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[General Usage Questions]

    1. How to call up GameKeyboard in target app (e.g. games)?

Depends on device, ROM and target app there are many different ways to call up soft keyboard, e.g.:

        • some apps have built-in option to call up soft keyboard

        • some devices support using long pressing [Menu] key to call up soft keyboard

GameKeyboard also provide other methods in case the above cannot be used:

        • switch to GameKeyboard Launcher, tap on the "call out keyboard after exit" button, then switch back

        • turn on "Settings->Use HotKey" then use [Vol. Up]/[Mouse Middle] as hotkey

        • enable "Settings->Use Hotspot" then tap on hotspot screen corner

    1. How to switch between Onscreen Gamepad and QWERTY Keyboard?

Method 1: Set "[Back] Key Action" to "Show Action Menu" or "Swap Gamepad/ Keyboard", then long press [Back] Key.

Method 2: Enable "Swipe Left/Right Action", then perform a horizontal swipe on virtual gamepad.

Method 3: Use "Button Mappings"/"Hardkey Mappings" to bind a virtual/physical button to "[S] Swap Gamepad/Keyboard", then tap the corresponding button.

Method 4: Enable "Usage Mode->Show Qwerty" from GameKeyboard Launcher, then it will show Qwerty instead of Gamepad as default.

    1. [Vol. Up] hotkey doesn't work.

Make sure "Settings->Use HotKey" is turned on, and GameKeyboard is already selected as the active input method. Note that you must call it up normally at least once (e.g. by tap on any text input field) before the hotkey can work.

    1. Strange behaviour (e.g. camera view continuously spin) in Joystick Mode.

Please contact developer.

    1. Triggers not work in Joystick Mode.

Please contact developer.

    1. In Touchscreen Mode, D-Pad is not working while other buttons work properly.

Some games need "drag" instead of "tap" action, try enabling the "D-Pad Drag" option. Some games may also need a larger drag range to register movement properly, try enlarging the virtual d-pad in "Layout Edit Mode" or "Set Button Size" option.

    1. D-Pad control is rotated.

Tap D-Pad icon in Edit Mode and fix with "Rotation".

    1. Games always crash with "Application Not Responding" whenever a key is pressed.

Apparently this is an Android bug. Try enabling "Settings->ANR Fix" as a workaround. Note that the option may create other keypress glitches and should be disabled as soon as not needed.

    1. Physical buttons not respond in some games?

Some games don't compatible with physical key, try enabling "Settings->Alternate Key Detect". Please refer to corresponding section for details.

    1. How to control Virtual Analog Stick with Physical Analog Stick/Xperia Play Touchpad?

Try enabling "Settings->Use Advance Input". Please refer to corresponding section for details.

    1. How to control Virtual Analog Stick with Physical Keyboard?

Tap Virtual Stick icon in Edit Mode and enable "Input Keys", remap physical keys with "Hardkey Mappings" if needed.

    1. How to use Physical Mouse and Touchscreen Emulation at the same time?

Physical mouse generates touch screen event which not work well with Touchscreen Emulation and can only be used in an "interleave" style. By using Virtual Mouse mode you can use Physical Mouse and Touchscreen Emulation at the same time. Switch to Virtual Mouse mode with hot key (Mouse Middle by default).

    1. How to use Joy Mouse?

Switch to Virtual Mouse mode with hot key (Mouse Middle by default), then use Right Stick to move cursor and Button A to click.

    1. How to use Auto Profile?

Save: Open Edit Mode, tap on empty space, select "Save as App Profile"

Load: Some app can load profile automatically upon start, otherwise, call up the UI to trigger profile loading

[User-Defined Macro]

Use user-defined macro to perform autofire, combo keys and action sequence with single button hit.

