Virtual Keyboard always on top instead of docked

Anonymous
2015-08-16T15:02:46+00:00

Split from this thread.

The new virtual keyboard is a mess.  I never really thought about it in W8.1; would just start typing.  In W10, I hate it.

And it's not just a matter of getting used to something new.

You can make the keyboard pop up.  There is a setting under Devices.  In the search window, search for TYPING.  The top line looks like a heading, but it is really a choice.  It just says TYPING SETTINGS. Choose it.

Near the bottom of the options there is one that allows, "Automatically show the touch keyboard in windowed apps..."

Keep in mind that the behavior is different whether you are in TABLET mode or not. (Which is yet ANOTHER annoying feature designed to help)

Finally, perhaps the biggest problem is that the keyboard does not clip into the screen, but instead stays on top.  This means it will effectively cover many of the text fields when you are trying to type. This is absolutely UNBELIEVABLE! It is hard to understand how anyone could make this on purpose. It is highly unusable.

And of course they didn't seem to anticipate that the keys on the far right of the keyboard will be pressed from time to time and are in the same area as the touch zone of the swipe from right.  so often as I am typing the ACTION CENTER will appear.  Grrrrr....

Surface | Surface Headphones | Touch and gestures

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  1. Anonymous
    2015-08-16T15:02:09+00:00

    You can change the keyboard to be movable to another position on the screen. Does this help?

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-08-17T00:55:51+00:00

    Well, moving it allows you to type. so i do it because there is really no choice.

    But it is awkward and uncomfortable.  And quite frankly stupid!  What on earth were they thinking? I cannot think of ANY touch device that behaves this way.  Not iOS, not android, not even my Windows phone.

    They have really taken a huge leap backwards. 

    Appreciate the suggestion.  but this needs a fix, not a workaround.

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-08-17T00:59:52+00:00

    And for what its worth, the title of this thread is not going to pull people that are having the same problem. 

    maybe try "Virtual Keyboard always on top instead of docked"

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-08-17T18:34:46+00:00

    Is there an input field involved with your typing or not?  If there is that is purpose of the Dock.  It causes the input area to be shown above the keyboard.  Use the Run... dialog to see this.

    Alternatively, the TK is probably not the right tool.  You should be using the OSK if you don't have an input field associated with your keying.   You can move it by dragging too but also notice the Move buttons.  They seem to make useful choices.  Unfortunately we still can not use both the TK and the OSK at the same time, so don't bother trying to start the TK while the OSK is open or even minimized.

    The only really strange decision that I see is that the TK always opens in Handwriting mode.  I guess that was just to try to keep it small and try to avoid the complaints about how big the TK is.  But there they were probably trying to make it work for Touch instead of only for Pen.  If you are only using Pen (e.g. a real stylus) you can still use the OSK and resize it down to something like the original Tablet PC TIP.  Heh.  The keyboard and the navigation pad size differently?  Then I would like to make the Nav pad smaller still.  Oh.  It looks like you need to turn off the extra options, resize the keyboard and then turn them on again; otherwise the sizing is disproportional.   YMMV.  Wow.  My super small OSK is even saved as a preference when I close it.  So, if I had misplaced my pen I could even turn on the Magnifier and use my new mini OSK with Touch then.  Thanks for making me find this!

    FYI

    Robert Aldwinckle

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  5. Anonymous
    2015-08-17T19:04:14+00:00

    Yes, there is an input field.  The question about an input field really seems as if I have not communicated the problem well, yet I'm not sure how more simple to describe.  I'm wondering if we're talking about the same thing.  I'm talking about something very obvious and normal.  For example, clicking to reply to this message opens the area where I can type my reply, and the keyboard sits right on top of it.  Or try to reply to an email in outlook, and the keyboard sits on top of the message.

    Not sure what the "Run... dialog" means.

    What is "the TK"?  Touch Keyboard?  If so, what is the difference between a Touch Keyboard and and OSK (On Screen Keyboard)?

    I'm talking about a real no-brainer thing... you click anywhere and the keyboard should pop-up, dock at the bottom, and resize the rest of the app window.  It behaves like this on every single moble device I've ever used... iphone, ipad, android, windows phone, even my Surface Pro 3 when it was running Windows 8.1

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