ATOK
{{Short description|Proprietary Japanese input method editor}}
{{Infobox software
| name = ATOK
| logo = ATOK logo 2018.svg
| screenshot =
| caption =
| developer = JustSystems
| released = 1983
| latest release version = ATOK for Windows (Tech Ver.34)
| latest release date = February 1, 2024{{Cite web|url=https://forest.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/1566912.html|script-title=ja:新機能「ATOKパーソナライズドコレクト」搭載の最新「ATOK for Windows」が提供開始|last=的場|first=奏瑛|date=2014-02-07|website=Windows Forest|access-date=2024-10-29}}
| operating_system = Microsoft Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android
| genre = Input method editor
| license = Trialware
| website = {{URL|http://www.atok.com}}
}}
ATOK ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|eɪ|t|ɔː|k}}; {{lang|ja|エイトック}} {{IPA|ja|eitokku}}) is a Japanese input method editor (IME) produced by JustSystems, a Japanese software company.
ATOK is an IME with roots from KTIS (Kana-Kanji Transfer Input System) come with JS-WORD, the Japanese word processor software for PC-100 in 1983,{{Cite journal|last=国友|first=正彦|year=1989|script-title=ja:最新日本語入力FP対決 ATOK 7 VS VJE-β Ver.2.1|journal=ASCII|language=Japanese|volume=13|issue=9|pages=249–256|issn=0386-5428}} but it now supports a variety of platforms including macOS, Windows, Android, and iOS.
Once ATOK meant Automatic Transfer Of Kana-kanji.{{Citation needed|date=April 2019}} Now, it means Advanced Technology Of Kana-kanji Transfer. It is occasionally taken to stand for Awa-TOKushima, site of the headquarters of JustSystems, or Alphabet TO Kanji.{{Cite web|url=https://atok.com/about/system/|script-title=ja:日本語入力システムとは|date=2010-05-27|website=ATOK.com|access-date=2019-04-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190421162714/https://atok.com/about/system/|archive-date=2019-04-21}}
Functions
Functions vary between versions for different platforms, and the following list is not exhaustive.
- Search kanji from phonetic input – both using romaji keyboard and kana keyboard.
- Search kanji by radical.
- Drawing pad for handwriting recognition.
- Reverse retrieval of phonetic input – both to kunyomi and onyomi.
- Text templates for standard phrases, address labels and Japanese emoticons.
- Real time auto-completion of text – both Japanese and English. (Example: type "fun" and you immediately get a list of words starting with "fun": function, fun, fund, funk...).
- Character information, JIS and Unicode codes, pronunciations, related characters.
- Japanese date formats.
- Character palette for input of special symbols, accented Latin, Russian, etc.
- Customizable input keys and keyboard shortcuts for the different functions.
Versions
File:ATOK 8 for PC-98 screenshot.png of PC-98 computer|alt=]]
{{As of|2019|April|post=,}} the latest version for Windows is 31.1.6; for macOS, 31.0.3; for iOS, 1.6.2; and for Android, 1.8.15.{{Cite web|url=https://www.justsystems.com/jp/info/new-era/one.html|script-title=ja:個人向け製品の新元号への対応状況|date=2019-04-19|website=JustSystems|access-date=2019-04-22}} They are available via the ATOK Passport subscription and an annual subscription which comes with Ichitaro.{{Cite web|url=https://www.itmedia.co.jp/pcuser/articles/1812/04/news124.html|script-title=ja:ATOK for Windowsに「漢字の絞り込み」と「地名変換」を強化した新バージョン 月額版は2019年2月1日から配信|last=井上|first=翔|date=2018-12-04|website=ITmedia PC USER|access-date=2019-04-22}} Linux, OS/2, Palm OS, Pocket PC, and Windows CE are no longer supported.{{Cite web|url=http://support.justsystems.com/jp/list/index.html|title=サポート製品一覧|date=2018-08-23|publisher=JustSystems|access-date=2019-04-22}}
KTIS and ATOK was originally a component of JustSystems' word processor software. Ichitaro released in 1985 allowed the use of ATOK 4 in other MS-DOS applications of the PC-98 platform. ATOK 7 was bundled with Ichitaro 4, and was available as a standalone product in 1992.{{Cite web|url=http://www.justsystem.co.jp/atok/story/index.html|script-title=ja:先進の日本語システム「ATOK」の進化|date=1998-10-23|publisher=JustSystems|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990202014635/http://www.justsystem.co.jp/atok/story/index.html|archive-date=1999-02-02|access-date=2019-04-22|url-status=dead}} In DOS era, ATOK was spreading with Ichitaro despite competition from VJE, Matsutake, and some other software. Windows 3.1, the first retail version of Japanese Windows, bundled the Microsoft IME (MS-IME) input method. MS-IME 97 contained notable improvements, and was bundled with a new retail box of Windows 95 and Office 97. The difference between ATOK and MS-IME went smaller.{{Cite web|url=http://www4.airnet.ne.jp/koabe/com_inet/im/history1.html|script-title=ja:日本語入力プログラムの歴史(MS-DOS～Windows)|last=Abe|first=Keisuke|date=2002-08-24|access-date=2019-05-11}}
In 2008, JustSystems began a subscription service, ATOK Passport.{{Cite web|url=https://internet.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/489242.html|script-title=ja:「ATOK Passport」提供開始、Windows/Mac/Android向けATOKが月額300円|last=三柳|first=英樹|date=2011-11-08|website=INTERNET Watch|access-date=2019-04-22}} ATOK 2017 was the last version to be physically shipped as boxed software.{{Cite web|url=https://pc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/1095071.html|script-title=ja:【速報】新ATOK、パッケージ版廃止で月額制のみに ～新バージョンは2018年2月1日提供開始|last1=劉|first1=尭|last2=若杉|first2=紀彦|date=2017-12-05|website=PC Watch|publisher=Impress Corporation|access-date=2019-04-21}}
Sun Microsystems chose ATOK as their input method when running under the JP locale in Solaris 10 and above, enhancing Sun's already strong Japanese language support.{{Cite web|url=https://docs.oracle.com/cd/E19253-01/819-6261/book-info/index.html|title=ATOK for Solaris ユーザーガイド|date=2006|website=Documentation|publisher=Sun Microsystems|access-date=2019-04-22}}
For embedded systems, JustSystems has developed +ATOK. Some Japanese mobile phones, PDAs, video game consoles (PSP, PS3 and Wii), digital video recorders, automotive navigation systems come with +ATOK.
See also
- Ichitaro – a Japanese word processor produced by JustSystems. ATOK comes bundled with this.
References
External links
- {{Official website|name=ATOK official website}}
{{Input method}}
Category:Japanese writing system