Author Topic: Is it possible to edit keyboard layout?  (Read 5149 times)

dubbed

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Is it possible to edit keyboard layout?
« on: December 15, 2019, 11:17:02 am »
I'm using non-english layout (Polish) and there is a problem with few keys, locale chars are on `Fn` + key combination, eg. `Fn`+`o` gives me "ó" char. The problem is I can't type `_` underscore char, because it also should be under Fn + o combination. It would be great if I could change locale chars to `Alt` + key combination.

vldmr

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Is it possible to edit keyboard layout?
« Reply #1 on: December 15, 2019, 11:38:15 am »
Quote from: dubbed
I'm using non-english layout (Polish) and there is a problem with few keys, locale chars are on `Fn` + key combination, eg. `Fn`+`o` gives me "ó" char. The problem is I can't type `_` underscore char, because it also should be under Fn + o combination. It would be great if I could change locale chars to `Alt` + key combination.
I've got External Keyboard Helper working on cosmo which allowed me to add completely new layout for physical keyboard. It also allows to modify keys (including combos) in existing layout but I have not played with that yet.

You can use demo version of it first to figure out if it will work for you before buying.

maki.jouni

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Is it possible to edit keyboard layout?
« Reply #2 on: December 15, 2019, 11:48:09 am »
I haven't yet receive my own device, so I haven't try this app yet. But I might swap Ä /Ö letter on my own layout.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?....qwerty.finnish
Cosmo Communicator (Fin/Swe), Mix2, Sony Xperia XZ & Z3, Nokia N900, Nokia PARSA, HTC Touch Pro, Qtek 9100, Nokia 6600 & 6210 & 2110, Mobira Talkman

James Shields

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Is it possible to edit keyboard layout?
« Reply #3 on: December 17, 2019, 05:16:15 pm »
That looks useful. I find the default layout quite good, except that I do some writing in Irish, which uses áéíóú accents. On a PC keyboard (in UK or Irish layout), I can get these with right Alt key and the vowels. On the default Cosmo layout it's a slightly more convoluted Alt+e then vowel.

gymbo

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Is it possible to edit keyboard layout?
« Reply #4 on: December 17, 2019, 08:01:57 pm »
Quote from: James Shields
That looks useful. I find the default layout quite good, except that I do some writing in Irish, which uses áéíóú accents. On a PC keyboard (in UK or Irish layout), I can get these with right Alt key and the vowels. On the default Cosmo layout it's a slightly more convoluted Alt+e then vowel.
Long press on any vowel (or other key) should bring up most of the possible possible "versions" of that key/letter... (At least it does in the Gemini, but I think there is some setting for it as well, and you wont get it if it is not enabled...   )

ianisthewalrus

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Is it possible to edit keyboard layout?
« Reply #5 on: December 18, 2019, 01:53:26 pm »
i seem to recall editing the keymap on my stratosphere 2 that was on jellybean... i can look into how i did that if there is interest. i will have to dig it out.

James Shields

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Is it possible to edit keyboard layout?
« Reply #6 on: December 18, 2019, 03:34:42 pm »
Ooh, I hadn't thought of trying long pressing. I intuitively expect that to repeat the character like on a PC. While that's useful, the different options available for each vowel mean that the accent I want is in a different screen position or number key for each vowel. It's useful for occasional use, but awkward for regular use.

gymbo

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Is it possible to edit keyboard layout?
« Reply #7 on: December 18, 2019, 05:54:17 pm »
Quote from: James Shields
Ooh, I hadn't thought of trying long pressing. I intuitively expect that to repeat the character like on a PC. While that's useful, the different options available for each vowel mean that the accent I want is in a different screen position or number key for each vowel. It's useful for occasional use, but awkward for regular use.
Which is why I absolutely need a Norwegian keyboard, having to go deep in to some layered configuration to use the Norwegian "æ", "ø" and "å" (hope they display correctly for people here) would kind of defeat the purpose of the keyboard in the first place... I can live with the kind of "odd" placement of them, but definitely need more or less direct access to them (they are under the "Fn" modifier). So they (Planet) apparently should have added one more keyboard-variant: Irish! (Don't think I've seen it...     )

zsalab2

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Is it possible to edit keyboard layout?
« Reply #8 on: January 31, 2020, 05:25:31 pm »
Quote from: vldmr
Quote from: dubbed
I'm using non-english layout (Polish) and there is a problem with few keys, locale chars are on `Fn` + key combination, eg. `Fn`+`o` gives me "ó" char. The problem is I can't type `_` underscore char, because it also should be under Fn + o combination. It would be great if I could change locale chars to `Alt` + key combination.
I've got External Keyboard Helper working on cosmo which allowed me to add completely new layout for physical keyboard. It also allows to modify keys (including combos) in existing layout but I have not played with that yet.

