topic Access Android Search Button functionality on Xperia Pro? (UPDATE WITH HACK FOR ROOT USERS!!) in Other/General

Access Android Search Button functionality on Xperia Pro? (UPDATE WITH HACK FOR ROOT USERS!!)

paul4os — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 23:43:50 GMT

Many Android phones have a hardware search button. My Xperia Pro does not (I like it that way as I think four buttons is one too many for good ergonomics). However, some manufacturers such as Samsung implement the functionality of an Android search button by long-pressing the menu button. This feature does not seem to be present on my Xperia Pro.

I would like to request that Sony Ericsson implement this feature, allowing me to long-press on the menu to access search - hopefully this could be done in such a way that keyboard shortcuts using menu+hardware keyboard button are not interfered with.

I suspect that this would indeed interfere with the ability to access hardware keyboard shortcuts with the menu button, so therefore I would suggest the following alternatives:

- press menu + home

- hold down the "globe" keyboard settings button on the slide-out keyboard to access search (or alternatively alt+globe)

- allow a long press of the menu button to access search only when the slide-out keyboard is closed (combined with globe option above for when the slide-out keyboard is open)

Alternatively, does anyone know how I can set this up without needing an update from Sony Ericsson? I assume there is some sort of way to re-map keys?

PS: the reason I'm asking all this is because K9-mail seems to require a hardware search button to allow me to use its search feature ( http://groups.google.com/group/k-9-mail/browse_thread/thread/53e3e5147e33aa8e ). If anyone knows how to access search in K9 without a hardware search button, then that would also be helpful.

Re: Access Android Search Button functionality by long-pressing menu button

Uliwooly — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 00:18:32 GMT

I know if you long press the menu key on the homescreen you will trigger this search option, I'll try it with K9

Re: Access Android Search Button functionality by long-pressing menu button

slimshaddy — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 06:33:12 GMT

in my arc it displays the recent applications i used..

i mean when i long press the menu button..

Re: Access Android Search Button functionality by long-pressing menu button

uliwooly-wooly — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 06:41:26 GMT

are you sure?

if you long press the Home button it will show the last apps used

if you long press the Menu button (homescreen) it will trigger google search

Re: Access Android Search Button functionality by long-pressing menu button

KevskiVD — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 09:25:08 GMT

Indeed, exactly what uliwooly says works for me on the Neo.

Btw, I wasn't aware of that function to trigger google search.

Re: Access Android Search Button functionality by long-pressing menu button

uliwooly-wooly — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 09:28:28 GMT

it's great but it's a bit slow on the Arc

Re: Access Android Search Button functionality by long-pressing menu button

paul4os — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 11:54:58 GMT

Interesting that there is a difference between models. On the Pro, a long press on Home opens the app switcher, but a long-press on Menu does nothing.

As stated above, I reckon this is an intentional difference for the Pro due to the hardware keyboard - implementing this on the Pro could probably mean that ability to use the hardware keyboard for keyboard shortcuts in combination with the menu button would not work.

I think my suggestion for accessing search with a long press on Menu when the keyboard is closed and a long press on "globe" when open may be a good solution.

Re: Access Android Search Button functionality by long-pressing menu button

uliwooly-wooly — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 12:00:20 GMT

does it make any difference if the keyboard it's close, if the keyboard it's closed and you long press the Menu key does it pop up the "keyboard" how about if the keyboard it's open?

Re: Access Android Search Button functionality by long-pressing menu button

paul4os — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 12:11:11 GMT

Doesn't make a difference.

I can understand why they did not implement it on the Pro. You don't usually need a search button on the Pro as you can usually just open the keyboard and start typing to search.

The problem is with 3rd party apps like K9 mail. Can you confirm that search works for you in K9 on the Arc.

Re: Access Android Search Button functionality by long-pressing menu button

uliwooly-wooly — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 12:23:27 GMT

yes it does work, there isn't a search bar but yeah if you long press the MENU key it will allow you to search within K9

Re: Access Android Search Button functionality by long-pressing menu button

slimshaddy — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 14:26:20 GMT

sorry , i meant home button :smileygrin:

Re: Access Android Search Button functionality by long-pressing menu button

paul4os — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 21:14:49 GMT

Thanks. Seems then to be a definite difference specific to the Pro.

Re: Access Android Search Button functionality on Xperia Pro?

paul4os — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 10:05:21 GMT

I decided to root my phone and see if I could hack in this Search Button functionality in for myself, and I managed to do it successfully!!! I want to share this modification with other Xperia Pro users in the community.

With this mod you can just press the "Globe" key in K-9 Mail, on your home screen or in the SMS app and it will show you the search functionality!! If a text input field is active and you press "Globe" then the keyboard settings screen will appear entirely as normal. Additional functionality with no drawback!

To do the mod:

1. Root your phone (I am still using the 4.0.2.A.0.58 firmware build)

2. Edit the /system/usr/keylayout/pm8058-keypad.kl file and modify the line at the end reading "key 368 SWITCH_CHARSET WAKE_DROPPED" to read:

key 368 SEARCH WAKE_DROPPED

3. Restart your phone and enjoy the ability to easily search in K-9 Mail or the SMS app simply by pressing the "globe" key!!