Keyboard layouts (to change layout to Dvorak, of course)

antijingoist · 07/02/2011, 09:41 AM

Been playing around with the emulator image, and I found the location for the keyboard layouts. They are all xml files, located here:

/usr/palm/XT9/dbs/KDBs/

I've been playing around with the XML files to try to create a Dvorak keyboard, but it doesn't appear to change anything at all. Yet, I think these files are what is needed for changing this. Any thoughts?

isagar2004 · 07/05/2011, 11:32 AM

I don't think this is the right file to start with.
I still don't understand exactly this whole "Keyboard type" thing in webOS 3.0, because all keyboard layouts looks exactly the same and the only thing you can do is to choose the table order from the 3 in the list (qwerty, qwerz and azerty). But I did found these files and I think that they are the key to this mystery:
/usr/share/qt4/keymaps/*.qmap
These are Qt's binary keyboard maps. If there is any way to convert them back to text, I think it would do the job.

antijingoist · 07/05/2011, 12:20 PM

do you think one might be for the osk and the other for bt keyboard?

isagar2004 · 07/05/2011, 12:56 PM

hmm... That might be the case, but I'm not sure.
I just checked the emulator system and found that the system uses a temporary file named kdb.xml (located in the /tmp directory) for the virtual keyboard. This file is automatically generated every startup by the 2 binary files "LunaSysManager" and "SmartKeyService" (both are in the /usr/bin directory) which means that there is no chance to force the system to load edited file (because the system generates this file due the startup process and load it into the RAM. Any change you'll make after this won't affect the system and will be lost at the next startup).
Therefore, I think It's still impossible to create custom keyboard layouts on webOS 3.0 (unless you'll patch these 2 files and dump the qmap files. Another way is to create your own keyboard framework for webOS).
You still can convert key pressing with a Java script as the patches for the physical keyboard in webOS 2.1.0 do, but the keyboard look will remain the same.

antijingoist · 07:10 AM

hmm. in the beta, the xml files for the 3 layouts were not there, but the qmaps were there. perhaps the xml's will be used in an update. (hopeful, and still brainstorming.)

haven't heard anything new in the dev forums about this...

edit: fwiw, that keyboard xml looks exactly like the 3 xmls in the other location

mrkvs · 07/06/2011, 07:16 AM

Someone, please, can help me and confirm if there is cyrillic layout? Sorry for off-top, it's just nobody mentioned any international non-latin keyboard support...

antijingoist · 07/06/2011, 07:36 AM

no cyrillic layout at the moment.

Also, changing the kdb.xml in the temp folder and setting it immutable changes nothing.

Docta G · 07/06/2011, 08:34 AM

Guys, I too am interested in the possibility of a dvorak keyboard for webOS, but as I don't yet have any webOS devices, I'll just have to follow your progress...

isagar2004 · 06:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Docta G

Guys, I too am interested in the possibility of a dvorak keyboard for webOS, but as I don't yet have any webOS devices, I'll just have to follow your progress...

There won't be any progress. I just found that the keyboard table order (Qwerty, Qwerz etc.) and the exact xml files are set in the binary files' code (in the picture below), so the only thing you can do is email to HP and ask them to open the framework for any one who wants to add other keyboard layouts.

antijingoist · 07/07/2011, 06:48 AM

What about overwriting one of the 3 layouts?

And is that your license key on the bottom?

isagar2004 · 07/07/2011, 06:57 AM

Won't work.
The code links to the qmap configuration. I really don't know what's the point of the xml files (there is a reference in the code to these files but it doesn't really do anything).

Yup, it was

antijingoist · 07/07/2011, 07:02 AM

So, I gotta figure out the qmap.... and that's a bit of a dead end for now......

I hope the xmls are there as a work in progress, that will maybe be how its done in the future.

CvvB · 08/30/2011, 09:39 PM

Sorry to bump this.

But, I am working on this also.

What is happening is basically, the LunaManager is reading the QMap files and generates the temp XML file. (As far as I understand)

I found tools that can convert KMap to QMap given by Qt SDK. KMap is the standard Linux keyboard layout that is text based. But, I didn't find anything that could the otherway around.

I think one has to use Qt libraries and design a program to read the QMap and modify it.

Still looking into it though. will update this once I have reached something!

antijingoist · 08/30/2011, 09:58 PM

Changing keyboard layout on Touchpad - WebOS Internals

CvvB · 08/31/2011, 03:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by antijingoist

Changing keyboard layout on Touchpad - WebOS Internals

Not sure how did I miss this. I spent hours searching like crazy. Time to go nuts now.

