Introduction

Silo is an on-demand, remote, disposable browsing environment that executes browser code without taxing or exposing local resources. The Expanded Language and Keyboard enhancement allows Silo and Toolbox users to natively interact with Foreign Language web content. This includes the ability to enter information using double-byte character sets, foreign-language keyboard layouts, and virtual foreign-language keyboards.


There are three main component enhancements that accomplish this. First, Silo and Toolbox support the native use of IMEs for Asian character sets.  Second, support for physical foreign keyboards is fully supported.  Third, functionality has been added to Silo and Toolbox configurations so that users may utilize virtual foreign language keyboards to generate native language characters.

 

Native Support for Operating System IMEs

In order to use native IMEs, no special configuration is needed. Simply enable the foreign language of your choice and use the IME normally. The characters will be passed to Silo’s remote browser seamlessly.  

 

For example, in this screenshot, Traditional Chinese has been enabled and a character has been typed into the keyboard.  Microsoft’s IME displays a list of possible characters:

 

 

 

Next, a character is selected and inserted into the Search field:

 

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Support for Foreign Keyboards

Most, if not all, foreign keyboards are fully supported in Silo and Toolbox.  If you are already using a foreign keyboard you should be able to simply launch the product and use that keyboard.  Again, no special configuration other than the installation of the keyboard and the desktop settings is needed to make the keyboard work with native apps. 

 

Virtual Foreign Language Keyboards

In some cases, it may be necessary to utilize a foreign keyboard within Silo or Toolbox without using a different physical keyboard and without loading those language settings into your local operating system.  In these cases, you can use the virtual keyboard to get access to most foreign language keyboards.


Additionally, We also offer Google Input Tools Extension, which gives access to more than 80 languages and input methods. Although there may be some language overlap between the two, there are certain crucial languages available in the Google Input Tools which are not present in Silo for Research. For more information, kindly download our Google Input Tools Extension User Guide, which is attached at the end of the article.
 
This keyboard switching policy is disabled by default, The Silo Administrator can enable and provision both the Silo Keyboard and Google Input Tools Extension by following the steps below:

 

  • Log into Silo Admin Console
  • Select the organization(s) for which you would like to enable this feature.
  • Click Policies
  • Click Advanced
  • Click on Keyboard Switching
  • Click Virtual Keyboard Enabled, if not enabled already
  • Check the feature you would like to enable (Silo Keyboard and Google Input Tools) both can be enabled at the same time. 
  • Click Allow-sub-organization admins to modify policy if you want the policy to be modifiable by sub-organization admins.
  • Click Save

 

Note: By default, all sub-organizations will inherit the policy setting unless specified otherwise by you or a sub-organization admin (if allowed).

 

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*NOTE: the function of the secondary keyboard is simply to provide a default keyboard to switch to. The user can change keyboards at any time.

 

Now, Launch Toolbox (or re-log into Silo) and press the Keyboard Icon. Then select from the Keyboard options.

 

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You can keep the default language or update it to another value.  At the Soft Keypad, press Show, and the virtual keyboard will appear on the screen:

 

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You may type with the keyboard or use your local physical keyboard to type in this language.

 You may switch to any supported language you like, and you may choose to show the virtual keyboard or simply type locally to get the results you want. 

 

IMPORTANT

Firefox, Chromium, and Edge browsers may have an issue entering the PIN with IME keyboards in any client (Web Client, Installed Client).


 

Any keyboard setting that triggers the IME may interfere with PIN authentication, especially when using the web client. Latin and non-English keyboard settings may work if the keyboard can type the exact letter seen on PIN auth... things like é and ñ don't work for e and n. Therefore, the only safe way is to use an English on-screen keyboard.

 

Additional Notes  

IME support for Windows is available on version 2.9.3 and beyond.  You may need to upgrade to get IMEs to work in Silo.  

 

Please contact Support if you have any additional questions and/or require further information.