Enterprise Keyboard Configuration

DataWedge 8.1

Overview

Enterprise Keyboard Configuration enables the use of an Enterprise Keyboard, whether standard (default) or custom layout, as the IME (input method editor) with an associated app in a DataWedge profile. This facilitates the use of different keyboard layouts without the need to modify an app, activating Enterprise Keyboard automatically as the on-screen keyboard for user input. A custom Enterprise Keyboard layout (.encrypted file) can be created and configured with Enterprise Keyboard Designer.

Requirements:

  • DataWedge v7.4.44 or higher.
  • Enterprise Keyboard v3.2 or higher. Zebra devices with Android 7.x Nougat or higher are pre-installed with Enterprise Keyboard v1.7 or higher. For Zebra devices with Android 6.x Marshmallow or lower, Enterprise Keyboard v1.7 or higher is included with any LifeGuard update.
  • Enterprise Keyboard must be set as the default IME in Android Settings on the device.
  • The Enterprise Keyboard layout definition file (.encrypted) is placed on the device in directory /enterprise/device/settings/ekb/config.

Note: Enterprise Keyboard custom layouts are not supported on TC21/TC26 devices. Support will be added in a future release.

Figure 1. Enterprise Keyboard - standard (default) layout

Enterprise Keyboard Configuration is accessible from the DataWedge profile screen:
Enterprise Keyboard Configuration options include:

  • Enable/Disable Enterprise Keyboard
  • Select a layout for the keyboard


Enterprise Keyboard Configuration is disabled and cannot be configured if one of the following conditions exist:

  • Enterprise Keyboard is not the default IME in Android on the device.
  • A .encrypted file is not found in /enterprise/device/settings/ekb/config directory.
  • Enterprise Keyboard on the device is lower than version 3.2, which does not support custom layouts.

Figure 4. Enterprise Keyboard disabled

Enable/Disable

Enable/disable Enterprise Keyboard used with the DataWedge profile. If enabled, the selected layout for Enterprise Keyboard automatically appears within the associated app during a profile or activity switch/change when appearing in the foreground. If disabled, Enterprise Keyboard does not appear within the associated app.

Select layout

Select a layout for the keyboard. The available layouts are populated from a custom generated .encrypted file (for example EKBCustomLayouts.encrypted) located in folder /enterprise/device/settings/ekb/config on the device. If the file does not exist, Enterprise Keyboard Configuration is disabled and cannot be configured. The Layout group name is based on the .encrypted file name. See Enterprise Keyboard for more information.

Configuration

Programmatically set Enterprise Keyboard Configuration and retrieve the configuration:

Related guides: