Text Services Framework (Windows)

Purpose

Microsoft Windows Text Services Framework (TSF) is a system service included in Windows XP and later versions of the Windows operating system. TSF provides a simple and scalable framework for the delivery of advanced text input and natural language technologies. TSF can be enabled in applications, or as a TSF text service. A TSF text service provides multilingual support and delivers text services such as keyboard processors, handwriting recognition, and speech recognition.

Where Applicable

Text Services Framework is applicable for Windows-based computers using text services and Windows XP or later versions of the operating system.

Developer Audience

Text Services Framework is designed for use by Component Object Model (COM) programmers using the C/C++ programming languages. Programmers should be familiar with text services for Windows-based computers. Knowledge of handwriting recognition, speech recognition, and programming for multilingual support is recommended.

Run-Time Requirements

Text Services Framework runs on the Microsoft Windows XP operating system. It is available as a redistributable for Windows 98, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows NT 4.0, and Windows 2000. For more information about the requirements of specific API elements, see the Requirements section in the reference documentation. To download the latest redistributable, go to Windows Server 2003 SP1 Platform SDK.

In This Section

Topic	Description
Overview	General information about Text Services Framework.
Using	Information about using Text Services Framework.
Reference	Documentation about Text Services Framework interfaces, methods, structures, and other code elements.
Glossary	Alphabetical listing of technical terms used in this documentation.

Additional Resources

What You Should Know Before Reading This Guide

For the purposes of the Text Services Framework Help, the term "application" refers to a TSF-enabled application, the term "text service" refers to a TSF text service, and the term "manager" refers to the TSF manager. Each term applies as stated herein unless otherwise specified. Text service providers should provide digital signatures with their binary executables.

Sample Code

Sample TSF applications and text services, ready to compile, are located through the Downloads tab at the MSDN Code Gallery. The following samples are available to demonstrate the creation and use of a customized text service.