About this app

Replaces the old (2016) "Custom Grid Keyboard".
Version 1.02, requires Android 5.0 or more recent.

INSTALLATION NOTE
No icon will appear on the phone or tablet and it will not automatically be available. A keyboard app is special, it has to be activated by going to the Settings; the procedure depends on the device and Android version. An approval will be asked on screen by Android.

WARNING
This app can take time to be configured.
Maintenance or new features could be infrequent.

PERMISSIONS
Two permissions asked:
- Vibrate the device (key-tap feature)
- Read/write files (word list files for the suggestion feature, and keyboard configuration files). Done only upon explicit request.

DOCUMENTATION
Help file:
https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1X1RzdwrnSEcLPLCyM8tlaUaBqoAhkTyS
Project source code:
https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1fTh3XDOowKUXeNPvhS6w2lmJ0Aw8of2b

DESCRIPTION

Grid Keyboard allows the design of a personal keyboard, appearing as a grid of characters. The number of rows and columns that the grid has, as well as which character or control key goes in each cell, is defined in the Settings page. Three default keyboard layouts are provided, as examples and starting points.

Optionally, Grid Keyboard can be split in two sections: a compact alphabetic section on the right side, and the main grid on the left side.

The keyboard has no swiping gesture.
Most of the features can be customized.

Free (open source) without ads.

MAIN FEATURES

- Keyboard height adjustable, per screen orientation (landscape and portrait).
- The grid can have 3 to 14 rows, 4 to 22 columns.
- More than one grid can be defined, with a control key to switch among them.

- Optional alphabetic-only section, with 2 possible configurations (QWERTY, circle with rings).
- Editor tool for the enumeration of characters or control keys to fill the grid.
- The grid can temporarily display a range of Unicode characters (for example, an emoji range).

- Optional automatic capitalization.
- Two tapping feedback options: Vibrate and Highlight character cell.
- Configurable colors for the different areas or types of keys of the keyboard.

- Up to 5 keyboard languages can be defined.
- Control key to quickly change the keyboard language, associated to 2 features:
(1) Word suggestion
(2) Accented characters. Those of the currently selected keyboard language (possibly different than the device's language) will appear automatically in additional grid column(s). Grid Keyboard does not use the technique of the long press showing a choice for vowels or consonants that can be accented.

- Optional word suggestion (completion), based on the importation of word lists files. Words are suggested based on the currently selected keyboard language. Embedded English and French word lists (23000 words each).

- Optional clipboard to store frequently used words or acronyms while editing texts.
- Special state key "Txt" (like Ctrl or Alt) to insert predefined text (sentences or single words) at the cursor position.

- Choice of keys that can have the automatic-repeat behavior, with configurable repeat speeds.

- Grid Keyboard configurations can be saved to files and restored from files, transferred to computers, and shared with other phones or tablets.

- Help section giving explanations, design guidelines, and listing all the supported control keys.

New features

Documentation changes

App Permissions

Allows an application to read from external storage.
Allows an application to write to external storage.
Allows access to the vibrator.