Can't type in Galaxy Map search using Rift and latest Dash

[[VR] Muskoka]

Posted this problem in another thread, posting here for better exposure, and hopefully some assistance.

Been using the Rift with ED since last December so I know my way around. I've no problem pinning browser windows in my cockpit, and interacting with them using the virtual keyboard. I however am having no luck with the Galaxy map, and trying to type in the search box. Used to work fine prior to the latest firmware update for the Rift I'm sure.

Tried this from another thread....

"You have to:
Open Galmap and have a cursor in the system search box > press the home button on your Touch controller > Click on the On-Screen Keyboard app keys to enter the system name > Press Home on the Touch controller to return to Elite."

This simply is not working anymore. I have the cursor in the search box, I can see the cursor inside the box flashing. Press the home button on the touch controller, and then select the virtual keyboard. As soon as I try to start typing the cursor is no longer flashing in the search box, hence it doesn't have input focus, but my head is still moving the galaxy map all over the place when I move it. The only way I can get back to the search box is using my in game controller, and then I'm basically starting the whole procedure over again.

Really hope someone can help, it's getting pretty frustrating. A physical keyboard works no problem, but it means looking out the bottom of the Rift, which is a pain.

 

[[VR] Muskoka]

Guys/gals, that's a lot of views and not one response. Am I the only one that (as of latest release) can't type in the search bar in the galaxy map using the provided virtual keyboard in Dash?

Would someone who has success doing this kindly go through the steps of how your achieving this, because it's simply not working anymore at this end.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[CylonSurfer]

Guys/gals, that's a lot of views and not one response. Am I the only one that (as of latest release) can't type in the search bar in the galaxy map using the provided virtual keyboard in Dash?

Would someone who has success doing this kindly go through the steps of how your achieving this, because it's simply not working anymore at this end.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Sorry I don't use the Dash keyboard any more to type in the Galmap - I use my own with dash these days so I hadn't noticed any change with how the built in Dash one works.

Are you able to show the Elite Dangerous window in Dash and then refocus the cursor into the text input box using Touch, then input your system name via the Dash keyboard?

I really should strip down and release my Elite Dangerous touchscreen keyboard app that directs its input to only the Elite Dangerous window - it's only tested with Dash so no idea how well it works with Vive/OVRDrop.

 

[[VR] Muskoka]

Sorry I don't use the Dash keyboard any more to type in the Galmap - I use my own with dash these days so I hadn't noticed any change with how the built in Dash one works.

Are you able to show the Elite Dangerous window in Dash and then refocus the cursor into the text input box using Touch, then input your system name via the Dash keyboard?

I really should strip down and release my Elite Dangerous touchscreen keyboard app that directs its input to only the Elite Dangerous window - it's only tested with Dash so no idea how well it works with Vive/OVRDrop.

Thanks for the response. Yes, I can refocus the search box, but as soon as I select the virtual keyboard the galaxy map "input" focus is lost, although head movement is still active through Rift. I can see when I switch to dash, whatever window has focus gets a blue border around it. So, when I hit the desktop/dash button on the touch controller, the Ed window has focus, the blue border, but once I select the virtual keyboard, it then has the blue border and key presses do absolutely nothing in the galaxy map because it no longer has focus. I can also see that the cursor is not longer flashing in the search box of the galaxy map when I select the virtual keyboard.

Strange thing is, the virtual keyboard works fine with a pinned browser window, or any other window I've pinned. Just not the galaxy map within Ed. Seems like a Ed problem to me as Dash is working as it's supposed to with other pinned windows.

 

[CylonSurfer]

As I say I wrote my own basic touchscreen keyboard to work with Elite / Dash. It is part of a wider 'PDA' style application for use in Elite but I'll see if I can snip the keyboard code out and just release that (no ETA though). It forces key presses to the Elite Window so you shouldn't get any issues with it.

I've never seen a blue board around my focused apps though...

Which virtual keyboard are you using? The MS one or are you bringing Dash's keyboard?

 

[[VR] Muskoka]

As I say I wrote my own basic touchscreen keyboard to work with Elite / Dash. It is part of a wider 'PDA' style application for use in Elite but I'll if I can snip the keyboard code out and just release that. It forces key presses to the Elite Window so you shouldn't get any issues with it.

I've never seen a blue board around my focused apps though...

Which virtual keyboard are you using? The MS one or are you bringing Dash's keyboard?

Thank you, that would be great. I can still use a physical keyboard, but that means basically removing the headset because it's hard to see out the bottom of the Rift. I've already had to send the Rift back for warranty replacement because the ribbon cable breaks on the right side (well known issue) thus cutting off the right speaker, due to taking it off too much, and causing stress. The less it has to be removed, the better.

