2.2. Kanji search

If you do not know how to type a kanji, or are unable to, J-Ben has two methods to allow you to look kanji up and copy them to the clipboard.

The first method is handwriting recognition. This is available via the menu item "Tools->Handwriting Recognition for Kanji". Using this, draw the character using your mouse. As you draw the character, the window will show you the 5 best matches for what you have drawn. This method uses the database from JStroke/KanjiPad/im-ja, and at last count supports searching for 2116 characters.

The second method is the new integrated kanji search, available via "Tools->Kanji Search". This method allows you to choose one or more search methods to quickly find kanji. These search methods all use the standard dictionary files, with the exception of handwriting recognition as previously described.

The integrated search currently supports the following search methods:

• Stroke count. Allows for including common miscounts and a +/- search range.
• SKIP code, as used in Halpern dictionaries. (An explanation can be found here.) Allows wildcard searches by specifying "0" as any of the 3 index numbers. Also allows a +/- search range, which is applied to both the second and third index.
• Handwriting Recognition. This is functionally identical to that provided by the standalone handwriting "pad", but can also be used through this interface.

All selected search methods are applied together, from top to bottom.

More methods will be added in future versions. My highest priority is multiradical search support as seen in JWP/JWPce/Gjiten/WWWJDIC. Other methods will be added as requested by users and as time allows.