OS X Mountain Lion no longer supports pinyin Chinese input with tones?

[Colin Ho]

I use Macbook Air. Since updated to OS X Mountain Lion, I don't seem to be able to input Chinese using Pinyin with tones, both in Simplified and Traditional versions. For example to type "蘋果電腦“, I used to type ping2guo3dian4nao3 <space> to get that, but in the new OS, pingguodiannao<space> to get that. I like tones because tones can narrow down the subsets of choices for Chinese characters during typing. In general, that should speed up typing Chinese. Also, it's a better way for me to learn Mandarin tones are essential part of the language.

 

Not sure I missed some settings so if this is still available in the new OS... in previous OS, I only needed to uncheck "Use dynamic prompt"...

 

Thank you.

[Mengye Ren]

They should support it.  Maybe try a different input method.  However as a Chinese user I have never found it useful (usually "intelligent" input methods will auto-match the frequent used phrases).

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[Yohmi]

This is interesting, the exact opposite thing happened to the Zhuyin input. Like Meng Ye, I'm used to rely on auto-match, and it works pretty well. But since 10.8, it's not possible to type Zhuyin without tones anymore…

Very strange.

[TenThousandThings]

It would appear that dynamic prompt is now permanently on in both the SC and TC Pinyin input methods. There is no longer any way to turn it off in the Preferences -- thus the behavior you're experiencing.

Curiously, both SCIM and TCIM English Help still list input by Pinyin + tones, but this just seems incorrect. When I have time, I'll switch the system over to Chinese and see if the Help there is different. Apple claims to have replaced the Pinyin input methods, so I'm going to guess it is gone for good. Unfortunately, the priorities of Chinese-language learners are not given much weight in the decision making with regard to Chinese input methods. It's really about what native speakers prefer.

Eric

[TenThousandThings]

On Tuesday, July 31, 2012 6:42:10 AM UTC-4, TenThousandThings wrote:

When I have time, I'll switch the system over to Chinese and see if the Help there is different.

 The Simplified Chinese Help is no different. Just like the English Help. I think it's a mistake by the person who updated it -- they didn't realize that removal of the dynamic prompt preference means no more Pinyin + tones input.

[Ray Tsang]

Interesting... I was looking at the com.apple.inputmethod.TCIM.plist and "DynamicPromptPinyin" was indeed set to false.  Does anyone have an old copy of com.apple.inputmethod.TCIM.plist from earlier OS X?  It should be in ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.inputmethod.TCIM.plist

[chyn...@gmail.com]

Hi I had exactly the same problem. And I agree they just made a mistake. I think we should collectively complained about this. Any idea how to?

But i must say, if you type a phrase, it can guess pretty well. But for  individual words to use tones, you can actually do it.

If you go to the top language icon area, the "拼“，you drag down the menu, you will see "select next tone" and in that way, you can select individual words.

But when can't they incorporate tones in individual words with the phrase guessing? should it be much quicker and precise? It escapes me.

 

On Saturday, July 28, 2012 6:58:00 AM UTC-4, Colin Ho wrote:

[Francisco Arechiga]

Ray, where you ever able to import the TCIM.plist file from an earlier OS? I just upgraded and encountered this issue. I would love to get back up and running with Dynamic Prompt pinyin to add the tones.

Francisco

[Ste M11]

@"Ray Tsang"

The contents of the file you're looking for, from Mac OS 10.6.8:

---

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">

<plist version="1.0">

<dict>

<key>LaunchTCIMToolOption</key>

<integer>1</integer>

</dict>

</plist>

---

[alphee8]

Any update on input pinyin with tones on Mac? Thanks.

On Saturday, July 28, 2012 6:58:00 AM UTC-4, Colin Ho wrote:

[Rick Yu]

Hi, 

Did anyone figure out how to overcome this issue?  I was using Snow Leopard and just bought a new Macbook Pro with Maverick and it's driving me nuts!  Thanks!

[Marcy]

Hello, I tried to post a reply here a few weeks ago but I think my internet wasn't good and didn't submit my post.. anyway I know a way to do what you want I think.

(I'm on OSX 10.8.2)

So what you can do is choose a tone for one character you are writing. I don't think it can do a string of characters at the same time, which is unfortunate. What I'm talking about is already in the code within your Mac so no need to download anything. It is kind of sad, though, because it has been there the whole time.. while we've sat here and struggled. :(

Switch to your Pinyin - Simplified keyboard or traditional. Type in one pinyin character like "shi". Before you press the spacebar, instead, hold down the "Option" key and hit "tab" multiple times. What you're doing now is toggling through all four tones. Stop at the one you want and it will provide the characters for that tone.   

I had to search like crazy on Google to find this. It isn't widely spoken of but a useful thing nonetheless.

On Saturday, July 28, 2012 6:58:00 AM UTC-4, Colin Ho wrote: