I would like to program an android app that replaces the standard keyboard by one with the one-hand optimized Coffee++ keyboard layout.
What special problems would I have to face in the progress? I guess that such a project would go deep into the android core, cause the keyboard is such an essential thing.
Is it wise to start with the Android Developer Tools (ADT)—Eclipse Plugin as described in this tutorial?
Or is there a better way to achieve this goal?
I am new to Android programming, but very firm in PHP, Mysql and javascript and I already use Eclipse for PHP
I guess that such a project would go deep into the android core, cause the keyboard is such an essential thing.
No. You can create an InputMethodService that is the implementation of your keyboard. There is a sample soft keyboard in your Android SDK installation (if you chose to download sample code from the SDK Manager), and there are open source input methods floating around as well, such as the Hacker's Keyboard. This InputMethodService is then distributed as part of an ordinary Android application, and the user can elect to activate your input method if the user chooses.
Is it wise to start with the Android Developer Tools (ADT)—Eclipse Plugin as described in this tutorial?
That is a fine starting point. I would also recommend that you spend some time learning Java, then developing ordinary Android apps, to get a feel for how Android works.
When you are ready to work on the InputMethodService itself, the documentation can help guide you, and you are welcome to return here for more specific questions. However, bear in mind that writing a soft keyboard is not all that common, and so support resources for it may be a bit lacking.
A soft keyboard in Android is called a InputMethod, and you don't have to go too deep to be able to create one. Creating a InputMethod is fairly straight forward especially if the keyboard is normal button kind.
You can check the following links to get a start :
Android's Official Tutorial or you can check out this tutorial too to get a head start.
I would also recommend downloading the source code for LatinIME keyboard available for the developers to tinker with.
Related
I am working on a project on android. I want to attach Gboard into my application because I want to use its functions. I want to use Gboard pad for writing input. I don't want from the user to download Gboard separately. I want to make it a part of application. If possible kindly let me know how.
Id say it is not possible, cannot find anything for Gboard, even virtual keyboard api is deprecated since 2011.
You might want to take a look at creating your own input methods.
making an IME for android wear. i've got a few questions before i go about doing this.
i have a keyboard IME already designed and written.. for Android. (i was told to go ahead and write a normal android IME before using it on android wear)
so, i have this IME and zero idea of where to go next to get it on the android wear. do i just install to my phone and go into development mode and enable the IME on the watch? do i add lines of code somewhere to make it specifically for the android wear?
i know for a fact you can use IMEs on the android wear. there's things everywhere about how to install minuum or whatever and enable input methods on the watch.. my question, are the keyboards for android wear all full-blown SMS apps that just have a keyboard in them as part of the app? do i need to write an SMS app? or will my keyboard just pop up when i hit reply to a text message popup on the watch? (such as the normal popup from the standard android messaging app that comes with the phone.. as currently, hitting reply opens it on the phone, whereas reply with voice lets you talk to it.) or will it bring up another option to reply with an IME?
any help is useful. thanks so much. i know those are probably stupid beginner questions, but i must be overlooking some shred of information somewhere because i'm unable to answer this myself. any relevant links or info would be extremely useful. if any more info is needed, just ask.
IMEs rely on editable text fields, such as made with EditText. You'll note that no included app (nor the vast majority of installable apps) use any editable text fields as there is no concept of a selectable IME on Android Wear (as noted in the Minuum on Android Wear instructions).
Therefore while you could publish and get a IME installed on Android Wear, users would never be able to select the IME (there is no UI) nor would you be able to use it to replace the default reply option (as that is system behavior, not something controlled by the current IME).
Hello Stackoverflow Community,
I am writing Phonegap application, and i need to support Android 2.3 - 4.1.
On earlier android there are some bugs with keyboard, so I've created custom one on html. Now, I need for all androids version API <= 10 turn of virtual keyboard. Any ideas how to completely programmatically disable it?
Thanks,
-Dima
put below code in your manifest file, inside actvity node
android:configChanges="orientation|keyboardHidden"
it may help you
On earlier android there are some bugs with keyboard
First, there are many implementations of "virtual keyboards" in use in Android.
Second, I am not aware that Web developers have generally had problems with Android's soft keyboards. You are welcome to provide links to evidence supporting your claim.
Now, I need for all androids version API <= 10 turn of virtual keyboard. Any ideas how to completely programmatically disable it?
That is not possible. However, if your Web page does not have anything that allows conventional text input (e.g., <textarea>), then the soft keyboard typically will not appear on its own.
Im working in an app to modify the sounds when I key is press in the android soft-keyboard. I have download the sample soft-keyboard from Google. Now Im trying to figure out how to add sound to each or all the keys.
My question is: is it possible to assign a short customize sound to each key?
Can i change this in the already implemented keyboard?
You can't... it's already built and some manufactures provide their own keyboard implementations.
Or should i make my own keyboard?
Yes, you must.
If the latter is the case, how do i do that? Can i find the source code somewhere?
There are some open source projects of Keyboard implementations... for instance:
https://github.com/g1011999/Gingerbread-Keyboard/
http://code.google.com/p/softkeyboard/
There you can learn how to write your own keyboard, which is completely different from writing a conventional app.
My suggestion is to create a new fork of the Gingerbread-Keyboard (this supports Android 2.2 or higher only)... and then implement that specific change you want. For one of my apps I did so, and it's far easier than implementing the keyboard from scratch.
I want to add the functinality of Home,Back,Searcha and Menu Hard keys via some soft keys which can be accessed anytime the device is up.
I know their are few applications available which already do this, but i wanted to know the way this can be implemented.
Any help would be appreciated.
As stated elsewhere, the SDK is not enough to emulate hardware buttons: you need to be able to modify or at least call system sources, so you should be compiling Android from sources.
That said you can emulate the software button by calling "injectKeyEvent" in IWindowManager like done in these examples:
http://java-admin.iteye.com/blog/813208 (chinese)
http://tinyurl.com/5spjxja (android-x86 patch)