Introduction
Silo is an on-demand, remote, disposable browsing environment which 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 which accomplish this. First, Silo and Toolbox support 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:
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.
This feature is disabled by default, so you will first need to enable this in the Admin Console. Simply navigate to the Keyboard Switching policy in the Policy Panel and press Edit, enable the virtual keyboard, select a secondary keyboard, and press Save:
*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 Ellipsis Icon. Then press Keyboard
A new toolbar should appear at the bottom of the screen
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 screen
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 auth, 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.