Database Info

Mapping Capacitive Buttons to Launch App?

Is it possible to map the bottom Capacitive Buttons to launch apps? It would nice to be able to change what they do and add functionality.
ie. long press on home launches "active apps" instead of task manager, long press on menu launches voice actions.
I know how to map the search key to camera but that is very easy/simple.

You can do this with Cyanogenmod. IDK what else though.

How do you map the camera to the search key? Is it on long press or regular?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

file located at:
/system/usr/keylayout/melfas-touch.kl
Key 107 SEARCH
change to
Key 107 CAMERA
save
I did it all with root explorer.
It changes the search button to be a camera button, launches and takes pictures. You lose search but long press on menu brings up search.
Anyone have anymore info on this?

when i make those changes in root explorer, i hit save but when i open the file again it is back to search. any tips?

make sure you have write privileges....?

i should have started out by saying i am relatively new to this. when i long press on melfas-touchkey.kl and click permissions, it says user:read write, group:read, others:read. so i think i do...

Any more incite on this?

make the home key wake the device?

anyone have a mod that does this?
sorry if this is in the wrong place. i'm new here.

I don't know of a patch for that yet, but I'm sure it's possible.
If we had CyanogenMod for the Charge, it would be baked into the ROM.
Someday ...

I would like to see this. possibly even disable the quick press options of the power button and reassign them to another combination. I hit the button all the time trying to do other things on the phone and then I get locked out and have to redo my pattern etc.

Widgetlocker app can do this for you.

Using Root Explorer or possibly Estrongs file explorer:
>Go to system>usr>keylayout>s3c-keypad.kl
>modify key 50 to look like this: HOME WAKE_DROPPED
>Then reoboot
Now home key wakes device!
UPDATE: Seems after it is asleep for a period of time it won't wake it anymore, have to work this out.

What application do we use to edit the value? A text editor? What do you suggest?

I use Root Explorer Long press open in text editor,
I think you can do the same with estrongs file explorer.

>DARKMAN< said:
I use Root Explorer Long press open in text editor,
I think you can do the same with estrongs file explorer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry for the unnecessary request. I see it is in the other post.

It seems as though the front keypad module is not active once it goes completely to sleep, there for won't wake it.
If someone can figure this out, it will work just fine.

>DARKMAN< said:
Using Root Explorer or possibly Estrongs file explorer:
>Go to system>usr>keylayout>s3c-keypad.kl
>modify key 50 to look like this: HOME WAKE_DROPPED
>Then reoboot
Now home key wakes device!
UPDATE: Seems after it is asleep for a period of time it won't wake it anymore, have to work this out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Definite thanks for looking into it. I'll try the app that bill mentioned and see if it makes a difference. I haven't yet rooted so I don't think I can do your version yet even if it works.

billku said:
Widgetlocker app can do this for you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are suggesting this because you have this on your Droid Charge and it is currently working correctly?
The reason I ask, is I tried a couple weeks back and could not get it working correctly.

I have it on my Charge. It works intermittently. I found that if the phone is asleep for a little while it usually does not work... occasionally it does work but no consistent pattern.
I'm also looking for a better fix than the app.
Suggestions are greatly appreciated!

The same thing happens when you just modify the key mapping, it's because the front keypad module is off when the phone sleeps.
So if it could be activated at all times that would fix it, but I imagine it may have some side effects to battery life.

This will disable the lock screen for good. After you do this fix you can wake up the Droid by briefly pressing the power button and it will go immediately to the home screen without any lock screen madness.
Go to Dialer and enter *#83786633, then press the home key
Go back into the Dialer, clear those numbers, then *#22745927
Now a screen will appear asking for the SPC Code, enter 000000
Press the Hiddenmenu Enable radio button, then press home button
To disable the lock screen (and power down pop up), go back into the Dialer and use the code *#7594#, select Shutdown and press the Home button. This, I have confirmed, does work on the Charge.

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)

[Q] button remap?

Is it possible to remap the menu button on the verizon s 3 to multitasking?

I'm going to think your going to have to be rooted, and maybe change something in the build prop.
Apex launcher let's customize buttons in the settings.. Just download it from the play store!

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1789000
Check out this thread. This app remaps home button but on the app Page in play store the same dev also has an app that remaps other buttons if I'm not mistaken.
Hope this helps.
Home2shortcut
Sent str8 from my half eaten Banilla Ice Cream Samich

Yes, its possible, I have my buttons totally remapped with:
Menu button - Home/Multitasking
Home button - Menu/whatever holding it down does
Back - Back
I also made it so that the home button doesn't wake the phone as well.
In a couple days (or whenever i have time really) im gonna put a guide together how to do this in detail (i havent seen an extensive one yet).
BEFORE DOING THIS, BACK UP EVERYTHING!!! I'M NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY PROBLEMS OR MISHAPS.
Also, you need root for your phone to mount the system as writable.
NOTE when i first did this, i only changed one at a time, and made the mistake as not having a Menu button (i had two home buttons and a back button) which proved tricky to find a way around. Just be very careful!
In short, modify the files sec_touchkey.kl and sec_keys.kl within ES File Explorer or Root Explorer under ~/system/usr/keylayout/ . As soon as you edit these and save them, the App will automatically create a sec_touchkey.kl.bak or sec_keys.kl.bak file next to your modified file. After an edit, you'll need to reboot your phone for the changes to be in effect.
I would advise to look at these files in detail before mounting the system as writable, to avoid mistakes.
Good luck!!

