in the client
    communication window, and Atom of the stored data is notified to the IM
    Server via ClientMessage event.

  • The XChangeProperty function is used to store data in the client
    communication window, and Atom of the stored data is notified to the IM
    Server via PropertyNotify event.

The arguments of the XChangeProperty are as follows:

Table D.6. The XChangeProperty event's format

┌─────────────────┬─────────────────────────────┐
│    Argument     │Contents                     │
├───────┬─────────┼─────────────────────────────┤
│Display│*display │The display to which connects│
├───────┼─────────┼─────────────────────────────┤
│Window │window   │IMS communication window ID  │
├───────┼─────────┼─────────────────────────────┤
│Atom   │property │read/write property Atom (*1)│
├───────┼─────────┼─────────────────────────────┤
│Atom   │type     │XA_STRING                    │
├───────┼─────────┼─────────────────────────────┤
│int    │format   │8                            │
├───────┼─────────┼─────────────────────────────┤
│int    │mode     │PropModeAppend               │
├───────┼─────────┼─────────────────────────────┤
│u_char │*data    │read/write DATA              │
├───────┼─────────┼─────────────────────────────┤
│int    │nelements│length of DATA               │
└───────┴─────────┴─────────────────────────────┘


The read/write property ATOM allocates the following strings by XInternAtom.

"_clientXXX"

The client changes the property with the mode of PropModeAppend and the IM
Server will read it with the delete mode i.e. (delete = True).

If Atom is notified via ClientMessage event, the format of the ClientMessage is
as follows:

Table D.7. The ClientMessage event's format to send Atom of property

┌────────────────────┬────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Structure Members  │Contents                                    │
├───────┬────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│int    │type        │ClientMessage                               │
├───────┼────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│u_long │serial      │Set by the X Window System                  │
├───────┼────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│Bool   │send_event  │Set by the X Window System                  │
├───────┼────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│Display│*display    │The display to which connects               │
├───────┼────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│Window │window      │IMS communication window ID                 │
├───────┼────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│Atom   │message_type│XInternAtom(display, "_XIM_PROTOCOL", False)│
├───────┼────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│int    │format      │32                                          │
├───────┼────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│long   │data.l[0]   │length of read/write property Atom          │
├───────┼────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│long   │data.l[1]   │read/write property Atom                    │
└───────┴────────────┴────────────────────────────────────────────┘


Format for the data from the IM Server to the Client

ClientMessage

The format of the ClientMessage is as follows:

Table D.8. The ClientMessage event's format (first or middle)

┌────────────────────┬────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Structure Members  │Contents                                    │
├───────┬────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│int    │type        │ClientMessage                               │
├───────┼────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│u_long │serial      │Set by the X Window System                  │
├───────┼────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│Bool   │send_event  │Set by the X Window System                  │
├───────┼────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│Display│*display    │The display to which connects               │
├───────┼────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│Window │window      │client communication window ID              │
├───────┼────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│Atom   │message_type│XInternAtom(display, "_XIM_MOREDATA", False)│
├───────┼────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│int    │format      │8                                           │
├───────┼────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│char   │data.b[20]  │(read/write DATA : 20 byte)                 │
└───────┴────────────┴────────────────────────────────────────────┘


Table D.9. The ClientMessage event's format (only or last)

┌────────────────────┬────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Structure Members  │Contents                                    │
├───────┬────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│int    │type        │ClientMessage                               │
├───────┼────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│u_long │serial      │Set by the X Window System                  │
├───────┼────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│Bool   │send_event  │Set by the X Window System                  │
├───────┼────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│Display│*display    │The display to which connects               │
├───────┼────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│Window │window      │client communication window ID              │
├───────┼────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│Atom   │message_type│XInternAtom(display, "_XIM_PROTOCOL", False)│
├───────┼────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│int    │format      │8                                           │
├───────┼────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│char   │data.b[20]  │(read/write DATA : MAX 20 byte) (*1)        │
└───────┴────────────┴────────────────────────────────────────────┘


(*1) If the data size is smaller than 20 bytes, all data other than available
data must be 0.

Property

In the case of large data, data will be sent via the Window Property for the
efficiency. There are the following two methods to notify Property, and
transport-version is decided which method is used.

  • The XChangeProperty function is used to store data in the IMS communication
    window, and Atom of the property is sent via the ClientMessage event.

  • The XChangeProperty function is used to store data in the IMS communication
    window, and Atom of the property is sent via PropertyNotify event.

The arguments of the XChangeProperty are as follows:

Table D.10. The XChangeProperty event's format

┌─────────────────┬──────────────────────────────┐
│    Argument     │Contents                      │
├───────┬─────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│Display│*display │The display which to connects │
├───────┼─────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│Window │window   │client communication window ID│
├───────┼─────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│Atom   │property │read/write property Atom (*1) │
├───────┼─────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│Atom   │type     │XA_STRING                     │
├───────┼─────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│int    │format   │8                             │
├───────┼─────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│int    │mode     │PropModeAppend                │
├───────┼─────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│u_char │*data    │read/write DATA               │
├───────┼─────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│int    │nelements│length of DATA                │
└───────┴─────────┴──────────────────────────────┘


(*1) The read/write property ATOM allocates some strings, which are not
allocated by the client, by XInternAtom.

The IM Server changes the property with the mode of PropModeAppend and the
client reads it with the delete mode, i.e. (delete = True).

If Atom is notified via ClientMessage event, the format of the ClientMessage is
as follows:

Table D.11. The ClientMessage event's format to send Atom of property

┌────────────────────┬────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  Structure Member  │Contents                                    │
├───────┬────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│int    │type        │ClientMessage                               │
├───────┼────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│u_long │serial      │Set by the X Window System                  │
├───────┼────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│Bool   │send_event  │Set by the X Window System                  │
├───────┼────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│Display│*display    │The display to which connects               │
├───────┼────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│Window │window      │client communication window ID              │
├───────┼────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│Atom   │message_type│XInternAtom(display, "_XIM_PROTOCOL", False)│
├───────┼────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│int    │format      │32                                          │
├───────┼────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│long   │data.l[0]   │length of read/write property ATOM          │
├───────┼────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│long   │data.l[1]   │read/write property ATOM                    │
└───────┴────────────┴────────────────────────────────────────────┘


Closing Connection

If the client disconnect with the IM Server, shutdown function should free the
communication window properties and etc..

