Keyboard and games - General Questions and Answers

Hi there! I'm new to this community and I would like to salute you all!
I have what should be in my opinion an easy question: is it possible to play android games on a tablet using a physical keyboard connected via usb? I installed gta 3 and it is possible to move with the arrow keys and some other buttons work too, but the action buttons on the right side of the screen dont work with the keyboard. Also, I installed Fifa 12 and I was hoping there could be some sort of app or emulator that could map the keys on the physical keyboard so that they could match the buttons on the on screen keyboard. You know, sort of like WASD + arrow keys. So tell me, is there some kind of app or emulator that coud do this? Is this even possible? Thanks

Nothing?

Is it possible?

You can make a custom layout by writing a keylayout file in Android: /system/usr/keylayout/qwerty.kl
You can modify this to have it send any keycode.
If you are going to remap letters and stuff but still want to be able to use a regular keyboard,
I suggest that you get two different (different PID/VID) keyboards.
You could even use a numeric keyboard for gaming.
Leave qwerty.kl alone and make a new one named something special.
First try this: use logcat when plugging in your keyboard, and twiddling a few keys.
You will get an error message something like this:
Code:
W/KeyCharacterMap( 1360): Can't open keycharmap file
W/KeyCharacterMap( 1360): Error loading keycharmap file '/system/usr/keychars/HID_04d9:1203.kcm.bin' . hw.keyboards.196612.devname='HID 04d9:1203'
W/KeyCharacterMap( 1360): Using default keymap: /system/usr/keychars/qwerty.kcm.bin
This is not the file that you are looking for but it tells you the name of the file that you do need.
(keylayout is the first layer of translation, keychars is the second layer. You don't need to change keychars.)
That file (in this case) would be /system/usr/keylayout/HID_04d9:1203.kl
If your system doesn't emit this error message, get the VID/PID and try that as a name.
(You can get the VID/PID by plugging the keyboard into a Windows system and looking in device manager.)
You still have to modify the .kl file for whatever your gaming need is.
Start with the original qwerty.kl file as your model.

Thanks. But it seems a little overwhelming for a new android user like me. I was hoping there was some sort of app that could let me map physical keyboard keys.
Is that the only way?

