Facebook button remapping for unrooted(!) HTC ChaCha

anmipo · Jan 11, 2012

As probably many of us here, I've bought HTC ChaCha not for the Facebook key, but rather for the other 42. However, not being able to reassign that FB button to something more relevant was rather annoying - and looked like an interesting way to spend the weekend.

So, a weekend of reading though the phone's log and trying different approaches resulted in a simple application for reassigning the Facebook button to custom actions. I've published it on Android market: F-button Lite for HTC ChaCha (free and without ads). The app does not rely on any hacks or non-standard tricks, and therefore works even on unrooted HTC ChaCha (and maybe on HTC Salsa).

Please let me know if the application works on your HTC ChaCha/Status/Salsa, and feel free to share any ideas for improving the app.

UPD: Requires firmware version 1.23 or higher (see Settings - About phone - Software information - Software number, and, if necessary, get an update via Settings - About phone - Software updates - Check now).

UPD2: Reportedly does not work with AT&T Status. Please try the Lite version before paying for the full one. If you have already bought the full version and it does not work on your phone, please email me the order number to get a refund.

Alex C. · Jan 12, 2012

Congratulations for the work you've put in!

I have also bought the phone for the keyboard (as I dislike FB and don't use it) but unfortunately I have rooted my phone and removed everything FB related.

shb66 · Jan 12, 2012

just tried the lite version, its buggy, if you once set for default it won't change the action, even if u clear in the default settings and cache/data. tried uninstalling, reinstalling and restarting phone but same default action, can't change.

anmipo · Jan 12, 2012

shb66 said:
just tried the lite version, its buggy, if you once set for default it won't change the action, even if u clear in the default settings and cache/data. tried uninstalling, reinstalling and restarting phone but same default action, can't change.

I'm not sure if I understood the problem...
Do you mean that pressing the FB button still opens Facebook even if you set "FButton Lite" as the default handler (as per the screenshot)?
Or that the dialog "Complete action using" always lists "Custom F-Button action" and not the specific action you've selected?
Or that F-Button always performs the same action (which one exactly?) ignoring the actions that you selected?

shb66 · Jan 12, 2012

anmipo said:
I'm not sure if I understood the problem...
Do you mean that pressing the FB button still opens Facebook even if you set "FButton Lite" as the default handler (as per the screenshot)?
Or that the dialog "Complete action using" always lists "Custom F-Button action" and not the specific action you've selected?
Or that F-Button always performs the same action (which one exactly?) ignoring the actions that you selected?

I'l tell what happened, i installed the app / pressed the f key / it asked for two options / i pressed htc facebook / and checked the set default action / then i pressed f key it opened facebook post page / then i decided to try other device control options / i changed it by going in the f-button app / but when i pressed f key it still opened htc facebook / i went in phone settings and cleared app data and cache still no change i reinstalled still it opens to htc status post page / no popup to configure. Now what to do ?

anmipo · Jan 12, 2012

When you set an application as the default one for some action, this setting is stored in the properties of that application (Facebook for HTC Sense, in this case).

Try clearing the defaults for "Facebook for HTC Sense" rather than for F-Button. (Settings - Applications - Manage Applications - All - Facebook for HTC Sense - Clear defaults.)
Please let me know whether this worked for you.

shb66 · Jan 12, 2012

anmipo said:
When you set an application as the default one for some action, this setting is stored in the properties of that application (Facebook for HTC Sense, in this case).

Try clearing the defaults for "Facebook for HTC Sense" rather than for F-Button. (Settings - Applications - Manage Applications - All - Facebook for HTC Sense - Clear defaults.)
Please let me know whether this worked for you.

Great thanks, it worked finally, good support / advice

stesa · Jan 12, 2012

anmipo said:
As probably many of us here, I've bought HTC ChaCha not for the Facebook key, but rather for the other 42. However, not being able to reassign that FB button to something more relevant was rather annoying - and looked like an interesting way to spend the weekend.

So, a weekend of reading though the phone's log and trying different approaches resulted in a simple application for reassigning the Facebook button to custom actions. I've published it on Android market as "F-button Lite for HTC ChaCha" (for free and without ads). The app does not rely on any hacks or non-standard tricks, and therefore works even on unrooted HTC ChaCha/Status (and maybe on HTC Salsa).

Please let me know if the application works on your HTC ChaCha/Status/Salsa, and feel free to share any ideas for improving the app.

I would like to utilize that button as a power button , is it possible ?

