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After pressing the bottom left hardware botton to select text, I'm having problem placing the cursor to accurately indicate the starting and ending position of the selection. What is the big secret on how to do this operation right?
i have the exact same problem.. i wish the phone had arrows or a trackball.. and when you select text twards the far right of the text box, it auto moves the screen back to the center of the box.. its very difficult, the only advice i can offer is pinch zoom in very close, till the text takes up most of the screen, and highlight better. of course pinchzooming method will only work for email and web pages.. no help for texting..
If I zoom in, then either the beginning of end of the selection block is no longer in view, and dragging does not automatically scroll the screen like in iPhone.
eaglesteve said:
If I zoom in, then either the beginning of end of the selection block is no longer in view, and dragging does not automatically scroll the screen like in iPhone.
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As someone who is coming from an iPhone I can tell you that this is something that I really miss.
Android needs to learn how to do proper copy and paste (this is not just a Samsung thing).
On a side note, I am really hating the email client on android, this is not a phone very usable in a corporate (Exchange) environment!
Perhaps it is a mistake to omit the trackball?? Looks like trackball is extremely crucial for any Android phone.
Kurtbee, you're right. Google has not thought through the design of copy and paste properly yet.
eaglesteve said:
Perhaps it is a mistake to omit the trackball?? Looks like trackball is extremely crucial for any Android phone.
Kurtbee, you're right. Google has not thought through the design of copy and paste properly yet.
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No, trackballs are a step backwards. Android should simply implement a better way to select text - the iPhone does it beautifully.
I also am not in love with any of the email clients - even K-9 has a crappy/ugly interface. And why isn't there a way to force check email in the Integrated Mailbox?
MacGuy2006 said:
No, trackballs are a step backwards. Android should simply implement a better way to select text - the iPhone does it beautifully.
I also am not in love with any of the email clients - even K-9 has a crappy/ugly interface. And why isn't there a way to force check email in the Integrated Mailbox?
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Totally agreeing with you. However, copying Apple might land Google into a law suit, so I think they'll be weary of that.
BTW, for INPUT field only, I accidentally discover a way to accurately do it. Here's how:
1) On the Swype keyboard (that's why it is only limited to input field, unfortunately), draw a North west to south east line going across the upper right corner of the Swipe key. In other word, from the upper case arrow position to the SYM key. This will change the keyboard to one that contacts cursor, home, select all, select, text, cut, copy, paste.
2) Then use the cursor key to move to the one end of the selection block.
3) Press the select text button
4) Move cursor to the other end of the selection box, followed by either a cut or paste key depending on what you want to do. This will copy the block to the clipboard.
Unfortunately, often I need to select from non-input field as well, and there is no solution for that yet.
Hope this little tip helps everyone. Cheers.
Same thing for the samsung keyborad if you press the 123 field for a long time.
Now we need to find a way to do the same on a web page ...
nicoloco said:
Same thing for the samsung keyborad if you press the 123 field for a long time.
Now we need to find a way to do the same on a web page ...
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Thanks, but how do I change the keyboard from Swype to the Samsung keyboard? Is this keyboard from Samsung or from Google?
Just touch the text until you see a pop up.
Then you should have the possibility to change the keyboard
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App
Got it. Thank!
Wow, thanks guys, this will make typing a lot easier! You would think the arrowy keyboard thing would be more highlighted and easily accesible since it's making the experience much better. Well, maybe in the gingerbread, they didn't hire the Palm UI guy for nothing...
I find it a little difficult, but can usually get it after 2 or 3 tries max.
Maybe using fingernail is more accurate?
Finger nails do not work on capacity touchscreen though. Even if it does, how do you deal with situation where the selection block span outside the screen? There is no provision to scroll the screen during the selection process.
HTC Sense Androids have a great copy-paste feature identical to IPhone. Hopefully it can get ported to galaxy
I just wanted to point a few things about the Samsung Vibrant everyone is complaining about how this phone does not have a D-Pad and i just wanted to clear this up.
In fact this phone has a d-pad, select the samsung keyboard if not already in use hold down the key on the keyboard that is use to select numbers and symbols you will see a d-pad appear with copy, past select text options.
