Custom Leanback Keyboard for Universal Remotes - Nexus Player Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

How difficult would it be to modify the Leanback keyboard so that it could be used with universal remotes? My Nexus Player is connected to a Flirc USB infrared dongle which I use with a Philips SRP5107 universal remote. I have my universal remote's main OK button mapped to emulate the ENTER key on a keyboard and this works fine in most cases but not with the Leanback keyboard. It isn't a problem with some apps like Netflix or Kodi that have their own keyboards but for the Leanback keyboard that's used in apps like Google Play and YouTube, pressing the OK button on a universal remote causes that on-screen keyboard to close off. This problem does not exist with the original Nexus Player remote's select button because it is context-sensitive. Can the Leanback keyboard somehow be modified to *not* close but rather type the selected on-screen key when it detects an external ENTER key / OK button being pressed?

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xoom + usb camera kit + mouse = limited use

ok I know there are a ton of threads about if a wireless usb mouse will work with the Motorola Camera Connection Kit.
Yes a usb mouse does work (at least for me) with the camera usb connector, but what I've yet to find on here and my searches was that your limited on what the mouse actually does.
I guess this is still a software and Android OS limitation, but I was hoping I might have some functionality with the mouse other that just move/point click (all buttons on my win mouse are just normal click function) while the mouse wheel scrolls.
Is there anyway to configure the mouse's buttons for different key commands? I was really hoping to be able to use my mouse's previous/forward button in the default browser.
any apps that might configure or assign key commands to the mouse on honeycomb 3.2?
kwhy said:
ok I know there are a ton of threads about if a wireless usb mouse will work with the Motorola Camera Connection Kit.
Yes a usb mouse does work (at least for me) with the camera usb connector, but what I've yet to find on here and my searches was that your limited on what the mouse actually does.
I guess this is still a software and Android OS limitation, but I was hoping I might have some functionality with the mouse other that just move/point click (all buttons on my win mouse are just normal click function) while the mouse wheel scrolls.
Is there anyway to configure the mouse's buttons for different key commands? I was really hoping to be able to use my mouse's previous/forward button in the default browser.
any apps that might configure or assign key commands to the mouse on honeycomb 3.2?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure but I'd also like to know how to change the mouse cursor - it's kind of small and also if anyone knows where the cursor files are stored?
I use a Logitech V470 BT Mouse and also get click n' drag and some right click function depending on which app I'm in.