Rorto · Jan 12, 2012

The app doesn't work for me. =/
On 1.18.401.1 HTC ChaCha.
(And the "Clear defaults" button for Facebook for HTC Sense is nonactive.)

anmipo · Jan 12, 2012

stesa said:
I would like to utilize that button as a power button , is it possible ?

Unfortunately, no.
On unrooted phones, this is forbidden for non-system applications.
On rooted phones, this button can be remapped to turn off the phone, but turning on is unreliable.

anmipo · Jan 12, 2012

Rorto said:
The app doesn't work for me. =/
On 1.18.401.1 HTC ChaCha.
(And the "Clear defaults" button for Facebook for HTC Sense is nonactive.

Does this mean that when you install the app and click the FB button:
1) the phone opens Facebook as usual, or
2) nothing happens at all, or
3) something else?

Has the "Complete action using" dialog ever been displayed?

Rorto · Jan 12, 2012

No dialog displayed after installing and the F button opens Facebook as usual, yes.
Maybe it's the 1.18 version, did you test on it ?

anmipo · Jan 13, 2012

Yes, it might be the 1.18... My test device has 1.57.

Would you mind to record a part of your system log, so that I could analyze the issue in detail?
Here is the procedure:

(re)install the mapping application
install aLogcat and open it
in aLogcat, press Menu - Clear
press the Facebook button
when the Facebook app opens, hit Back to return to aLogcat
press Menu - Share (or Save) and email the log to me (my nickname @gmail.com)

Thanks in advance!

igclapp · Jan 13, 2012

How to get to "Complete Action Using" screen

Hello,

Please bear with me as I just bought my first Android phone.

I downloaded F-Button Lite for HTC Cha Cha from the Android market. Basically I want the F button to toggle the flashlight (aka camera flash) on and off.

I was able to get to the screen to set the desired functions for short press and long press. However, how do you get to the screen (shown on the thumbnail in the first post) that says "Complete Action Using"?

So far all the F-button does is bring up the Facebook app as normal. Would appreciate if some more detailed installation instructions had been provided with the F-Button Lite app.

However I really hope I can get this thing working as a flashlight function would be very useful.

Thank you,

I.G. Clapp

anmipo · Jan 14, 2012

I've checked the ROMs available here in the forum, and found that the events that the remapping application relies upon, were added only in firmware version 1.23.
A quick solution for the owners of 1.13 or 1.18 would be, well, to update. However, I realize that some operators take their time publishing the updates, so I'll check if it is possible to make the app compatible also with the old versions.

igclapp, can you please post your firmware version number? It can be seen in Settings - About phone - Software information - Software number.

igclapp · Jan 14, 2012

Hi Anmipo,

It was 1.22.415.2. So I figured I needed to upgrade to at least 1.23. I went to "About phone"/"Software Updates" and downloaded the update. Now the phone software shows version 1.57.415.3.

I tried F-Button Lite again and the "Complete action using" screen came up and I was able to set it up so the F button now turns on the flashlight! However, it says you have to use the "back" button to switch off the flashlight. Not a big deal, just thought toggling the F-button again would turn off the flashlight.

Only issue now is that it seems the flashlight won't run in the background if you want to use another app. If you press the home button, the flashlight turns off.

Still, pretty handy. Thanks!

anmipo · Jan 14, 2012

igclapp said:
However, it says you have to use the "back" button to switch off the flashlight. Not a big deal, just thought toggling the F-button again would turn off the flashlight.

Thanks for the suggestion, please check the updated version.
Having the flashlight in background is not possible at the moment, unfortunately...

Wrangler79 · Jan 16, 2012

I have bought HTC ChaCha yesterday. This is my first android set. Before that I was using Nokia Symbian phones.
After buying HTC ChaCha, the first thing which I wanted to do was to assign that "f" button to some other application because I don't use facebook much. I searched google and this page was opened. Hence I installed that application "F-button lite" from android market. When I pressed the f button, a window opened and I selected F-Button lite but I am not able to click on "Device Control". It is not highlighted.
The software which I am using is 1.54.401.2

anmipo · Jan 16, 2012

Wrangler79 said:
I am not able to click on "Device Control". It is not highlighted.

You need first to press "Action on click" and choose "Device control", then the corresponding option will be enabled.

Wrangler79 · Jan 16, 2012

anmipo said:
You need first to press "Action on click" and choose "Device control", then the corresponding option will be enabled.

That was helpful. Its working now. I am using that "f" button for flashlight. It makes sense because flashlight also starts with "f"

. Thanks a lot.

Facebook button remapping for unrooted(!) HTC ChaCha

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