  1. To define/edit macro, go to "Settings->Macro Editor", then pick a slot.

  2. User can either define macro by editing the macro string manually, or define with the help of provided UI.

  3. A macro consist of a macro name and various number of macro steps, in the following format:

[macro name]|[step 1]|[step 2]|....|[step n]

  1. Each macro step consist of 3 parts in the following format:

[key 1]+[key 2]+...+[key n],[duration],[repeat]

where

[key]: android keycode of the keys to be pressed

[duration]: how long the keys will be pressed, in millisecond

[repeat]: repeat the whole macro sequence from beginning

  1. Example 1: Auto-Fire DPad Center

Macro String: "Auto Fire|23,0,1"

Procedures with UI:

    1. Pick a empty macro slot

    2. (optional) Change macro name

    3. Tap "Add Key", then select "DPad Center"

    4. Move "Duration" slider to 0

    5. Enable "Repeat" checkbox

Example 2: Alt-F4 combo

Macro String: "Alt-F4|57+134,100,0"

Procedures with UI:

    1. Pick a empty macro slot

    2. (optional) Change macro name

    3. Tap "Add Key", then select "Alt"

    4. Tap "Add Key", then select "F4"

Example 3: SF2 Fireball sequence (down->down_right->right+button_a)

Macro String: "Fireball|20,100,0|20+22,100,0|22+96,100,0"

Procedures with UI:

    1. Pick a empty macro slot

    2. (optional) Change macro name

    3. Tap "Add Key", then select "DPad Down"

    4. Tap "Add Step"

    5. Tap "Add Key", then select "DPad Down"

    6. Tap "Add Key", then select "DPad Right"

    7. Tap "Add Step"

    8. Tap "Add Key", then select "DPad Right"

    9. Tap "Add Key", then select "Gamepad Button A"

  2. After macro is finished, save it and then bind it to any Virtual Button or Hardkey with the corresponding Mappers.


Note 1: Every game have different key scanning interval, test and fine-tune duration for best performance.

Note 2: When using autofire, better use in short burst style to prevent the game/system from being overloaded with key events, which may affect control and even crash.

Note 3: If you create macro with only [macro name] and no [step], it become a simple "text" macro which will type out the macro name when execute.


[Remote control from another device]

You can control games from another device remotely when using together with An2An Keyboard. Controlling with another device can also improve compatibility and support additional features like mapping mouse button.

    1. Install An2An Keyboard (Demo) 2.1.0 (optionally with An2An Mouse/Joystick add-ons), and make sure connection works properly.

    2. Switch active soft keyboard to GameKeyboard.

    3. Turn on GameKeyboard Settings->Use An2An Service.

    4. Call up GameKeyboard screen and it will prompt to connect with An2An Transmitter device.

    5. (Optional) Remap buttons or bind to macro with "Hardkey Mappings".


Note: Left/Right Mouse Button are mapped to Gamepad Button A/B.

[Using with Bluetooth Controller]

GameKeyboard can work with bluetooth controller through BluezIME.

    1. Install BluezIME and make sure your controller work with it properly.

    2. Switch active soft keyboard to GameKeyboard.

    3. Turn on GameKeyboard Settings->Use BluezService.

    4. Turn on your controller's discoverable mode.

    5. Call up GameKeyboard screen and it will connect with BluezIME's current selected controller.

    6. (Optional) Remap buttons or bind to macro with "Hardkey Mappings".

[Emulating Touchscreen Action]

GameKeyboard can map physical buttons to touchscreen action so that user can play touch-only games with physical controller.

    1. Enable "Settings->Touchscreen Mode"

    2. Make sure all involved buttons are not remapped (i.e. value set to "Default")

    3. Call up GameKeyboard (and grant it root permission for the first time)

    4. *HIDE* GameKeyboard by [Back]-key (otherwise emulated tap will be blocked by GameKeyboard itself and cannot be passed into the target app)

    5. For Tap emulation, press any keys binded to D-Pad or Gamepad buttons, and it will emulate a tap on the position of the corresponding virtual gamepad buttons.

e.g. suppose button A of GameKeyboard's virtual gamepad is placed on the upper-left corner of the screen, then pressing a physical key which work as (or mapped to) physical gamepad button A will emulate a touchscreen tap on upper-left corner (the same position as the virtual gamepad button A)

    1. For Swipe emulation, press any keys binded to Numpad keys or use Right Analog Stick. Swipe position and range are based on virtual Right Analog Stick.

    2. Disable "Settings->Touchscreen Mode" when not needed.


Note 1: Need rooted device.

Note 2: Test with multitouch testing app before test in games for initial setup.

Note 3: Use Layout Edit to adjust virtual gamepad buttons position if needed, you can use the "Layout Edit Mode" to drag button around with touchscreen.

Note 4: Use Hardkey Mapper to map normal physical key to Gamepad buttons if needed.

Note 5: Current version support 2 touch points (except Honeycomb).

