Description

Macro Keys by CanalRun is a simple softkeyboard replacement with 2 improvements. A 2 percent boundary wasinserted around the keyboard so that the edge keys, like "q" and"p" can be pressed even if your phone has a protective case.Second, a function key is added. Pressing the function key followedby a single character key causes one of the predefined "macros" tobe inserted into the text field.

The macros are predefined and stored in an editable file named:macros.xml. This file can be edited on the device, using a texteditor, or the file can be transferred and edited on a PC orMac.

Security: The macro file is not encrypted. Anybody with accessto your phone or tablet can view the macro file. Requiring apassword to gain access to the phone is suggested. Also, not usingthe macro definitions to store passwords, your Social Securitynumber, or any other sensitive information is stronglysuggested.

Installing Macro Keys:

Using the QR code above or from the Android Market app on yourdevice, download and install Macro Keys. You can search forCanalRun on the Android Market.

Open your devices Settings app. Scroll down and click on the"Locale", "Text", or "Keyboard" settings option. Every device isdifferent, my device says "Locale and Text", but yours may saysomething different.

Enable the entry "CanalRun Macro Keys". You will see a standardAndroid warning. The Macro Keys application does not collect anyuser information.

Exit the settings app. In any text field long click on the textfield. A dialog box will pop up. One of the choices in the dialoguewill be "Input Method". Click on this.

One of the choices for input methods will be "CanalRun MacroKeys". Enable this choice.

On the lower left-hand side of the keyboard, if you see a keylabeled "Fn", installation was successful. You're now ready to useMacro Keys.

Editing macros.xml:

During installation Macro Keys creates a default macro filecontaining a single macro for the "a" key. When the "Fn:a" keycombination is pressed, the string "Android" is output. Try it:press the "Fn" key, note it turns yellow, now press the "a" key,the text "Android" is sent to the text field.

You will find the file "macros.xml" in a directory that allowsthe file to be read and written to. On my device the directory is:"/mnt/sdcard/canalrun.apps.softkbd/". Yours should be similar,although it may be a little different on your device. You may haveto search around a little.

Open the file with a text editor. You could use an editor on thedevice, or what I do, is use an FTP program to transfer the file tomy PC. I edit the file on my PC and then send it back to the device– this seems to be a little easier.

The file is an XML file and can be edited with a regular texteditor. In the file you will see a line that contains "key=aAndroid ". This line defines the "a" macro. The text "Android" issent when the "Fn:a" key combination is pressed.

Suppose you want to enter your e-mail address each time thecombination "Fn:e" is pressed. On the next line of the macros filecreate a similar entry substituting "key=e" and "[email protected]". Save the file. Now everytime "Fn:e" is pressed, the string "[email protected]" is sent.

Go to http://android.canalrun.com for moreinformation.

Added Later …
You can enter special characters using XML predefined entities. Usethe format "&name;" (without the quotes). If you wanted toenter a less than sign, you would type the 4 character string"<" (without the quotes) in the XML file.

a full description of XML entities can be found on Wikipedia at:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_XML_and_HTML_character_entity_references