Develop Bugs

Remapping soft keys

So I'm looking at remaping the soft keys (specifically the search) on the front of the phone. There appears to only be one "SEARCH" in the /system/usr/keylayout/vision-keypad.kl - key 217 (see code below) - that if changed has the following 2 effects:
1. Alters the functions of both the soft key on the front of the phone and the search key on the hardware keyboard. When I remap one, they both change to match your modification.
2. When changed, long press functionality of the soft key is lost. It will only accept a short press.
"SEARCH" can be successfully changed to "MENU", "BACK", and "CALL" (possibly others I have not tried) then pushed to the phone in recovery and function perfectly. However, when I map it to be the "POWER", the soft key does nothing on press, while the hardware search key on the slide-out works fine.
Has anyone found a way around this?
We remap the track pad to wake because we dont like using the top mounted power button, but it only does a half-ass job because when you want to shut the screen back off, you still have to reach for the power button. I think the track pad wake mod needs its own 'bacon bits'
Code:
# column 0
key 185 USER3 WAKE_DROPPED
key 100 ALT_RIGHT WAKE_DROPPED
key 217 SEARCH WAKE_DROPPED
key 28 ENTER WAKE_DROPPED
key 38 L WAKE_DROPPED
key 14 DEL WAKE_DROPPED
key 54 SHIFT_RIGHT WAKE_DROPPED

I think you're out of luck with regard to an easy fix. I just did a quick experiment with evtest and it looks like the softkeys on the screen are just areas of the touchscreen that the window manager treats specially and generates synthetic key events in response to touches on, instead of being actual mappable keys.

teferi said:
I think you're out of luck with regard to an easy fix. I just did a quick experiment with evtest and it looks like the softkeys on the screen are just areas of the touchscreen that the window manager treats specially and generates synthetic key events in response to touches on, instead of being actual mappable keys.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well the are mappable. I managed to make it be the menu button and the back button just fine. It just doesnt want to be the power button..

The same key can be used as a single quick press or a long press. It is considered two different keys though. So you would have to figure out what the long press equivalent of the search button would be and change that one.

The way this thread can stay in developmental, is show steps on how you are remapping the keys.
For others to gain knowledge or this thread is moving to Q&A

Mikey1022 said:
The way this thread can stay in developmental, is show steps on how you are remapping the keys.
For others to gain knowledge or this thread is moving to Q&A
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe I'm off here, but if I was making this post to show the steps, would that not fall under a "How To" or "Guide"? My goal here is development. Development –noun 1. the act or process of developing; growth; progress. Or in my case, I'm in the act/process of developing a remapped key file to make the search soft key into a power key, and to then share with the rest of the forum. My progress so far is that I've managed to map it to a menu key and a back key with no problems, and am reaching out to others for help as to why it is that when I change it to the power key, it doesn't accept my changes.
Its kinda a gray zone, in that if I were to successfully remap it to the power button and post the file here, it would, technically speaking, be less of a development thread than it is now - because it would be finished developing and instead, merely contain a file with instructions.
However, as requested, and for those who are interested:
The file you are looking for, is as mentioned in the OP, "vision-keypad.kl" and is located in /system/usr/keylayout. You can edit it with a text editor like Notepad++. The line that I am looking at, also refer to OP, is key 217.
I'm thinking now, after messing with it some more, that maybe because it is a soft key it cant be mapped to power, being that as soon as the screen shuts off it no longer functions... But then again there exists widgets that, upon press, turn off the screen and they function fine, so I see no reason this shouldn't. I'll keep you posted on what I find, and would appreciate any help in the mean time.

i'd love to be able to map a longpress menu and a longpress back action. Cyanogen 6.1 allows longpress back to be turned into force kill foreground process. So there is a way to capture longpress on those 4 keys, the question is, what does the system read that keypress as and how can it be mapped.

sundar2012 said:
i'd love to be able to map a longpress menu and a longpress back action. Cyanogen 6.1 allows longpress back to be turned into force kill foreground process. So there is a way to capture longpress on those 4 keys, the question is, what does the system read that keypress as and how can it be mapped.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So it is doable! There are some .bin files in the /system/usr/keychar folder that correspond to the .kl files in the ../keylayout folder, but i havent been able to read them. Maybe thats it.. Gonna figure that out when I land tomorrow and get my computer set up

I changed the Search function key to Camera and it only works on a long press and I get no result on a short press. So maybe the function you are trying to rename the Search key to has to be specific to either way i.e. short or long press but not both.
So it will either work as a long press key for some functions or a short press key for others.

