Database Users

There are those few instances when no trackball is not an option.

Yes, there are always gonna be a run around but take this situation for instance. When I go to my video player [stock vibrant] the only way I can delete the video from there is if I somehow have my selection over the video I want to delete. Which is not possible without clicking it to open it without a trackball, or pad.
Also, when I want to read the whole name of certain apps in the market, with a trackball, i could move my seletion over it to auto scroll the name but without a trackball, i can't do that.
Is this something we are going to have to live with or will there ever be a program where we can have some sort of a mouse control program, on the desktop that acts as a trackpad.

I feel your pain, but you can delete files in movie player without a d-pad. Hit the menu button and select delete file. Select boxes will appear. You can then select one or multiple files to delete. I do miss the trackball though.

how about on the terminal when you want to repeat a command??

I hate it when I am in Remote desktop and I want to move around.. the trackball was a perfect mouse..
Also, when you want to change one letter when you are typing, I used the N1 trackball all the time to go back a few letters, now it is easier to just delete until the errro and retype the word...

duglas said:
I hate it when I am in Remote desktop and I want to move around.. the trackball was a perfect mouse..
Also, when you want to change one letter when you are typing, I used the N1 trackball all the time to go back a few letters, now it is easier to just delete until the errro and retype the word...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
haha i know the feeling "_"

Don't forget that you can swype from the swype tip button to the "sym"button to get directional arrows. I also miss the trackball, but doing this makes it more tolerable.
Hope this helps some of you.

What kills me is this ridiculous inconsistency between various implementations of THE SAME PHONE! All these Galaxy S phones are essentially the same hardware, and while the original "reference" implementation had it all, we're getting all these ridiculous omissions on the various carriers. WTF was wrong with the trackpad on the original S?

SuperMiguel said:
how about on the terminal when you want to repeat a command??
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Click to collapse
That never worked even with a trackball. It enters characters something like [<[<[<
Or maybe all 5 of my G1's were screwed? lol

uwradu said:
What kills me is this ridiculous inconsistency between various implementations of THE SAME PHONE! All these Galaxy S phones are essentially the same hardware, and while the original "reference" implementation had it all, we're getting all these ridiculous omissions on the various carriers. WTF was wrong with the trackpad on the original S?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe the fact that it WASN'T a trackpad.

cashless said:
That never worked even with a trackball. It enters characters something like [<[<[<
Or maybe all 5 of my G1's were screwed? lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure it did, you just needed a decent shell. You were using the stock "sh". If you had used "ash" or "bash", you would have gotten command history.

Does anyone know of a way to enter a control character in Swype? I downloaded "Full Keyboard" from the Market so that I can be able to hit control-c in Terminal, but switching IME's back and forth is becoming a true PITA, and I wonder if I am missing some obvious workaround to do this.

[Q] Move Cursor in Browser or Text Window?

Ok, this is going to probably sound really dumb, but it's driving me nuts.
I've used Android for a few years now, and I've never sorted out if there's a way to scroll left and right in a text area.
No matter what keyboard I've used, I just end up deleting the whole dang thing, and typing from scratch, if it's text in a small window.
For example, if I typed a long url, and I realized after hitting enter that I must have made a typo. I'd like to go left to right in that bar and look for it easily.
I guess this has plagued me on every Apple and Android device I've owned. On RIM it was easy enough, and on older Symbian it was fine.
What the heck am I missing here?
Thanks!

Tap anywhere on the entered text - wait - there will be a blue arrow cursor below the text. Drag it whenever you want to start typing from.
/thread

Fatal1ty_18_RUS said:
Type anywhere on the entered text - wait - there will be a blue arrow cursor below the text. Drag it whenever you want to start typing from.
/thread
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Click to collapse
Nifty. That works in the URL bar, but what about other input areas?
I can't seem to make that work in say the google search input window.

bladebarrier said:
Nifty. That works in the URL bar, but what about other input areas?
I can't seem to make that work in say the google search input window.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Works for me.

Fatal1ty_18_RUS said:
Works for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah, it's a Firefox issue then. I tried chrome and it works in that (though I never really use chrome).
Ok thanks.
I was hoping there would be a convenient left and right key option on the keyboard itself, so that it wouldn't matter what app I'm using, but I guess it's tied to the app itself. That kind of stinks. It's rather awkward in design.
Do you know of an alternative keyboard that supports that type of functionality? I like the "Swpe-like" setup in the stock keyboard, but I'd much rather have an easier correction method built in.