You can use demo version of it first to figure out if it will work for you before buying.

I have installed external keyboard helper, but absolutely nothing happens... do you see anywheter whether is was actually able to identify the keyboard?

selig

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Is it possible to edit keyboard layout?
« Reply #9 on: February 01, 2020, 06:53:13 am »
Check out the app FinQwertyKeyboard Layouts by Anssi Hannula (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=fi.onse.qwerty.finnish).

It has a specific keymap for the Gemini, which is identical with the original one for swedish/finnish, except for swapping the "ä" and "ö" characters. However, the original method of modifying the keys with ApkEditor is working just fine for all the other characters. With "working just fine"" I mean, that it can be successfully uninstalled, altered to your own likings and reinstalled.

As the layout is for swedish/finnish devices, obviously you have to change some more mappings in order to make it usable, in case you are using a different physical layout. You should be able to simply copy your changes over from the .kcm -file that you tried to modify on the original keybord apk, however.

I have successfully used the app/keyboard map since I upgraded my Gemini to Android 8 – and I am also currently typing this reply on my Cosmo using it. Even the shortcuts for the keyboard-light (Fn-Shift-b and Fn-Shift-N) work as expected, as they are handled on a lower level.
(I use it to get access to em-dashes, "~" etc). The only key-combinations that are not possible to modify are those that are lower-level (such as "play", "forward" etc).
« Last Edit: February 01, 2020, 06:50:33 am by selig »

vldmr

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Is it possible to edit keyboard layout?
« Reply #10 on: February 01, 2020, 04:18:44 pm »
Quote from: zsalab2
I have installed external keyboard helper, but absolutely nothing happens... do you see anywheter whether is was actually able to identify the keyboard?
You change its configuration in Settings->Languages&Input->Virtual Keyboard->External Keyboard Helper

zsalab2

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Is it possible to edit keyboard layout?
« Reply #11 on: February 02, 2020, 12:15:11 pm »
Quote from: vldmr
Quote from: zsalab2
I have installed external keyboard helper, but absolutely nothing happens... do you see anywheter whether is was actually able to identify the keyboard?
You change its configuration in Settings->Languages&Input->Virtual Keyboard->External Keyboard Helper

Thank you. However, still no remapping. The keys stay the same regardless whether I set it to English, Finnish, Hungarian, etc.
« Last Edit: February 02, 2020, 12:22:58 pm by zsalab2 »

vldmr

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Is it possible to edit keyboard layout?
« Reply #12 on: February 02, 2020, 02:48:08 pm »
Quote from: zsalab2
Thank you. However, still no remapping. The keys stay the same regardless whether I set it to English, Finnish, Hungarian, etc.
You would need to create custom mapping starting with you current layout in advaced settings. It allows up to two custom mappings.

Also note the last command in the top level menu of settings: "About". It contains links to a lot of documentation and FAQ covering different use cases

szopin

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Is it possible to edit keyboard layout?
« Reply #13 on: February 05, 2020, 06:38:35 am »
Quote from: dubbed
I'm using non-english layout (Polish) and there is a problem with few keys, locale chars are on `Fn` + key combination, eg. `Fn`+`o` gives me "ó" char. The problem is I can't type `_` underscore char, because it also should be under Fn + o combination. It would be great if I could change locale chars to `Alt` + key combination.
It should be under Fn+J like this _, works, the only issue with polish keyboard is lack of ?(c with a slah on top, forum also has issues lol) (and uppercase for any special chars seems also missing), was not the only one to contact PC about it apparently, but here we are v2 with same issue, maybe your keyboard got j/o from different layout?
« Last Edit: February 05, 2020, 06:46:52 am by szopin »

gymbo

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Is it possible to edit keyboard layout?
« Reply #14 on: February 05, 2020, 06:50:46 am »
Quote from: szopin
... (and uppercase for any special chars seems also missing)
On my Norwegian Gemini I have the letters "æ", "ø" and "å" as an Fn-combination (hope they display correctly on the forum). And Caps-lock does not work for uppercase letter for these, but shift-Fn does.

(I assume you have tried them with shift, but just to let you know that uppercase works at least for some special characters, so it is an omission, and probably a bug/fault on Planets behalf, that you don't get it...)