Thanks buddy!

antijingoist · 08/31/2011, 09:20 AM

Yea, I didn't find it myself either.
Someone posted it on twitter and I somehow saw it.

hzhp422 · 09/02/2011, 09:10 PM

Wow, I found those instructions for how to change the keyboard layout quite overwhelming. If anyone manages to get the Dvorak layout working for either the on-screen keyboard or especially the Bluetooth keyboard and would be so kind as to make such a solution publicly available, I would be very interested in the fruits of that hard work.

antijingoist · 09/02/2011, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hzhp422

Wow, I found those instructions for how to change the keyboard layout quite overwhelming. If anyone manages to get the Dvorak layout working for either the on-screen keyboard or especially the Bluetooth keyboard and would be so kind as to make such a solution publicly available, I would be very interested in the fruits of that hard work.

Without anyone getting paid for it, it's likely to take a while. Bounty anyone?
I barely have time to even play on the precentral forums, so I wouldn't do it unless I got paid, and I use Dvorak (I just got too much to do, literally). I can't imagine many others would.

crazybirdman · 09/03/2011, 10:44 PM

I would pay moneys for a dvorak keyboard

isagar2004 · 07:37 AM

Dvorak layout for the virtual keyboard shouldn't be a problem. I'll try to do it this evening, when I'll have time. The Bluetooth keyboard requires different kind of patching for LunaSysMgr and it requires qmap patching as well, so I don't see myself working on it in the near future.

I've already managed to patch LunaSysMgr to fully support non-Latin languages in the virtual keyboard, so if you're interested on creating keyboard layouts for other languages, you can do it now with full support. I'll release a patch script soon.
http://forums.precentral.net/hp-touc...-touchpad.html

07/02/2011, 09:41 AM	#1 (permalink)
antijingoist Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: North East Posts: 125 Likes Received: 0 Thanks: 27 Thanked 23 Times in 14 Posts	Keyboard layouts (to change layout to Dvorak, of course) Been playing around with the emulator image, and I found the location for the keyboard layouts. They are all xml files, located here: /usr/palm/XT9/dbs/KDBs/ I've been playing around with the XML files to try to create a Dvorak keyboard, but it doesn't appear to change anything at all. Yet, I think these files are what is needed for changing this. Any thoughts? __________________ Apps: Junk Silver, Junk Exchange Projects: Distress Signal
	Liked by Thanked By: DrPotoroo

07/05/2011, 11:32 AM	#2 (permalink)
isagar2004 Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 241 Likes Received: 61 Thanks: 1 Thanked 166 Times in 66 Posts	I don't think this is the right file to start with. I still don't understand exactly this whole "Keyboard type" thing in webOS 3.0, because all keyboard layouts looks exactly the same and the only thing you can do is to choose the table order from the 3 in the list (qwerty, qwerz and azerty). But I did found these files and I think that they are the key to this mystery: /usr/share/qt4/keymaps/*.qmap These are Qt's binary keyboard maps. If there is any way to convert them back to text, I think it would do the job.
	Liked by Thanked By: antijingoist

07/05/2011, 12:20 PM	#3 (permalink)
antijingoist Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: North East Posts: 125 Likes Received: 0 Thanks: 27 Thanked 23 Times in 14 Posts	do you think one might be for the osk and the other for bt keyboard? __________________ Apps: Junk Silver, Junk Exchange Projects: Distress Signal
	Liked by

07/05/2011, 12:56 PM	#4 (permalink)
isagar2004 Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 241 Likes Received: 61 Thanks: 1 Thanked 166 Times in 66 Posts	hmm... That might be the case, but I'm not sure. I just checked the emulator system and found that the system uses a temporary file named kdb.xml (located in the /tmp directory) for the virtual keyboard. This file is automatically generated every startup by the 2 binary files "LunaSysManager" and "SmartKeyService" (both are in the /usr/bin directory) which means that there is no chance to force the system to load edited file (because the system generates this file due the startup process and load it into the RAM. Any change you'll make after this won't affect the system and will be lost at the next startup). Therefore, I think It's still impossible to create custom keyboard layouts on webOS 3.0 (unless you'll patch these 2 files and dump the qmap files. Another way is to create your own keyboard framework for webOS). You still can convert key pressing with a Java script as the patches for the physical keyboard in webOS 2.1.0 do, but the keyboard look will remain the same.
	Liked by Thanked By: antijingoist

07/06/2011, 07:08 AM	#5 (permalink)
antijingoist Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: North East Posts: 125 Likes Received: 0 Thanks: 27 Thanked 23 Times in 14 Posts	hmm. in the beta, the xml files for the 3 layouts were not there, but the qmaps were there. perhaps the xml's will be used in an update. (hopeful, and still brainstorming.) haven't heard anything new in the dev forums about this... edit: fwiw, that keyboard xml looks exactly like the 3 xmls in the other location __________________ Apps: Junk Silver, Junk Exchange Projects: Distress Signal Last edited by antijingoist; 07/06/2011 at 07:10 AM. Reason: more info
	Liked by

