Third party keyboards for Samsung s8+

[time_tourist]

Hello everyone,

My apologies if this has already been (precisely) addressed elsewhere - I did try to find it but couldn't.

This is part question, part rant.

Question: Does anyone know a TRULY customisable keyboard app for android? I want to actually chose which keys are on the keyboard and preset certain often repeated phrases but none seem to allow this.. or am I missing one?

Rant: I am fed up to the back teeth with on line tech 'journalism' where all they do is list features of products and do zero actual 'journalism'. I've looked at so many sites to find the answer to this question and none of them help.

I tried Swiftykey.. it allows you to add a number row, allows a dedicated emoji key but that's it. Nothing more. Why can't I add a question mark to the primary keyboard for example? I have to switch to the second keyboard to see that or an '@' mark.

I tried GBoard... it NEVER remembers my email address, which I have typed like 500 hundred times. I entered it into the 'personal dictionary' but whenever i have to enter my email address into a field on a website, Gboard never offers it. Also cannot personalise the keys on the primary board. Christ, you even have to switch to the secondary keyboard to get a comma!!!!

For chrissakes, it's 2018! We should open a 3rd party keyboard and the first thing it should do is ask your email addresses and say, 'would you like us to use these every time you are asked to enter an email?'. 'Which is your primary address?'. Then it should ask, 'Which keys to you want on the primary board?'

I want a question mark, exclamation mark. I want an 'at-mark'. I want a '.com' button. I want 1 or 2 emoji faces that I always use. I have an s8+ with TONS of screen space. I want you to remember my phone number and home address. Surely this should be SO SIMPLE?!?!?

Sorry, you might notice i am rather frustrated about this!!!

 

[mikedt]

About SwiftKey; most of the commonly used punctuation is available on the primary keyboard, only have to hold-down for about half a sec to access it. No switching to secondary keyboard required, certainly not for things like question mark, exclamation mark, currency symbols, etc. For emails, I found the email app I use has very good auto-complete, and no need for me to put emails addresses in the keyboard user dictionary. Anyway I'm not usually typing email addresses outside of the email app.

 

[time_tourist]

Hello mikedt,

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. I really do appreciate so I hope I don't sound ungrateful. But unfortunately it doesn't answer my question. My question is, 'does anyone know a truly customisable keyboard'.

Maybe this makes me sound like an impatient idiot but I don't want to long-press one key and then select a question mark from a sub menu, I just want to add a question mark dedicated key. I use my desktop/laptop/smartphone for hours and hours a day and sent thousands of message on text/chat/email/websites... I need to be able to eliminate unnecessary keystrokes otherwise cumulatively we are talking about literally HOURS of wasted time every year just to switch keyboards on my smartphone! (or wait for sub menus to appear)!

As for email, I don't want auto-complete. I have typed my email address into SWIFTKEY 7 times and it still hasn't picked it up. I know it will eventually, but why can't we just have a button which says 'email', which I can program with my email address? And one that says, 'mobile #' or 'Address'.

Does no app offer this very very simple thing??

Sorry, I'm ranting again...

 

[svim]

Maybe try out this 'Hacker's Keyboard' app. It won't take care of all of the things you were asking of but perhaps some:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.pocketworkstation.pckeyboard&hl=en

https://www.wikihow.com/Use-Hacker's-Keyboard


As for being a 'simple thing' it's probably a lot more involved than you realize. Remapping default keys in a keyboard isn't trivial. I've done so with a physical keyboard on a desktop PC and it does require a lot attention to details. Can't imagine how much more expansive the task can be when it involves virtual, soft keys in a typical smartphone.
(Just as an example so you get a better picture of the issue, below is the keymap for just my keyboard. Changing just one key is obvious for some but for others it requires determining which key is which, a process in itself, and then editing the proper line is another.)