 

[CylonSurfer]

Thank you, that would be great. I can still use a physical keyboard, but that means basically removing the headset because it's hard to see out the bottom of the Rift. I've already had to send the Rift back for warranty replacement because the ribbon cable breaks on the right side (well known issue) thus cutting off the right speaker, due to taking it off too much, and causing stress. The less it has to be removed, the better.

Yeah my right ear headphone broke too, I use my own headphones so I've just lived with the issue. I could have sent it back while it was in warranty but mine has pretty good black levels in low light scenes and I didn't want to risk getting a green speckled one back in return.

 

[[VR] Muskoka]

Yeah my right ear headphone broke too, I use my own headphones so I've just lived with the issue. I could have sent it back while it was in warranty but mine has pretty good black levels in low light scenes and I didn't want to risk getting a green speckled one back in return.

I was hesitant as well, but the "refurbished" set I got was fine, and Oculus paid all the shipping. They even sent a new faceplate, and cable assembly back, which I wasn't expecting, as I only sent the headset and speakers to them. So the 2 week turnaround didn't seem so bad.

 

[[VR] Muskoka]

Adding this discussion here so it doesn't get buried in the other thread.

Thanks Jezzer for responding.

"Try using the OSK by pinning it inside the cockpit, seems to work fine. ED must be launched in seemless mode for this to work.

From widows desktop / can also be done from oculus desktop.
1 Open OSK : windows key + R
2 Type in osk.exe

From Oculus
3 Start oculus
4 Launch ed from within oculus
5 Goto oculus desktop and grab osk ( trigger + grip ) move / resize then pin osk somewhere in the cockpit.
6 Refocus ED and the keyboard should remain in view.
7 Open galmap (make sure cursor is in the input area) and use osk with touch controller.

osk can also be used for any other ingame typing.


J"

My reply.

"Thanks, been through this, and it simply does not work anymore. Seems after the firmware update for the Rift something has changed.

I can pin Windows OSK no problem, and it works fine with a pinned browser in the cockpit, or whatever I like, but not the Galaxy map. The cursor is flashing in the search box of the Galaxy map, and when I select a letter, say "a", it appears in the search box, that's great, but I can't type another letter because it appears "focus" is now back in the Galaxy map, and the pinned keyboard is rendered useless. The Galaxy map has focus and I can't "focus" the keyboard anymore. Even bouncing back and forth between the "game and desktop/dash" has not effect. Furthermore, after the first attempt of using the OSK, it's no longer available. Meaning it simply disappears. I can click on it's icon in the task bar, and it does not show. The hourglass "swirls" for a second and that's it, the keyboard is no longer visible. Exit ED and all is fine, the OSK is usable again.

So, something has changed recently, either the Dash firmware update from a week ago, a Win10 update, or the latest Ed update, or a combination of those has broken something. Again, the OSK works fine pinned with a browser, but as soon as I try it with the Galaxy map, it appears to "break" the OSK for good. If I never try the OSK with the Galaxy map, meaning I just use it with a pinned browser window, everything is fine.

Running latest ED, my Oculus App Version is 1.29.0.651191, and Win 10 Pro is 1709 os build 16299.547. I launch Ed from the Oculus library, as I bought it from the Oculus store.

I also have a thread in this section specifically dedicated to this issue, I'd prefer to discuss it there, so it doesn't get buried here."

 

[CylonSurfer]

Try this:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yGg5NYs6ODWp4rF-_HcL9B7CUfUNpOf0/view?usp=sharing

It's just a quick and dirty port of the keyboard element of my PDA app - so nothing amazing. Just unpack the zip to a location of your choice and then run 'Elite-Keyboard.exe'. The keyboard only outputs to Elite, so you wouldn't get any input in say notepad for example. I've tested it and it works with both the comms panel and the galmap search, keys can be pressed by touching them or using the pointing laser and pressing Trigger or A on the key you want to press. You can exit the keyboard from the icon in the system tray. Obviously you have to have Dash active and in seemless mode to use the keyboard, so pin the app and then minimise everything else (other than your other pinned windows). You may want to use an app to refocus the Elite Dangerous window when you move your HOTAS such as:

http://edcodex.info/?m=tools&entry=237 or http://grandis.nu/downloads/ED_Runner_1.6.zip

(although Elite should refocus after pressing the return key)

Hopefully this resolves your issue and others may find it useful as well. It has only been tested on a Rift using Dash so I have no idea how well or if it works on a Vive using OVRDrop.