Note 6: If Touchscreen Emulation suddenly stop working, please switch to another soft keyboard and then switch back.

[Emulating Real Joystick]

GameKeyboard can emulate real joystick so that user can play joystick-only games with touchscreen or physical controller.

    1. Enable "Settings->Joystick Mode"

    2. Make sure all involved buttons are not remapped (i.e. value set to "Default")

    3. (Optional) To use analog sticks, enable "Settings->Show Analog Stick"

    4. Call up GameKeyboard (and grant it root permission for the first time)

    5. Control analog sticks with virtual gamepad, bluetooth controller (thr. BluezIME), usb analog stick, or Xperia Play touchpad

    6. Control joystick buttons with virtual gamepad or physical keys

    7. Disable "Settings->Joystick Mode" when not needed.


Note 1: Need rooted device with joystick and uinput support.

Note 2: If you have problem mapping the analog controls to correct axis (e.g. l & r triggers) please contact developer.

Note 3: Use Hardkey Mapper to map normal physical key to Gamepad buttons if needed.

Note 4: For any issues, try switch to another soft keyboard and then switch back, or reboot device.

[Using Analog Stick]

Enable Analog Stick support by "Settings->Show Analog Stick". Analog Sticks serve the following purposes:


In Joystick Emulation Mode

  • Analog Stick emulates real Analog Stick


In Touchscreen Emulation Mode

  • Left Stick emulates a touchscreen joystick, and decides motion position and range

  • Right Stick emulates repeat swipe action when move to the edge, and determines swipe position and range


In Normal (Virtual Gamepad) Mode

  • Left Stick works similar to virtual D-Pad and is configurable with "Button Mappings->Tilt/Analog XXX"

  • Right Stick works similar to virtual D-Pad and is configurable with "Button Mappings"


Note: To control Virtual Analog Stick with physical controller, turn on "Settings->Use Analog". You will also need a compatible analog controller, see "Using with Bluetooth Controller" and "Advance Input Detection".

[Using Physical Mouse]

To use Mouse as input device, enable "Settings->Gamepad Style->Show Analog Stick" and "Settings->Input Device->Use Mouse Input".


Note 1: Need rooted device.

Note 2: At the moment Mouse mainly use with Touchscreen Mode to perform drag action, for task such as camera control in FPS.

Note 3: Drag position and range are based on virtual Right Analog Stick.

Note 4: Left/Right button generate Button A/Button B action.

Note 5: Rolling Mouse Wheel up/down generate Button X/Button Y action. Roll to press, roll back to release, do it quickly for a tap effect. Remap button output with "Button Mappings" if needed.

Note 6: Middle button toggle keyboard, hold Middle button toggle mouse capture/release.

[Use Advance Input]

With "Advance Input" GameKeyboard can work with USB Analog Stick, and Xperia Play Touchpad (in Gingerbread).

    1. Enable "Settings->Use Advance Input".

    2. To control Virtual Analog Stick with physical analog stick/touchpad, turn on "Show Analog Stick" and "Use Analog" options.

    3. Call up GameKeyboard (and grant it root permission for the first time) to activate the feature.

    4. Disable "Settings->Advance Input Detection" when not needed.


Note 1: Need rooted device

Note 2: Not all devices/controllers are supported, for axis mapping problem please contact developer.

[Alternate Key Detect]

With "Alternate Key Detect" GameKeyboard can work with games which don't compatible with physical keyboard/gamepad/Android devices with built-in gamepad (e.g. Droid X360, JXD S5110, Yinlips G18A). You only need to enable "Alternate Key Detect" when GameKeyboard failed to detect (some) keypress in a particular game.

    1. Enable "Settings->Alternate Key Detect".

    2. Call up GameKeyboard (and grant it root permission for the first time) to activate the feature.

    3. (Optional) Remap buttons or bind to macro with "Hardkey Mappings".

    4. Disable "Settings->Alternate Key Detect" when not needed.


Note 1: Need rooted device

Note 2: To recognise physical buttons properly, some devices may need adding/updating "Hardkey Mappings" after "Alternate Key Detect" is activated. A "*" in Hardkey Mappings indicated the entry is created under "Alternate Key Detect".

Note 3: If D-Pad is rotated you can fix with "Hardkey Mappings".

Note 4: Not all devices/controllers are supported, for button mapping problem please contact developer.