[Q] Keyboard keys for Back and Home

I am trying to setup my Flirc with the Nexus Player, for both native NP keys and the full spectrum of XBMC/kodi keys. I have all of the kodi keys working properly and the UP, DOWN, LEFT, RIGHT, SELECT and PLAY/PAUSE buttons work just fine on the main Nexus Player interface. However, the mapped BACK and MENU keys are not working. For those that don't know, a Flirc USB devices presents itself as a standard keyboard to the Nexus Player and can be programmed on your PC to learn remote control commands to activate specific generic keyboard combinations.
If anyone has a standard keyboard hooked up to their NP either via Blutooth or USB OTG, can you tell me which keys correspond to the BACK and HOME functions on the Nexus Player or if those functions are working at all on your keyboard?
Thanks.
Elrondolio said:
I am trying to setup my Flirc with the Nexus Player, for both native NP keys and the full spectrum of XBMC/kodi keys. I have all of the kodi keys working properly and the UP, DOWN, LEFT, RIGHT, SELECT and PLAY/PAUSE buttons work just fine on the main Nexus Player interface. However, the mapped BACK and MENU keys are not working. For those that don't know, a Flirc USB devices presents itself as a standard keyboard to the Nexus Player and can be programmed on your PC to learn remote control commands to activate specific generic keyboard combinations.
If anyone has a standard keyboard hooked up to their NP either via Blutooth or USB OTG, can you tell me which keys correspond to the BACK and HOME functions on the Nexus Player or if those functions are working at all on your keyboard?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I haven't tested this yet, but typically the Windows key + ESC = HOME (or, depending, sometimes the HOME key itself on a keyboard). BACK is typically the ESC key by itself.
My FLIRC arrived yesterday -- just haven't configured it yet. I'll give it a whirl and get back to you!
PearcePowers said:
I haven't tested this yet, but typically the Windows key + ESC = HOME (or, depending, sometimes the HOME key itself on a keyboard). BACK is typically the ESC key by itself.
My FLIRC arrived yesterday -- just haven't configured it yet. I'll give it a whirl and get back to you!
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Click to collapse
Thank you. I got the back key working correctly (and, in the NP, it is indeed ESC), but you'll have to go in to XBMC/kodi and add in the keymapper in programs then globally change ESC to be BACKSPACE and BACKSPACE to be ESC. Otherwise the NP back key would be "previous menu" in kodi. Make sure to update your Flirc with the full keyboard template to change the ESC key to your remote button you wish. Once done, both the NP and kodi see ESC as the back key.
I still haven't figured out the HOME key yet... I have a "HOME" special button atop my wireless keyboard that works, but I can't scancode it properly so I'm not sure what it is yet (I've read it may be scancode 57, but thats normally "space", so not sure and haven't tested it yet) I'll see if WIN+ESC works from my keyboard when I get home tomorrow. Hope to hear your experiences as well... thanks.
Elrondolio said:
I'll see if WIN+ESC works from my keyboard when I get home tomorrow. Hope to hear your experiences as well... thanks.
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Click to collapse
I tested the following three keyboard commands -- WIN + ESC, ALT + ESC, and HOME -- and none work in the Nexus Player to take you home. Grr. I've got everything working but the HOME key as well.
PearcePowers said:
I tested the following three keyboard commands -- WIN + ESC, ALT + ESC, and HOME -- and none work in the Nexus Player to take you home. Grr. I've got everything working but the HOME key as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is a topic about this over on the Flirc forums that you may want to follow:
http://forum.flirc.tv/index.php?/topic/1219-flirc-and-android-tv-adt-1/
I have a wireless keyboard that has extra media keys including a Home key (not the regular Home, End, etc). It works just like the Home key on the NP remote. I'm not at home right now, but had hooked it up to one of my laptops and that special Home key sends key code 172.
We just need to figure out how to teach Flirc that key code then map one of our remote buttons to that key.
Elrondolio said:
There is a topic about this over on the Flirc forums that you may want to follow:
http://forum.flirc.tv/index.php?/topic/1219-flirc-and-android-tv-adt-1/
I have a wireless keyboard that has extra media keys including a Home key (not the regular Home, End, etc). It works just like the Home key on the NP remote. I'm not at home right now, but had hooked it up to one of my laptops and that special Home key sends key code 172.
We just need to figure out how to teach Flirc that key code then map one of our remote buttons to that key.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any luck with the home key and Flirc? I noticed no one has responded over in the Flirc forums yet.
PearcePowers said:
Any luck with the home key and Flirc? I noticed no one has responded over in the Flirc forums yet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not as yet. It seems more complicated than I first thought... the record_api function of flirc_util.exe can map HID commands to remote control buttons, but finding the correct HID for "Home" is difficult. There are thousands of HID commands as referenced in this document:
http://www.usb.org/developers/hidpage/Hut1_12v2.pdf
We're looking at the ones in the Consumer Page starting on page 75. There is a special modifier in the second argument of Firc's record_api, 102, that supposedly tells the Flirc to reference that Consumer Page, but finding the "Home" key for the first argument of record_api is difficult. In other words: no. No luck yet, but still trying.
It'd probably be useful if you were to post a thread over there asking for help with the Home key on the Nexus Player as well. I'd imagine the higher the request for it the more eyes it'll receive.
Could be something that could be setup in llama or tasker? Set NP to listen for XYZ key command and then "Go Home". Just a thought.
Elrondolio said:
Not as yet. It seems more complicated than I first thought... the record_api function of flirc_util.exe can map HID commands to remote control buttons, but finding the correct HID for "Home" is difficult. There are thousands of HID commands as referenced in this document:
http://www.usb.org/developers/hidpage/Hut1_12v2.pdf
We're looking at the ones in the Consumer Page starting on page 75. There is a special modifier in the second argument of Firc's record_api, 102, that supposedly tells the Flirc to reference that Consumer Page, but finding the "Home" key for the first argument of record_api is difficult. In other words: no. No luck yet, but still trying.
It'd probably be useful if you were to post a thread over there asking for help with the Home key on the Nexus Player as well. I'd imagine the higher the request for it the more eyes it'll receive.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you manage to map a true home function to your Flirc device, Elrondolio? The ALT + ESC key combination works okay for me in most cases although it doesn't work when I use Kodi. It's still better than no home functionality at all, though, so at least I won't always have to use the original Nexus Player remote when I need that feature. There's another thread at the Flirc forum which discusses this topic at http://forum.flirc.tv/index.php?/topic/1462-flirc-with-android-tv/.
ALT + TAB seems to be the ideal key combination to use for the home button. It works no matter which app you're in and although it causes the Nexus Player to display "your recent screens appear here" when you use that key combination, the on-screen message disappears as soon as you release the button.
Now if I can just figure out how to use the Nexus Player's Leanback keyboard with my universal remote so that I can select on-screen keys for searches instead of having the ENTER button close the keyboard off, that would make things just about perfect.
I was the one that posted in Flirc forum about the alt+tab for home.
For search using on-screen, map flirc to window key using command. then combine this key with navigation right key using your universal remote, such as logitech. so WIN + Right will launch search with on screen keyboard to type.
Thanks for posting your solution in the Flirc forum. I'm not trying to map a command to launch an on-screen keyboard but I'm trying to see if I can find a way to press the keys on the Leanback keyboard using my universal remote. This isn't a problem with some apps like Netflix or Kodi that have their own keyboards but for the Leanback keyboard that's used in apps like Google Play and YouTube, pressing the ENTER button on a universal remote causes the keyboard to close off. This problem does not exist with the original Nexus Player remote's select button because it is context-sensitive.
Elrondolio said:
If anyone has a standard keyboard hooked up to their NP either via Blutooth or USB OTG, can you tell me which keys correspond to the BACK and HOME functions on the Nexus Player or if those functions are working at all on your keyboard?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Back: Esc
Home: Alt+Esc
Unfortunately, the ALT + TAB key combination is not an ideal option for use with Android 6.0 Marshmallow. It actually brings up the recent apps screen and doesn't give the user easy access to the home screen (unless the recent apps screen is empty). I'll have to reprogram my Flirc back to ALT + ESC for the home screen function until someone finds a better solution for Android 6.0.
I don't have a nexus player but these issues sound similar to the shield tv.
To fix the Enter key issue with the onscreen keyboard, us the flirc_util to record the keypad's enter key (a different dev id than the other enter/return key):
HTML:
flirc_util.exe record_api 0 88
To record the Home button (that works from Kodi too), record Windows Key + Enter (the main Enter key works fine for this). Again, I don't have a nexus player but I assume it will work for it as well.
whiskaz77 said:
I don't have a nexus player but these issues sound similar to the shield tv.
To fix the Enter key issue with the onscreen keyboard, us the flirc_util to record the keypad's enter key (a different dev id than the other enter/return key):
HTML:
flirc_util.exe record_api 0 88
To record the Home button (that works from Kodi too), record Windows Key + Enter (the main Enter key works fine for this). Again, I don't have a nexus player but I assume it will work for it as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried out these key combinations with my Flirc on the Nexus Player and am happy to report that everything now works perfectly! Thank you kindly for sharing that useful information here with the rest of us.
GabbyWC said:
I tried out these key combinations with my Flirc on the Nexus Player and am happy to report that everything now works perfectly! Thank you kindly for sharing that useful information here with the rest of us.
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Click to collapse
Great! Happy to help. I'm glad it worked. Thanks for reporting back!
Windows Key + Enter => Home worked for me too!!! Kodi, Netflix and other apps now behave fine. Thanks a lot @whiskaz77

