The Expanded Language and Keyboard enhancement enables native input interaction when visiting foreign-language websites. This includes the ability to enter information using double-byte character sets, foreign-language keyboard layouts, and virtual foreign-language keyboards
This enhancement is delivered through three key components:
1. Native support for Input Method Editor (IME): enables seamless input of foreign character sets
2. Compatibility with physical keyboards: utilizes native foreign keyboard layouts
3. Virtual Keyboards integrated into Silo for Safe Access and Silo for Research (Toolbox) to facilitate on-screen character input in various languages
Native Support for Input Method Editor (IME)
No special configuration is needed in order to use native IMEs. Simply enable the foreign language of your choice, and use the IME as you would normally. The characters will be passed seamlessly over to the Silo environment
For example: Traditional Chinese has been enabled and a character has been typed using the keyboard.
Microsoft’s IME displays a list of possible characters:
Next, a character is selected and inserted into the Search field:
Support for Physical Foreign Keyboards
Most, if not all, foreign keyboards are fully supported in both Silo for Safe Access and Silo for Research (Toolbox) —simply launch Silo and begin using a foreign keyboard. No special configuration is needed, other than the physical installation of the keyboard, along with any additional system settings to make the keyboard compatible with the Operating System
Virtual Keyboards
In some cases, it may be necessary to utilize our built-in virtual keyboard to interact with supported foreign language websites
We also offer Google Input Tools, which gives access to more than 80 languages and input methods. Please note that certain languages may be present in Google Input Tools, which may not be available in our built-in Virtual Keyboard
Please refer to our Google Input Tools User Guide for more information
The Keyboard Switching policy is disabled by default. However, a Silo Administrator can enable and provision both the Silo Keyboard and Google Input Tools extension by following the steps below:
- Launch the Silo Admin Console, then navigate to the org or sub-org you wish to enable the keyboard feature
- Click Manage right below Policies, followed by Advanced > Keyboard Switching
- Click Enabled next to Virtual Keyboard (if not enabled already)
- Select the feature you would like to enable (e.g., Silo Keyboard and Google Input Tools) — both can be enabled at the same time
- Click Allow-sub-organization admins to modify policy if you wish to grant control to sub-org Silo Admins
- Click Save then start a new Silo session
Important: By design, all sub-orgs will automatically inherit top-level org policies, unless specified otherwise by a Silo Admin
More Info: the purpose of the secondary keyboard is to provide a default keyboard to switch over to. End-users are able to change keyboards at any time
After starting a new session, click the Silo Keyboard Icon, then select from the following options:
You may 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:
You may type with the keyboard or use your local physical keyboard to begin typing in this language
Important:
Chromium, Edge and Firefox web browsers may face an issue during the PIN authentication when an IME keyboard is present
In general, any keyboard setting that activates the IME may interfere with Silo's 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 in the PIN authentication display — characters like é and ñ do not work as a substitute for e and n. However, using a US English on-screen keyboard can help get around this limitation
Please contact Support for any additional questions