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Broken Capacitive Button Workaround!

Alright, the Galaxy series, although awesome, suffers from some issues. None are as frustrating as when the damn capacitive (bottom) buttons stop working!
Normally it seems that all four bottom buttons don't fail at the same time, just one or two. This doesn't seem to be as much of a physical problem as a software one, probably an application running in the forefront that is blocking them. Now it is hard to do much of anything if the settings button (left side) fails, as you cannot access most settings for your apps. Both my outside buttons rarely work, the aforementioned settings button (left) and the search button (right). Search button doesn't matter to me, I can call up search on screen easily enough. The other two are home and back buttons. Back is more necessary than home. So to work around this Samsung-induced-pain-in-the-ass, I swapped the search button function for the home.
Here's how:
Make sure you are roted and have a rooted file manager. Root Explorer tends to work best.
1. Open Root Explorer, and make sure it is mounted r/w.
2. Navigate to /system, /usr, /keylayout.
3. Tap/hold Broadcom_Bluetooth_HID.kl, and select 'Open in Text Editor'. If you get a Warning message, that means you are mounted r/o so you just need to click the Mount R/W button above.
4. Change key 139 to read HOME instead of MENU.
Change key 102 to read MENU instead of HOME.
Hit the back capacitive button and choose to save. It will create a Broadcom_Bluetooth_HID.kl.bak file also so if you want to undo this then just erase the new Broadcom_Bluetooth_HID.kl file and then erase the .bak off the other file.
5. Now open the melfas_touchkey.kl file the same way by holding it until it allows you to select 'Open in Text Editor'.
Change key 139 to read HOME instead of MENU.
Change key 102 to read MENU instead of HOME.
Hit the back capacitive button and choose to save. It will also create a .bak file.
6. Open the qwerty.kl file by holding it until it allows you to select 'Open in Text Editor'.
Change key 102 to read MENU instead of HOME.
Change key 139 to read HOME instead of MENU.
Hit the back capacitive button and choose to save. It will again create a .bak file.
7. Back out of Root Explorer and restart your phone.
Now, when you push your home button it will bring up your settings menu in whatever application is open, and your settings button will do the home function (or nothing, as my outside buttons do as they don't usually work). I now use my back button to get me to home, it just takes a few more pushes as it goes one step at a time. Not as much of a pain as not being able to set program functions, that's for sure!
Note: Depending on your setup, the file names might be slightly different on other Android devices, but they will always be very similar. They'll all have a bluetooth.kl, touchkey.kl and qwerty.kl (or whatever your keyboard layout might be). You can also fool around with other key settings if you wish to experiment, depending on what is and is not working at the current time. Just save your original .bak files so you can put it back to normal easily. If you alter the .kl file more than once, it will overwrite the .bak file again (which is not used by the phone) so make sure you copy the .bak's to another directory (such as /sdcard/backups or your regular computer).
Hope this makes your lives easier and don't forget to thank me if I helped you.

Modified Home key acting up
So after using this mod for a little while, it has been working well except for some slight stalling of response from the capacitive buttons (which was happening before the mod) and an awfully annoying habit of backing out of programs by itself due to the modified left button which was originally Settings but I changed to Home with the above mod. When this happens, I can see the left button go dark as if it's been physically pressed, so obviously there is some electrical or software malfeasance happening there.
The fix to this problem is to navigate to your /system/usr/keylayout folder again and:
Delete: "key 139 HOME"
In each of these three folders we altered earlier:
Broadcom_Bluetooth_HID.kl
melfas_touchkey.kl
qwerty.kl
The result is that no action is associated with the leftmost capacitive button, which is fine because it wasn't working properly in the first place. This was becoming problematic as I typed in Terminal or while using my Ubuntu build on the phone.
Now, if there was also a problem with the search popping up by itself then you would just have to delete "key 217 SEARCH". Remember why I initially did this was because the outside capacitive buttons were not functioning properly and I needed the settings button more than home while in programs.