Also to easily dim your screen or to brighten your screen, slide your finger across the top of the screen where the notification bar is and you will notice your screen brighten or darken according to which way you slide your finger. (Note you may need to disable auto brightness for this function to be activated.
Heres a pic of the dpad
The Swype keyboard also has a really nice d-pad. Just swype from the tutorial icon right to the SYM key and it will show up.
Sent from my Vibrant, using the XDA app.
Thank you very much for the brightness slide tip!!!
Anyone else accidentally changing the brightness a lot? I swipe the bar with my left thumb, and if it's too angled of a swipe, my screen brightness goes to 11. I never thought I'd complain about a screen being too bright, lol.
can we activate the d-pad when not in a text entry field? I used the trackball on my G1 to select html anchors to get at small links or hovering elements
Wow I did not know this thanks for the info.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
cbisquit said:
can we activate the d-pad when not in a text entry field? I used the trackball on my G1 to select html anchors to get at small links or hovering elements
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It can be used on a web page, but I've only gotten it to come up by hitting a text box first. For that, even the addresses bar works.
-bZj
_____
-sent from my Samsung Vibrant via XDAapp
Awesome. Thanks for sharing this info.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
keyboard almost always pulls up with a long press on menu. but in the browser this also pulls up the URL bar so no can do. also what is 'keyboard sweeping' in the samsung keyboad options?
cbisquit said:
can we activate the d-pad when not in a text entry field? I used the trackball on my G1 to select html anchors to get at small links or hovering elements
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yes all you have to do is hold down the menu key they keyboard will pop up and then you just have to do the process up top..
What about when you need to see text in a menu selection that is truncated to the side?
For example, if you go to Market -> Apps, under Finance and Health, you can see there are text that runs off to the right edge you can't read. In my old phone MyTouch, if I highlight Finance, the text will scroll across so I can read the rest of the line. Can't do this right now with the Vibrant.
jkcheng122 said:
What about when you need to see text in a menu selection that is truncated to the side?
For example, if you go to Market -> Apps, under Finance and Health, you can see there are text that runs off to the right edge you can't read. In my old phone MyTouch, if I highlight Finance, the text will scroll across so I can read the rest of the line. Can't do this right now with the Vibrant.
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i havent ran across this problem. i am pretty sure when 2.2 comes out it will fix alot of the small issues, like on my nexus
soklean said:
yes all you have to do is hold down the menu key they keyboard will pop up and then you just have to do the process up top..
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I'm not seeing that option since holding down menu opens the url bar which can't be closed independently of the keyboard.
Sent from my Vibrant using XDA app
Awesome post, thanks.
Anyone figure out a better way to auto-fit text on the browser? I find tilting my phone to change the orientation and tilting it back makes it auto-fit. Phones like the Incredible do it as you're doing pinch to zoom--no need to flip the phone around.
blueman9 said:
The Swype keyboard also has a really nice d-pad. Just swype from the tutorial icon right to the SYM key and it will show up.
Sent from my Vibrant, using the XDA app.
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excellent! I didn't realize that was a d pad lol.. i always thought of a d pad being like a trackball or flat button like on the blackberry bold 9700
thanks to you and the original poster for the tip. I found out about the swipe for screen brightness by John on droiddog dot com
very nice but in swype you can do the same thing just swype from the swype key at the bottom left to the SYM key right beside it and you get arrows and some other goodies.
Oh wow! This was my biggest complaint about the Vibrant. Thank you very much.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
For those saying "o wow", check the sticky. Surely some other things you've missed.
Dougefresh91 said:
Awesome post, thanks.
Anyone figure out a better way to auto-fit text on the browser? I find tilting my phone to change the orientation and tilting it back makes it auto-fit. Phones like the Incredible do it as you're doing pinch to zoom--no need to flip the phone around.
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I hit the - or + buttons back and forth to get the text to wrap, yeah it's a bummer they don't wrap using the pinch zoom. Also you can double tap the screen to initiate zoom, that method also auto-fits the text.
I know some of you might think this is a stupid question. I would like to use any on screen keyboard while the hardware keyboard is open and disable hw kb until I want to use it. Let me see if I can explain this to you why.
