[REQUEST][MOD] Enable Return Key in Messaging App

[open1your1eyes0]

To any developers out there:

I'd like to place a request for someone (if possible) to develop this mod. This has been a fairly common complaint among many users that are new to ICS. The stock Messaging app for ICS has disabled the Return key for almost every keyboard (stock and 3rd party) to allow users to skip a line and keep typing underneath. I can personally attest to this being an issue that it is something many of us have gotten very used to in Gingerbread and we are finding it very uncomfortable to cope without it. If it is possible to develop such a mod (modify the Messaging app perhaps?), I am sure that many of us here at XDA and beyond would highly appreciate it and be thankful for your work. Any comments from users and developers greatly encouraged. Thank this post if you'd like to see this developed.

Messaging App

Other Apps

 

[Flip35]

man i +1 to that, thats killing me for work texts

 

[open1your1eyes0]

Bumping this

 

[copkay]

So I decompiled the Mms.apk (Messaging App) and found the relevant XML document that defines the compose activity (res/layout/compose_message_activity.xml) which contains the following:

<EditText
android:textSize="16.0sp"
android:textColor="@android:color/black"
android:layout_gravity="bottom"
android:id="@id/embedded_text_editor"
android:nextFocusRight="@id/send_button"
android:layout_width="0.0dip"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_marginLeft="8.0dip"
android:minHeight="@dimen/input_text_height"
android:hint="@string/type_to_compose_text_enter_to_send"
android:maxLines="3"
android:capitalize="sentences"
android:autoText="true"
android:layout_weight="1.0"
android:inputType="textCapSentences|textAutoCorrect|textMultiLine|textShortMessage"
android:imeOptions="actionSend|flagNoEnterAction"
/>

I changed the inputType to remove "textShortMessage", and the imeOptions to remove "actionSend". While this does bring back the enter key:

The enter key has no effect. Interestingly, if you press enter while typing a misspelled word, it will insert the correct word, but it will NOT insert a new line. Any other devs have any ideas? I'm fairly certain that this should work as-is, but there seems to be something else preventing the insertion of a newline character.

 

[caliber177]

BUMP because this is important.

 

[Clancy_s]

I can't help with the stock keyboard but on my GN the return key works for Swiftkey X Keyboard (paid version now but iirc it also worked on the free version).

 

[caliber177]

Yeah.. but im using swype...

 

[open1your1eyes0]

I can't help with the stock keyboard but on my GN the return key works for Swiftkey X Keyboard (paid version now but iirc it also worked on the free version).

I think in Swiftkey that return key is just a workaround key not the default. It becomes the default in any other app however just like the stock keyboard.

 

[HeartBreakKid22]

Same issue

Got the same issue here, driving me crazy. +1

 

[Clancy_s]

I think in Swiftkey that return key is just a workaround key not the default. It becomes the default in any other app however just like the stock keyboard.

Que???

I have swiftkey x as my default keyboard, I get a functioning return key in Handcent, Astrid, Our Groceries, Exdialer and in the stock browser.

 

[open1your1eyes0]

Que???

I have swiftkey x as my default keyboard, I get a functioning return key in Handcent, Astrid, Our Groceries, Exdialer and in the stock browser.

This is correct. Swiftkey will work with showing the return key by default in all those apps...as will the stock keyboard as well. The issue here comes when you use the stock Messaging app that comes in ICS. No matter what keyboard you use, it has the note to disable the default return key for the keyboard that you're using. Swiftkey has a nice workaround that let you select the return key as an alternative key but this is the only keyboard known to work this way. What we're trying to do is to get every other keyboard including the Swiftkey to show the return key by default using the stock messaging app.

 

[open1your1eyes0]

Bumping this

 

[open1your1eyes0]

Bumping again

 

[caliber177]

Bump away, this deserves attention.

 

[Popup-ch]

Are there any known solutions?

I'm using the TouchPal swype-like keyboard, and it shows a 'return' key even in the Messenger app - but it doesn't insert the CR/LF (it only accepts current suggestion).

 

[open1your1eyes0]

OK guys, I found an excellent temporary workaround for this issue:

SlideIt Keyboard with ICS Skin looks and acts almost exactly like the stock keyboard and has the added ability of "Swyping" and most importantly...the return key always shown by default and works properly even in the stock messaging app. It's like having all the best keyboard features packed into one. I highly recommend it. There is also a free version of this keyboard on the market that offers a 15-day trial. Check it out.

 

[natezire71]

Bumping this. I want to be able to use the STOCK keyboard. Not some third party one that looks like the stock keyboard. I would love to be able to help edit the Mms.apk to figure this out. Tomorrow, I'm going to decomple the Mms.apk, and take a look myself. I'll report back late tomorrow.

 

[open1your1eyes0]

Bumping this. I want to be able to use the STOCK keyboard. Not some third party one that looks like the stock keyboard. I would love to be able to help edit the Mms.apk to figure this out. Tomorrow, I'm going to decomple the Mms.apk, and take a look myself. I'll report back late tomorrow.

Please be advised, whether accidental or intentional, this MMS.apk has the Return key working as we want it. Might want to take a look at that one to compare what is different from stock. See post at bottom: Here

 

[csirac]

I was just floored when I got my gn and it didn't have an enter key!

After figuring that there was no easy solution I stumbled on easy keyboard. And with the right configuration you can get your enter key back as well as keeping the smile button when you hold it down (affectively reversing the ics default).

Easy solution for $2.50. You can try the free version but I couldn't stand it without a dictionary.

It is a very good keyboard and comes cheaper than most.

 

[natezire71]

Please be advised, whether accidental or intentional, this MMS.apk has the Return key working as we want it. Might want to take a look at that one to compare what is different from stock. See post at bottom: Here

Thank you very much. I'll take a look at this asap.

Sent from my Tab