Develop Bugs

Accented Characters: Remap Excalibur Keyboard (some success)

I'd like to report partial success and ask for your input.
I have a O2 XDA Cosmo (which is close to Excalibur but is somewhat different from Dash, eg. it does not have (x)T9) and was shocked to see how cumbersome it is to enter accented characters (eg. German Umlauts). In contrast to other HTC devices, one needs to press the SYM (symbol) key upon which a table pops up, then one needs to use the cursor to get to the right character and press enter. Outrageous.
I did a search and ended up using AEKmap. I did not succeed to reprogram the FN key. Alas, that would have been just what I wanted. Press FN once + "o", get "ö", press FN twice, get "_" (which is marked blue on the key). I could not pull this off, even though I know the code of the FN key and AEKmap can in principle do this (via the definition of both Accentkey and Accentkey2, setting them to the same value). No success.
Then I took the "Message key" (buttom row, far right, with the envelope on it) and used that as Accentkey. This works, sort of. When I activate the Remapping (I switch it on with the Symbol key, needs to be done only once per session, gets unfortunately lost on reboot), then I get something usable: pressing "o", produces "o", pressing "FN + o" produces "_" (as before), pressing "Message" + "o" gets "ö" and "Message+CAPS+o" gets even "Ö". So far so good, this works in email and SMS.
However, it does not work if I need to enter text in Calendar, or Tasks or in a Freeware Notes editor, because in those cases the Message key calls "messages" FIRST and transfers control to that app.
Does anyone know how I could prevent this. If the "message key" in deactivated totally (in the sense that it does not call "messages") that's ok, I do not need that function (or can reprogram the adjacent "Explorer" key to do that by changing the shortcut SHORT_IE in \Windows). But I can not delete the function attached to either of those keys, so that they do not call Messages or the IExplorer.
This all has probably to do with the fact that AEKmap is not a proper driver and therefore catches the key somewhat "late".
From this unqualified statement you can defer that I am not very skilled. So please help me if you can. I am determined to get this "project" done, as I think I might just love this device, if it was easy to enter those ä,ö,ü etc.
Thanxx for any help, Mixx

I found the solution here on these forums.
Cut and paste:
Fiddling around with WM6 Beta's eT9.Excalibur.0409.kmap.txt
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I discovered that by fiddling around with this file (found in the /windows folder, you can quickly change the keymappings in the beta version. For example, I've only done a quick test, but I remapped the '%" symbol on the Q to be a "!" when alt is pressed or a long press is done. This worked in both Outlook and Word on my test. No reboot was needed BTW.

Can you please, please be a bit more verbose?
I do not have the beta on my device, it is standard O2 Cosmos WM5 (very close to Excalibur). Can I do anything with that? I do n ot have T9 or ET9. Will this file still work? What do I need to change in it (syntax)?
Thanxx a million, Mixx
BrumBrum74 said:
I found the solution here on these forums.
Cut and paste:
Fiddling around with WM6 Beta's eT9.Excalibur.0409.kmap.txt
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I discovered that by fiddling around with this file (found in the /windows folder, you can quickly change the keymappings in the beta version. For example, I've only done a quick test, but I remapped the '%" symbol on the Q to be a "!" when alt is pressed or a long press is done. This worked in both Outlook and Word on my test. No reboot was needed BTW.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

How many keys have separate hold function?

Hi, newbie's questions:
I only know the following keys have separate functionality when you press and hold them:
- Home - (hold -> invoke voice command)
- numeric 1-9 - (hold -> invoke corresponding speed dial entry)
- camera (must hold to invoke the camera function)
1. Are there any others?
2. I only know short_Camera.lnk sets the function, and obviously, use speed dial assignments to set the numeric 1-9 keys' hold function. Is there anyway to alter the press and hold "home" key, and/or any other keys?
3. What does the "SYM" mean on the camera key?
thanks very much in advance!

anewbie said:
Hi, newbie's questions:
I only know the following keys have separate functionality when you press and hold them:
- Home - (hold -> invoke voice command)
- numeric 1-9 - (hold -> invoke corresponding speed dial entry)
- camera (must hold to invoke the camera function)
1. Are there any others?
2. I only know short_Camera.lnk sets the function, and obviously, use speed dial assignments to set the numeric 1-9 keys' hold function. Is there anyway to alter the press and hold "home" key, and/or any other keys?
3. What does the "SYM" mean on the camera key?
thanks very much in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hold a to activate vibrate.
"SYM" brings up symbols when writing a text "Any text input"

hold "end" key and also "Z" key locks keypad

yes
pudgedaddy said:
hold "end" key and also "Z" key locks keypad
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh, yes! forgot the one I use the most
Thanks!
So, is there anyway to alter any of these?

