Can on change the input language (which is e.g. necessary to enable the
recognition of handwritten umlauts and accented characters) but keep the
layout of the display keyboard?

On a *real* keyboard I am using a so-called English international
keyboard layout (which uses a couple of silent keys (',",`,~) that have
to be pressed in sequence with other characters to generate special
keys) for ALL input languages. Though that's a bit more complicated to
use I prefer it, because the alternative is using constantly changing
keyboard layouts, which would drive me nuts.

Can one achieve that on the tablet PC?

Michael

imho, the ms tablet team pretty much dropped the ball on this and
related aspects as the pocketpc tip which has been around for eight
years does a much better job at meeting these needs.

rant over, you might try either some macro or gesture program _or_ try

RUN/OSK to pull up the traditional onscreen keyboard which _may_ do a
better job for this need.

Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]