Symbol mode

[jwkwshjsjsj]

I think it would be useful for Unexpected Keyboard to have a symbol mode like most other virtual keyboards. I think it greatly improves the speed of typing symbols if the user is typing a lot of them. The user doesn't have to do tons of swiping to get what they want and they get the best of both worlds is there (symbol mode with quick access to many symbols and swiping to quickly access a few symbols).

[Julow]

I'm not sure switching to an other mode would help typing. Swipes are intended to be very fast, at least way faster than reading a different page full of symbols.
Do you think swipes are slow ?

[jwkwshjsjsj]

I'm not sure switching to an other mode would help typing. Swipes are intended to be very fast, at least way faster than reading a different page full of symbols. Do you think swipes are slow ?

My opinion is that typing a few symbols with swipes is fast but typing more than that is probably faster with a dedicated mode.

[simper66]

like most other virtual keyboards

For the shake of god, that was irreverent.

Comparing UK to another keyb makes no sense.

You can customize it as you want. Just build your "symbol" layout and navigate to it throught the provided methods.

[Spike-from-NH]

@jwkwshjsjsj, do you know about custom layouts? If there are symbols you use repeatedly, you should make them keys or swipes in your copy rather than propose that the keyboard be restructured for everyone else.

@simper66, "irreverent"? Wrong word? We need not revere Julow to benefit from his work. And comparing UK does make sense; it has occasionally adopted features from elsewhere, though not necessarily the same way—for example, the Compose key.

[simper66]

oh god, i was joking man

Well, for me it is not so joke. For some reasons I have to code only with the phone, so the keyboard app is more than a fancy thing for me,

I have deeply evaluate dozens of them and belive me, UK has no so common features such as forward delete, events, gestures or composing itself yes.

it has occasionally adopted features from elsewhere

so? One or another way, everything else also do it. That way, i imagine that nothing deserves a kind of acknowledge for you.

though not necessarily the same way

that is the key

[Julow]

I like the idea of trying this first with a custom layout. Could you try it ? If in the end it works well for you, I'd consider adding it to the app, especially if you come up with a good symbol layout.

[jwkwshjsjsj]

I like the idea of trying this first with a custom layout. Could you try it ? If in the end it works well for you, I'd consider adding it to the app, especially if you come up with a good symbol layout.

I'm not sure I know to or have the time to. The symbol mode key should be disableable for those who don't want it. I would suggest taking a look at the symbol layouts of other keyboard apps.

[simper66]

and what's exactly a symbol layout? i‌sn't there one already?

https://github.com/Julow/Unexpected-Keyboard/blob/master/res/xml/greekmath.xml

which i miss are develoler layouts, and above all a snippet collection with the literal and macro definitions. As "duplicate line above", "paste to the left", "comment block", sheets for diferent languages, and things like that. Or things for the android key events.

[jwkwshjsjsj]

and what's exactly a symbol layout? i‌sn't there one already?

https://github.com/Julow/Unexpected-Keyboard/blob/master/res/xml/greekmath.xml

which i miss are develoler layouts, and above all a snippet collection with the literal and macro definitions. As "duplicate line above", "paste to the left", "comment block", sheets for diferent languages, and things like that. Or things for the android key events.

A symbol layout is what appears when you press the bottom left button in most on-screen keyboards.

[simper66]

thanks, i see, just this?

So yes. As there is a number layout, why not a symbol one?

The user doesn't have to do tons of swiping to get what they want and they get the best of both worlds is there

Agree. After a while, some fatigue may arise with so much gesture. It is best to mix layouts depending on the task and mood.

at least way faster than reading a different page full of symbols

That's key. Gestures are by far the fastest method. But faster with respect to what? Because:

To type fast is easy. Just type quick|y.

TLDR; TLDR; TLDR;

Actually the aim is:
- Maximize the typo-free typing rate.

There are 3 common methods:
- Long pressing.
- Layer switching.
- Gestures.

Which settle 5 variables:
-Waiting time until the symbol is available.
-How much typo prone it is.
-Screen size, which implies:
-Symbol Density. And this:
-Associated Induced Fatigue.

The user himself defines two:
-Experience with that keyb (Muscle memory).
-How fast he is typing.

This is a mesh of direct and inversely proportional variables. So i don't think there was a best layout/s.

Create custom layouts and use deeply customizables and not opinionated keyboards. As UK is.

[FinderN]

You can do what you want with custom layout.

I can customize the layout easily whatever I want, but sometimes I need something like <fn for="l" n="×" sw="+"/> without to put any character before in the <key c="l" n="some char" sw="some symbol"/>

[simper66]

but sometimes I need something like for="l" n="×" sw="+"/>

Me too. You end creating an entire layout just to change a pair of things. Cycling between them becomes a problem. As you can't reorder them you end switching XMLs.

<fn for="l" n="×" sw="+"....

It's like a layout but at the key level. A killer idea.You could have like libraries of keys.

[TruePe4rl]

which i miss are develoler layouts, and above all a snippet collection with the literal and macro definitions. As "duplicate line above", "paste to the left", "comment block", sheets for diferent languages, and things like that. Or things for the android key events.

For snippets and advanced copypastes and moves check out Acode. This functionality is usually handled by editor/IDE.

[simper66]

Yes, I meant a place to push snipets, in addition to layous.

This functionality is usually handled by editor/IDE.

Have their utility, but be able to use this all around the device and customize it for crazy things has its point.

[TruePe4rl]

Yes, I meant a place to push snipets, in addition to layous.

This functionality is usually handled by editor/IDE.

Have their utility, but be able to use this all around the device and customize it for crazy things has its point.

I get the point, but I have no idea how Android handles input. To be able to do such things you need to be aware of the entire text buffer, move cursor (a lot), jump to correct offsets and have a working support for at least one snippet format.