Input Chinese using Dvorak (Windows)

If you're a regular Dvorak user, you may be frustrated that inputting Chinese pinyin can only be done using QWERTY layout.

But it's actually very easy to use Dvorak layout to input Chinese pinyin. You only have to change a key in the registry, and restart (or log off), and you can instantly start inputting Chinese pinyin using the Dvorak layout!

I found the simple instructions mirrored below at the following web pages (both belong to the same author).
This will probably work for German, French, Spanish, Korean, Japanese, Arabic, Indian and other layouts as well. Just look for the correct language in the Keyboard Layouts folder.

• Chinese Input with Dvorak Layout (Microsoft Pinyin IME)
• Xah Lee At Blogger: Chinese Input with Dvorak Layout (Microsoft Pinyin IME)

Press 【Win+r】 then type “regedit”. Then, go to the folder in this path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Keyboard Layouts\00000804

That's the folder for Chinese simplified.
In the one named “Layout File”, change the value to “KBDDV.DLL”
Then, restart Windows. (relogin might also work.)

Microsoft Registry showing the Chinese (simplified) input method.

Here's the folder name for some other languages.

Language	Folder Name	Original “Layout File” value
Chinese Simplified	000000404	KBDUS.DLL
Chinese Traditional	000000404	KBDUS.DLL
Japanese	00000411	KBDJPN.DLL
Korean	00000412	KBDKOR.DLL

Before you change, write down the original value, just in case you want to change it back.