07/06/2011, 07:16 AM	#6 (permalink)
mrkvs Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 24 Likes Received: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Someone, please, can help me and confirm if there is cyrillic layout? Sorry for off-top, it's just nobody mentioned any international non-latin keyboard support...
	Liked by

07/06/2011, 07:36 AM	#7 (permalink)
antijingoist Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: North East Posts: 125 Likes Received: 0 Thanks: 27 Thanked 23 Times in 14 Posts	no cyrillic layout at the moment. Also, changing the kdb.xml in the temp folder and setting it immutable changes nothing. __________________ Apps: Junk Silver, Junk Exchange Projects: Distress Signal
	Liked by

07/06/2011, 08:34 AM	#8 (permalink)
Docta G Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 4 Likes Received: 0 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Guys, I too am interested in the possibility of a dvorak keyboard for webOS, but as I don't yet have any webOS devices, I'll just have to follow your progress...
	Liked by

07/07/2011, 06:48 AM	#10 (permalink)
antijingoist Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: North East Posts: 125 Likes Received: 0 Thanks: 27 Thanked 23 Times in 14 Posts	What about overwriting one of the 3 layouts? And is that your license key on the bottom? __________________ Apps: Junk Silver, Junk Exchange Projects: Distress Signal
	Liked by

07/07/2011, 06:57 AM	#11 (permalink)
isagar2004 Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 241 Likes Received: 61 Thanks: 1 Thanked 166 Times in 66 Posts	Won't work. The code links to the qmap configuration. I really don't know what's the point of the xml files (there is a reference in the code to these files but it doesn't really do anything). Yup, it was
	Liked by

07/07/2011, 07:02 AM	#12 (permalink)
antijingoist Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: North East Posts: 125 Likes Received: 0 Thanks: 27 Thanked 23 Times in 14 Posts	So, I gotta figure out the qmap.... and that's a bit of a dead end for now...... I hope the xmls are there as a work in progress, that will maybe be how its done in the future. __________________ Apps: Junk Silver, Junk Exchange Projects: Distress Signal
	Liked by

08/30/2011, 09:39 PM	#13 (permalink)
CvvB Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 478 Likes Received: 126 Thanks: 45 Thanked 288 Times in 111 Posts	Sorry to bump this. But, I am working on this also. What is happening is basically, the LunaManager is reading the QMap files and generates the temp XML file. (As far as I understand) I found tools that can convert KMap to QMap given by Qt SDK. KMap is the standard Linux keyboard layout that is text based. But, I didn't find anything that could the otherway around. I think one has to use Qt libraries and design a program to read the QMap and modify it. Still looking into it though. will update this once I have reached something!
	Liked by

08/30/2011, 09:58 PM	#14 (permalink)
antijingoist Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: North East Posts: 125 Likes Received: 0 Thanks: 27 Thanked 23 Times in 14 Posts	Changing keyboard layout on Touchpad - WebOS Internals __________________ Apps: Junk Silver, Junk Exchange Projects: Distress Signal
	Liked by Thanked by CvvB, frank-barnett

08/31/2011, 09:20 AM	#16 (permalink)
antijingoist Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: North East Posts: 125 Likes Received: 0 Thanks: 27 Thanked 23 Times in 14 Posts	Yea, I didn't find it myself either. Someone posted it on twitter and I somehow saw it. __________________ Apps: Junk Silver, Junk Exchange Projects: Distress Signal
	Liked by

09/02/2011, 09:10 PM	#17 (permalink)
hzhp422 Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 6 Likes Received: 0 Thanks: 2 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Wow, I found those instructions for how to change the keyboard layout quite overwhelming. If anyone manages to get the Dvorak layout working for either the on-screen keyboard or especially the Bluetooth keyboard and would be so kind as to make such a solution publicly available, I would be very interested in the fruits of that hard work.
	Liked by

09/03/2011, 10:44 PM	#19 (permalink)
crazybirdman Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 100 Likes Received: 12 Thanks: 43 Thanked 5 Times in 4 Posts	I would pay moneys for a dvorak keyboard
	Liked by

09/05/2011, 07:29 AM	#20 (permalink)
isagar2004 Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 241 Likes Received: 61 Thanks: 1 Thanked 166 Times in 66 Posts	Dvorak layout for the virtual keyboard shouldn't be a problem. I'll try to do it this evening, when I'll have time. The Bluetooth keyboard requires different kind of patching for LunaSysMgr and it requires qmap patching as well, so I don't see myself working on it in the near future. I've already managed to patch LunaSysMgr to fully support non-Latin languages in the virtual keyboard, so if you're interested on creating keyboard layouts for other languages, you can do it now with full support. I'll release a patch script soon. http://forums.precentral.net/hp-touc...-touchpad.html Last edited by isagar2004; 09/05/2011 at 07:37 AM.
	Liked by bongoman likes this. Thanked By: antijingoist

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