The following section describes the implementation of language bar and status window in Scaleform on Win32. Scaleform 2.2 and older versions do not have these features and users can skip this section if not using Scaleform 3.0 and higher versions.

Scaleform 3.0 introduces two new IME features- the Language Bar that allows the user to change the current input language and IME and the Status Window for changing the conversion mode of the currently active IME. The addition of these to the previously available Input Method Editor (IME) features – composition string, candidate window and the reading window provides a complete IME UI solution, allowing the user to switch between input languages and type in East Asian language text in a full screen mode game with the same comfort and ease of use as in a windowed application.

The Language bar is a floating toolbar that appears on your desktop automatically when you add handwriting recognition, speech recognition, or an IME as a method editor. The buttons and options that are displayed on the language bar depend on the text services you have installed, and on the program that is currently active. For example, Microsoft Word 2003 supports speech recognition, while Notepad does not. If both programs are running, the speech buttons are displayed when Word is active, but disappear when Notepad is made the active program. Similarly, if the user adds a second language or keyboard layout, it can be selected from the list of installed languages on the language bar.

Note that the Windows language bar can be used to turn on text services such as writing pad and speech recognition in addition to switching the input language. Scaleform implementation of the language bar is restricted to be used for the purpose of changing the current input language or IME.

Status window is a small interactive window that conveys the conversion mode state of the currently used IME. The information provided by the status window and its shape and location can vary widely depending on the IME being used. The user can usually interact with the status window by clicking on it to change the conversion mode of the IME. For Chinese IME’s, the status window usually appears on the bottom left part of the screen while for Japanese and Korean, the status window usually appears integrated with the language bar.