<![CDATA[OSK Enhancements Proposals]]>Hello Everyone,

I'm starting this thread because I wanted to share my ideas about improving the OSK in UT.
Back in the Canonical days, I suggested to use the space key for controlling the text cursor.
It was a real joy when I learned that Canonical did implemented it which we can now enjoy with UBports.
And I want continue with that idea and improve or extend its functionality.

At the moment, I have two prototypes.

  1. [Swipe to trigger cursor mover]
    Instead of the current "Press and Hold" gesture to trigger the cursor mover, I made it to work with just a horizontal swipe in the space key. For me, this gesture is more natural while typing unlike the current one which will some kind of disrupt your flow by long pressing before swiping. There's a catch though because there's more chance of accidental trigger especially for those who tend to drag fingers while typing. My experience so far is good though and did an accidental trigger just once.
    Demo Video

  2. [Swipe to switch OSK language]
    This one adds a functionality to change OSK language via swipe in the space key. Some people needs multiple OSK layout/language enabled and it could be a bit hassle to switch between them especially if you have more than 2...remember emoji? yeah that counts 🙂 I personally don't have this problem so I can''t attest if this one would be really helpful. And also, at the moment, emoji kinda breaks it because it has a very different layout which doesn't have the space key. I'm also planning to propose a new layout for emoji 🙂
    Demo Video

Now I don't have a concrete plan yet on how I will propose these. I'm thinking of adding a Gesture section in the settings app so users can customize the gestures and which functionality they want for them. For example, you can set "PressAndHold" for Cursor Mover then "Horizontal Swipe" for Language switch. But that could be too much settings? can't say yet.

EXPAND IT FURTHER!
Currently, I have another idea to expand this idea further and I'm trying to do a quick hack for it.
The idea is to also use the "cursor mover" feature for text selections/manipulations. My initial thought is to use double click/tap (without releasing) to start the text selection. I would also like to put Copy, paste, select all buttons above the OSK. I want to see and use it first in action before thinking of the best way to implement these gestures. Unfortunately, I can't even do the first step yet which is to enable text selection from the OSK and it seems like I have to modify the C++ part of maliit and recompile which I am not familiar enough.

Any thoughts, opinion, violent reaction, help maybe?

FUN FACT: When I got the idea of the "Space key cursor mover", it was a "Eureka" moment for me and I thought I was the first one in the world to come up with that idea. Then days after that, I saw the exact same functionality on my friend's LG G3. At least it was my original idea and it just happened someone got it first LOL

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/topic/1893/osk-enhancements-proposalsRSS for NodeMon, 09 Mar 2026 21:30:32 GMTSat, 27 Oct 2018 09:01:25 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to OSK Enhancements Proposals on Thu, 23 Jan 2020 11:49:14 GMT]]>@kugiigi Okay, I passed on the info.

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/27624https://forums.ubports.com/post/27624Thu, 23 Jan 2020 11:49:14 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to OSK Enhancements Proposals on Thu, 23 Jan 2020 00:33:42 GMT]]>@domubpkm It is technically possible, yes. But I think this should be fixed by the app instead of the OSK. Enter should default to next line. Then perhaps a button to add new paragraph.

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/27602https://forums.ubports.com/post/27602Thu, 23 Jan 2020 00:33:42 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to OSK Enhancements Proposals on Wed, 22 Jan 2020 17:51:51 GMT]]>Before making a possible query on Github, I would like to know if the following is technically feasible:
I explain: using the very useful app Writer by Marcos costales, the OSK carriage return creates a large space between lines. Is it possible to set up the Shift + Enter combination on the OSK to have lines without spaces? (Shift + Enter works with the external keyboard in the application writer).
Thank you.

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/27591https://forums.ubports.com/post/27591Wed, 22 Jan 2020 17:51:51 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to OSK Enhancements Proposals on Wed, 20 Nov 2019 06:57:19 GMT]]>@kugiigi A RIDICULOUS IDEA? I'm offended!!! ,,, 😉🙂

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/25071https://forums.ubports.com/post/25071Wed, 20 Nov 2019 06:57:19 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to OSK Enhancements Proposals on Wed, 20 Nov 2019 06:12:31 GMT]]>@domubpkm Well at first, I thought it's a ridiculous idea but I think it could make sense
perhaps it could live in the bar at the top but it will only be visible when the text field on focus supports formatting. But I'm still unsure if it's really worth it. Maybe it is something that is better implemented in each app.

