PURPOSE: To support the input of a multi-language keyboard by allowing a user to switch visual user interface elements provided in the window of an application program by an operating system so as to switch keyboard constitution and a code page.

CONSTITUTION: In order to select a keyboard language and the code page made to correspond to a push button ANSI code page displayed on a video display 22, a user positions a cursor on a push button on a picture on a visual display 22 and clicks the left button of a mouse 20 to select the keyboard language. In response to the user's selection of the keyboard language, the selected code page 32 and selected keyboard constitution 30 are reported to a keyboard handler 28. Next the keyboard handler 28 translates an operation code received from a keyboard 18 to character data through the use of the selected keyboard 30 and the code page 32.