keycode 8 =
keycode 9 = Escape NoSymbol Escape NoSymbol Escape Escape
keycode 10 = 1 exclam 1 exclam 1 exclam 1 exclam
keycode 11 = 2 at 2 at 2 at 2 at
keycode 12 = 3 numbersign 3 numbersign 3 numbersign 3 numbersign
keycode 13 = 4 dollar 4 dollar 4 dollar 4 dollar
keycode 14 = 5 percent 5 percent 5 percent 5 percent
keycode 15 = 6 asciicircum 6 asciicircum 6 asciicircum 6 asciicircum
keycode 16 = 7 ampersand 7 ampersand 7 ampersand 7 ampersand
keycode 17 = 8 asterisk 8 asterisk 8 asterisk 8 asterisk
keycode 18 = 9 parenleft 9 parenleft 9 parenleft 9 parenleft
keycode 19 = 0 parenright 0 parenright 0 parenright 0 parenright
keycode 20 = minus underscore minus underscore minus underscore minus underscore
keycode 21 = equal plus equal plus equal plus equal plus
keycode 22 = BackSpace BackSpace BackSpace BackSpace NoSymbol NoSymbol Terminate_Server NoSymbol NoSymbol Terminate_Server BackSpace BackSpace NoSymbol NoSymbol Terminate_Server BackSpace BackSpace NoSymbol NoSymbol Terminate_Server
keycode 23 = Tab ISO_Left_Tab Tab ISO_Left_Tab Tab ISO_Left_Tab Tab ISO_Left_Tab
keycode 24 = q Q q Q q Q q Q
keycode 25 = w W w W w W w W
keycode 26 = e E e E e E e E
keycode 27 = r R r R r R r R
keycode 28 = t T t T t T t T
keycode 29 = y Y y Y y Y y Y
keycode 30 = u U u U u U u U
keycode 31 = i I i I i I i I
keycode 32 = o O o O o O o O
keycode 33 = p P p P p P p P
keycode 34 = bracketleft braceleft bracketleft braceleft bracketleft braceleft bracketleft braceleft
keycode 35 = bracketright braceright bracketright braceright bracketright braceright bracketright braceright
keycode 36 = Return NoSymbol Return NoSymbol Return Return
keycode 37 = Control_L NoSymbol Control_L NoSymbol Control_L Control_L
keycode 38 = a A a A a A a A
keycode 39 = s S s S s S s S
keycode 40 = d D d D d D d D
keycode 41 = f F f F f F f F
keycode 42 = g G g G g G g G
keycode 43 = h H h H h H h H
keycode 44 = j J j J j J j J
keycode 45 = k K k K k K k K
keycode 46 = l L l L l L l L
keycode 47 = semicolon colon semicolon colon semicolon colon semicolon colon
keycode 48 = apostrophe quotedbl apostrophe quotedbl apostrophe quotedbl apostrophe quotedbl
keycode 49 = grave asciitilde grave asciitilde grave asciitilde grave asciitilde
keycode 50 = Shift_L NoSymbol Shift_L NoSymbol Shift_L Shift_L
keycode 51 = backslash bar backslash bar backslash bar backslash bar
keycode 52 = z Z z Z z Z z Z
keycode 53 = x X x X x X x X
keycode 54 = c C c C c C c C
keycode 55 = v V v V v V v V
keycode 56 = b B b B b B b B
keycode 57 = n N n N n N n N
keycode 58 = m M m M m M m M
keycode 59 = comma less comma less comma less comma less
keycode 60 = period greater period greater period greater period greater
keycode 61 = slash question slash question slash question slash question
keycode 62 = Shift_R NoSymbol Shift_R NoSymbol Shift_R Shift_R