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/25070https://forums.ubports.com/post/25070Wed, 20 Nov 2019 06:12:31 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to OSK Enhancements Proposals on Tue, 19 Nov 2019 23:26:39 GMT]]>@UniSuperBox The idea seemed interesting to me that precisely this could work in some web pages or applications, too bad that the realization is more difficult !

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/25063https://forums.ubports.com/post/25063Tue, 19 Nov 2019 23:26:39 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to OSK Enhancements Proposals on Tue, 19 Nov 2019 23:04:48 GMT]]>@domubpkm, most things do not accept formatted text, so this would be useless in most apps. For those it would need to be hidden, and it wouldn't be obvious why.

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/25061https://forums.ubports.com/post/25061Tue, 19 Nov 2019 23:04:48 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to OSK Enhancements Proposals on Tue, 19 Nov 2019 23:00:26 GMT]]>@kugiigi Could you include in your OSK keyboard these three basic actions on the selected characters: bold, italic, underlined.
If not, the first one: bold.
I think this could be useful. Anyway, I needed it ! 😉

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/25059https://forums.ubports.com/post/25059Tue, 19 Nov 2019 23:00:26 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to OSK Enhancements Proposals on Wed, 06 Nov 2019 09:32:30 GMT]]>Anyone is welcome to try this PR and any feedback is welcome.
It'll be good to know your opinion and suggestion 😄

https://github.com/ubports/keyboard-component/pull/98

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/24391https://forums.ubports.com/post/24391Wed, 06 Nov 2019 09:32:30 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to OSK Enhancements Proposals on Sat, 26 Oct 2019 17:07:56 GMT]]>@kugiigi To clarify, it was here : in the message writing area
message.png
Ok, understood, it isn't the OSK.

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/23951https://forums.ubports.com/post/23951Sat, 26 Oct 2019 17:07:56 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to OSK Enhancements Proposals on Sat, 26 Oct 2019 16:07:52 GMT]]>@domubpkm I'm not sure I follow what you're talking about ':)
But you mentioned messages, I guess you're talking about the focus jumping between the To and Message fields when moving the cursor in the messages app. I think that's been like that even before and it's something that the app needs to adjust and not the OSK 🙂

@dieharddan That has been suggested before and I think it's very easy to implement. Maybe some one can try it and test it out if it's really better that way.

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/23947https://forums.ubports.com/post/23947Sat, 26 Oct 2019 16:07:52 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to OSK Enhancements Proposals on Sat, 26 Oct 2019 00:59:26 GMT]]>@PhoenixLandPirat I see, people don't want more indicators. Then my proposal is to make a setting that can switch the clipboard manager indicator on/off. Default would be off, so no one would get a new indicator.

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/23918https://forums.ubports.com/post/23918Sat, 26 Oct 2019 00:59:26 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to OSK Enhancements Proposals on Fri, 25 Oct 2019 23:17:25 GMT]]>Great work on this! One thing I think would be nice is adding a double tap to close selection mode, and clicking done should always close out all together which would eliminate having to click done twice to close.

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/23917https://forums.ubports.com/post/23917Fri, 25 Oct 2019 23:17:25 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to OSK Enhancements Proposals on Fri, 25 Oct 2019 21:47:12 GMT]]>@AppLee I've tested it. Indeed, we have to go to the beginning of the line to go back up.
But, is it really a bug or a voluntary programming choice? In the case of messages, I would rather opt for voluntary choice but....

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/23916https://forums.ubports.com/post/23916Fri, 25 Oct 2019 21:47:12 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to OSK Enhancements Proposals on Fri, 25 Oct 2019 21:28:25 GMT]]>@domubpkm Oups sorry I tested again with messages and it's not swiping down, but swiping up that didn't work for me.
[Edit] I edited my original message to fix my mistake 😉

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/23914https://forums.ubports.com/post/23914Fri, 25 Oct 2019 21:28:25 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to OSK Enhancements Proposals on Fri, 25 Oct 2019 19:42:37 GMT]]>@AppLee Hi. Strange, swiping down works for me on a Nexus 5. I can select, copy and paste with writer, tedit and a webapp ubports.

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/23912https://forums.ubports.com/post/23912Fri, 25 Oct 2019 19:42:37 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to OSK Enhancements Proposals on Fri, 25 Oct 2019 21:27:44 GMT]]>@kugiigi I tested the selection feature on my Nexus 5 and found something weird.
When I'm selecting text or moving the cursor, swipes left or right works perfectly, swiping down works too, but swiping up has no effect...

