how do you read android soft keyboard input?

Android Processing

jphoton

how do you read android soft keyboard input?

in Android Processing • 5 months ago

Hi,

I'm using processing 2.0b6.

With reference to this post ( http://forum.processing.org/topic/show-hide-the-keyboard) I have managed to get the soft keyboard showing in my app but I can't get processing to read the user input typed in the keyboard.

import android.view.inputmethod.InputMethodManager;
import android.content.Context;
boolean key_typed=false;
boolean keyboard_active=false;
void setup()
{
orientation(LANDSCAPE);
}
void draw()
{
// background(#FF0000);
if(keyboard_active) { }
else { showVirtualKeyboard(); keyboard_active=true; }
if(key_typed)
{
if(key==ENTER||key==RETURN) { println("ENTER/RETURN"); }
else if(key==BACKSPACE) { println("BACKSPACE"); }
else { println(key); }
key_typed=false;
}
}
void keyTyped()
{
key_typed=true;
}
void showVirtualKeyboard()
{
InputMethodManager imm = (InputMethodManager) getSystemService(Context.INPUT_METHOD_SERVICE);
imm.toggleSoftInput(InputMethodManager.SHOW_FORCED,0);
}
void hideVirtualKeyboard()
{
InputMethodManager imm = (InputMethodManager) getSystemService(Context.INPUT_METHOD_SERVICE);
imm.toggleSoftInput(InputMethodManager.HIDE_IMPLICIT_ONLY, 0);
}

If I remove all the android stuff, this works in java mode and I can see the keys printed to the console, but when running in android mode, it just ignores all the key inputs.

So is there an android library I need to import in order to get the key inputs and is there an android method I need to call as well?

I checked the wiki but it only talks about how to get CODED inputs.

If by any chance it's not working because I'm using 2.0b6, could anyone specify how I might be able to get the inputs using only android methods?

Finally on a less important note; the keyboard doesn't show if I don't set the orientation. Also if I uncomment line 14 that says background(#FF0000); it doesnt show (Although this works fine a different program :-s).

Any help would be much appreciated as this is the final phase for my app to be app store ready!

Thanks,

Joe.

Replies(2)

jphoton

Re: how do you read android soft keyboard input?

5 months ago

I seem to be answering my own questions a lot lately... Maybe I'm asking too prematurely but I hope it helps other people anyways.

It seems keyTyped() doesn't work in android mode but keyPressed() & keyReleased() work.

Although I still wouldn't mind an answer for why the keyboard doesn't show unless you set the orientation?

And why un-commenting line 14 prevents the keyboard from showing.

Thanks.

jphoton

Re: how do you read android soft keyboard input?

5 months ago

Ok I'm still having issues with the soft keyboard..... When the shift key is pressed, it doesn't read capital letters...

I THINK it may be that you have to check if the shift key is pressed and somehow tell android to return only capital letters or something like that...