keycode 63 = KP_Multiply KP_Multiply KP_Multiply KP_Multiply KP_Multiply KP_Multiply XF86ClearGrab KP_Multiply KP_Multiply XF86ClearGrab KP_Multiply KP_Multiply KP_Multiply KP_Multiply XF86ClearGrab KP_Multiply KP_Multiply KP_Multiply KP_Multiply XF86ClearGrab
keycode 64 = Alt_L Meta_L Alt_L Meta_L Alt_L Meta_L Alt_L Meta_L
keycode 65 = space NoSymbol space NoSymbol space space
keycode 66 = Caps_Lock NoSymbol Caps_Lock NoSymbol Caps_Lock Caps_Lock
keycode 67 = F1 F1 F1 F1 F1 F1 XF86Switch_VT_1 F1 F1 XF86Switch_VT_1 F1 F1 F1 F1 XF86Switch_VT_1 F1 F1 F1 F1 XF86Switch_VT_1
keycode 68 = F2 F2 F2 F2 F2 F2 XF86Switch_VT_2 F2 F2 XF86Switch_VT_2 F2 F2 F2 F2 XF86Switch_VT_2 F2 F2 F2 F2 XF86Switch_VT_2
keycode 69 = F3 F3 F3 F3 F3 F3 XF86Switch_VT_3 F3 F3 XF86Switch_VT_3 F3 F3 F3 F3 XF86Switch_VT_3 F3 F3 F3 F3 XF86Switch_VT_3
keycode 70 = F4 F4 F4 F4 F4 F4 XF86Switch_VT_4 F4 F4 XF86Switch_VT_4 F4 F4 F4 F4 XF86Switch_VT_4 F4 F4 F4 F4 XF86Switch_VT_4
keycode 71 = F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 XF86Switch_VT_5 F5 F5 XF86Switch_VT_5 F5 F5 F5 F5 XF86Switch_VT_5 F5 F5 F5 F5 XF86Switch_VT_5
keycode 72 = F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 XF86Switch_VT_6 F6 F6 XF86Switch_VT_6 F6 F6 F6 F6 XF86Switch_VT_6 F6 F6 F6 F6 XF86Switch_VT_6
keycode 73 = F7 F7 F7 F7 F7 F7 XF86Switch_VT_7 F7 F7 XF86Switch_VT_7 F7 F7 F7 F7 XF86Switch_VT_7 F7 F7 F7 F7 XF86Switch_VT_7
keycode 74 = F8 F8 F8 F8 F8 F8 XF86Switch_VT_8 F8 F8 XF86Switch_VT_8 F8 F8 F8 F8 XF86Switch_VT_8 F8 F8 F8 F8 XF86Switch_VT_8
keycode 75 = F9 F9 F9 F9 F9 F9 XF86Switch_VT_9 F9 F9 XF86Switch_VT_9 F9 F9 F9 F9 XF86Switch_VT_9 F9 F9 F9 F9 XF86Switch_VT_9
keycode 76 = F10 F10 F10 F10 F10 F10 XF86Switch_VT_10 F10 F10 XF86Switch_VT_10 F10 F10 F10 F10 XF86Switch_VT_10 F10 F10 F10 F10 XF86Switch_VT_10
keycode 77 = Num_Lock NoSymbol Num_Lock NoSymbol Num_Lock Num_Lock
keycode 78 = Scroll_Lock NoSymbol Scroll_Lock NoSymbol Scroll_Lock Scroll_Lock
keycode 79 = KP_Home KP_7 KP_Home KP_7 KP_Home KP_7 KP_Home KP_7
keycode 80 = KP_Up KP_8 KP_Up KP_8 KP_Up KP_8 KP_Up KP_8
keycode 81 = KP_Prior KP_9 KP_Prior KP_9 KP_Prior KP_9 KP_Prior KP_9
keycode 82 = KP_Subtract KP_Subtract KP_Subtract KP_Subtract KP_Subtract KP_Subtract XF86Prev_VMode KP_Subtract KP_Subtract XF86Prev_VMode KP_Subtract KP_Subtract KP_Subtract KP_Subtract XF86Prev_VMode KP_Subtract KP_Subtract KP_Subtract KP_Subtract XF86Prev_VMode
keycode 83 = KP_Left KP_4 KP_Left KP_4 KP_Left KP_4 KP_Left KP_4
keycode 84 = KP_Begin KP_5 KP_Begin KP_5 KP_Begin KP_5 KP_Begin KP_5
keycode 85 = KP_Right KP_6 KP_Right KP_6 KP_Right KP_6 KP_Right KP_6
keycode 86 = KP_Add KP_Add KP_Add KP_Add KP_Add KP_Add XF86Next_VMode KP_Add KP_Add XF86Next_VMode KP_Add KP_Add KP_Add KP_Add XF86Next_VMode KP_Add KP_Add KP_Add KP_Add XF86Next_VMode
keycode 87 = KP_End KP_1 KP_End KP_1 KP_End KP_1 KP_End KP_1
keycode 88 = KP_Down KP_2 KP_Down KP_2 KP_Down KP_2 KP_Down KP_2
keycode 89 = KP_Next KP_3 KP_Next KP_3 KP_Next KP_3 KP_Next KP_3