Related

Pandora Radio for HD2

Getting pandora Radio to work on HD2 ( for WVGA devices )
-If you intall the new pandora radio cab for VGA devices from the pandora website you would need to pay for the service
-If you Install the old pandora cab the buttos are all over the place and their too small
This guide is for fixing all of that and gettig it to work properly on your HD2
(UPDATE)
You can just Download the .cab file from Here
Then go to >start>settings>Personal>Buttons> and assign the Send Key(Hold) Under> 2. Assign a program: and select Input Panel.
Assigning that key is for enabling the keyboar as the keyboard is not going to pop up automatically after assigning the key just press and hold the send/green phone button and the keyboard should pop up so you can type in your login info.
OR TRY THIS
1. Download VGA Pandora Files.zip from Here
2. Unzip it and copy the 4 files to your SD card
3. Open file explorer and Install the pandora cab, advance config tool cab, you will need Microsoft .NET Compact Framework 3.5 to install avanced config tool so if you dont have it already in your phone install the NETCFv35.wm.armv4i cab
4. Open pandora radio from the start menu and enter your credentials or create a new acc (dont skip this step becuase if you leave it for last you wont have a keyboard to enter your credentials so you MUST DO IT NOW) once you are logged in you will nottice that the buttons are all over the place dont worry about that and close the pandora app
5. Open Advce configuration tool from the start menu and navigate to Network>TCP Window and change the value to 98304
6. Save your changes, and soft-reset.
7. Go in to file explorer and replace the orginal pandora.exe (in \Program Files\Pandora\Pandora.exe) with the pandora.exe from VGA Pandora Files.zip (the last of the 4 files I asked you to move to your SD)
8. ENJOY
Seems to be a problem for UK users to access the service - copyright issues. So I assume this is for US only... unless anyone knows differently.
thnx everything worked except that u can't create new stations because there is no keyboard. is that how its supposed to be? I mean ill settle fir this tho its better than nothing at all. thnx anyways tho. still great.
...or you can get the WVGA version for the TP2. Am I missing something here?
http://fluffyphones.com/fluffy-apps/pandora-htc-touch-pro-2-rhodium-wvga-windows-mobile-download/
That's what I have and it works excellent on the HD2 -- buttons and everything. The only problem that I encounter is that I can't seem to receive incoming calls when Pandora is playing.
lude219 said:
...or you can get the WVGA version for the TP2. Am I missing something here?
http://fluffyphones.com/fluffy-apps/pandora-htc-touch-pro-2-rhodium-wvga-windows-mobile-download/
That's what I have and it works excellent on the HD2 -- buttons and everything. The only problem that I encounter is that I can't seem to receive incoming calls when Pandora is playing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah! I think that could work aswell I was looking for something like this but I couldnt find it so I set it up like that
Thanks!
O.k I downloaded the TP2 pandora link above.
But i cant login. I click on the field to enter my name but the keyboard never pops up?
How in the world did you guys manage to log in on your HD2?
GNOve said:
O.k I downloaded the TP2 pandora link above.
But i cant login. I click on the field to enter my name but the keyboard never pops up?
How in the world did you guys manage to log in on your HD2?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
thanks.
Go into settings. Menu -> All Settings -> Personal -> Buttons.
Change "Send Key (Hold)" to "<Input Panel>". (you prob have to change the other "Button"s to different assignments. I changed them to random things and haven't encountered any problems yet) Exit out.
Now when pandora needs you to type, just long press the Send key and the keyboard should popup.
kidincredible said:
Go into settings. Menu -> All Settings -> Personal -> Buttons.
Change "Send Key (Hold)" to "<Input Panel>". (you prob have to change the other "Button"s to different assignments. I changed them to random things and haven't encountered any problems yet) Exit out.
Now when pandora needs you to type, just long press the Send key and the keyboard should popup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I installed the CAB but I can't seem to get into "settings" as described above. Is "Menu" located somewhere while Pandora is running?
Works but is u-ugly
Great setup, works wonderfully. Is there a way to make this appear more formatted to the HD2 screen? Everything is bunched at the bottom for controls and the images are to right overlapping in the middle.
Thanks all!
wi11iamedward said:
Great setup, works wonderfully. Is there a way to make this appear more formatted to the HD2 screen? Everything is bunched at the bottom for controls and the images are to right overlapping in the middle.
Thanks all!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't believe you can. I wasn't meant to be used on the HD2 large screen.
Still trying to get keyboard
When i attempt to change the voice command to text input it doesn't stay. When i leave the page it goes back to voice command. Is there something I'm supposed to do? I tried double clicking but that didn't do anything. It just won't stay on text input. Can anyone help me?
andemps318 said:
When i attempt to change the voice command to text input it doesn't stay. When i leave the page it goes back to voice command. Is there something I'm supposed to do? I tried double clicking but that didn't do anything. It just won't stay on text input. Can anyone help me?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Start/Settings/Personal/Buttons
Make sure the Button (Send key/Hold) is highlighted. Then scroll up to <Input Panel>. You should see the assignment change then hit OK.
If the Button is not highlighted it will not make the change.
Edwin320 said:
I installed the CAB but I can't seem to get into "settings" as described above. Is "Menu" located somewhere while Pandora is running?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got this to work. First, I installed Resco Explorer (Free 7 day trial): at
(I tried posting links to each cab, but as a new user, I can't post links...sorry.)
Next, I installed Zoomer (German site, but the App is in English):
(Link Removed)
(Original Zoomer XDA post:
(Link Removed)
and I installed the Pandora TP2 app found here:
(Link removed)
After these three apps were installed, I opened Resco Explorer, and found the Pandora app that had been previously installed. When I opened Pandora from within Resco, the on-screen key to bring up the keyboard was present. I simply was able to click on each field in Pandora, and hit the soft key to being up the keyboard. Once I entered my login information, Pandora simply started to work. I then ended all programs, opened up Zoomer, picked Pandora from Zoomer's list, and did a soft reset. Now when I open Pandora from the WinMo honeycomb, I can pinch and zoom (and reposition the zoomed portion of the screen) to make things easier to work with.
I followed this procedure on both my and my wife's new TMoUS HD2s and the the Pandora works fine on both.
Good luck.
(P.S. I like the Resco functionality, so I'll be buying the program after the trial ends)
help
hi i am having a problem when i sign in pandora it is asking me for a 5 digit u.s. zip code but no where i can type it. please help thank you
linhtoon said:
hi i am having a problem when i sign in pandora it is asking me for a 5 digit u.s. zip code but no where i can type it. please help thank you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sign up online first on say your desktop or laptop and then all you have to do is log in on phone and all your stations will be there.
kidincredible said:
Go into settings. Menu -> All Settings -> Personal -> Buttons.
Change "Send Key (Hold)" to "<Input Panel>". (you prob have to change the other "Button"s to different assignments. I changed them to random things and haven't encountered any problems yet) Exit out.
Now when pandora needs you to type, just long press the Send key and the keyboard should popup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This worked perfectly for me. From my HD2's HOME SCREEN (not in Pandora) I navigated to Settings, Menu, All Settings, Personal, Buttons to change Send (long press) to (Input Panel)
Thanks!
what worked for me
i just had the same problem. i just pressed the home key went to the task manager then selected pandora and when i went back the keyboard was there again. repeat process for all of the fields and there you go free misic. thanks for the great work guys.
The first post mentions "the new pandora radio cab for VGA devices from the pandora website".
I might be willing to pay $3 for a more *official* way of making Pandora work on my HD2. My question is: Where on the Pandora site is this $3 cab file? I can't find it.
fucntions perfectly, first time install without incident.
thanks for the work!