You can enable the function to move the cursor using the volume rocker. It's in Settings - Language and Input - and that option will be down below the input methods
I miss the big keyboard with arrows from HTC Flyer though - it's pretty awesome to use in portrait mode, though not as useful in landscape since it takes much more space than N7's does
And no, I don't know about other keyboard since I don't use them, I prefer stock

Fatal1ty_18_RUS said:
You can enable the function to move the cursor using the volume rocker. It's in Settings - Language and Input - and that option will be down below the input methods
I miss the big keyboard with arrows from HTC Flyer though - it's pretty awesome to use in portrait mode, though not as useful in landscape since it takes much more space than N7's does
And no, I don't know about other keyboard since I don't use them, I prefer stock
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Excellent. That will work just fine.
Thanks a bunch for your help!

[Q] No hardware button to open keyboard?

Hi, most phones I've used have a menu button which you can long-press to pop open/closed the software keyboard, which is invaluable for searching/filtering menus and lists, or checking under the keyboard for text/UI that's hidden by it... this was an important compromise for a software keyboard since you can't access it any other way if you can't open it.
The S5 doesn't have a menu button, and long-pressing the other buttons doesn't open the keyboard. What gives? Is there any way to get this functionality back or reprogram the buttons? or am I just stuck without a keyboard when the device doesn't want to open one for me, and stuck with one when it does?

TK9K1 said:
Hi, most phones I've used have a menu button which you can long-press to pop open/closed the software keyboard
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Most phones don't have that feature, so you are just missing a feature that you like that happened to be on your previous phones.
The S5 will auto open the keyboard whenever you are in an app or editable line where text can be typed. I gind that that works just fine. You could remap a hardware key with an app like xposed. You can probably assign that function to the floating toolbox. Or use one of the myriad third party apps to pull up the keyboard from a swiping gesture. Or in many other ways.
The S5 menu can be pulled up in most screens by a long press on the recent key i.e. the softkey to the left of the home button.
.

Where do you need a keyboard besides of when the system opens it for you if you have to write something down?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

fffft said:
Most phones don't have that feature, so you are just missing a feature that you like that happened to be on your previous phones.
The S5 will auto open the keyboard whenever you are in an app or editable line where text can be typed. I gind that that works just fine. You could remap a hardware key with an app like xposed. You can probably assign that function to the floating toolbox. Or use one of the myriad third party apps to pull up the keyboard from a swiping gesture. Or in many other ways.
The S5 menu can be pulled up in most screens by a long press on the recent key i.e. the softkey to the left of the home button.
.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm, a swiping gesture seems like it might be a halfway workable solution. I really don't like the toolbox or the swipe in/out menus though. They just get in the way of interacting with the UI in normal ways. Unfortunately there is no workable way for me to root this device for me to use xposed.
atilla88 said:
Where do you need a keyboard besides of when the system opens it for you if you have to write something down?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lists, menus, app drawer, etc... anywhere you want to filter or jump to an entry by typing, like you would in a desktop OS.

TK9K1 said:
... anywhere you want to filter or jump to an entry by typing, like you would in a desktop OS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But this isn't a desktop OS. It is an OS running on a device that has a very constrained amount of physical space. If you don't like the design decisions and tradeoffs, then knock yourself out customizing your phone.
Nevertheless the design works very well for the vast majority of users. If you always want ready access to a keyboard, you should consider getting a physical, RF or bluetooth keyboard.
.

fffft said:
But this isn't a desktop OS. It is an OS running on a device that has a very constrained amount of physical space. If you don't like the design decisions and tradeoffs, then knock yourself out customizing your phone.
Nevertheless the design works very well for the vast majority of users. If you always want ready access to a keyboard, you should consider getting a physical, RF or bluetooth keyboard.
.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Believe me, I would sell my firstborn son to the robot devil for a modern android with a decent physical keyboard... It just happens that nobody makes one.
But that's besides the point. I'm talking about functionality of the soft keyboard, and UX in general. It would be much better if I could open the keyboard when I want to, and that's what I want to do.

Why do it that way when you can just use Multi window and add a shortcut to every app using Multi window manager and all you do is long press the back key and you've got all your shortcuts.

How to close Amazon FireTv system on-screen keyboard using K400R.