I am starting to like typing in landscape mode with on screen keyboard. I am getting pretty good at it and definitely think my speed is faster that way than a hardware keyboard. Have any of you tried typing in landscape for any extended length of time? I don't know about you but my fingers really start cramping and hurting because I have to hold the phone with the rest of my hands and fingers while typing with my thumbs. When the hw kb is open, this could give me more area to hold the phone a little more comfortably while using a fast software keyboard. My thumbs wouldn't be at funky downward angles to hit the keys, they would be extended straighter and upwards and might be less prone to getting crampt up and carpel tunnel.
Am I crazy to think this might be useful? Has anyone heard of it being done or an app or hack that could achieve what I'm trying to do?
I do understand where you are coming from, having big hands and fingers can suck sometimes, but I don't think its possible. I've tried to see if I could pull up the virtual landscape keyboard with the hw one open but no luck.
Sent from my PG06100 using XDA App
Why'd you get the Shift and not the Evo if you would prefer an on-screen keyboard?
cosine83 said:
Why'd you get the Shift and not the Evo if you would prefer an on-screen keyboard?
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I'm not complaining or whining, I'm just asking for help with something that I might like to do.
to answer your question, yes, it is possible.
i just tested this on skyfire, ebuddy, and gmail. if you simply leave the keyboard in, aka don't slide the screen, and rotate the device, the screen will turn and whatever app you are using will also turn (if it supports it). then just click in the text box you want to type in again, and the onscreen keyboard will come up. I'm using better keyboard atm, so didn't test it with the HTC or any others. but i'm fairly positive that if it works with that one, it'll throw up whichever keyboard you are currently using in the same situation.
viperv303 said:
to answer your question, yes, it is possible.
i just tested this on skyfire, ebuddy, and gmail. if you simply leave the keyboard in, aka don't slide the screen, and rotate the device, the screen will turn and whatever app you are using will also turn (if it supports it). then just click in the text box you want to type in again, and the onscreen keyboard will come up. I'm using better keyboard atm, so didn't test it with the HTC or any others. but i'm fairly positive that if it works with that one, it'll throw up whichever keyboard you are currently using in the same situation.
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Click to collapse
I think you missed what he was trying to say. he was asking if it's possible to use the on-screen keyboard with the physical keyboard open.
OP, here's an android tip (it works with any android phone): if you hold down the menu button with your cursor in a text field, it forces the on-screen keyboard to come up. You could try selecting a text field, then holding down the menu button.
viperv303 said:
to answer your question, yes, it is possible.
i just tested this on skyfire, ebuddy, and gmail. if you simply leave the keyboard in, aka don't slide the screen, and rotate the device, the screen will turn and whatever app you are using will also turn (if it supports it). then just click in the text box you want to type in again, and the onscreen keyboard will come up. I'm using better keyboard atm, so didn't test it with the HTC or any others. but i'm fairly positive that if it works with that one, it'll throw up whichever keyboard you are currently using in the same situation.
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I know about what you are explaining, that's normal usage. What I'm interested in is using the open physical keyboard as additional area to hold the phone with while in landscape and using the on screen keyboard. I'm thinking there needs to be something to trick the phone into thinking the keyboard drawer is closed when it's actually open.
It seems, as usual, that I am coming up with lame brain ideas and haven't a clue as how to making them happen. I emailed one keyboard dev a few days ago and haven't heard anything back yet. I guess I could shoot out emails to all the devs of the keyboards I have bought and see if I get a response.
SirRipo said:
I think you missed what he was trying to say. he was asking if it's possible to use the on-screen keyboard with the physical keyboard open.
OP, here's an android tip (it works with any android phone): if you hold down the menu button with your cursor in a text field, it forces the on-screen keyboard to come up. You could try selecting a text field, then holding down the menu button.
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I just tried that with the drawer open and it is not working. I tried switching to the stock keyboard too and still nothing. Thanks for the suggestion.
herbthehammer said:
I just tried that with the drawer open and it is not working. I tried switching to the stock keyboard too and still nothing. Thanks for the suggestion.
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Same issue here, The flex or ribbon cable from heyboard to PCB is broken, so my device is perm on landscape and I can't use any onscreen keyboards.
wickedpenguin said:
Same issue here, The flex or ribbon cable from heyboard to PCB is broken, so my device is perm on landscape and I can't use any onscreen keyboards.
