Android: Is there a way to simulating D-Pad Events (API 10)?

Question

The problem is very simple. I have to simulate the dpad events (UP,DOWN,RIGHT,LEFT,CENTER) for navigate in my GUI that consists of a lot of buttons and other elements. With the simulator D-Pad I can without a line code navigate throw this GUI. But how can I do this programmatically?

I have tried a lot with no success:

• KeyEvent event = new KeyEvent(KeyEvent.ACTION_DOWN,KeyEvent.KEYCODE_DPAD_LEFT); View.dispatchKeyEvent(event); Nothing happens (the focus should move one element to right)

• I have also read a lot about windowManager.injectKeyEvent but found nothing that works.

• And also Instrumentation can help for simulating keyevents but more for testing, not for use in the application itself.

I think there is a solution, because talkback can simulate the physical D-Pad (http://code.google.com/p/eyes-free/source/browse/trunk/ime/latinime/src/com/googlecode/eyesfree/inputmethod/latin/LatinIME.java)

Dispassionate

I have found the talkback solution, they works with InputConnection. final InputConnection ic = getCurrentInputConnection(); But i have to send the D-Pad keyevents from an activity. – Dispassionate

Answer 1

Given

InputConnection ic = getCurrentInputConnection();

You can move the cursor in an EditText by simulating DPAD down/up events. The up event would probably be enough, but I am simulating the full event to be safe.

Left

ic.sendKeyEvent(new KeyEvent(KeyEvent.ACTION_DOWN, KeyEvent.KEYCODE_DPAD_LEFT));
ic.sendKeyEvent(new KeyEvent(KeyEvent.ACTION_UP, KeyEvent.KEYCODE_DPAD_LEFT));

Right

ic.sendKeyEvent(new KeyEvent(KeyEvent.ACTION_DOWN, KeyEvent.KEYCODE_DPAD_RIGHT));
ic.sendKeyEvent(new KeyEvent(KeyEvent.ACTION_UP, KeyEvent.KEYCODE_DPAD_RIGHT));

Up

ic.sendKeyEvent(new KeyEvent(KeyEvent.ACTION_DOWN, KeyEvent.KEYCODE_DPAD_UP));
ic.sendKeyEvent(new KeyEvent(KeyEvent.ACTION_UP, KeyEvent.KEYCODE_DPAD_UP));

Down

ic.sendKeyEvent(new KeyEvent(KeyEvent.ACTION_DOWN, KeyEvent.KEYCODE_DPAD_DOWN));
ic.sendKeyEvent(new KeyEvent(KeyEvent.ACTION_UP, KeyEvent.KEYCODE_DPAD_DOWN));

Astor

Answer 2

I found the smart solution (e.g for go down):

bic=new BaseInputConnection(this.getWindow().getDecorView(),false);
KeyEvent event2 = new KeyEvent(0, 0, KeyEvent.ACTION_DOWN, KeyEvent.KEYCODE_DPAD_DOWN,0, KeyEvent.META_SYM_ON, 0, 0, KeyEvent.FLAG_VIRTUAL_HARD_KEY); 

bic.sendKeyEvent(event2);

That's all, an internal algorithm to find the next element in your selected direction

Dispassionate

That doesn't work for me. sendKeyEvent always returns false which indicates the "BaseInputConnection is no longer valid". Whatever that is suppose to mean. – Capybara

Answer 3

You have two way to achieve your goal:

First,

Instrumentation inst=new Instrumentation();
inst.sendKeyDownUpSync(int  keycode);

Prerequisites:In the same process.

Second,for examble,wo want to simulate KeyEvent.KEYCODE_DPAD_UP

getCurrentInputConnection().sendKeyEvent(new KeyEvent(KeyEvent.ACTION_DOWN,KeyEvent.KEYCODE_DPAD_UP));

Prerequisites:Must bind inputmethd

Monolith

Answer 4

Try using KeyEvent.ACTION_UP instead of ACTION_DOWN. Solved similar issue for me.

Sociolinguistics