anewbie said:
Oh, yes! forgot the one I use the most
Thanks!
So, is there anyway to alter any of these?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
there currently is only a way to modify the VC button, the IE button(t-zones) and the mail button, the rest are hard coded into the OS as far as i know.
The ONLY workaround i know of so far is to install a program that allows you to assign hotkeys to certain buttons on your phone with certain press delays to open whatever program you want.
For example: i use smarttoolkit, which has a hotkey assigment option. showaco (?? i think) created a script to move files from \storage card\my documents\my pictures to --> \storage card\pictures so the pics would be shown on my homescreen under pictures sliding panel. I used smarttoolkit to assign a hotkey using button "M" ( is used "M" to stand for "M"ove). and whenever i want those pics moved, i just press and hold the "M" button down. I assigned it to have a delay of 1000ms so that way it forces me to press and hold the button for about 2 seconds,,,,, this also prevents me from accidentally activating it if i have a quick press and more importantly it keeps from the phone showing the dialing screen when i activate the script.
There is one other program i've heard of that can also do this, but the program name escapes me at the moment.

Great!
Thank you, pudgedaddy!
It sounds like this smarttoolkit serves the exact purpose that I am looking for. I will definitely check it out.
Appreciate the help!

i thought every key has a hold function.
Holding down a key will serve a different function or character.

Button remapping question

Alright, so I've tried AEButton plus, and dug around here for 2 days and haven't been able to find a solution.
I'd like to remap the "Home" and "Back" hardware buttons on my T-Mo TP2 to Arrow Down (for the Home) and Ok/Select for the Back. Since neither of those functions are an "application" I don't see how that would work.
A friend of mine wrote an app for the ATT Fuze that allows the PTT button to be visible in the standard button mapping area, but I don't know what the scan codes are for the Home and the Back buttons are. Anyone have an idea?
Otherwise, I'd love an application that actually... you know ... worked.

AEBplus can map to key strokes. I have Volume Up mapped to the Up arrow and Volume Down mapped to down arrow.
So I think you just need to:
* Add Button in AEBPlus
* Press the appropraite hardware button
* Select the new hardware button and edit it (I think you hit enter while it is selected).
* Choose the action as a keypress of Up Arrow or whatever you want.

when I try to add the volume buttons as a remap I just get the volume changed... any solution for that?

When I attempt to remap the Home and Back buttons on my T-Mobile TP2, it fails to map them. I've tried everything.
Volume kind of works, but I want those ... for the volume

Ghallo said:
but I don't know what the scan codes are for the Home and the Back buttons are. Anyone have an idea?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not totally sure what mean by scan codes, but are these them: http://ae.inc.ru/aebpluscline.php ?

Aebutton Plus no longer maps vol keys w stock 6.5
Someone else in this thread is reporting what I'm seeing -
Before the 6.5 upgrade, Aebutton plus would let me remap the volume keys to do nothing on single or double press, then execute the volume change on the third press. I liked this because I've always found that I tend to turn the volume off inadvertently - and not just on this phone.
Now, it won't do this, and I can't disable the single or double press.
I've tried it with simplemode set in registry (one volume control, vs. ring and system) in either setting.
Does anyone have an idea as to what they've changed? I'd really like to be able to put this back the way it was.

try to use the program on this link http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=554240. This is the one I am using right now to map my home key into start menu button.

Im having the same issue. I need something to remap my buttons in order to scroll up and down and open task manager. I have Sprint TP2 with the 6.5 update and tried AEB already, any solutions?

[Q] Can you wake up/unlock Xoom with keyboard?

Was thinking of ordering one, curious how unlocking the Xoom worked with the keyboard. Thanks!

I just checked and no, you cannot unlock with the keyboard. You can switch the screen on duration to fit your needs.
Sent from my Xoom using XDA Premium App

Actually, yes you can. if you have a keyboard with the "menu" key (usually on the right side of the keyboard near the Ctrl+Alt keys) it will work. I tried it last night and from sleep, one press takes to the unlock screen, one more unlocks the Xoom. Even without the Motorola Android specific keyboard, I found a lot of amazing shortcuts on a normal keyboard, do a google search, there are a lot, from opening Gmail/the browser to composing e-mails, etc. Just typing on the home screen brings up the search, which is great, and you can navigate most things, including going between home screens with the arrow keys. It convinced me that using the Xoom as a mini laptop replacement is relatively possible.