Today I noticed that when you try to go to forums and type in your user name and password, you can only type in one field. Its pretty annoying... So today I was just pressing buttons trying to back out of the on screen keyboard and sure enough.
On the Logitech K400r, you need to hit the blue Fn button and F7. That will drop the on-screen keyboard away thus allowing you to type in your password after your user name, click on other on-screen fields etc.
Hopefully this will help someone else, as that on-screen keyboard is an eye sore...
If it helped, hit Thanks!

I have same as what you have been encountered the annoyed on-screen keyboard.
Im using Logitech k700 (I think) with trackpad built-in.
I haven't tried use null keyboard
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wparam.nullkeyboard
Problem is that Amazon fire tv doesn't have input selection and it may be will not working with the null keyboard.

yeah I did see it, but I also heard that it can break the other keyboards... The F6 trick works great! I also just installed Tapatalk and that makes my forums come thru perfect. Im using my K400r now, typing through the Amazon FTv on-screen keyboarrd seemlessly...

Has anyone found a way to do this without one of these keyboards? That pop up keyboard makes me want to throw my fire tv through the window. If there is a way to get to the full android settings, I'm sure it could be done.

There is a settings.apk that can be sideloaded,but I don't know if you can install null keyboard without root since the unknown sources issue in tween updated users.
If you are stuck without root on the latest of firmwares,you can install apk files from unknown sources without root since Amazon nicely enabled it,but I still don't know if null keyboard will install.

I'm rooted, but I hadn't heard of the settings apk. I'll have to look that up. I know on another android device there is a built in option to hide the on screen keyboard when an external keyboard is plugged in.

Here is one of the topics.
I hope the file is still available after all this time.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2714494
I hate modern browser "intuitive" website linking which removes the much needed http for link posting to work.

Mouse Right Click Behavior

Hi,
I bought this remote:
http://g03.s.alicdn.com/kf/HTB1clsdIXXXXXXlXVXXq6xXFXXXn/2-4GHz-Fly-Air-Mouse-Wireless-Keyboard.jpg
but I'm having trouble with the "back" key. It's not really acts as back. Instead it acts as right click.
Has anyone been able to fix this problem?
I xposed module would be nice

I did some research and found this:
https://github.com/timduru/platform-frameworks-base/commit/bae953c0063dc1afb9e8c43381f3894329abe115
Think this is exactly what we need to fix this.
Is it possible via xposed module? Maybe any Devs are interested in that one?

Use esc button for back key

ilkerates said:
Use esc button for back key
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I'm sure he's already aware of that.
Speaking personally, it would be nice if my back button on my air mouse (the same one as the OP has which, despite being marked as a back button, is effectively seen by Android as a right mouse click) actually worked as a back button. To stop having to turn my air mouse over to access the esc key every time I wanted to go back, given that the QWERTY doesn't work when pointing downwards. I had to remap my Menu button as the back button isn't seen by any key mapping apps.
So yes, a big thumbs up from me too if this can happen in Xposed. I'm rooted and running it already.

Beefheart said:
Yes, I'm sure he's already aware of that.
Speaking personally, it would be nice if my back button on my air mouse (the same one as the OP has which, despite being marked as a back button, is effectively seen by Android as a right mouse click) actually worked as a back button. To stop having to turn my air mouse over to access the esc key every time I wanted to go back, given that the QWERTY doesn't work when pointing downwards. I had to remap my Menu button as the back button isn't seen by any key mapping apps.
So yes, a big thumbs up from me too if this can happen in Xposed. I'm rooted and running it already.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes this is what I am also trying to do, so if anyone has figured out how to make the right mouse button into the back button that would be amazing!!

Xposed Additions may work for you.

ErAzOr2k said:
I did some research and found this:
https://github.com/timduru/platform-frameworks-base/commit/bae953c0063dc1afb9e8c43381f3894329abe115
Think this is exactly what we need to fix this.
Is it possible via xposed module? Maybe any Devs are interested in that one?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what exactly is this? thanks

[email protected] said:
Yes this is what I am also trying to do, so if anyone has figured out how to make the right mouse button into the back button that would be amazing!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's impossible as far as I'm aware to map the back button on my air mouse to a specific activity. Like I said, I ended up mapping the menu button instead. I've gotten used to it now.
Mogster2K said:
Xposed Additions may work for you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately not. In fact, not only did it not work, it caused delay issues in button presses on my NVidia controller. This only stopped when it was deactivated within Xposed.