Read the window manager source (from AOSP or CM), determine what scancodes it synthesizes in response to touches or long-touches on the softkeys, edit keylayout accordingly.

Doesn't ButtonRemapper from Android App Dev section work on G2? :S

hey guys, i dont know if you all figured this out or not, I just got the g2, and to remap the key to power button you have to change it to "ENDCALL" not "POWER", after, reboot and voila! your search button now acts like a power button!!!!! Hope this helps!!!!!

Need to Map Back button to one of the soft key
Rceently I bought HTC Desire Z (no warranty), and I am facing the problem with 4 bottom buttons of the touch screen (menu, back, home and search). So I am planning to do hardware map for one of the softkeys to BACK button.
Could you please provide me step-by-step installation of all the softwares and the procedure I need to do for updating "vision-keypad.kl" file. Appreciate your help.
My one more doubt is that what is the difference between "WAKE_DROPPED" & "WAKE". I have seen these keywords in ".kl" file in GITHUB.
Please give me reply ASAP. I am frustrated with the way the mobile is working. Just imagine how it will be if back button stop working and you are in the middle of some application. I restarted my mobile some dozens of times.

Remap the S3 hardware buttons?

Main thing is I want to make the left hardware button (defaults to menu) to be the BACK button. I hold the phone in my left hand and find it difficult to hit the back button one-handed. Having it on the left (which also makes more logical sense as its a back button and all) would make it perfect
Im running CM10 and I have remapped the menu button to be multitask however I dont see any option concerning the back button. Is there a mod I can apply to make this work?
Thanks all

RoachForLife said:
Main thing is I want to make the left hardware button (defaults to menu) to be the BACK button. I hold the phone in my left hand and find it difficult to hit the back button one-handed. Having it on the left (which also makes more logical sense as its a back button and all) would make it perfect
Im running CM10 and I have remapped the menu button to be multitask however I dont see any option concerning the back button. Is there a mod I can apply to make this work?
Thanks all
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Since you're running CM10, why don't you ask this question in the specific ROM thread? I don't know the answer to your specific question but with Task's AOKP ROM, I added a nav bar at the bottom of the screen (soft buttons) that allow me to configure the bar to whatever functions I want (to a certain extent).

RoachForLife said:
Main thing is I want to make the left hardware button (defaults to menu) to be the BACK button. I hold the phone in my left hand and find it difficult to hit the back button one-handed. Having it on the left (which also makes more logical sense as its a back button and all) would make it perfect
Im running CM10 and I have remapped the menu button to be multitask however I dont see any option concerning the back button. Is there a mod I can apply to make this work?
Thanks all
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
U can get the zip and go to the keylayout folder in system and manually change it...
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda premium

My apologies but didnt know there was a CM forum. Or do you mean the CM thread under Android Dev forum? Ill post in there if thats what you mean. Regarding the keys I didnt want to add the soft keys (similar to nexus products) to my screen if I could avoid as it will take screen real estate however would consider if this was the only option
Also howtomen, can you be more specific on which zip
Thanks

So I believe I figured this out. Had to go into /system/usr/keylayout/sec_touchkey.kl
Replacing
key 139 MENU
key 158 BACK
With:
key 139 BACK
key 158 MENU
After reboot it seems to work.

Q: Avoiding Hardware Home Key?

