android:windowSoftInputMode="stateVisible" doesn't work

Question

I would like to open the soft keyboard on when the Activity starts and I found that

android:windowSoftInputMode="stateVisible" 

doesn't work.

To make sure, I created a new project (the default "Hello world") and did the following:

1. added the windowSoftInputMode to the manifest.
2. After that didn't work, I added an EditView field to the layout
3. After that didn't work, I added

getWindow().setSoftInputMode(WindowManager.LayoutParams.SOFT_INPUT_STATE_ALWAYS_VISIBLE) to the onCreate procedure.

I compiled it with Android2.3.3 and tried to run it on my Galaxy S2 device and the Android4 emulator and still - no keyboard.

My manifest file:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>

<uses-sdk android:minSdkVersion="9" />

<application
    android:icon="@drawable/ic_launcher"
    android:label="@string/app_name">
    <activity
        android:name=".HelloworldActivity"
        android:label="@string/app_name"
        android:windowSoftInputMode="stateVisible">
        <intent-filter>
            <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />

            <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
        </intent-filter>
    </activity>
</application>

My main.xml layout:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>

<TextView
    android:layout_width="fill_parent"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    android:text="@string/hello" />

<EditText
    android:id="@+id/editText1"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content" >

    <requestFocus />

</EditText>

My code:

public class HelloworldActivity extends Activity {
    /** Called when the activity is first created. */
    @Override
    public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setContentView(R.layout.main);
        getWindow().setSoftInputMode(WindowManager.LayoutParams.SOFT_INPUT_STATE_ALWAYS_VISIBLE);

    }
}

Answer 1

You can force first focus on the EditText view by running:

final EditText edit = (EditText) findViewById(R.id.editText1);
edit.post(new Runnable() {
    @Override
    public void run() {
        edit.requestFocus();
    }
});

This should open the keyboard on activity start.

Answer 2

Its simple thing. I have done it and it works as your requirement.

1. Don't do anything with the manifest, leave it as it is while you creating the new new project.

2. Now define inputmanager.

   public static InputMethodManager imm;
   imm = (InputMethodManager)this.getSystemService(Context.INPUT_METHOD_SERVICE);
   

3. Now, here salary EditText is my EditText and i am showing the keyboard on the start of that activity.

   salaryEditText.setHint("select Salary/Wage");
   
   salaryEditText.setFilters(new InputFilter[] {new DecimalDigitsInputFilter(2)}); // Ignore this line
   
   if(!(imm==null))
   imm.toggleSoftInput(InputMethodManager.SHOW_FORCED,1);
   

That will help you to show the keyboard while activity start.

To Close keyboard on the activity finish see below code:

white this code while you finish the activity.

imm.hideSoftInputFromWindow(salaryEditText.getWindowToken(), 0);

Hope it will solve your issue. If not then let me know.

Enjoy. :)

Answer 3

Do you use the default android keyboard? If you do, try it on a different device, I know it has some issues