Wanxiang.schema.yaml vs Wanxiang_pro.schema.yaml: Key Differences Explained

The standard wanxiang.schema.yaml provides a full-featured baseline input experience with automatic user learning enabled, while wanxiang_pro.schema.yaml targets power users with auxiliary-code split hints, advanced double-pinyin layouts, a curated high-frequency dictionary, and disabled auto-learning by default.

The amzxyz/rime_wanxiang repository maintains two distinct schema tiers for the 万象拼音 (Wanxiang Pinyin) input method. Both files are Rime schema definitions, but they target different user workflows—standard daily typing versus advanced power-user configuration. Understanding the difference between wanxiang.schema.yaml and wanxiang_pro.schema.yaml ensures you select the appropriate configuration for your specific input requirements.

Schema Identity and Dependencies

At the configuration level, the two schemas expose different identities and dependency chains.

Standard Edition (wanxiang.schema.yaml):

• Schema ID: wanxiang (display name: "万象拼音")
• Dependencies: Imports wanxiang_mixedcode, wanxiang_reverse, and wanxiang_english processors

Pro Edition (wanxiang/custom/wanxiang_pro.schema.yaml):

• Schema ID: wanxiang_pro (display name: "万象拼音PRO")
• Dependencies: Imports the same three components plus wanxiang_chaifen for auxiliary-code split annotation capabilities

The Pro schema's inclusion of wanxiang_chaifen enables real-time character decomposition hints that are unavailable in the standard build.

Input Switches and UI Controls

Both schemas expose the core switch set—ascii_mode, ascii_punct, full_shape, emoji, chinese_english, charset_filter, super_tips, and various tone display options—but the Pro edition layers additional controls.

Pro-Only Switches:

• chaifen_switch: Toggles real-time auxiliary-code split hints (mapped to Ctrl+C by default in the key binder)
• fuzhu_hint: Adds an auxiliary-code hint option to the comment switch group, replacing the standard schema's toneless_hint

Default State Differences: In wanxiang.schema.yaml, the charset_filter and super_tips switches maintain their default states without explicit reset values. In wanxiang_pro.schema.yaml, both switches force-enable on startup (reset: 1), ensuring the full character set and tips are active by default.

Comment Handling: The standard schema offers [comment_off, tone_hint, toneless_hint] options. The Pro schema modifies this to [comment_off, fuzhu_hint, tone_hint], prioritizing auxiliary-code annotation over toneless pinyin hints.

Algebra and Spelling Operations

The 拼写运算 (spelling algebra) configurations diverge significantly between the two files.

Standard Schema Algebra: Patches only /base/全拼, converting full-pinyin input to double-pinyin layouts.

Pro Schema Algebra: Patches both /pro/自然码 (Natural Code double-pinyin) and /pro/直接辅助 (direct auxiliary-code generation). This enables the Pro schema to support richer double-pinyin layouts and direct auxiliary-code typing workflows that the standard schema cannot process.

Dictionary and Learning Behavior

The underlying data sources and user-learning policies represent the most significant functional difference.

Feature	Standard (wanxiang.schema.yaml)	Pro (wanxiang_pro.schema.yaml)
Dictionary	dictionary: wanxiang (standard word list)	dictionary: wanxiang_pro (higher-frequency, curated word list)
User Dictionary	enable_user_dict: true (auto-learning enabled)	enable_user_dict: false (auto-learning disabled by default)
Initial Quality	initial_quality: 4 for main translator	initial_quality: 4 for main translator, but initial_quality: 2.5 for user_dict_set

The Pro schema's conservative initial_quality: 2.5 setting for user entries reflects a policy of prioritizing the curated wanxiang_pro dictionary over user-generated frequency data. Users can manually re-enable learning by setting enable_user_dict: true in their custom configuration.

Practical Configuration Examples

Selecting the Schema in Rime

Add your preferred schema to default.custom.yaml:

# ~/.config/ibus/rime/default.custom.yaml

schema_list:
  - schema: wanxiang          # Standard edition

  # - schema: wanxiang_pro    # Uncomment for Pro edition

Enabling Pro-Only Chaifen Hints

Toggle the auxiliary-code split display using the dedicated switch defined in wanxiang_pro.schema.yaml:

switches:
  - name: chaifen_switch
    states: [ 拆分关, 拆分开 ]
    reset: 0

When activated, this displays structural decomposition hints alongside candidate characters.

Using Natural Code Double-Pinyin

The Pro schema activates advanced algebra patches unavailable in the standard edition:

# In wanxiang_pro.schema.yaml

__patch:
  - wanxiang_algebra:/pro/自然码
  - wanxiang_algebra:/pro/直接辅助

This configuration maps syllables like "zj" to "zìránmǎ" (自然码) outputs through the /pro/自然码 patch.

Re-enabling User Dictionary Learning

Since wanxiang_pro.schema.yaml sets enable_user_dict: false, restore auto-learning with a custom patch:

# wanxiang_pro.custom.yaml

patch:
  translator:
    enable_user_dict: true

Summary

• wanxiang.schema.yaml provides a balanced, auto-learning input experience suitable for general use, relying on the standard wanxiang dictionary and basic algebra patches from /base/全拼.
• wanxiang_pro.schema.yaml adds wanxiang_chaifen dependency for auxiliary-code splits, introduces chaifen_switch and fuzhu_hint UI controls, and applies advanced algebra from /pro/自然码 and /pro/直接辅助.
• The Pro edition uses the higher-quality wanxiang_pro dictionary but disables enable_user_dict by default with a conservative initial_quality: 2.5 weighting.
• Default switch states differ: Pro forces charset_filter and super_tips to enabled (reset: 1), while standard leaves these in their base states.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I migrate from the standard schema to Pro without losing my user dictionary?

Yes, but the Pro schema ignores user frequency data by default due to enable_user_dict: false. To preserve your learning history, manually patch enable_user_dict: true in your wanxiang_pro.custom.yaml file. Note that the Pro schema uses initial_quality: 2.5 for user entries versus the standard schema's higher weighting, which may affect candidate ranking initially.

Why does the Pro schema disable auto-learning by default?

The Pro schema prioritizes the curated wanxiang_pro dictionary—which contains higher-frequency, manually optimized entries—over dynamic user data. Disabling enable_user_dict ensures that the premium static dictionary determines candidate ordering, providing more consistent results for power users who prefer editorial quality over personal habit tracking.

What is the chaifen feature and how do I activate it?

Chaifen (拆分) is the auxiliary-code split hint system provided by the wanxiang_chaifen dependency in the Pro schema. It displays structural decomposition annotations for Chinese characters in the candidate window. Activate it by toggling the chaifen_switch (default shortcut Ctrl+C as defined in the Pro schema's key binder), or set reset: 1 in the switch definition to enable it on startup.

Which schema should beginners choose?

Start with wanxiang.schema.yaml. The standard edition provides comprehensive features without the complexity of auxiliary-code management, and its enable_user_dict: true default adapts to your typing habits automatically. Migrate to wanxiang_pro.schema.yaml only after you require advanced double-pinyin layouts (自然码), need structural character hints, or prefer the curated wanxiang_pro dictionary over adaptive learning.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "instagit": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "instagit@latest"]
    }
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}