A software module for multiple-byte script systems that converts phonetic or syllabic characters, entered from a keyboard, into ideographic or other complex representation of text. Because multiple-byte script systems have too many characters to be entered directly from a keyboard, the input method uses a conversion technique, such as translating sequences of phonetic characters that are typed into a special input window. For example, the Japanese script system provides software for transcribing Kana (phonetic Japanese) into ideographic Kanji.