Soft keyboard constantly appearing and disappearing

[TaskFan]

Hi all!

First of all, thanks for Tasker! I couldn't live without it ;)

Unfortunately, since I have upgraded to Android 10 I have a very annoying problem. The soft keyboard disappears and then reappears constantly when the focus is on a text input field :(

I have done all the research I can and have disabled Tasker and temporarily shut it down as well as all other Tasker plug-ins but to no avail.

However, I was able to gather some data which I hope will allow someone to help me find a solution to this problem. Thank you guys very much in advance for taking the time to look into this - I really really appreciate it!


To start with, here is a quick demonstration video of what the problem looks like...

http://cyber-scope.com/tasker_kb_err/keyboard_up_down.mp4

I have put the focus on a browser location bar text field and then I'm doing nothing - not pushing any buttons or touching the screen in the slightest. Yet as you can see the virtual keyboard just disappears and then pops up again. You can imagine that this makes typing in any text box almost impossible.


I have narrowed the problem down to Tasker setting itself as the default input method (keyboard disappears) and then immediately switching back to the original default input method (keyboard reappears).

It does not matter if the keyboard is SwiftKey, Gboard or another keyboard. I have uninstalled keyboards, installed completely different keyboards and also rebooted in between. I have also tried to disable Tasker as an input method to no avail.

Here is a slow-motion video showing this. You can see where I touch the screen and I have also added some pointers. Sometimes the input method flips very fast even in this really slowed down video (don't blink!) ...

http://cyber-scope.com/tasker_kb_err/keyboard_settings_flipping.mp4


Here are the input methods reported in Tasker by the Secure Settings plug-in...

net.dinglisch.android.taskerm/com.joaomgcd.taskerm.keyboard.InputMethodServiceTasker;312418808:
com.touchtype.swiftkey/com.touchtype.KeyboardService;2131165591:
com.appstech.classic/com.menny.android.iconmekeyboard.SoftKeyboard;2131165591:
com.google.android.inputmethod.latin/com.android.inputmethod.latin.LatinIME;-1:


Here is a logcat excerpt showing what's going on in the background...

http://cyber-scope.com/tasker_kb_err/logcat.jpg



Here is a screenshot of the error flash notification when opening Tasker...

http://cyber-scope.com/tasker_kb_err/tasker_error_flash.jpg



My phone is not rooted but I have done the necessary ADB hacks recommended by Tasker and accompanying plug-ins like AutoTools, AutoInput, Secure Settings, (...).

Please help me fix this problem...I'm desperate and I have already tried everything :(

Thanks,
TaskFan

[João Dias]

Thanks for the report. Can you please use the Report Issue To Developer option and send me a report showing that happnening? Thanks in advance

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João Dias

[Robert Ryan]

What device model/manufacturer is this? 

What Tasker version? 

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[TaskFan]

Hi Robert!

It's a Huawei Mate 20 running Android 10 / EMUI 10 with the latest Tasker version available on the Google Play Store.

Thanks!

On Monday, January 27, 2020 at 5:04:17 PM UTC+1, Robert Ryan wrote:

What device model/manufacturer is this? 

What Tasker version? 

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[TaskFan]

Hi João,

Thanks for your reply! I'm a little privacy concerned and don't know what kind of information this report contains. Can I provide you with any specific details that you need instead of sending the entire report? Please don't think that I don't trust you or that I am unthankful, it's just that I'm cautious about disclosing information especially when I don't know what it contains.

If this is the only way, I will send you the report but if possible I would rather prefer sending you the specific data you need.

Thanks a lot!

[João Dias]

Hi. What you describe is a clipboard related bug that I thought had been fixed a few versions ago. On the latest version that issue shouldn't exist. I wanted the report to see what logs are generated with the Clipboard string for you so I can try to figure out what's wrong.

If you want you can take the file generated by the report, only leave the lines that contain the word Clipboard and then send that to me. Would that work for you?

Thank you for your contact.

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   Tasker: customize/automate anything on your phone!

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João Dias

[TaskFan]

Hi João!

Thanks, I have emailed you the log (User report: Soft keyboard issue).

It is indeed related to the clipboard. If this helps, it started when I updated from Android 9 to Android 10 (EMUI 9 to EMUI 10).

Many thanks for looking into this!

[Philip Schaffer]

I just wanted to add that recently I've been having an issue with my soft keyboard as well that might be related to this issue.

I use GBoard as my default keyboard, however, several times a day the keyboard will not appear when I select a text field.  At this time, I go into settings and the entry for default keyboard is blank.  I make Gboard the default again and everything works for a while but eventually the default clears again.

For reference I'm using an S9 running Android 10 and Tasker 5.9.2

[TaskFan]

This happens to me too! What works for me is touching the screen somewhere next to the text field to take away the focus and then touching the text field again. Sometimes I have to do it a couple of times though :(

Kidding..."Anyone got some nails I can hammer through my screen to keep that darn keyboard put?" :D

Or maybe it's time to switch back to Blackberry ;)

[Philip Schaffer]

Just to follow up and remove any blame from Tasker - I decided to factory reset my phone and the soft keyboard is responding as it should now.  Seems that Tasker wasn't likely the culprit at least in my case.

[edmond]

Did you mean from your very first post ,

your software keyboard "no show" when you try to touch in some typing areas ? 

i.e. want to start replying Whatsapp,

but keyboard cannot show no matter how you touch the typing area in whatsapp ? 

Thank you very much.

edmond

[TaskFan]

Actually, it happens mostly on websites and probably doesn't have anything to do with Tasker (probably a browser or Android bug). But yes, I touch a text field and the keyboard won't show up (cursor is blinking in the text field so I'm sure that I didn't touch beside it). I then touch an area somewhere next to the text field (cursor stops blinking -> focus no longer on the text field) and then touch the text field again (cursor blinking in the text field again). This usually does the trick to make the soft keyboard appear. But like I said, this is most likely a browser or Android bug.

[TaskFan]

Please take a look at the videos I posted They show clearly that Tasker is constantly acquiring the keyboard and then immediately switching back to the original keyboard.

[edmond]

Sorry for as in a rush not to see the video ..............

I have a similar situation ( Keyboard no show ) , I add :

Profile : When Screen off

Task : Plug-in --> Secure settings --> Input Method/Gboard

In my opinion , I suggest you do not add "Profle" ., but create the "Task".

So that , once you face Keyboard no show situation., fire up tasker & run the task.

If keyboard show after the task complete. You can assure this is the work around method & create any "Profile" attaching this "Task".

I have Profile with this task each time : "When screen off "or when "Device start".

I hope the task does not require ROOT as my device is rooted so it runs without issue.

Thank you very much.

edmond