Keyboard without invoking TextInputDialog

moopf · November 2012

Hi,

I think the subject says it all - is there any way currently of showing the built in iOS or Android keyboard without having to use TextInputDialog? Ideally I'd like to use the built in keyboard but handle the display of entered characters myself without having the ugly dialog boxes show up.

I'm guessing the answer is no but thought I'd ask in case the documentation isn't complete (there are things not in the docs, such as the gamekit API so it's worth a check!)

Cheers,

Gareth

Magnusviri · November 2012

To get an iOS keyboard to show up you need to add a view that either conforms to a protocol or inherits from something or other, I can't remember what it is called. I had to use it to do an iCade plugin. I put some code at the following URL.

http://blog.magnusviri.com/gideros-icade-plugin.html

moopf · November 2012

Thanks, but that's not what I'm asking really. You can already use iOS and Android's built-in keyboard by using the TextInputDialog class in Gideros, I'm wondering if there's a way of using the keyboard without having the dialog and in a cross-platform way, not just iOS. If not, I'll roll my own keyboard but, obviously, would prefer not to.

ar2rsawseen · November 2012

@moopf not in a native way, but I think there where couple of Lua based keyboards.
As this one: http://www.giderosmobile.com/forum/discussion/comment/12497#Comment_12497

moopf · November 2012

Hi @ar2rsawseen, I've seen that one. Unfortunately I don't really think it's suitable for me because it's setup with what I think is a weird base resolution of 480 x 800 and also I can't get the keyboard to hide either when a text box loses focus or you touch the down button (next to the full stop) which I presume it's meant to. Rather than pick that code apart I think I'd prefer to write my own.

atilim · November 2012

@moopf and currently there is no way to show builtin keyboard without using TextInputDialog.

I've decided to implement it after seeing Draw Something (attached the picture). I think it's not that bad

OZApps · November 2012

@Magnusviri, would the iCade work with the new iPads and can we use the iCade for input like the Arcade machines used to, The best I liked was with Elite's Commando, that was one of the best ways to enter your score.

moopf · November 2012

OK @atilim, no worries.

Magnusviri · November 2012

@OZApps, the iCade is just a bluetooth keyboard that sends letters when a button (actual button or a joystick direction) is pressed and released so I'm sure it will work with all iOS and Android devices that can have bluetooth keyboards.

It sends a key at release because the keyboard doesn't send continuous information so in order to know when the joystick has been released a key has to be sent when the button is released.

I haven't looked at my iCade stuff in awhile. @atilim said he would add iCade support to Gideros and so I have kind of put off working on my stuff. I have designed my plugin to work similarly as the TNT Virtual Pad so that in the absense of an iCade the TNT Virtual Pad could be used.

http://blog.magnusviri.com/gideros-icade-plugin.html

The 2 biggest problems of my plugin is no Android support and on iOS the keyboard shows and then disappears. I believe the iOS problem can be fixed but I haven't sat down and fixed it.

OZApps · November 2012

@OZApps, the iCade is just a bluetooth keyboard that sends letters when a button (actual button or a joystick direction) is pressed and released so I'm sure it will work with all iOS and Android devices that can have bluetooth keyboards.

OH!! I thought it was using a pin connector to connect and hence that question. Thanks for clarifying. When I had got the iPad1 and the Keyboard dock, I wanted to use the keyboard (using Objective-C) but as it did not work out well. Imagine being able to play a game on the iPad with the arrow keys (My thumbs did not develop as well as the kids who have grown up on the Console Controllers) I am still more of the keyboard person, QAOPN or space. Even the Kempston joysticks were not available, however the Atari 2600 joysticks did offer a bit of joy. Then it was the Force Feedback, with a demo I saw in 1998 in a shop in France, and finally got to buy it in around 2001. Even with all the consoles a Sega Saturn, Nintendo Cube, PS2, PS3, Wii, XBox and Kinect I still feel comfortable with the keyboard. Wanted to make sure before I splurged $150 on the iCade.

alexzheng · November 2012

@moopf and currently there is no way to show builtin keyboard without using TextInputDialog.

I've decided to implement it after seeing Draw Something (attached the picture). I think it's not that bad

What will you implement?
Isn't it a TextInputDialog in the attached picture?

atilim · November 2012

I mean I've implemented TextInputDialog after seeing the usage in Draw Something.

alexzheng · November 2012

I got it.
At first,moopf's request is what exactly the same as I needed.
Now,I will try to use TextInputDialog for input multiple items this way.

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