Keyman allows you to type in your favorite language in any program. In this respect, the application is a convenient alternative to Windows built-in keyboard feature, as it supports a much wider range of languages than any other program of this type. The tool has a core program, which you can download from the developer’s site. Additionally, you need to install other files with the specific keyboard layouts, which you can do from within the main program.
The tool runs unobtrusively from the System Tray. By clicking on its icon there, you can access its menu. For instance, it lets you quickly switch between the installed languages or show the on-screen keyboard. Likewise, you can open the Character Map, which contains an impressive number of letters and symbols you can insert while you type. Since finding the desired character in such a long list can become really hard, it is very convenient that there is the possibility of searching by different properties. Similarly, the Font Helper is intended to help you find the right character on your keyboard.
By opening the Configuration window, you can manage and install keyboard layouts. Luckily, it is possible to use as many different layouts as you need. Likewise, it lets you associate keyboards to one or multiple languages. I am very pleased with the possibility of building my own keyboard layouts using another tool (Keyman Developer) by the same developer. Moreover, also from Configuration, you can access the list of hotkeys and even set different combinations. Finally, in terms of compatibility, it is excellent news that the program supports Unicode, which means that anything you type will remain readable from everywhere.
All in all, Keyman is ideal for those users needing to switch between keyboard languages frequently. Similarly, it is very likely to be the solution when your language is not readily supported by the operating system. My only dissatisfaction is that I could not find a way to use an extended on-screen keyboard. There are versions of this product for many platforms (Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS).
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