keycode 90 = KP_Insert KP_0 KP_Insert KP_0 KP_Insert KP_0 KP_Insert KP_0
keycode 91 = KP_Delete KP_Decimal KP_Delete KP_Decimal KP_Delete KP_Decimal KP_Delete KP_Decimal
keycode 92 = ISO_Level3_Shift NoSymbol ISO_Level3_Shift NoSymbol ISO_Level3_Shift ISO_Level3_Shift
keycode 93 =
keycode 94 = less greater less greater bar brokenbar bar brokenbar less greater bar brokenbar less greater bar brokenbar
keycode 95 = F11 F11 F11 F11 F11 F11 XF86Switch_VT_11 F11 F11 XF86Switch_VT_11 F11 F11 F11 F11 XF86Switch_VT_11 F11 F11 F11 F11 XF86Switch_VT_11
keycode 96 = F12 F12 F12 F12 F12 F12 XF86Switch_VT_12 F12 F12 XF86Switch_VT_12 F12 F12 F12 F12 XF86Switch_VT_12 F12 F12 F12 F12 XF86Switch_VT_12
keycode 97 =
keycode 98 = Katakana NoSymbol Katakana NoSymbol Katakana Katakana
keycode 99 = Hiragana NoSymbol Hiragana NoSymbol Hiragana Hiragana
keycode 100 = Henkan_Mode NoSymbol Henkan_Mode NoSymbol Henkan_Mode Henkan_Mode
keycode 101 = Hiragana_Katakana NoSymbol Hiragana_Katakana NoSymbol Hiragana_Katakana Hiragana_Katakana
keycode 102 = Muhenkan NoSymbol Muhenkan NoSymbol Muhenkan Muhenkan
keycode 103 =
keycode 104 = KP_Enter NoSymbol KP_Enter NoSymbol KP_Enter KP_Enter
keycode 105 = Control_R NoSymbol Control_R NoSymbol Control_R Control_R
keycode 106 = KP_Divide KP_Divide KP_Divide KP_Divide KP_Divide KP_Divide XF86Ungrab KP_Divide KP_Divide XF86Ungrab KP_Divide KP_Divide KP_Divide KP_Divide XF86Ungrab KP_Divide KP_Divide KP_Divide KP_Divide XF86Ungrab
keycode 107 = Print Sys_Req Print Sys_Req Print Sys_Req Print Sys_Req
keycode 108 = Alt_R Meta_R Alt_R Meta_R Alt_R Meta_R Alt_R Meta_R
keycode 109 = Linefeed NoSymbol Linefeed NoSymbol Linefeed Linefeed
keycode 110 = BackSpace BackSpace BackSpace BackSpace NoSymbol NoSymbol Terminate_Server
keycode 111 = Up NoSymbol Up NoSymbol Up Up
keycode 112 = Prior NoSymbol Prior NoSymbol Prior Prior
keycode 113 = Left NoSymbol Left NoSymbol Left Left
keycode 114 = Right NoSymbol Right NoSymbol Right Right
keycode 115 = End NoSymbol End NoSymbol End End
keycode 116 = Down NoSymbol Down NoSymbol Down Down
keycode 117 = Next NoSymbol Next NoSymbol Next Next
keycode 118 = Insert NoSymbol Insert NoSymbol Insert Insert
keycode 119 = Delete NoSymbol Delete NoSymbol Delete Delete
keycode 120 =
keycode 121 = XF86AudioMute NoSymbol XF86AudioMute NoSymbol XF86AudioMute XF86AudioMute
keycode 122 = XF86AudioLowerVolume NoSymbol XF86AudioLowerVolume NoSymbol XF86AudioLowerVolume XF86AudioLowerVolume
keycode 123 = XF86AudioRaiseVolume NoSymbol XF86AudioRaiseVolume NoSymbol XF86AudioRaiseVolume XF86AudioRaiseVolume
keycode 124 = XF86PowerOff NoSymbol XF86PowerOff NoSymbol XF86PowerOff XF86PowerOff
keycode 125 = KP_Equal NoSymbol KP_Equal NoSymbol KP_Equal KP_Equal
keycode 126 = plusminus NoSymbol plusminus NoSymbol plusminus plusminus
keycode 127 = Pause Break Pause Break Pause Break Pause Break
