In the feedback we have recieved to the first beta of Opera Mobile 9.5, it looks like keyboard problems have been one of the most frequent problems mentioned. This comes as no surprise to us. Here’s why:

Microsoft has defined an interface for software keyboards, the Software-based Input Panel (SIP):



The Software-based Input Panel functionality in Windows Embedded CE allows target devices that do not have a keyboard to simulate keyboard input by using an input method (IM). Windows Embedded CE implements a software-based input panel (SIP) architecture that functions through a touch screen. This SIP architecture is an IM that enables an application to accommodate input in multiple forms. If you want to enhance the portability of target devices based on your OS design, you should consider including SIP functionality in your OS design instead of keyboard support.


[see http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa932590.aspx

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"Software-based Input Panel"]



An input method editor (IME) is an application that allows computer users to enter complex characters and symbols, such as Japanese Kanji characters, by using a standard keyboard.


[see http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms776145(VS.85).aspx "Input Method Editor"]

Opera supports the SIP architecture and the IME architecture, so Opera works fine with the default Microsoft keyboards. Unfortunately, many new devices have shiny keyboards that look nice, but do not comply to Microsoft’s SIP and/or IME standard. Those keyboards work well on an edit control, but not with other applications that want to use user-input from a keyboard.

When Opera is pre-installed on a mobile phone we know what kind of software keyboard the device has, and we can test and make work-arounds to get the keyboard working properly. It is very difficult to get every software keyboard working properly as we would have to test every possible device to ensure compatibility.
This results in several problems, for example:

  • Typing on keyboards does not send the correct IME messages to Opera. This might result in not seeing the composition while typing, or too many characters will be sent to Opera and we will not display the correct text.
  • Typing on a keyboard where multiple characters are mapped to one key (like a T9 keyboard) will enter wrong characters, e.g. numbers (only) instead of characters.

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We have cleaned up the input method code in this first beta, so right now it does not support many non-standard IMEs. We will try to make Opera work well with as many keyboards as possible, but there are limits for how many workarounds we can make to accomodate every device and software keyboard. But please keep letting us know where you find issues so we can keep improving.