 

[[VR] Muskoka]

Try this:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yGg5NYs6ODWp4rF-_HcL9B7CUfUNpOf0/view?usp=sharing

It's just a quick and dirty port of the keyboard element of my PDA app - so nothing amazing. Just unpack the zip to a location of your choice and then run 'Elite-Keyboard.exe'. The keyboard only outputs to Elite, so you wouldn't get any input in say notepad for example. I've tested it and it works with both the comms panel and the galmap search, keys can be pressed by touching them or using the pointing laser and pressing Trigger or A on the key you want to press. You can exit the keyboard from the icon in the system tray. Obviously you have to have Dash active and in seemless mode to use the keyboard, so pin the app and then minimise everything else (other than your other pinned windows). You may want to use an app to refocus the Elite Dangerous window when you move your HOTAS such as:

http://edcodex.info/?m=tools&entry=237 or http://grandis.nu/downloads/ED_Runner_1.6.zip

(although Elite should refocus after pressing the return key)

Hopefully this resolves your issue and others may find it useful as well. It has only been tested on a Rift using Dash so I have no idea how well or if it works on a Vive using OVRDrop.

Thanks for posting this, trying right now. When you say "so pin the app", are you referring to your keyboard? If so, there's no way to move it, or pin it. When I run the program from the task bar it goes to the top right corner of my screen, with no option to move or pin. I can't grab the "keyboard" window.

 

[CylonSurfer]

Thanks for posting this, trying right now. When you say "so pin the app", are you referring to your keyboard? If so, there's no way to move it, or pin it. When I run the program from the task bar it goes to the top right corner of my screen, with no option to move or pin. I can't grab the "keyboard" window.

Yes, pull the keyboard out of the desktop and pin it. You have to press main and the secondary triggers while hovering over the keyboard app.

You can move it to where ever you like once you have "pulled" the app out of your desktop using Dash but yes, on your actual desktop the app stays in the top right as not to cause issues with the main Elite window when you click its keys.

 

[[VR] Muskoka]

Yes, pull the keyboard out of the desktop and pin it.

You can move it to where ever you like once you have "pulled" the app out of your desktop using Dash but yes, on your actual desktop the app stays in the top right as not to cause issues with the main Elite window when you click keys.

That's the problem, I can't "pull the keyboard out of the desktop". I can press the keys with the "A" button, and I hear the "ding", but that's the only interaction I have with that window. I'm obviously missing something here.

 

[CylonSurfer]

That's the problem, I can't "pull the keyboard out of the desktop". I can press the keys with the "A" button, and I hear the "ding", but that's the only interaction I have with that window. I'm obviously missing something here.

Yes, since the latest Oculus Home update you have to press and hold both of the trigger buttons (on the same controller) while hovering over an app window to pull said app out of the desktop now.

 

[[VR] Muskoka]

Yes, since the latest Oculus Home update you have to press and hold both of the trigger buttons (on the same controller) while hovering over an app window to pull said app out of the desktop now.

Yes, thanks, forgot that even though I posted a thread here about that, old age.

Ok, I have the keyboard window pinned, but still no way to interact with it if the galaxy map is open. Once that galaxy map is "open" I can't interact with anything else. I also pinned a browser window in my cockpit, and the keyboard does not interact with it either. When I press a key I hear a ding, and nothing is typed.

The dash keyboard still works fine with a pinned browser.

 

[CylonSurfer]

Yes, thanks, forgot that even though I posted a thread here about that, old age.

Ok, I have the keyboard window pinned, but still no way to interact with it if the galaxy map is open. Once that galaxy map is "open" I can't interact with anything else. I also pinned a browser window in my cockpit, and the keyboard does not interact with it either. When I press a key I hear a ding, and nothing is typed.

You have to have Dash active - i.e open your Galmap > click in the search box so you have a flashing cursor > open Dash via the right Touch home button > use the keyboard > close Dash when you are finished (or leave it open if you are using a refocus app to bring focus back to Elite when you move your HOTAS).

You cannot interact with pinned apps while Dash is inactive.

This keyboard only interacts with Elite Dangerous nothing else. It directs its key presses to Elite exclusively as mentioned in my post with the download link. The keyboard was designed as part of a larger PDA application that I call Galpad which displays this keyboard automatically when you open the Galmap, Coms Panel or the PDAs 'Player Notes' app.

It's still a work in progress, but displays useful information such as Galnews, Engineer info / Engineer recipies and information about the system you are currently in, as well as having a gallery app to view your screen grabs, a personal notes app and the ability to use the station menus via it amongst other things. Its all Touch driven and can just be left in your cockpit and interacted with on the fly if you leave Dash active.