The Note 8 looks great except for the hardware Home key. It's annoying to need physical force for a frequent task that should only take a slight touch.
Is there some way to work around the hardware Home key and avoid using it? Some of the reviews have mentioned on-screen keys, is it possible to keep those enable in all orientations & applications? Alternatively, is it possible to remap one of the capacitive keys to become a Home button?
Any methods or tips about how to avoid using the hardware Home key would be appreciated.

My Galaxy S4 has an Assistant Menu which provides things like an on screen Home and menu button. It's not in my Note 8.0 yet but may be added in a future release I guess.
Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk HD

Button Savior from the Play Store may do what you are after. It's funny. l personally like the hardware home key.
Sent from my GT-N5110 using xda premium

If you are rooted it would be simple to change your back or menu button to act as your home. You can go to /system/usr/keylayout/sec_touchscreen.kl and edit the BACK or MENU to read HOME.
Sent from my GT-N5110 using Tapatalk HD

I am using GMD gesture control on note 2&8 to simulate hardware buttons and keeping full screen for applications
Envoyé depuis mon GT-N7100 avec Tapatalk

Same issue as the OP, I'm using LMT with a pie control right on top of the hardware home button.

MikeChelen said:
The Note 8 looks great except for the hardware Home key. It's annoying to need physical force for a frequent task that should only take a slight touch.
Is there some way to work around the hardware Home key and avoid using it? Some of the reviews have mentioned on-screen keys, is it possible to keep those enable in all orientations & applications? Alternatively, is it possible to remap one of the capacitive keys to become a Home button?
Any methods or tips about how to avoid using the hardware Home key would be appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use Taskbar task switcher by gdroid, it places a Return to desktop shortcut along with a configurable number of recent apps in the notifications pull down.

sisterchick said:
Button Savior from the Play Store may do what you are after. It's funny. l personally like the hardware home key.
Sent from my GT-N5110 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Button Savior looks helpful, I played with it a little using both auto-hide and permanent display modes. The only downside to hidden mode is it takes two motions, first to expand the menu, then to click the home button. That can be done pretty quickly though.
Why do you like having a hardware button? I don't see why they made 2 buttons compatible with S-pen, and didn't make the Home button usable with the stylus as well.
Sent from my SGH-T699 using xda app-developers app

ual4720 said:
If you are rooted it would be simple to change your back or menu button to act as your home. You can go to /system/usr/keylayout/sec_touchscreen.kl and edit the BACK or MENU to read HOME.
Sent from my GT-N5110 using Tapatalk HD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, that would be useful. Is it also possible to assign those actions to a long-press? For example, Menu goes to Home with long press.
Sent from my SGH-T699 using xda app-developers app

Handy Hardware Button
MikeChelen said:
Button Savior looks helpful, I played with it a little using both auto-hide and permanent display modes. The only downside to hidden mode is it takes two motions, first to expand the menu, then to click the home button. That can be done pretty quickly though.
Why do you like having a hardware button? I don't see why they made 2 buttons compatible with S-pen, and didn't make the Home button usable with the stylus as well.
Sent from my SGH-T699 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Habit would probably be the best answer. I came to the Note 8 from a hacked Nook Color running CM10. I got accustomed to waking the device with the "n" hardware button. Like my old Nook, I put a non-slip bumper case on my Note 8 which makes pushing the power button to wake a little tedious. I also like to read in the dark and like the hardware key as a landmark for orientation when I pick it up with the lights off. Finally, I use the tablet in the kitchen on a stand for displaying recipes. I use a cheapest of the cheap $5 stylus in the kitchen to wake it up by pushing the hardware key and for scrolling pages so I don't get the tablet or the S-pen all gunked up with cookie dough from my fingers.:silly:

MikeChelen said:
The Note 8 looks great except for the hardware Home key. It's annoying to need physical force for a frequent task that should only take a slight touch.
Is there some way to work around the hardware Home key and avoid using it? Some of the reviews have mentioned on-screen keys, is it possible to keep those enable in all orientations & applications? Alternatively, is it possible to remap one of the capacitive keys to become a Home button?
Any methods or tips about how to avoid using the hardware Home key would be appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Custom ROM