Hmmm, I tried every key on the moto keyboard and it will not wake it. Interesting that a generic keyboard would have that function.
I really do like the official keyboard however, I wish there was some way to map some of the keys. Its not really optimized for 3.0. Some of they keys do nothing and I haven't found a way to access the app drawer. A bit disappointing.

I think you modify the keylayout file so the button you want to wake has the "WAKE" attribute.

any idea on how to modify the keylayout on the motorola BT keyboard?

Half-way there
Actually, you can bypass the lock screen by hitting the "settings" button (or whatever it is called) 2 keys to the right from your spacebar on the Moto keyboard. However, I still can't get it to actually wake via a keypress.

Edit the /system/usr/keylayout/Vendor_22b8_Product_093d.kl file, assuming you are rooted.
On line 99, add the word WAKE beside MENU like this:
key 125 MENU WAKE
Save it and reboot. Be sure to make a backup of this file first in case you have any issues. Press Menu button once to bring it out of sleep and a second time to unlock it.

Thanks. I'm actually not rooted. Maybe I'll give that a try as well...

this worked perfectly! thanks very much

I have gotten my Xoom to wake up by pressing and holding the power button on the keyboard. It doesnt always work. It seems to depend of if the keyboard is awake itself. I have gotten them apps menu to open using the keyboard as well - its not an easy task. It depends on your ability to navigate to the top line on the home screen. Pressing enter will allow you to see if you have selected the top line (the top line is the row with the apps button, text and voice search, and the plus button). I can press alt+tab to select row, and then can cycle through the 4 options using tab. It is really hard to know which option you are on since it does not highlight as you cycle through. You simply press enter when you think you have it right. I think its much easier to just start typing the name of the app you wish to use and allow the xoom to search for it.

anthony_m_king said:
Edit the /system/usr/keylayout/Vendor_22b8_Product_093d.kl file, assuming you are rooted.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is there any way to find out what file will be used for a keyboard? I bought a generic BT keyboard from eBay that has lots of Apple-specific keys. I wanted to remap them to take advantage of Android commands. I got the scancodes for each key and modified the Generic.kl file. In this file, however, it recommends to create a separate file for each device but I have no idea how I would make HC aware to use the specific file. Any ideas?

Why does my physical keyboard stop functioning?

From time to time the physical keyboard stops responding. None of the buttons work, not even the search, menu, home, and back buttons. The touch buttons do work. The only way I have found to fix is to reboot the phone.

I have exactly the same problem from time to time. Normally after unlocking the phone. It seems if I leave it for a while (locked) it does start working again, but a reboot does fix it always.

okay, my keyboard is still functioning, but I choose to post here instead of making a new thread for my concern is also keyboard based.
Does everyone have uses the ALT key for entering numbers consecutively? I also do but quite a pain because unlike the SHIFT key, when I press it twice, it toggles CAPS LOCK, my ALT key does not toggle 2nf functions (blue keys) only when I double press. Is this normal? should I type fast to be able to get 2nd functions consecutively? thanks

gabby131 said:
okay, my keyboard is still functioning, but I choose to post here instead of making a new thread for my concern is also keyboard based.
Does everyone have uses the ALT key for entering numbers consecutively? I also do but quite a pain because unlike the SHIFT key, when I press it twice, it toggles CAPS LOCK, my ALT key does not toggle 2nf functions (blue keys) only when I double press. Is this normal? should I type fast to be able to get 2nd functions consecutively? thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My alt key enters a blue key on the first press(one time), double pressing the alt key toggles blue keys instead of regular keys.

On my phone pressing Alt twice locks it and you can tell because the cursor changes. There are a couple of combinations. You can Alt lock and Shift lock at the same time. Again the cursor changes to show this.

Mine doesn't. I see the cursor change, but if i press a key or two, it will turn off the toggle....geeze and it's not defenitely a hw issue...
But if i toggle the alt key, i can type blue characters but i need to be fast..
EDIT: I think I have solved the issue now....I replaced my onscreen/virtual keyboard by the default one.....and now I can type 1234567890 without pain....I installed a 3rd party keyboard and think that triggers the issue. If someone could replicate, that will be appreciated. Thanks for everything.