Difference between revisions of "On Screen Keyboard"

From WebOS Internals
Jump to navigation Jump to search
(7)
(skinning, popups etc)
Line 1: Line 1:
 
[[Image: On_Screen_Keyboard.png|thumb|right]]
 
[[Image: On_Screen_Keyboard.png|thumb|right]]
 
'''Warning.  This is PRE ALPHA testing grade only software.  It may cause your pre to melt into a puddle and dissolve while turning blue.  Use at your own risk!'''
 
'''Warning.  This is PRE ALPHA testing grade only software.  It may cause your pre to melt into a puddle and dissolve while turning blue.  Use at your own risk!'''
 
+
[[Image: On_screen_keyboard_2.png|thumb|right]]
 
=Introduction=
 
=Introduction=
The Palm Pre already COMES with an on-screen keyboard. It works in portrait and landscape, in all apps, in all fields. This on screen keyboard provides a path to produce a fully functional on screen keyboard for the Pre.  
+
The Palm Pre ships with a very limited on-screen keyboard for inserting symbols. It works in portrait and landscape, in all apps, in all fields. This on screen keyboard provides a basis for programmers to develop a fully functional on screen keyboard for the Pre.  
  
 
=Explanation=
 
=Explanation=
 
On an unmodified Pre if you press the "sym" key and a scrollable 5x5 keyboard pops up full of alternate characters.  
 
On an unmodified Pre if you press the "sym" key and a scrollable 5x5 keyboard pops up full of alternate characters.  
 
+
[[Image: On_screen_keyboard_3.png|thumb|right]]
 
This is controlled by code incorporated into the framework.js.  The specific functions there can be seeen in '''/usr/palm/frameworks/mojo/submissions/191.15/javascripts/widget_charselector.js'''
 
This is controlled by code incorporated into the framework.js.  The specific functions there can be seeen in '''/usr/palm/frameworks/mojo/submissions/191.15/javascripts/widget_charselector.js'''
  
Line 28: Line 28:
  
 
=Issues=
 
=Issues=
as of 13 August 2009 the following issues are known:  
+
as of 17 August 2009 the following issues are known:  
  
* Add method to get at numbers and symbols (possibilities: sym,flick)
+
* Add method to get at numbers and symbols (possibilities: sym,flick) '''Done'''
* Modify keyboard dimensions in landscape mode to span accross width
+
* Modify keyboard dimensions in landscape mode to span accross width '''Done'''
* Do not bring up keyboard when using hard keyboard clipboard events (might have to disable the keyboard when slider is open exposing hard keyboard)
+
* Do not bring up keyboard when using hard keyboard clipboard events (might have to disable the keyboard when slider is open exposing hard keyboard)  
 
* Enable usage to search contacts/universal search -- for example Name, email address, etc are ''search'' fields not text fields.  
 
* Enable usage to search contacts/universal search -- for example Name, email address, etc are ''search'' fields not text fields.  
 
* Fix far right column  -- '''DONE 13 Aug'''
 
* Fix far right column  -- '''DONE 13 Aug'''
 
* Verify auto-correct when space added.
 
* Verify auto-correct when space added.
* Possibly (and optionally) play sound or haptic feedback on touch
+
* Possibly (and optionally) play sound or haptic feedback on touch '''Done'''
 
* Add clipboard capabilities
 
* Add clipboard capabilities
 
* Explore T9-type, limited-width keyboard options
 
* Explore T9-type, limited-width keyboard options
* Do not bring up keyboard on swipe gestures, only tap if possible
+
* Do not bring up keyboard on swipe gestures, only tap if possible '''Done'''
 
* Space, enter, backspace need to work  == '''DONE 13 Aug'''
 
* Space, enter, backspace need to work  == '''DONE 13 Aug'''

Revision as of 14:46, 19 August 2009

On Screen Keyboard.png

Warning. This is PRE ALPHA testing grade only software. It may cause your pre to melt into a puddle and dissolve while turning blue. Use at your own risk!

On screen keyboard 2.png

Introduction

The Palm Pre ships with a very limited on-screen keyboard for inserting symbols. It works in portrait and landscape, in all apps, in all fields. This on screen keyboard provides a basis for programmers to develop a fully functional on screen keyboard for the Pre.

Explanation

On an unmodified Pre if you press the "sym" key and a scrollable 5x5 keyboard pops up full of alternate characters.

On screen keyboard 3.png

This is controlled by code incorporated into the framework.js. The specific functions there can be seeen in /usr/palm/frameworks/mojo/submissions/191.15/javascripts/widget_charselector.js

with the layout controlled by 3 files in /usr/palm/frameworks/mojo/submissions/191.15/templates/charselector

the actual list of characters that appear on the screen is controlled by /usr/palm/frameworks/mojo/submissions/191.15/resources/en_us/alternatechars_table.json

At the simplest level then, creating an on-screen keyboard requires editing the alternate characters table json, to add the "regular" charcters to it, and then when you want a keyboard, press SYM and poof, a keyboard. The problem with that is, the alternatechars_table.json is "fragile" the slightests mis-edit results in the pre entering a continuous book cycle.

At the next level, the framework's copy of widget_charselector.js needs to be modified to not close the keyboard after each keypress.

As of 12 August 2009 Webos-internals contributor Eric Gaudet (irc egaudet) announced success at patching the framework.js to accept a new function derived from the charselector widget. This pre-alpha proof of concept on-screen keyboard is available as a patch.

Procedure

The patch is on Gitorious, please read the following to install the patch: Applying Patches - WebOS Internals

The patch should be stored(on Pre) in: /opt/src/modifications/frameworks/add-onscreen-keyboard.patch

the 'source code' of the patch: [1]

Issues

as of 17 August 2009 the following issues are known:

  • Add method to get at numbers and symbols (possibilities: sym,flick) Done
  • Modify keyboard dimensions in landscape mode to span accross width Done
  • Do not bring up keyboard when using hard keyboard clipboard events (might have to disable the keyboard when slider is open exposing hard keyboard)
  • Enable usage to search contacts/universal search -- for example Name, email address, etc are search fields not text fields.
  • Fix far right column -- DONE 13 Aug
  • Verify auto-correct when space added.
  • Possibly (and optionally) play sound or haptic feedback on touch Done
  • Add clipboard capabilities
  • Explore T9-type, limited-width keyboard options
  • Do not bring up keyboard on swipe gestures, only tap if possible Done
  • Space, enter, backspace need to work == DONE 13 Aug