MikeChelen said:
The Note 8 looks great except for the hardware Home key. It's annoying to need physical force for a frequent task that should only take a slight touch.
Is there some way to work around the hardware Home key and avoid using it? Some of the reviews have mentioned on-screen keys, is it possible to keep those enable in all orientations & applications? Alternatively, is it possible to remap one of the capacitive keys to become a Home button?
Any methods or tips about how to avoid using the hardware Home key would be appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LMT Pie

MikeChelen said:
The Note 8 looks great except for the hardware Home key. It's annoying to need physical force for a frequent task that should only take a slight touch.
Is there some way to work around the hardware Home key and avoid using it? Some of the reviews have mentioned on-screen keys, is it possible to keep those enable in all orientations & applications? Alternatively, is it possible to remap one of the capacitive keys to become a Home button?
Any methods or tips about how to avoid using the hardware Home key would be appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you use your Note 8 in landscape mode, you'll soon wish all keys were physical, not capacitive.

tokugawa said:
If you use your Note 8 in landscape mode, you'll soon wish all keys were physical, not capacitive.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is my concern, Im hoping that by using a case that goes over the bevel rather than sits flush with it, my palm will be less likely to brush against the back and menu capacitive buttons when playing games or drawing. My device should be arriving this evening so I will have to experiment to find my best solution. I dont want to mod the software to disble the buttons and get the traditional menu bar on the screen. I value the screen real estate. If they were physical buttons I wouldnt have this issue

hertsjoatmon said:
This is my concern, Im hoping that by using a case that goes over the bevel rather than sits flush with it, my palm will be less likely to brush against the back and menu capacitive buttons when playing games or drawing. My device should be arriving this evening so I will have to experiment to find my best solution. I dont want to mod the software to disble the buttons and get the traditional menu bar on the screen. I value the screen real estate. If they were physical buttons I wouldnt have this issue
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's still a bit annoying to me in landscape mode, but in Portrait mode it's been actually quite fine (even drawing). Perfect would be an app that could just temporarily disable/toggle it (maybe via a small 1x1 widget). Then if I want to use it in landscape mode (or whenever Im going to use it in a way that could be annoying with the capacitive keys), I could simply turn it on.
I do like the physical/capacitive keys in general too, since I also value the screen real estate so I guess for me a toggle solution would be best. Maybe I'll investigate into it and make it myself...

Or you can add Home button as Multiwindow "app" with this
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.t2.shome
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

Hi, there's a way for disabling the capacitive keys, just look under development here on this forum. The mod will disable the keys and require the S Pen to make them work (quite useful for landscape) to enable On-Screen Buttons you should try this (works on the Galaxy S3/Note/Note II) I haven't tested in the Note 8 but I will as soon as I get mine (by the end of this month).
Enable on-screen buttons:
You will need root access for this.
Install ES File Explorer File Manager on your Note from the Play Store. This is a file manager that will be used to edit those system files to enable/disable on-screen/soft buttons.
Open ES Explorer. Then, click the menu button on your device and click Settings. Here, tick the “Up to Root” option. Then go down and tick the “Root Explorer” option, then press Allow/Grant button when prompted to grant it root access. Then, tick the “Mount File System Option” as well. Once all three options are selected, press back to exit the settings.
Hit the Up on top in ES Explorer till you reach the outermost folder (till it says / at the top).
Go into the system folder, then scroll down to find the build.prop file (Copy this file to a Safe location!!).
Tap on this file to start editing it. If you get an “Open With” prompt, select “ES Note Editor”.
Now, at the end of the file (at the bottom after the last line), add the line “qemu.hw.mainkeys=0″ (without the ” quotes), then save the file (press the Menu button to see the Save option).
Then, reboot. After the boot up, you should have the virtual on-screen buttons on your screen.
Sent from my XT925 using xda app-developers app