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Damn dude! That really sucks. You have insurance? Can you take it to a repair center?
wickedpenguin said:
Same issue here, The flex or ribbon cable from heyboard to PCB is broken, so my device is perm on landscape and I can't use any onscreen keyboards.
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correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't there a 1-year warranty on manufacturing defects, regardless of insurance standing or the 30-day return policy? Certainly sounds like a manufacturing defect to me, unless it's broken from misuse
this isnt the place for talking about warantee issues. start a different thread. this is about answering the question in this thread.
have you tried any other keyboards from the market or like the swype beta or anything? idk if it would make a difference. i doubt you can disable it while its open. if you want to use the soft keyboard close the phone? Its probably best practice to keep the phone closed when you arent using the hardware keyboard anyways?
t0esh0es said:
this isnt the place for talking about warantee issues. start a different thread. this is about answering the question in this thread.
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and I was pointing out a potential fix for someone with an issue in this thread, try to keep up.
Looks like smart keyboard pro has that feature. Its buried in the advanced menu.
Yes sir it is I just downloaded the trial to give it a shot one thing I notice is when you open the keyboard on the home screen they keyboard pops up over all your icons I'm gonna play with the settings somemore and see what I can do about it
*EDIT* if you are on a text box and hit home the keyboard don't open over home screen but if you just open the phone to put it into landscape on the homescreen they beyboard will pop up just hit the search button then back and you have your whole home screen
herbthehammer said:
Looks like smart keyboard pro has that feature. Its buried in the advanced menu.
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Sent from my PG06100 using XDA Premium App
Does anyone know how to move the cursor when using the keyboard, needing to add/delete a characters in the middle of a msg or text and repeated stabbing on my screen to get it in the right place is extremely frustrating anyone know a better way
I'm glad it's not just me, it must be hell on one of the lower end small screen devices. I have enough trouble on the X5!
btw langers, a little off topic but... have u tried 2degrees free facebook "zero" service??? when i try i get an error saying its not available from my carrier?? Just wondering whether its cos i'm not using my original stock rom
Facebook 0 works for me so you could be right
k thanks for that
Hey guys,
The reason you cant get onto FB 0 service is because you are using the APN internet.
This does not require a proxy and therefore o.facebook cant parse your mobile number to confirm you are indeed with 2degrees.
Try editing you APN and throwing 118.148.001.118 in the proxy and 8080 in the port.
If that doesn't work activate your WAP profile (it'll be called '2degrees') and see if that works.
If youre still having trouble give 2deg a call on 0800 022 022 and they'll sort you.
hope this helps
I'm using internet API and it works fine with no intervention/editing from me
YES!!!
cheers for that, worked a treat, didnt even realise those settings were even there, lol fairly new to the smartphone thing!!
i was using the internet apn as you said and once i switched it to 2deg all was good
Aren't we talking keyboard cursor?
I have been seeking for an app to have the little arrow text selector in our vanilla froyo, I mean that selector in gingerbread and HTC and Samsung machines.
Anyone know if there's such an app?
simplistian said:
Aren't we talking keyboard cursor?
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ahhmmm yeh...i did say it was a little off topic, lol...finding other kiwis on here was just too good of an opportunity to miss...sorry bout that....
dibb_nz said:
ahhmmm yeh...i did say it was a little off topic, lol...finding other kiwis on here was just too good of an opportunity to miss...sorry bout that....
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No it's not a complaint
Just too eager for a solution of the keyboard cursor mover
Well the good news is, after hours of searching finally found a solution of sorts...the bad news is, it ain't free $3.75. BUT there is a free trial version, with nag screen. I'm using it now and have only been nagged once.
The cursor can be moved via arrow keys which are enabled thru the extensive settings menu.
The arrow keys up, down, left, right sit at the bottom of the keyboard and make editing easy peasy. As u can imagine it does take up a fair bit of yr screen and the keys are slightly smaller but I think there is a calibration setting 4 that.
What I do like is upper case numbers and symbols, so no need to change screens.
Prediction works really, really well 2.
A heap of languages are also supported.
All in all not a bad little k/b, so head 2 the market an check it out. Smart Keyboard Trial.
Oh, btw swype also has arrow keys 4 cursor control if that spins ye wheels!