Fully Functioning Capacitive Button Workaround
I actually found a specific need for the home key.
When in Terminal Emulator, if I want to back out to the main screen and access another application, I have to use my back button. Trouble is, the back button also closes out the terminal session, which is a pain in the *ss if I want to just look up something in my browser and then go back to it. I have to then restart my session and retype on the small as hell keyboard. So I was thinking, how am I going to implement a home key function in my drop-down start menu which is always accessible and low-and-behold, here it is:
SoftKeys for Root Users
https://market.android.com/details?...EsIm5ldC5ob29wYWpvby5hbmRyb2lkLlNvZnRLZXlzIl0.
This is a great app. Solves the problem. Starts immediately on boot.
There's also this for just a home key in the start menu drop-down, no start on boot though:
BK Softhome
https://market.android.com/search?q=bk+softhome&c=apps
Problems solved! I now have disabled all 4 capacitive buttons while using Softkeys for Root Users for all functions. (Delete: key 102, key 139, key 158, and key 217 in all three folders listed in original post)

[HOW TO]Comfortable 'helicoptering' home button issue workaround

Hey, I've found myself a comfortable workaround for the notorious 'helicoptering' home button issue.
(I hope I am the first one to post this kind of a solution)
Of course, you have to be rooted to use this way. If you are not, this is nothing for you.
One of the already known solutions is to completely disable the home button by a flashable zip or by editing one of the system files. This makes your home button completely useless, so you have to find yourself some kind of a replacement (e.g. mapping one of the buttons to Go home on double tap). This is what I don't like so I was looking for another workaround. And I came up with an idea of disabling only the tap action on home button instead of disabling the whole button functionality. Now my home button is set to do nothing on tap and Go home on long press, while the long press timing is set to 0,1 sec, so I don't really have to hold the button for very long.
Since the 'helicoptering' is a simple multiple button tap, I had to disable the double tap action for the home button (this can be done in settings of any kind of AOSP roms). That means my home button is only long press sensitive, it does nothing on tapping.
Of course the way to do it is via Xposed framework (God bless the guy who invented it!) and one of it's modules.
Here it is...
STEP-BY-STEP workaround:
First I have to tell you that I am not responsible for anything you do with your device!
Step 1: Get yourself an Xposed Installer apk file. It can be downloaded HERE. The official Xposed thread is here.
If you have it installed and set-up already, skip to Step 3.
Step 2: Install the apk file you just downloaded and open the app. Go to Framework → (Be careful!) → tap the Install/Update button.
After this process is done, you will be asked to reboot. Confirm and let the phone reboot.
Don't panic, after the phone boots and you see no changes. The Xposed framework itself does nothing. It needs to have modules running.
Step 3: Go to Play Store and install app called Xposed Additions. This is the module that will make the changes. After it's installed, Xposed Framework should warn you in the notification area that you have an Xposed module that is not active and it will ask you to Activate and reboot. Do it!
If you don't get this warning notification, do it manually: Open the Framework Installer → Modules → tick the Xposed Additions box and then reboot the device.
Step 4: Now you have to set-up the Xposed Additions module. Open the Xposed Additions app → Buttons → Add new Key → tap the Home button (it will only mark which button you chose) → hit OK → new item will appear under the Add new Key → tap the Home item → Add new Condition → Screen On → tick the Click box to activate the action → tap the Click button and scroll down until you find Disabled and tap this option → tick the Long Press box → tap the Long Press button and choose Home option.
Optional: You can also do the same to Double or even Triple actions if you get the Pro version of Xposed Additions.
Step 5 (Optional): In Xposed Additions → Buttons section you can shorten your Long press delay - to make your long press quicker.
Step 6: Get used to it...
And... ignore occasional home button vibrating of the dead 'helicoptering' which no longer sends your device back HOME.
That's it. I have been running this for at least 24 hours and it works. The only thing that bothers me is occasional 'helicopter' vibrating, but it's no longer sending my phone back to homescreen.
I hope this helps. If so, then hit the THANKS button, please!