EDIT

How-to: disable the home button
The thread that Samper was referring to is at: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2250941
I can't post there yet, so I would like to add here that after disabling the menu/back buttons as described there, I worked out how to disable the home button. Following the same instructions as in the above link, also edit the gpio-keys.kl, changing the last line by adding a # to the beginning, so it looks like this:
Code:
#key 172 HOME WAKE
Now that all three buttons are completely dead (though the pen will still activate the menu/back buttons), I use LMT Launcher to provide pie controls at the bottom of the screen. Get it here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1330150. PieControl from the Play Store is an easier-to-configure but less powerful alternative to LMT.

soft keys layout change

does any one know how to change the key layout of the android sofy keys, i mean in a normal android or a nexus product, the soft keys goes in the order as ( First is the back button, then middle is home and last in the right is recent tasks button).
but in samsung s3 and note 2, when soft keys are enabled. The soft key layout is reversed. I mean the back button soft key which is supposed to be in the left is in the right , and the recent tasks button which is supposed to be in the right is in the left. Any one knows how to change the soft key layout?
anything to do with tht build.prop or the sys/usr/keylayout file?

slavehunter105 said:
does any one know how to change the key layout of the android sofy keys, i mean in a normal android or a nexus product, the soft keys goes in the order as ( First is the back button, then middle is home and last in the right is recent tasks button).
but in samsung s3 and note 2, when soft keys are enabled. The soft key layout is reversed. I mean the back button soft key which is supposed to be in the left is in the right , and the recent tasks button which is supposed to be in the right is in the left. Any one knows how to change the soft key layout?
anything to do with tht build.prop or the sys/usr/keylayout file?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I feel you mate.
Yes you are right go to sytem/usr/keylayout/generic.kl and swap 139 with 158 and reboot.
You need to use something like solid explorer that gives you root acces.
Have fun, W

wmfreak said:
I feel you mate.
Yes you are right go to sytem/usr/keylayout/generic.kl and swap 139 with 158 and reboot.
You need to use something like solid explorer that gives you root acces.
Have fun, W
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe the 139 is for the menu button right? and 158 for back button ? but thr is no menu button on the soft keys right? its just a home button, back and recent tasks button. whats the number for the recent tasks button.

ill give it a try....thanks a ton man..

How do you enable them? I am on cm nightlies latest
Sent from my GT-N7100 using xda premium

How can I disable the capacitive buttons (back, menu) and physical home button on my

I'm generally very happy with my galaxy note 10.1, but often find myself unintentionally pressing the home button or menu/back button. This happens especially often in portrait mode, but also in landscape mode, as I tend to hold the tablet with one hand with my thumb on top.
I've searched the forums, and haveroot, but with the kitkat update, I'm not sure what the proper way to mode and disable capacitive and physical buttons are. Even if I lose some screen space, I'd prefer to have soft keys like a nexus tablet, for ease of use in both portrait and landscape mode.
All help and leads very much appreciated!
Sent from my SM-P600 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

[Q] how to space onscreen navigation buttons (softkeys)
Digging around the Internet and other forums, found the answers to my questions (since solutions for other galaxy devices work on ours too). So, in the spirit of sharing,
So, assuming one has root and a file explorer to exploit root and edit texts,
To disable the capacitive menu and back keys:
Add "#" in front of "key 139 menu" and "key 158 back" in the Generic.kl file in system\usr\keylayout folder.
To disable the physical home button:
Delete "WAKE" behind "key 172" in the gpio-keys.kl file in system/usr/keylayout/ folder.
To add onscreen softkeys for back / home / recents:
Add "qemu.hw.mainkeys=0" to build.prop file in the system folder.
One remaining problem, as you can see in the screen shot below, is that the soft keys are spaced out as if the tablet was a phone.
If anyone knew how to fix this, I'd n really appreciate the help! Thanks
Sent from my SM-P600 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Any Apps??
Is there is any app to disable to soft key?

aaurnab said:
Is there is any app to disable to soft key?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I gott solution here.... no editing buikd.prop... just installing Gravity Box. and all is well.