[Q] Add functions to HP Touchpad keyboard?

I've just gotten my HP Keyboard in the post. It's very sleek and is great to use.
However, it does have a pretty big flaw (especially now with the QuickOffice update): Keyboard shortcuts.
It has a control button, which only has two uses: 1. Hold it while using the arrows in a text box to move along whole words, 2. Ctrl+3 brings up the notification area, which is odd as it has it's own button.
Would it be possible in any way (homebrew or otherwise) to add standard keyboard shortcuts: Copy, Paste, Cut, Select All, etc? Using all those functions is just a natural part of how I use a computer and I'll know I'll forever be trying to use them.
Still, despite those issues, I'm glad with my purchase. It'll be good for my laptop (especially when I want to use the HDMI out and the lid is closed), PS3 and my Android phone.
Edit: The ability to scroll and navigate cards with the arrow buttons would also be very nice, but probably harder to implement.
Looking into it right now. Probably needs a binary patch on LunaSysMgr, someone please correct me if I'm wrong (and I sincerely hope I am).
Cube1701 said:
Would it be possible in any way (homebrew or otherwise) to add standard keyboard shortcuts: Copy, Paste, Cut, Select All, etc? Using all those functions is just a natural part of how I use a computer and I'll know I'll forever be trying to use them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed. I managed to copy a web address from one website today using the drop-down menu's copy command, but when I went to a forum to paste the address on a "link" attachment, I couldn't figure out how to to it. Still don't know.
That would be a great fix.

Ctrl+V Broken in Browser

So the Browser's text input handling in ICS and JB is bad. It's really, exceptionally, terribly bad. Have you ever tried to write bbcode for an image with it using a soft keyboard? It will randomly paste URLs in the body of text, the cursor handles jump all over the place, and sometimes while typing with the on-screen keyboard, words will just decide they belong in the beginning of the message box, and if you try to select a large amount of text in an input field, you're lucky if the blue highlight even "lands" on the text. Interacting with forums with the Browser is a nightmare.
But I digress. Kind of. It was so bad that it finally forced me to go out and buy a keyboard dock for the tf300. I have to say it's really great, and I wish I had bought one earlier. I knew it supported things like "Ctrl+C" and "Ctrl+V" and sometimes they work! But it's so inconsistent. For example, I can upload an image with imgur, copy the URL with ease, but then when I switch to another tab and try to paste it in my message box, I get nothing. Ctrl+V does nothing. Menu+V does nothing (other than insert a "v"). Alt+V does nothing. I have to click into the text to create an I-cursor handle, then click the handle, then click the little Paste button. And sometimes, it still decides it's going to paste elsewhere in the message. To add insult to injury, I can Ctrl+C no problem, I even get a toast saying "Text copied".
I'm currently running CM10 (official nightlies). Does anyone else have this problem, or is it a problem with this ROM perhaps? Text input in the Browser is super ****ing ****ty. Lacking Ctrl+V functionality only makes it ****tier.

