Issue 374 in connectbot: Provide on-screen arrow keys for users with no trackball or d-pad

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conne...@googlecode.com

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Sep 30, 2010, 10:31:48 AM9/30/10
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Status: New
Owner: ----
Labels: Type-Defect Priority-Medium

New issue 374 by j...@sprig.gs: Provide on-screen arrow keys for users with
no trackball or d-pad
http://code.google.com/p/connectbot/issues/detail?id=374

I have a Sony Ericsson X10 Mini Pro with no D-Pad or Trackball. As such, I
can't press the up or down arrows on my phone, I don't have them! :)

I liked the way you now support the Ctrl + Esc keys by having them as an
on-screen button, and I wondered whether it would be possible to provide
the same functionality for up, down, left and right.

I've included a mock up of what I'd hope this might look like (and a couple
of other things I'd like to see).

Attachments:
mock up.png 8.4 KB

conne...@googlecode.com

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Nov 29, 2010, 8:35:24 PM11/29/10
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Comment #1 on issue 374 by f3i.ming: Provide on-screen arrow keys for users

This is an issue on Galaxy S too.

conne...@googlecode.com

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Feb 22, 2011, 3:59:34 PM2/22/11
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Comment #2 on issue 374 by soziopho...@googlemail.com: Provide on-screen
arrow keys for users with no trackball or d-pad
http://code.google.com/p/connectbot/issues/detail?id=374

Desire HD here. This would be really nice.

conne...@googlecode.com

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Mar 2, 2011, 6:15:08 AM3/2/11
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Comment #3 on issue 374 by malvine...@gmail.com: Provide on-screen arrow
keys for users with no trackball or d-pad
http://code.google.com/p/connectbot/issues/detail?id=374

Just put Honeycomb on a new Nook Color and ran into the same issue. Can't
really use any text UIs without arrow keys!

conne...@googlecode.com

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Mar 17, 2011, 8:01:31 PM3/17/11
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Comment #4 on issue 374 by hasta.a...@gmail.com: Provide on-screen arrow
keys for users with no trackball or d-pad
http://code.google.com/p/connectbot/issues/detail?id=374

Same for motorol xoom, please add arrow keys so we would be able to use
this cool application asap.

conne...@googlecode.com

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Mar 25, 2011, 1:38:35 AM3/25/11
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Comment #5 on issue 374 by dcampos4...@gmail.com: Provide on-screen arrow
keys for users with no trackball or d-pad
http://code.google.com/p/connectbot/issues/detail?id=374

Would definitely like this added.

conne...@googlecode.com

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May 1, 2011, 7:49:21 AM5/1/11
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Comment #6 on issue 374 by paralyze...@gmail.com: Provide on-screen arrow
keys for users with no trackball or d-pad
http://code.google.com/p/connectbot/issues/detail?id=374

Makes me cry when I get alerted to a service failure and I only have my
xoom+phone combo on me. Sure, I can SSH in and have a poke about... but
configuration changes become rather frustrating :-\

conne...@googlecode.com

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May 2, 2011, 6:41:16 AM5/2/11
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Comment #7 on issue 374 by hagen....@gmail.com: Provide on-screen arrow
keys for users with no trackball or d-pad
http://code.google.com/p/connectbot/issues/detail?id=374

+1 on this issue. This priority should be critical.

conne...@googlecode.com

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May 19, 2011, 4:06:44 PM5/19/11
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Comment #8 on issue 374 by rosmii...@gmail.com: Provide on-screen arrow
keys for users with no trackball or d-pad
http://code.google.com/p/connectbot/issues/detail?id=374

I vote for this issue too.

conne...@googlecode.com

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May 19, 2011, 5:41:11 PM5/19/11
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Comment #9 on issue 374 by tgwa...@gmail.com: Provide on-screen arrow keys

I would like something like:


Attachments:
mockup.png 9.3 KB

conne...@googlecode.com

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May 28, 2011, 7:54:38 PM5/28/11
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Comment #10 on issue 374 by supp...@webmastersguide.com: Provide on-screen
arrow keys for users with no trackball or d-pad
http://code.google.com/p/connectbot/issues/detail?id=374

The tab key is VERY important to me. I use it more than any key other than
space of bet, for auto complete of long files and such. I's love to see
some thing like comment #9. If not, my very first android programming may
be adding "shake for tab".