Is it by design or did I hit a bug ?
If it's a bug, I'll try to document it and open a detailed issue if you can just point me to your gitlab 😉

Thank you for the great work. It's a very nice feature and I think a good advantage point to UT over other mobile OS

Cheers.
[Edit] I inverted swiping up and down, it's now correct

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/23910https://forums.ubports.com/post/23910Fri, 25 Oct 2019 21:27:44 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to OSK Enhancements Proposals on Fri, 25 Oct 2019 15:27:45 GMT]]>@jezek If you're referring to the indicators, then thats been suggested previously, people have stated that they dont want more default indicators, so I suggested that it could be added to the text input indicator, but other people weren't fans of the idea.

https://github.com/ubports/ubuntu-touch/issues/1148

So I thought (Stolen from Fuseteam), if people don't like it in the Indicator menus, the next logical place, would be the keyboard.

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/23902https://forums.ubports.com/post/23902Fri, 25 Oct 2019 15:27:45 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to OSK Enhancements Proposals on Fri, 25 Oct 2019 13:01:21 GMT]]>@PhoenixLandPirat why to squeeze a clipboard manager into OSK? I can imagine it better somewhere in system tray. It also solves the desktop mode problem.

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/23895https://forums.ubports.com/post/23895Fri, 25 Oct 2019 13:01:21 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to OSK Enhancements Proposals on Fri, 25 Oct 2019 11:15:56 GMT]]>Just in case not everyone is aware of some details in the new feature in the OSK.

Did you know? 😉

  1. After pressing and holding the space key, you don't need to lift your finger and do another swipe to move the cursor. You can press and hold and swipe immediately.
  2. For selection mode, you can also double-tap and swipe immediately. No need to lift your finger again.
  3. The arrow buttons can also be used while in selection mode.

Additional trivia:
There's a way to quickly select a word which can be done by putting the cursor within the word and double tapping. Just like how you do it using a mouse in desktops! HOWEVER, it was disabled because there are still known issues with the OSK and QtWebEngine. Enabling it would also mean breaking this feature in the browser and webapps 🙂

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/23893https://forums.ubports.com/post/23893Fri, 25 Oct 2019 11:15:56 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to OSK Enhancements Proposals on Fri, 25 Oct 2019 06:57:42 GMT]]>@PhoenixLandPirat I would love a clipboard manager as well but I am not sure if there's such as thing already in the system available for the OSK to use. Sadly, I don't think I'm skilled enough for this kind of things. But if there's something we can easily integrate to the OSK, I'd gladly do it 😄

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/23889https://forums.ubports.com/post/23889Fri, 25 Oct 2019 06:57:42 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to OSK Enhancements Proposals on Thu, 24 Oct 2019 20:23:37 GMT]]>These designs are a bit eh, however, I know people have been wanting a clipboard manager, I dont personally use them, but I can see why people would want them, so I drew up some design ideas, hopefully someone will either itterate on the idea, or come up with a better solution, but I think it'd be neat on the keyboard.
Clipbord 1.1.png
Clipbord 1.2.png
This way it'd be inside the keyboard touch area, which some people might like if it looked nicer, perhaps the Done button would have to move, or you could tap elsewhere on the keyboard for it to go away.

Clipbord 1.3.png

This option removes the clipboard from the keyboard, to a external position.

A big problem with both these solutions, is that the clipboard wouldn't be usable in desktop mode, so something would have to be figured out with that, but theres an idea to throw into the pot, perhaps if the clip board isn't your guys style, these mockups could be used for something else one of you guys have been trying to cook up, but wasn't sure of an implementation.

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/23884https://forums.ubports.com/post/23884Thu, 24 Oct 2019 20:23:37 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to OSK Enhancements Proposals on Thu, 24 Oct 2019 17:51:16 GMT]]>Nice Work @kugiigi with the OSK of the current OTA! I really like it!

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/23878https://forums.ubports.com/post/23878Thu, 24 Oct 2019 17:51:16 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to OSK Enhancements Proposals on Sat, 05 Oct 2019 08:02:19 GMT]]>@kugiigi You are right. I used 17, a little too big.
With 15 not 16, it's good.

]]>https://forums.ubports.com/post/23390https://forums.ubports.com/post/23390Sat, 05 Oct 2019 08:02:19 GMT