Home Sceen:------------------------------------------Keyboard:---------------------------------------------Engineers App:

Gallery App:-------------------------------------------System Info App:--------------------------------------Player Notes App:

 

[[VR] Muskoka]

You have to have Dash active - i.e open your Galmap > click in the search box so you have a flashing cursor > open Dash via the right Touch home button > use the keyboard > close Dash when you are finished (or leave it open if you are using a refocus app to bring focus back to Elite when you move your HOTAS).

You cannot interact with pinned apps while Dash is inactive.

This keyboard only interacts with Elite Dangerous nothing else. It directs its key presses to Elite exclusively as mentioned in my post with the download link.

Something cannot be right at my end. In my headset, Galmap is open, the cursor is flashing in the search box. I open dash with the right touch home button. Now this is the problem. The galmap currently has focus, but as soon as I click "anything" with the touch controller, the galmap looses focus, rendering the search box useless. As soon as I try and click on a keyboard key, the galmap is no longer in focus, hence nothing gets typed. What am I doing incorrectly, or is there a graphic setup issue at my end. I'm running Ed from my Oculus library, and the running Ed client "window", is a window, not full screen.

It's as if "my" Ed client window is not "part of dash" if that makes sense. I can interact with any other dash pinned window using a virtual keyboard, but not the Ed client window. I must be missing or overlooking a "setup" step somewhere along the line.

I do use VA with a full set of HCS voicepacks, which does have voice dictation. It works fine, but you have to remember the spelling of something, and then use the phonetic alphabet. That's not a issue, but the keyboard is probably quicker.

 

[CylonSurfer]

Something cannot be right at my end. In my headset, Galmap is open, the cursor is flashing in the search box. I open dash with the right touch home button. Now this is the problem. The galmap currently has focus, but as soon as I click "anything" with the touch controller, the galmap looses focus, rendering the search box useless. As soon as I try and click on a keyboard key, the galmap is no longer in focus, hence nothing gets typed. What am I doing incorrectly, or is there a graphic setup issue at my end. I'm running Ed from my Oculus library, and the running Ed client "window", is a window, not full screen.

It's as if "my" Ed client window is not "part of dash" if that makes sense. I can interact with any other dash pinned window using a virtual keyboard, but not the Ed client window. I must be missing or overlooking a "setup" step somewhere along the line.

I do use VA with a full set of HCS voicepacks, which does have voice dictation. It works fine, but you have to remember the spelling of something, and then use the phonetic alphabet. That's not a issue, but the keyboard is probably quicker.

No idea mate, my keyboard app doesn't care if Elite is active or not (only that Elite is running), it redirects its output to that Window anyway. Its only requirement is for the seach box to have a cursor in it. I have noticed that when you move your head sometimes focus from the search box is lost, trying keeping your head still once you have focus in the search box and then open Dash.

Is anything in your VA profile or any other 3rd party tool causing Elite to steel focus from other applications at all times? Try running Elite with it or any other third party apps closed to confirm.

 

[[VR] Muskoka]

No idea mate, the keyboard doesn't care if Elite is active or not, it redirects its output to that Window anyway the only thing it needs is for the seach box to have a cursor in it.

Do you have to somehow "pin" the Ed client window, because right now it appears to not be "part of" the dash environment. It's kind of sitting there on it's own. I can interact with any pinned window in dash, or I can interact with the ED client window, but not both at the same time. Meaning, a virtual keyboard interacts perfectly fine with a pinned dash window, like a browser, but not the Ed client window, it's one, or the other. I understand your keyboard only works with Ed, just saying that the dash keyboard works fine with pinned windows, just not the Ed client window.

Why is my Ed client window "not part of" the dash environment, that's the underlying question I guess.

 

[CylonSurfer]

Do you have to somehow "pin" the Ed client window, because right now it appears to not be "part of" the dash environment. It's kind of sitting there on it's own. I can interact with any pinned window in dash, or I can interact with the ED client window, but not both at the same time. Meaning, a virtual keyboard interacts perfectly fine with a pinned dash window, like a browser, but not the Ed client window, it's one, or the other. I understand your keyboard only works with Ed, just saying that the dash keyboard works fine with pinned windows, just not the Ed client window.

Why is my Ed client window "not part of" the dash environment, that's the underlying question I guess.

No need to pin the Elite Dangerous Window at all. It should just show on your virtual desktop and be left alone. I minimise the Virtual Desktop and eveything else I haven't pulled out of it and pinned while using Dash. So essentially, when Dash is active, I only see the Dash tool bar and the apps I want to interact with, well and my cockpit of course - the Elite Window is not one of them and is not floating about - it is only viewable from my virtual desktop if I open the virtual desktop.

Are you using your mouse in the Galmap per chance?