keycode 128 = XF86LaunchA NoSymbol XF86LaunchA NoSymbol XF86LaunchA XF86LaunchA
keycode 129 = KP_Decimal KP_Decimal KP_Decimal KP_Decimal KP_Decimal KP_Decimal KP_Decimal KP_Decimal
keycode 130 = Hangul NoSymbol Hangul NoSymbol Hangul Hangul
keycode 131 = Hangul_Hanja NoSymbol Hangul_Hanja NoSymbol Hangul_Hanja Hangul_Hanja
keycode 132 =
keycode 133 = Super_L NoSymbol Super_L NoSymbol Super_L Super_L
keycode 134 = Super_R NoSymbol Super_R NoSymbol Super_R Super_R
keycode 135 = Menu NoSymbol Menu NoSymbol Menu Menu
keycode 136 = Cancel NoSymbol Cancel NoSymbol Cancel Cancel
keycode 137 = Redo NoSymbol Redo NoSymbol Redo Redo
keycode 138 = SunProps NoSymbol SunProps NoSymbol SunProps SunProps
keycode 139 = Undo NoSymbol Undo NoSymbol Undo Undo
keycode 140 = SunFront NoSymbol SunFront NoSymbol SunFront SunFront
keycode 141 = XF86Copy NoSymbol XF86Copy NoSymbol XF86Copy XF86Copy
keycode 142 = XF86Open NoSymbol XF86Open NoSymbol XF86Open XF86Open
keycode 143 = XF86Paste NoSymbol XF86Paste NoSymbol XF86Paste XF86Paste
keycode 144 = Find NoSymbol Find NoSymbol Find Find
keycode 145 = XF86Cut NoSymbol XF86Cut NoSymbol XF86Cut XF86Cut
keycode 146 = Help NoSymbol Help NoSymbol Help Help
keycode 147 = XF86MenuKB NoSymbol XF86MenuKB NoSymbol XF86MenuKB XF86MenuKB
keycode 148 = XF86Calculator NoSymbol XF86Calculator NoSymbol XF86Calculator XF86Calculator
keycode 149 =
keycode 150 = XF86Sleep NoSymbol XF86Sleep NoSymbol XF86Sleep XF86Sleep
keycode 151 = XF86WakeUp NoSymbol XF86WakeUp NoSymbol XF86WakeUp XF86WakeUp
keycode 152 = XF86Explorer NoSymbol XF86Explorer NoSymbol XF86Explorer XF86Explorer
keycode 153 = XF86Send NoSymbol XF86Send NoSymbol XF86Send XF86Send
keycode 154 =
keycode 155 = XF86Xfer NoSymbol XF86Xfer NoSymbol XF86Xfer XF86Xfer
keycode 156 = XF86Launch1 NoSymbol XF86Launch1 NoSymbol XF86Launch1 XF86Launch1
keycode 157 = XF86Launch2 NoSymbol XF86Launch2 NoSymbol XF86Launch2 XF86Launch2
keycode 158 = XF86WWW NoSymbol XF86WWW NoSymbol XF86WWW XF86WWW
keycode 159 = XF86DOS NoSymbol XF86DOS NoSymbol XF86DOS XF86DOS
keycode 160 = XF86ScreenSaver NoSymbol XF86ScreenSaver NoSymbol XF86ScreenSaver XF86ScreenSaver
keycode 161 = XF86RotateWindows NoSymbol XF86RotateWindows NoSymbol XF86RotateWindows XF86RotateWindows
keycode 162 = XF86TaskPane NoSymbol XF86TaskPane NoSymbol XF86TaskPane XF86TaskPane
keycode 163 = XF86Mail NoSymbol XF86Mail NoSymbol XF86Mail XF86Mail
keycode 164 = XF86Favorites NoSymbol XF86Favorites NoSymbol XF86Favorites XF86Favorites
keycode 165 = XF86MyComputer NoSymbol XF86MyComputer NoSymbol XF86MyComputer XF86MyComputer
keycode 166 = XF86Back NoSymbol XF86Back NoSymbol XF86Back XF86Back
keycode 167 = XF86Forward NoSymbol XF86Forward NoSymbol XF86Forward XF86Forward
keycode 168 =
keycode 169 = XF86Eject NoSymbol XF86Eject NoSymbol XF86Eject XF86Eject
keycode 170 = XF86Eject XF86Eject XF86Eject XF86Eject XF86Eject XF86Eject XF86Eject XF86Eject