[HowTo]Changing dock keys on AOSP

Before reading on please know that:
You need to have root permissions
The methods for stock based kernel vs aosp vary
ALWAYS back up your files
I've only recently been toying with this on AOSP, not everything may be accurate
HOW TO CHANGE THE KEYS:
This link has all you need to know about the .kl and .kcm files, and how to change the layout. Basically the keylayout file gives values to the keys pressed, while the keychars assigns things like what to do when shift/capslock is pressed etc... Unfortunately, while this works fine on stock based roms, it needs some extra steps in order to work with AOSP
NOTE:
The location of the files on the tf300t are slightly different. The keylayout/ and keychars/ folders can be found in /system/usr
This link is the android documentation on input files. The "Key Layout Files" and "Key Character Map" sections for information on the syntax for .kl and .kcm files.
AOSP ROMS
AOSP roms evidently do not have a working asusdec driver, as such only standard Android keys work.
A list of keys can be found in the "Keyboard Devices" section of the Android documentation linked above, or you can just click here
The Asus specific codes the dock uses (and therefore don't work on AOSP) :
KEY_SLEEP
KEY_WLAN
KEY_BLUETOOTH,
ASUSDEC_KEY_TOUCHPAD
KEY_BRIGHTNESSDOWN
KEY_BRIGHTNESSUP
ASUSDEC_KEY_AUTOBRIGHT,
KEY_CAMERA
KEY_WWW
ASUSDEC_KEY_SETTING
KEY_PREVIOUSSONG -MEDIA_PREVIOUS
KEY_PLAYPAUSE -MEDIA_PLAY_PAUSE
KEY_NEXTSONG -MEDIA_NEXT
KEY_MUTE
KEY_VOLUMEDOWN
KEY_VOLUMEUP
Some alternatives I've found:
POWER can be used as an alternative for SLEEP (The lock key)
SYSRQ might work in place of CAMERA, Which is labeled as CAPTURE in the files (neither is a standard android key)
EXPLORER is already in the files in place of WWW
MEDIA_PREVIOUS should work instead of PREVIOUSSONG
MEDIA_PLAY_PAUSE in place of PLAYPAUSE
MEDIA_NEXT in place of NEXTSONG
IMPORTANT NOTES ON AOSP:
For the .kl files to work you must remove the "UNLOCK" at the end of every line.
Because the asusdec driver is either missing or broken, you must create an Input Device Configuration File. There is more about this in the Android documentation, but creating a simple file "asusdec.idc" and saving it in /system/usr/idc works fine.
This file should contain at least 2 lines:
Code:
keyboard.layout = asusdec # The name of the .kl file found in keylayout
keyboard.charactermap = asusdec # name of the .kcm file
The .idc file HAS to be named asusdec.idc or it will not work.
Process:
Code:
# Using Terminal Emulator with the dock disconnected:
logcat |tee -a log.txt
#When I connect the dock I see
D/EventHub(499): No input device configuration file found for device 'asusdec'.
#Disconnecting the dock I would see
D/AsusDockEmbeddedController(4002): ECWakeup is now off
#So I create the asusdec.idc, set it to load the .kl and .kcm, reboot, do it all over, this time
E/KeyLayoutMap(499): /system/usr/keylayout/asusdec.kl:1: Expected key flag label, got 'UNLOCK'.
#Reading the docs noticed there was no 'UNLOCK' flag so I removed them all
#And after removing several incompatible keys it works!

XBox One S Controller Bluetooth Key Layout file

I am looking for a specific key layout file like the one on this post: https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/37115804. As you can see, the file on that link is restricted for some reason, and I can't seem to find it anywhere. The issue is that while using bluetooth with an XBox One S controller, the keymapping is incorrect, resulting in some buttons being mapped incorrectly or not at all. I have been able to partially fix this with my own key layout file, but I can't find proper documentation or a correct file to use. If anyone has one I would really appreciate it.

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