The Windows operating system provides a keyboard that will allow you to type in Ukrainian, but this keyboard uses the layout of the Ukrainian typewriter keyboard. While many are able to learn to touch type using this different layout, for most students it is easier to use a remapped keyboard on which there are sound correspondences between the Ukrainian and English letters. These keyboards are known as homophonic (meaning "sounds the same") keyboards. The KU homophonic keyboard attempts to reflect sound correspondences when possible, and to map other letters and symbols for ease of typing. For the purpose of illustration, the layouts are provided below:

Keyboard Layouts

Normal State

Shift State

Alt+Ctrl+Shift State

Installation of these keyboards is done automatically via a Windows installer file (msi). There is no need to do anything other than download the file and click on the installation file. Everything is put in the correct folder and all of the neccessary registry changes are made for you. The only additional step is to enable the keyboard in the "Regional and Language Options" control panel. You will find a complete explanation of the procedure below.

 

The instructions below will guide you through the process of installing the Ukrainian KU Homophonic keyboard in Windows Vista.

1. Windows Vista introduced a new security setting called User Accounts Control. This prevents unknown applications from running without your knowledge. To be able to install the Ukrainian KU Homophonic keyboard, you will need to temporarily turn this off. To do this, open the Control Panel by selecting it from the Settings menu in the Start menu.



2. In Windows Vista, the Control Panel has an updated look. Double-click on User Accounts and Family Safety to open the language settings. If you switched to the Classic View of the Control Panel, double click on User Accounts .



3. Next, click on the green link that says User Accounts.



4. Next, click on the last link that says Turn User Account Control on or off.



5. The following window will be displayed. Click on the check box next to Use User Account Control (UAC) to help protect your computer to deselect it. Click OK.



6. You will then be prompted to restart your computer. Click Restart Now. When your computer has restarted, you will be able to install the Ukrainian KU Homophonic keyboard.



 

7. Click here to download the Ukrainian KU Homophonic Keyboard. Save the file to your desktop and unzip the file. Inside the zipped folder, you will find an installation package, a folder containing the keyboard .dll file and a read me file. Double click on the KU_UKRA Windows Installer Package.



8. A dialogue box will then ask you if you are sure you want to run this software. Click Run to install the keyboard.



9. The following window will be displayed when the installation is complete. This may take several seconds so please be patient. Click Close to continue.



10. The Ukrainian KU Homophonic keyboard has now been installed. Now you need to activiate it in Windows to be able to use it. Open the Control Panel by selecting it from the Settings menu in the Start menu.



11. In Windows Vista, the Control Panel has an updated look. Double-click on Clock, Language, and Region button to open the language settings. If you switched to the Classic View of the Control Panel, double click on Regional and Language Options.



12. Select the Keyboards and Languages tab. Then click on the Change keyboards... button.



13. Click the Add... button to add additional keyboards to your system.



14. Scroll down until you find Ukrainian. Click the plus sign next to it and then the plus sign next to Keyboard. Click on the box next to Ukrainian KU Homophonic to select it. Then click OK.



15. You will then see the following screen that displays the Ukrainian (KU Homophonic) keyboard.



16. Next, click on the Language Bar tab. These properties are for the Language Bar which allows you to switch between multiple keyboards. Select the Docked in the taskbar option for the easiest access to your new keyboard. Then click OK.



17. In the lower right hand corner you should now see a button that says EN. This is the default English keyboard. To switch to the Ukrainian KU Homophonic keyboard, click the EN button and then select the the Ukrainian keyboard.



18. You will now be able to type using the Ukrainian KU Homophonic keyboard layout. To view the On-Screen Keyboard, go to Start > Programs > Accessories > Ease of Access > On-Screen Keyboard. The Ukrainian KU Homophonic On-Screen Keyboard looks like this:



19. Once you have successfully installed the keyboard, turn User Account Control back on by repeating steps 1-5.