keycode 171 = XF86AudioNext NoSymbol XF86AudioNext NoSymbol XF86AudioNext XF86AudioNext
keycode 172 = XF86AudioPlay XF86AudioPause XF86AudioPlay XF86AudioPause XF86AudioPlay XF86AudioPause XF86AudioPlay XF86AudioPause
keycode 173 = XF86AudioPrev NoSymbol XF86AudioPrev NoSymbol XF86AudioPrev XF86AudioPrev
keycode 174 = XF86AudioStop XF86Eject XF86AudioStop XF86Eject XF86AudioStop XF86Eject XF86AudioStop XF86Eject
keycode 175 = XF86AudioRecord NoSymbol XF86AudioRecord NoSymbol XF86AudioRecord XF86AudioRecord
keycode 176 = XF86AudioRewind NoSymbol XF86AudioRewind NoSymbol XF86AudioRewind XF86AudioRewind
keycode 177 = XF86Phone NoSymbol XF86Phone NoSymbol XF86Phone XF86Phone
keycode 178 =
keycode 179 = XF86Tools NoSymbol XF86Tools NoSymbol XF86Tools XF86Tools
keycode 180 = XF86HomePage NoSymbol XF86HomePage NoSymbol XF86HomePage XF86HomePage
keycode 181 = XF86Reload NoSymbol XF86Reload NoSymbol XF86Reload XF86Reload
keycode 182 = XF86Close NoSymbol XF86Close NoSymbol XF86Close XF86Close
keycode 183 =
keycode 184 =
keycode 185 = XF86ScrollUp NoSymbol XF86ScrollUp NoSymbol XF86ScrollUp XF86ScrollUp
keycode 186 = XF86ScrollDown NoSymbol XF86ScrollDown NoSymbol XF86ScrollDown XF86ScrollDown
keycode 187 = parenleft NoSymbol parenleft NoSymbol parenleft parenleft
keycode 188 = parenright NoSymbol parenright NoSymbol parenright parenright
keycode 189 = XF86New NoSymbol XF86New NoSymbol XF86New XF86New
keycode 190 = Redo NoSymbol Redo NoSymbol Redo Redo
keycode 191 = XF86Tools NoSymbol XF86Tools NoSymbol XF86Tools XF86Tools
keycode 192 = XF86Launch5 NoSymbol XF86Launch5 NoSymbol XF86Launch5 XF86Launch5
keycode 193 = XF86Launch6 NoSymbol XF86Launch6 NoSymbol XF86Launch6 XF86Launch6
keycode 194 = XF86Launch7 NoSymbol XF86Launch7 NoSymbol XF86Launch7 XF86Launch7
keycode 195 = XF86Launch8 NoSymbol XF86Launch8 NoSymbol XF86Launch8 XF86Launch8
keycode 196 = XF86Launch9 NoSymbol XF86Launch9 NoSymbol XF86Launch9 XF86Launch9
keycode 197 =
keycode 198 = XF86AudioMicMute NoSymbol XF86AudioMicMute NoSymbol XF86AudioMicMute XF86AudioMicMute
keycode 199 = XF86TouchpadToggle NoSymbol XF86TouchpadToggle NoSymbol XF86TouchpadToggle XF86TouchpadToggle
keycode 200 = XF86TouchpadOn NoSymbol XF86TouchpadOn NoSymbol XF86TouchpadOn XF86TouchpadOn
keycode 201 = XF86TouchpadOff NoSymbol XF86TouchpadOff NoSymbol XF86TouchpadOff XF86TouchpadOff
keycode 202 =
keycode 203 = Mode_switch NoSymbol Mode_switch NoSymbol Mode_switch Mode_switch
keycode 204 = NoSymbol Alt_L NoSymbol Alt_L NoSymbol Alt_L NoSymbol Alt_L
keycode 205 = NoSymbol Meta_L NoSymbol Meta_L NoSymbol Meta_L NoSymbol Meta_L
keycode 206 = NoSymbol Super_L NoSymbol Super_L NoSymbol Super_L NoSymbol Super_L
keycode 207 = NoSymbol Hyper_L NoSymbol Hyper_L NoSymbol Hyper_L NoSymbol Hyper_L
keycode 208 = XF86AudioPlay NoSymbol XF86AudioPlay NoSymbol XF86AudioPlay XF86AudioPlay
