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Add a keyboard switching option #76

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7 tasks done
PhilC813 opened this issue Aug 28, 2024 · 5 comments
Open
7 tasks done

Add a keyboard switching option #76

PhilC813 opened this issue Aug 28, 2024 · 5 comments
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feature request Issue is about a new feature in the app needs triage Issue is not yet ready for PR authors to take up

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@PhilC813
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Checklist

  • I made sure that there are no existing issues - open or closed - to which I could contribute my information.
  • I made sure that there are no existing discussions - open or closed - to which I could contribute my information.
  • I have read the FAQs inside the app (Menu -> About -> FAQs) and my problem isn't listed.
  • I have taken the time to fill in all the required details. I understand that the bug report will be dismissed otherwise.
  • This issue contains only one feature request.
  • I have read and understood the contribution guidelines.
  • I optionally donated to support the Fossify mission.

Feature description

Provide a way to quickly change to another installed keyboard app rather than requiring the user to make the change at the Android settings level.

Google Gboard and FUTO Keyboard have this capability when holding the spacebar. I'm not sure if this is the best way to implement it or not.

Why do you want this feature?

This feature would improve usability by allowing users to switch to other keyboards when needed, as each keyboard has its own strengths and weaknesses. This is especially useful given that Fossify Keyboard is still in early development.

Additional information

No response

@PhilC813 PhilC813 added feature request Issue is about a new feature in the app needs triage Issue is not yet ready for PR authors to take up labels Aug 28, 2024
@luewolf
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luewolf commented Sep 14, 2024

Android 13 provides this out of the box. A keyboard icon is automatically displayed next to the back, home and running apps keys if multiple keyboards are enabled. Clicking on it allows selecting another keyboard. Might be interesting for people using Android <13 though. I don't know how it's handled in Android 14.

android_keyboard_switch_key

@PhilC813
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PhilC813 commented Sep 15, 2024

@luewolf Very useful tip!! Sadly, it only applies if you use system navigation with the buttons at the bottom of the screen. My device is on Android 14 and by default, it uses gestures for navigation; OEMs probably prefer this option because it maximizes screen real estate.

Screenshot_20240915_141908.jpg

@luewolf
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luewolf commented Sep 17, 2024

Good point. It would make sense to add an optional key that can be enabled/disabled in the settings, then.

@Philippe-Choquette where on the keyboard layout would you place the keyboard switching key?

@PhilC813
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PhilC813 commented Sep 17, 2024

I'm no UI expert, but if we compare with other keyboards ~


Gboard
Holding the spacebar invokes the system keyboard change menu.

Screenshot_20240917_142832.jpg

Gboard has an advantage against other keyboards because it adds input languages directly to the system keyboards, so it doesn't require a proprietary language switching menu.


FUTO Keyboard
Holding the spacebar invokes its proprietary language switching menu. You can then tap "Switch keyboard" to pick another keyboard.

Screenshot_20240917_142758.jpg

You can also add an optional language switching button to the top bar, but it's only designed to switch between the languages on FUTO Keyboard.


Fossify Keyboard already has a proprietary language switching menu invoked when holding the emoji key. So the easiest implementation would be to follow the FUTO Keyboard implementation and add a "Switch keyboard" button to that menu. There could be 10 different ways to implement this tho, and I don't know which would be best.

@naveensingh
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adds input languages directly to the system keyboards

Those are called IME subtypes. I think Gboard does it best but it's not as quick-n-easy as just-add-another-dialog option.

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Labels
feature request Issue is about a new feature in the app needs triage Issue is not yet ready for PR authors to take up
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