conne...@googlecode.com

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Jun 8, 2011, 1:56:49 PM6/8/11
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Comment #11 on issue 374 by o...@ojab.ru: Provide on-screen arrow keys for

ssh is just unusable for me without up/down keys.

conne...@googlecode.com

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Jun 8, 2011, 3:32:29 PM6/8/11
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Comment #12 on issue 374 by j...@sprig.gs: Provide on-screen arrow keys for

I don't know whether it would help those others who are asking for this
(while we wait for this issue's eventual implementation ;) )... I
discovered "The Hackers Keyboard" [1] which may provide a temporary
reprieve for us :)

[1] https://market.android.com/details?id=org.pocketworkstation.pckeyboard

conne...@googlecode.com

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Jun 15, 2011, 6:13:13 PM6/15/11
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Comment #13 on issue 374 by tgwa...@gmail.com: Provide on-screen arrow keys

the hackers keyboard would be cool if it actually worked :(

connectbot doesnt recognize control or the F-keys from that keyboard. too
bad :(


conne...@googlecode.com

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Jun 15, 2011, 6:17:21 PM6/15/11
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Comment #14 on issue 374 by tgwa...@gmail.com: Provide on-screen arrow keys

doesnt recognize esc either.. :(

conne...@googlecode.com

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Jun 26, 2011, 5:07:02 PM6/26/11
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Comment #15 on issue 374 by leonboga...@gmail.com: Provide on-screen arrow
keys for users with no trackball or d-pad
http://code.google.com/p/connectbot/issues/detail?id=374

Hackers keyboard is nice :)
I would like to have something like issh has:
http://www.zinger-soft.com/ss/keypie2.png

conne...@googlecode.com

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Jul 25, 2011, 8:32:25 AM7/25/11
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Comment #16 on issue 374 by janho...@gmail.com: Provide on-screen arrow
keys for users with no trackball or d-pad
http://code.google.com/p/connectbot/issues/detail?id=374

Priority for this problem should be higher than medium because without this
feature ConnectBot is close to useless on new devices.

conne...@googlecode.com

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Jul 25, 2011, 10:53:12 AM7/25/11
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Comment #17 on issue 374 by supp...@bettercgi.com: Provide on-screen arrow
keys for users with no trackball or d-pad
http://code.google.com/p/connectbot/issues/detail?id=374

Just a note for people wanting arrow keys. The Swype keyboard will give you
arrow keys and other useful useful functions if you swype from the Swype
key to the SYM key.

conne...@googlecode.com

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Jul 25, 2011, 4:28:34 PM7/25/11
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Comment #18 on issue 374 by tgwa...@gmail.com: Provide on-screen arrow keys

Im not sure where people are using arrow keys but typically in programs
(ie: vi) you can use:

h - left
j - down
k - up
l - right

conne...@googlecode.com

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Jul 26, 2011, 4:44:52 AM7/26/11
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Comment #19 on issue 374 by leonboga...@gmail.com: Provide on-screen arrow
keys for users with no trackball or d-pad
http://code.google.com/p/connectbot/issues/detail?id=374

I found this to be a good alternative:
https://market.android.com/details?id=org.pocketworkstation.pckeyboard

conne...@googlecode.com

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Aug 14, 2011, 2:22:59 AM8/14/11
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Comment #20 on issue 374 by dominik....@googlemail.com: Provide on-screen
arrow keys for users with no trackball or d-pad
http://code.google.com/p/connectbot/issues/detail?id=374

Another alternative is to switch into "vi editing mode" (if your shell
supports it... busybox ash does).

Just configure connectbot's post-login automation to execute "set -o vi"
(or run it manually) and then you're able to edit the current line like in
vim-editor.