keycode 209 = XF86AudioPause NoSymbol XF86AudioPause NoSymbol XF86AudioPause XF86AudioPause
keycode 210 = XF86Launch3 NoSymbol XF86Launch3 NoSymbol XF86Launch3 XF86Launch3
keycode 211 = XF86Launch4 NoSymbol XF86Launch4 NoSymbol XF86Launch4 XF86Launch4
keycode 212 = XF86LaunchB NoSymbol XF86LaunchB NoSymbol XF86LaunchB XF86LaunchB
keycode 213 = XF86Suspend NoSymbol XF86Suspend NoSymbol XF86Suspend XF86Suspend
keycode 214 = XF86Close NoSymbol XF86Close NoSymbol XF86Close XF86Close
keycode 215 = XF86AudioPlay NoSymbol XF86AudioPlay NoSymbol XF86AudioPlay XF86AudioPlay
keycode 216 = XF86AudioForward NoSymbol XF86AudioForward NoSymbol XF86AudioForward XF86AudioForward
keycode 217 =
keycode 218 = Print NoSymbol Print NoSymbol Print Print
keycode 219 =
keycode 220 = XF86WebCam NoSymbol XF86WebCam NoSymbol XF86WebCam XF86WebCam
keycode 221 =
keycode 222 =
keycode 223 = XF86Mail NoSymbol XF86Mail NoSymbol XF86Mail XF86Mail
keycode 224 = XF86Messenger NoSymbol XF86Messenger NoSymbol XF86Messenger XF86Messenger
keycode 225 = XF86Search NoSymbol XF86Search NoSymbol XF86Search XF86Search
keycode 226 = XF86Go NoSymbol XF86Go NoSymbol XF86Go XF86Go
keycode 227 = XF86Finance NoSymbol XF86Finance NoSymbol XF86Finance XF86Finance
keycode 228 = XF86Game NoSymbol XF86Game NoSymbol XF86Game XF86Game
keycode 229 = XF86Shop NoSymbol XF86Shop NoSymbol XF86Shop XF86Shop
keycode 230 =
keycode 231 = Cancel NoSymbol Cancel NoSymbol Cancel Cancel
keycode 232 = XF86MonBrightnessDown NoSymbol XF86MonBrightnessDown NoSymbol XF86MonBrightnessDown XF86MonBrightnessDown
keycode 233 = XF86MonBrightnessUp NoSymbol XF86MonBrightnessUp NoSymbol XF86MonBrightnessUp XF86MonBrightnessUp
keycode 234 = XF86AudioMedia NoSymbol XF86AudioMedia NoSymbol XF86AudioMedia XF86AudioMedia
keycode 235 = XF86Display NoSymbol XF86Display NoSymbol XF86Display XF86Display
keycode 236 = XF86KbdLightOnOff NoSymbol XF86KbdLightOnOff NoSymbol XF86KbdLightOnOff XF86KbdLightOnOff
keycode 237 = XF86KbdBrightnessDown NoSymbol XF86KbdBrightnessDown NoSymbol XF86KbdBrightnessDown XF86KbdBrightnessDown
keycode 238 = XF86KbdBrightnessUp NoSymbol XF86KbdBrightnessUp NoSymbol XF86KbdBrightnessUp XF86KbdBrightnessUp
keycode 239 = XF86Send NoSymbol XF86Send NoSymbol XF86Send XF86Send
keycode 240 = XF86Reply NoSymbol XF86Reply NoSymbol XF86Reply XF86Reply
keycode 241 = XF86MailForward NoSymbol XF86MailForward NoSymbol XF86MailForward XF86MailForward
keycode 242 = XF86Save NoSymbol XF86Save NoSymbol XF86Save XF86Save
keycode 243 = XF86Documents NoSymbol XF86Documents NoSymbol XF86Documents XF86Documents
keycode 244 = XF86Battery NoSymbol XF86Battery NoSymbol XF86Battery XF86Battery
keycode 245 = XF86Bluetooth NoSymbol XF86Bluetooth NoSymbol XF86Bluetooth XF86Bluetooth
keycode 246 = XF86WLAN NoSymbol XF86WLAN NoSymbol XF86WLAN XF86WLAN
keycode 247 =
keycode 248 =
keycode 249 =
keycode 250 =
keycode 251 =
keycode 252 =
keycode 253 =
keycode 254 =
keycode 255 =

