In order to let a user input the DBCS characters from a keyboard, the DBCS system provides the DBCS keyboard functions and the input method functions. The DBCS keyboard allows the user to type in the DBCS characters from the keyboard, and the input methods allow the user to convert some DBCS characters (e.g Kana character) into some other DBCS characters (e.g. Kanji, Chinese character).
In English, there are alphabets, numerals and symbols. Most of them can be typed in from the keyboard by one single key stroke or one key stroke with a shift key.
In Chinese based languages, (Chinese, Korean and Japanese) beside the alphanumeric characters, there are additional characters defined as DBCS characters.
Note: You do not have to read all the explanations in this section if you already know what a DBCS keyboard and a DBCS input method look like. However, the Keyboard and Input Methods in DBCS PM and WM_CHAR are recommended, because they tell you what to do with the DBCS keyboard in the DBCS PM.