Example:
$ foo # execute a command
bar
<ESC>k # changes from "insert" into "normal" mode and sends "cursor
up" (see comment #18)
<ESC>a # return back into "insert" mode (in this example appending at
current position)

conne...@googlecode.com

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Feb 3, 2012, 2:55:43 PM2/3/12
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Comment #21 on issue 374 by jd...@ecrsoft.com: Provide on-screen arrow keys

Kindle Fire user, could really use this.

conne...@googlecode.com

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Feb 3, 2012, 3:17:03 PM2/3/12
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Comment #22 on issue 374 by joelandm...@gmail.com: Provide on-screen arrow
keys for users with no trackball or d-pad
http://code.google.com/p/connectbot/issues/detail?id=374

Thanks j...@sprig.gs, the hackers keyboard worked: arrows and tab!

conne...@googlecode.com

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Jul 12, 2012, 5:04:51 AM7/12/12
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Comment #23 on issue 374 by michele....@gmail.com: Provide on-screen arrow
keys for users with no trackball or d-pad
http://code.google.com/p/connectbot/issues/detail?id=374

Very important feature on any Android tablet. Please, pretty please, with a
cherry on top :-)

conne...@googlecode.com

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Jul 12, 2012, 6:28:27 AM7/12/12
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Comment #24 on issue 374 by michele....@gmail.com: Provide on-screen arrow
keys for users with no trackball or d-pad
http://code.google.com/p/connectbot/issues/detail?id=374

Hacker s keyborddo the job thanks

conne...@googlecode.com

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Jan 10, 2013, 3:43:36 PM1/10/13
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Comment #25 on issue 374 by vk5...@gmail.com: Provide on-screen arrow keys
for users with no trackball or d-pad
http://code.google.com/p/connectbot/issues/detail?id=374

+1 as would be very useful on Nexus 7

conne...@googlecode.com

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May 1, 2013, 7:26:58 PM5/1/13
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Comment #26 on issue 374 by herr...@gmail.com: Provide on-screen arrow keys
for users with no trackball or d-pad
http://code.google.com/p/connectbot/issues/detail?id=374

Would love to see this working in the nexus 4. Really can't do much without
my arrows. I use them for history search all the time.

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conne...@googlecode.com

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Aug 21, 2013, 1:34:32 PM8/21/13
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Comment #27 on issue 374 by andlingers: Provide on-screen arrow keys for
I wanted this also, pull the softkeys branch on andlingers-softkeys
repository. I made four changes:

* use font for "ctrl" and "esc" keys, rather than image, with a new button
style so they are easier to click on small screens
* when extra keys are visible, also provide tab and arrows
* when esc/tab/arrows are clicked, do not hide it immediately (so you can
press the same key more than once)
* added setting to make the extra keys visible all the time (but they are
transparent when not in use, so they do not get in the way)

I tweaked these over a month span, and as of two weeks ago they
are "perfect" and I have not had to change them since, so I would really
appreciate testing or feedback.

conne...@googlecode.com

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Nov 14, 2013, 2:58:57 AM11/14/13
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Comment #28 on issue 374 by polemo...@gmail.com: Provide on-screen arrow
keys for users with no trackball or d-pad
http://code.google.com/p/connectbot/issues/detail?id=374

Connectbot is a cool thing but same issue with arrow keys on Caterpillar
B15.

conne...@googlecode.com

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Feb 6, 2014, 1:49:00 PM2/6/14
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Comment #29 on issue 374 by gutsal.a...@softsky.com.ua: Provide on-screen
arrow keys for users with no trackball or d-pad
http://code.google.com/p/connectbot/issues/detail?id=374

*1 Galaxy S4

conne...@googlecode.com

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Feb 6, 2014, 1:50:01 PM2/6/14
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Comment #30 on issue 374 by gutsal.a...@softsky.com.ua: Provide on-screen
arrow keys for users with no trackball or d-pad
http://code.google.com/p/connectbot/issues/detail?id=374

conne...@googlecode.com

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Jul 25, 2014, 4:39:33 AM7/25/14
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Comment #31 on issue 374 by DavidLai...@gmail.com: Provide on-screen arrow
keys for users with no trackball or d-pad
http://code.google.com/p/connectbot/issues/detail?id=374

Galaxy tab S.
Only buttons are on/off, vol up/down, back, home and task show.

conne...@googlecode.com

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Apr 22, 2015, 8:54:53 AM4/22/15
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Comment #32 on issue 374 by laurent....@gmail.com: Provide on-screen arrow
keys for users with no trackball or d-pad
https://code.google.com/p/connectbot/issues/detail?id=374

Galaxy S3 ... same issue, arrow keys are so important in text mode (ssh).

Regards.

conne...@googlecode.com

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Jul 23, 2015, 12:47:27 AM7/23/15
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Comment #33 on issue 374 by abatishchev: Provide on-screen arrow keys for
No solution for 5 years and counting...
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