Mic and Home buttons on remote -> ZoomIn and ZoomOut

Hi everbody,
I was playing with a USB keyboard that I connected to my fireTV and I have noticed something that I haven't read in the forums yet.
- The key used by the FireTV remote control for Home button is the Multimedia Key for "ZoomOut" in the browser.
- And the Key that is used to trigger the Microphone corresponds to the "ZoomIn" in the browser.
Maybe these ones are useful to @rbox (I know that he has already the Xposed module to overwrite the Home button), but maybe the mic can be associated with Google Search instead. Or with the voice search in kodi. That way we get rid of the keyboard.
Or maybe they are useful to @elmerohueso to create another addon to map them.
On my side I just connected a flirc and I am programming it with power button, volume from my AVR, subtitles search, etc.
However, I love the fireTV remote and I believe that there is no real need for a keyboard if the voice funcionality can be replaced by a voice keyboard.

Mapping remote buttons?

Hi all.
Is there a way to map buttons from a 3rd party remote (i have the mele f10-pro) to use Its "home" and "menu" as "home" and "back" on nexus player? I test the remote on touchwiz and stock Android (cyanongemod) and those buttons do their job but not on nexus player.
Thanks for the help

is there any leanback keyboard with redefine/remap function?

hi,
I've been using my shield with mkr(multilingual key redefiner) keyboard to remap extra buttons on my harmony but losing on-screen keyboard is quite uncomfortable.
although mkr works great as key remapper but it seems it's abandoned long ago (last update was feb. 2014) and cannot be used as a android tv keyboard at all.
so I'd like to know if there's another keyboard or any other way to accomplish this:
a good leanback keyboard + key remap (+multilingual support, if possible)
plz help.
thanks.
I am looking for the same! I emailed the original Dev, but got no response. I decompiled the APK and found that it contains the source code of the original latinIME keyboard -- not sure if we could decompile the Leanback Keyboard as well and "swap" it into the app.
shiree1 said:
hi,
I've been using my shield with mkr(multilingual key redefiner) keyboard to remap extra buttons on my harmony but losing on-screen keyboard is quite uncomfortable.
although mkr works great as key remapper but it seems it's abandoned long ago (last update was feb. 2014) and cannot be used as a android tv keyboard at all.
so I'd like to know if there's another keyboard or any other way to accomplish this:
a good leanback keyboard + key remap (+multilingual support, if possible)
plz help.
thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
check this one : https://forum.xda-developers.com/android/apps-games/android-tv-control-mapper-keyboard-cmak-t3462028
The problem is that with Amazon TV stick remote ( BT one) I am not able to select any letter in keyboard - with shield gamepad it is working fine.

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