Sent from my IDEOS X5 using XDA Premium App
Smart Keyboard Pro has arrow keys and it can be configured to use the volume buttons to move the cursor.
e. lol a minute late
No luck for me as I have to stick with Chinese keyboards. I am looking for another app which adds a slider for text selection like how gingerbread implemented.
@pezzku - hehehe yeh, after I submittted the post i checked my email and saw your post and thort why didnt i check earlier!!! never saw the time u posted it tho...great minds...
@simplistian - oh thats a real bummer m8 maybe u could start a new thread and hopefully someone out there may be able to help out?
Test this keyboard https://market.android.com/details?id=com.moo.android.inputmethod.latin.free
It has several seperate language packs and you access the arrows by sliding the space button up.
dibb_nz said:
Oh, btw swype also has arrow keys 4 cursor control if that spins ye wheels
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Where? I use Swype but have never seen arrow keys
Also from NZ
mejobloggs said:
Where? I use Swype but have never seen arrow keys
Also from NZ
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Kiaora mejobloggs good 2have u on board!
swipe the bottom left 2 keys from memory the onewith the blue s thingy on it and 123 key.
Couldn't get my head round swipe tho I like the concept. I gotta say tho the more I use smart keyboard the more I'm liking it .com key alwaysshowing an longpress auto enters uppercase symbols/numbers, no screen switching at all lottsa options, skins and well supported,,forum,wot morecould u want ???
mejobloggs said:
Where? I use Swype but have never seen arrow keys
Also from NZ
Click to expand...
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To get arrow keys in swype...
swype from uppercase key to the swype key and then SYM key.
This is what we want, guys:
padkite
Please google, as I'm not allowed to post links, new user and all. For use in browsers only, at this stage, and in development, so not yet in the marketplace.
Please post your experiences!
Ok, this is going to probably sound really dumb, but it's driving me nuts.
I've used Android for a few years now, and I've never sorted out if there's a way to scroll left and right in a text area.
No matter what keyboard I've used, I just end up deleting the whole dang thing, and typing from scratch, if it's text in a small window.
For example, if I typed a long url, and I realized after hitting enter that I must have made a typo. I'd like to go left to right in that bar and look for it easily.
I guess this has plagued me on every Apple and Android device I've owned. On RIM it was easy enough, and on older Symbian it was fine.
What the heck am I missing here?
Thanks!
Tap anywhere on the entered text - wait - there will be a blue arrow cursor below the text. Drag it whenever you want to start typing from.
/thread
Fatal1ty_18_RUS said:
Type anywhere on the entered text - wait - there will be a blue arrow cursor below the text. Drag it whenever you want to start typing from.
/thread
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Nifty. That works in the URL bar, but what about other input areas?
I can't seem to make that work in say the google search input window.
bladebarrier said:
Nifty. That works in the URL bar, but what about other input areas?
I can't seem to make that work in say the google search input window.
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Works for me.
Fatal1ty_18_RUS said:
Works for me.
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Ah, it's a Firefox issue then. I tried chrome and it works in that (though I never really use chrome).
Ok thanks.
I was hoping there would be a convenient left and right key option on the keyboard itself, so that it wouldn't matter what app I'm using, but I guess it's tied to the app itself. That kind of stinks. It's rather awkward in design.
Do you know of an alternative keyboard that supports that type of functionality? I like the "Swpe-like" setup in the stock keyboard, but I'd much rather have an easier correction method built in.
You can enable the function to move the cursor using the volume rocker. It's in Settings - Language and Input - and that option will be down below the input methods
I miss the big keyboard with arrows from HTC Flyer though - it's pretty awesome to use in portrait mode, though not as useful in landscape since it takes much more space than N7's does
And no, I don't know about other keyboard since I don't use them, I prefer stock
Fatal1ty_18_RUS said:
You can enable the function to move the cursor using the volume rocker. It's in Settings - Language and Input - and that option will be down below the input methods
I miss the big keyboard with arrows from HTC Flyer though - it's pretty awesome to use in portrait mode, though not as useful in landscape since it takes much more space than N7's does
And no, I don't know about other keyboard since I don't use them, I prefer stock
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Excellent. That will work just fine.
Thanks a bunch for your help!