Home offscreen button during typing

Is anybody else having this issue? I am coming from Galaxy S4, where the home button is actual physical button, so there I didn't have any issues, but with OPO, when typing, many times when I try to hit spacebar, it hits the top of the Home button. Before it comes up, I do not want to use on screen buttons, I like the size of the screen and don't want it up with software buttons.
I was wondering if anyone has/could write a script to set the buttons to
(Menu)
Short press - Menu
Long Press - Recent Aps
(Home)
Short press - Nothing
Long Press - Home
(Back)
Short Press - back
Long Press - nothing
Or of there is an app that would give me a bit more control over the buttons... or something that can help with this. This is absolutely the only issue I have with the OPO otherwise I love the phone.

shiroimin said:
Is anybody else having this issue? I am coming from Galaxy S4, where the home button is actual physical button, so there I didn't have any issues, but with OPO, when typing, many times when I try to hit spacebar, it hits the top of the Home button. Before it comes up, I do not want to use on screen buttons, I like the size of the screen and don't want it up with software buttons.
I was wondering if anyone has/could write a script to set the buttons to
(Menu)
Short press - Menu
Long Press - Recent Aps
(Home)
Short press - Nothing
Long Press - Home
(Back)
Short Press - back
Long Press - nothing
Or of there is an app that would give me a bit more control over the buttons... or something that can help with this. This is absolutely the only issue I have with the OPO otherwise I love the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because i currently am running CM12 i can't give exact insturctions but it should be somewhere in settings -> buttons -> ? over there you should be able to give the buttons other values. It is something like menu button: recent apps switcher and if you press that you can change it to a few other things. If this doesn't fill your needs, ask a bit more around I know it is there, because i saw it once.

Watermelons said:
Because i currently am running CM12 i can't give exact insturctions but it should be somewhere in settings -> buttons -> ? over there you should be able to give the buttons other values. It is something like menu button: recent apps switcher and if you press that you can change it to a few other things. If this doesn't fill your needs, ask a bit more around I know it is there, because i saw it once.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes it is there, but the option for "Home Short Press" is not there, that is hard coded. At least on the ROM I run (LiquidSmooth)

What I need to know is this:
Which key mapping is for Short Press Home, Long Press Home and Long Press Menu. I am within /system/usr/keylayout/Generic.kl to adjust the mapping manually, but can't seem to find the correct mapping for those 3.
*EDIT*
Ok, so found the key for Home and that is 172, but that disables both the short and long press...

shiroimin said:
What I need to know is this:
Which key mapping is for Short Press Home, Long Press Home and Long Press Menu. I am within /system/usr/keylayout/Generic.kl to adjust the mapping manually, but can't seem to find the correct mapping for those 3.
*EDIT*
Ok, so found the key for Home and that is 172, but that disables both the short and long press...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm sorry but with this i can't help.
Have you also tried the official OnePlus Forums?

Watermelons said:
I'm sorry but with this i can't help.
Have you also tried the official OnePlus Forums?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, sadly, someone suggested to come here

If you have root try it with the Xposed Module "Xposed Additions".

holzfeli said:
If you have root try it with the Xposed Module "Xposed Additions".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately can't install Xposed as it tells me that my device does not support it. Is there one specifically built for us?
I get this error :
Xposed is not (yet) compatible with Android SDK Version 21 or your processor architecture (armeabi-7va).
CANNOT LINK EXECUTABLE: could not load library "libdvm.so" needed by "/data/data/de.robv.android.xposed.installer/cache/app_process"; caused by library "libdvm.so" not found.

shiroimin said:
Unfortunately can't install Xposed as it tells me that my device does not support it. Is there one specifically built for us?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't post the link because I haven't 10 messages :crying:
You have got a private message!

holzfeli said:
I can't post the link because I haven't 10 messages :crying:
You have got a private message!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for the link, unfortunately still doesn't work. Same error. I think it is because the ROM I am using is LP and LP uses ART instead of Dalvik and XPosed doesn't work with that. Thank you though for the effort

shiroimin said:
Thank you for the link, unfortunately still doesn't work. Same error. I think it is because the ROM I am using is LP and LP uses ART instead of Dalvik and XPosed doesn't work with that. Thank you though for the effort
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, ART is the problem.