Only other thing I can think of would be to create a custom profile in /system/usr/keylayout/, however I don't know the details of how to do it.
Sent from my LG-H811 using Tapatalk

nice !
nice !

Any updates with this issue? I was actually coming here to post about a similar problem.
Just picked up my Shield TV and tried using this same remote. The center button (select button; left click button) doesn't function at all. I can scroll up and down, left and right, air mouse cursor works fine. But I can't actually make a selection.
I also find that with either the controller or nvidia remote, I can't navigate in app file structures. So when I side load ES Explorer for instance, I can't get into the center of the screen and navigate the file list, only the top and bottom border menus. Or when I sideloaded ShowBox and other similar apps, I can't navigate the movie lists, only the top or bottom menus.
At this point I'm starting to think I'm either better off taking this thing back and using my old droid tv box. OR flashing this thing to make it act like a droid tablet and lose all the added functionality that the shield uses to set itself apart.

So, I bought this remote from amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00UYCLV8Y/ref=cm_sw_r_other_awd_CTeTwbRCVNCP1
Which is pretty awesome so far. Everything works except the back button of course. I've been digging and digging and unfortunately I don't think we can change the behavior as it just doesn't seem to be recognized as a typical key scancode. I'm confident of this because I made a custom key layout file for this device, and literally edited 999 key entries, ranging from "key 0" all the way up to "key 999". I gave every keycode the back button tag. What this essentially did was turn every single button on the remote into a back button (lol), and as you may expect, even STILL the back button on the remote only registered as a mouse click.
After searching, it seems the only way to bypass this would to be to change the behavior of the mouse button itself, which according to resources online, is hard coded into the kernel itself. You would have to actually know how to code and compile a new kernel for your media device.
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/...ped-to-work-for-traversing-back-in-jelly-bean
I have created a simple keylayout that anyone can use if interested. It's pretty much just a rip of the generic.kl file, with the zoom in and out buttons on the remote configured as back buttons. If you use a proper keycode scanner, you can study this keylayout file and eventually customize any button (except the back button of course) to do almost anything you want.
It's a temporary workaround until someone figures it out. If it doesn't work for you, you may need to change the filename to reflect the proper vid and pid of your device. I did this by plugging my device into windows and checking the hardware id for the new mouse and keyboard input that popped up.
I'm not sure which directory the file needs to be in, so I just copied it to both known directories:
Root: data>system>devices>keylayout
Root: system>usr>keylayout
I hope this helps.
Edit: Also, a couple of things to note, in case anyone was curious. If your having any issues trying to program the infrared side for a remote, consider that the source remote may be blasting too much for this remote to learn. I discovered this issue because my Samsung tv would send tons of ir data and causing my remote to have troubles learning. If you have a similar issue, try quickly/lightly tapping the button on the source remote when teaching this remote to learn it. Had no issues teaching my remote once I figured this out.
Finally, an oddity I noticed is that the issue seems specific to Android TV boxes. Connecting the USB to my galaxy note 5 via USB otg cable, the back button works fine on its own on this remote. Oddly though, while it registers as a key using the key test app (Google it), it reports back as having a scancode of 0.
Tried adding key 0 as a button in the keylayout config. Still no go. :/

I've made a custom kernel based on stock kernel to (hopefully) change the rightclick event to back event.
Is anyone brave enough to check this out as I don't give a guarantee to anything?!

ErAzOr2k said:
I've made a custom kernel based on stock kernel to (hopefully) change the rightclick event to back event.
Is anyone brave enough to check this out as I don't give a guarantee to anything?!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
tried your boot.img, and as far as i can tell, nothing.
my shield tv is already unlocked and rooted, so i just used "fastboot flash boot boot.img" in adb to flash the boot image to my device. booted up fine, just i dont see any changes regarding right mouse click.... :/

has anyone figure this out yet. I really need to change the right click to function as "back"

Has anyone been able to fix this meanwhile? With Xposed Module maybe?

I'd love a Magisk (or Xposed) module that fixes that, but I don't think any module like that exists right now...
There are work-arounds to use apps that create fullscreen overlay which intercepts right clicks and emulates a Back button, but those don't work on Shield (or Android TV in general) because creating Overlay / requesting "draw over other apps" permission causes a crash
For now, the most convenient (more than editing *.kl files) work-around I've found is to use an app called Button Mapper (packagename: flar2.homebutton, can't post a link cause I'm a newbie) and emulate Back button on some other button...