 

[time_tourist]

Thank you so much svim for taking the time to reply.

I take your point very well that I am probably over trivialising how 'simple' it is to do what I am looking for. But then again, since we are talking about devices where their every action is semi miraculous (after all, a smartphone is a tiny pocket device that can send images/movies and much more to australia in seconds, and can, within seconds plays hundreds of millions of songs/movie etc...!!) then it's hard to understand why some things are do-able and others not. I'd also say that some of the things I want (e.g. for the keyboard to remember my email address) are possible in some keyboards but not others. So it IS possible, just people like Google seem to think it's not important/useful. Let's face it, function keys were available on some of the early computers 25 years ago.

I'm not a coder or in anyway tech-savvy but I tend to think the lack of these options is a lack of imagination from the developers rather than the lack of actual technical capacity to fulfill them. But of course I could be wrong. It sounds like you know much more on that topic than me.

Thank you for the suggestion of the hacker's keyboard. I had a quick look and it looks very tech-jargon heavy and not aimed at 'simple' users like me. Plus it also just seems to be yet another keyboard layout and doesn't say anywhere (that I saw in my quick browse) that one can customise the keyboard/keys.

OK, I am rapidly coming to the conclusion that is not possible. Thank you again for your help.

 

[svim]

What you're looking for are solutions specific to your own particular needs, but the reality is Google or any other independent developers need to focus on meeting the needs of a much wider user base. Customizing individual apps to meet only the needs of individual users will require a lot of time, effort, and resources. You may find having to use a long-press or alternate key to access a special character to be annoying and wastes your time, but most of us have to rely on a keyboard to do multiple things involving multiple apps, so the compromise involving portrait/landscape switching on the fly and needing different letters/characters that simply cannot fit into any keyboard that works within the confines of a mobile device is just a given we have to accept.
Voice command technology is a growing trend and is becoming better and better now, if you don't care to adapt to the limitations of a smartphone's virtual keyboard that might be something to focus your attention on?

 

[time_tourist]

We may disagree but I think these things would be massively popular for the masses. The fact that SWIFTKEY for example does remember your email and other things such as phone numbers (eventually, after typing it many times) it precisely one of the reasons it's so highly rated by it's hundreds of millions of users. So somewhere within SWIFTKEY there is some code that allows the app to remember your email address. They should just go the extra step and allow us to enter it immediately and not have to wait for the app to 'learn' it. They also allow you to add 'some' keys to the keyboard (such as numbers), but not others. So it IS possible... and very popular.