So I came up with a solution for this issue.
The file in question to be working with is /system/usr/keylayout/Generic.kl
Navigate to this file using a File Browser (Root Explorer is the one I use) that has access to Root and make sure you have R/W rights.
Edit the file above in a text editor > find line : "key 139 MENU" and change it to "key 139 HOME" > and then find line : "key 172 HOME" and change it to "key 172 MENU" > Reboot device for it to take effect after you save
Then, within Settings > Buttons, you can adjust (at least on the ROM I am on), the long and short press of the Menu button.
What comes out is: left button is HOME button, with short/long press actions, middle button is MENU with just long action (set short action to NONE), and right button is BACK button untouched.
This way if I am typing, and want to hit space bar, accidentally hitting the middle button will not bring me to the main screen. It will take a while to get used to it, but it does resolve my issue.

[GUIDE] How to Disable Home Button Wake on S6

You will need a root explorer and All in One Gestures app.
Look in device/system/usr/keylayout for generic.kl
Make a backup of this file before editing.
Open it in a text editor and look for lines "Key 158 BACK" and "Key 172 HOME"
Swap BACK and HOME then save and reboot.
Then open All in One Gestures and under hardware keys tab, swap funtion of home and back again.
Somewhere along the line the wake funtion is dropped. Everything else works as normal.
I needed this feature disabled b/c wallet case would keep screen on constantly and eat battery.

I found a slightly better alternative. Your method effectively disables the key light of the BACK button.
My method is:
Edit Generic.kl. Find key with SEARCH, and comment it with a #. Then find HOME, and replace HOME with SEARCH. Go into All In One Gestures, and click on the FAB with "+". Add " Search" key, and assign it the action for Home. That's it. Same effect, but key light for BACK still works!

Both working with Note 4 too.
With first method you are loosing backlight and haptic feedback, while with second you are gaining haptic feedback on home button too.
And you need to set long press for 'google now', otherwise it won't work.

Thoth33 said:
You will need a root explorer and All in One Gestures app.
Look in device/system/usr/keylayout for generic.kl
Make a backup of this file before editing.
Open it in a text editor and look for lines "Key 158 BACK" and "Key 172 HOME"
Swap BACK and HOME then save and reboot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did a variation of this. I swapped 254 MENU with 172 HOME. That's all. No need to install Xposed or any other apps.
This works simply by editing system files without having to install other apps like Exposed.
Now, the menu button is HOME. But it won't wake the phone, because menu does nothing unless phone is already awake. HOME button is MENU, but it doesn't wake the phone.
Perfect!

Adjust GS7 Edge DPI without Root

Here is a quick guide to adjusting your screen's dpi without root using a hidden menu. Original post found on phandroid http://phandroid.com/2016/03/17/samsung-galaxy-s7-edge-native-dpi-setting-hidden/. Works great it helps condense the words on the screen so when viewing websites and other things the words are no longer on the edges.
Download/install Nova Launcher
On the Nova Launcher home screen, long press empty space and select “Widgets” at the bottom of the screen
Scroll to the top of the Widget select screen and swipe to the left to reveal the shortcut for “Activities“
Long press Activities and drop it on the home screen
A new screen will pop up and after it loads up (this can take awhile), scroll down and select the Settings drop down menu
Choose .DisplayScalingActivity (should be the 4th option down)
Now select the new Settings icon on your home screen (it wont be labeled) to open up the hidden DPI menu
Select either Standard or Condensed views
Phone will reboot with new settings applied

Already a thread on this
http://forum.xda-developers.com/s7-edge/how-to/changing-dpi-trip-knox-t3331579
No need for 2