usatf1290 said:
Yes, its possible, I have my buttons totally remapped with:
Menu button - Home/Multitasking
Home button - Menu/whatever holding it down does
Back - Back
I also made it so that the home button doesn't wake the phone as well.
In a couple days (or whenever i have time really) im gonna put a guide together how to do this in detail (i havent seen an extensive one yet).
BEFORE DOING THIS, BACK UP EVERYTHING!!! I'M NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY PROBLEMS OR MISHAPS.
Also, you need root for your phone to mount the system as writable.
NOTE when i first did this, i only changed one at a time, and made the mistake as not having a Menu button (i had two home buttons and a back button) which proved tricky to find a way around. Just be very careful!
In short, modify the files sec_touchkey.kl and sec_keys.kl within ES File Explorer or Root Explorer under ~/system/usr/keylayout/ . As soon as you edit these and save them, the App will automatically create a sec_touchkey.kl.bak or sec_keys.kl.bak file next to your modified file. After an edit, you'll need to reboot your phone for the changes to be in effect.
I would advise to look at these files in detail before mounting the system as writable, to avoid mistakes.
Good luck!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice! So it's possible to map the menu key to "open apps" after all? I tried messing with those files awhile ago but couldn't get the menu remapped to recent apps and hold home for menu.

I've looked all over, and tried a lot of things, and its proving more difficult than i had thought to simply remap menu longpress to recent apps, and home longpress to menu.
I tried lots of things such as switching around the order, adding "APP_SWITCH" After HOME, and "RECENT" after HOME.
It seems to me there is no command that would readily do this.
In order to do this, I'll have to dig and find where the command "HOME" actually is, take out the recent apps section from that, and add it to the location of the "MENU" command.
However, if you don't mind using the Menu button as a home button (for now), and the home button as a menu button, its as simple as switching HOME and MENU within the sec_touchkey.kl file (then rebooting).

Bumpers

Try downloading nova launcher. You can remap the keys inside its settings. I used it to set the home key to google voice search.

werked said:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1789000
Check out this thread. This app remaps home button but on the app Page in play store the same dev also has an app that remaps other buttons if I'm not mistaken.
Hope this helps.
Home2shortcut
Sent str8 from my half eaten Banilla Ice Cream Samich
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good find! thanks for that. This seems to be a good app, however it is not working the way i want it to. I have Nova launcher pro installed, and the ported version of Google Now. I wanted to map the double press to launch Google now, but could not make it work. I could remap anything else though, so this is a good app to have.
---------- Post added at 01:31 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:21 PM ----------
kmdtcs said:
Try downloading nova launcher. You can remap the keys inside its settings. I used it to set the home key to google voice search.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I as well have Nova Prime. I could remap the home button, but not the double tap on home button. (maybe this will help someone else out as well)

Switch back and multitasking buttons - root required

A little tip for the ones who hold the phone in their left hand and need to switch the .back button with the multitasking one. I am right handed but, as a long time user of Note series phones, I usually hold the phone in my left hand and the stylus with the right one...Now with the s7 edge I miss the stylus, but still the phone is in my left hand.
Root required..
With your favourite root browser navigate to /system/usr/keylayout and open Generic.kl as a text file.
Move to key 158 and replace BACK with APP_SWITCH, then look for APP_SWITCH , that is key 254, and replace APP_SWITCH with BACK.
Just save and reboot.
Obviously it is fully reversible.
Please note that this is not the same result you can get with all in one gestures app, both because it continuously runs in the background (while my tip remaps the keys once forever) and, once you switch the two keys with such app, you loose the screen you usually get when you long press the multitasking button. I mean the screen that displays the app you are using in the upper part of the screen and the choice for the other apps in the lower part.
Not to mention that this solution still is cleaner than installing xposed framework and any dedicated module.
Simple and useful
If your rom settings don't have the choice to remove keys backlight, look for galaxy button lights 2.

For lazy people.
Flash in recovery.

lucaoldb said:
A little tip for the ones who hold the phone in their left hand and need to switch the .back button with the multitasking one. I am right handed but, as a long time user of Note series phones, I usually hold the phone in my left hand and the stylus with the right one...Now with the s7 edge I miss the stylus, but still the phone is in my left hand.
Root required..
With your favourite root browser navigate to /system/usr/keylayout and open Generic.kl as a text file.
Move to key 158 and replace BACK with APP_SWITCH, then look for APP_SWITCH , that is key 254, and replace APP_SWITCH with BACK.
Just save and reboot.
Obviously it is fully reversible.
Please note that this is not the same result you can get with all in one gestures app, both because it continuously runs in the background (while my tip remaps the keys once forever) and, once you switch the two keys with such app, you loose the screen you usually get when you long press the multitasking button. I mean the screen that displays the app you are using in the upper part of the screen and the choice for the other apps in the lower part.
Not to mention that this solution still is cleaner than installing xposed framework and any dedicated module.
Simple and useful
If your rom settings don't have the choice to remove keys backlight, look for galaxy button lights 2.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks this working perfectly