# Key values A key value defines what a key on the keyboard does when pressed or swiped. Key values appear in the following places: - In custom layouts, they are the value of: the `c` attribute, the compass-point attributes `nw` ... `se`, and the old-style `key0` ... `key8` attributes. - Internally, they are used in the definition of the "Add keys to the keyboard" setting. Key values can be any of the following: - The name of a special key. A complete list of valid special keys follows. - An arbitrary sequence of characters not containing `:`. This results in a key that writes the specified characters. - The syntax `legend:key_def`. `legend` is the visible legend on the keyboard. It cannot contain `:`. `key_def` can be: + The name of a special key, as listed below. + `'string'` An arbitrary string that can contain `:`. `'` can be added to the string as `` \' ``. + `keyevent:keycode` An Android keycode. They are listed as `KEYCODE_...` in [KeyEvent](https://developer.android.com/reference/android/view/KeyEvent#summary). Examples: + `⏯:keyevent:85` A play/pause key (which has no effect in most apps). + `my@:'my.email@domain.com'` A key that sends an arbitrary string - A macro, `symbol:key_def1,key_def2,...`. This results in a key that behaves as if the sequence of `key_def` had been pressed in order. Examples: + `CA:ctrl,a,ctrl,c` A key with legend CA that sends the sequence `ctrl+a`, `ctrl+c`. + `Cd:ctrl,backspace` A key with legend Cd that sends the shortcut `ctrl+backspace`. ## Escape codes Value | Escape code for :---- | :------ `\?` | `?` `\#` | `#` `\@` | `@` `\n` | Literal newline character. This is different from `enter` and `action` in certain apps. `\t` | Literal tab character. This is different from `tab` in certain apps. `\\` | `\` XML escape codes also work, including: Value | Escape code for :------- | :------ `&` | `&` `<` | `<` `>` | `>` `"` | `"` ## Modifiers System modifiers are sent to the app, which can take app-specific action. Value | Meaning :---------- | :------ `shift` | System modifier. `ctrl` | System modifier. `alt` | System modifier. `meta` | System modifier. Equivalent to the Windows key. The other modifiers take effect only within the keyboard. Value | Meaning :---------- | :------ `fn` | Activates Fn mode, which assigns letters and symbols to special characters. Example: `fn` `!` = `¡` `compose` | Compose key. Enables composing characters using Linux-like shortcuts. Example: `Compose` `A` `'` types `Á` (A with acute accent). `capslock` | Activates and locks Shift. ## App function keys These keys are sent to apps, which are free to ignore them. The keyboard does not perform editing in response to these keys. `esc`, `enter`, `up`, `right`, `down`, `left`, `page_up`, `page_down`, `home`, `end`, `backspace`, `delete`, `insert`, `scroll_lock`, `f1`-`f12`, `tab`, `copy`, `paste`, `cut`, `selectAll`, `pasteAsPlainText`, `undo`, `redo` ## Keyboard editing actions In contrast, these keys perform editing on the text without sending anything to the app. Value | Meaning :----------------- | :------ `cursor_left` | Moves the cursor to the left with the slider gesture. `cursor_right` | Moves the cursor to the right with the slider gesture. `cursor_up` | Moves the cursor up with the slider gesture. Warning: this might make the cursor leave the text box. `cursor_down` | Moves the cursor down with the slider gesture. Warning: this might make the cursor leave the text box. ## Whitespace Value | Meaning :------ | :------ `space` | Space bar. `nbsp` | Non-breaking space. `nnbsp` | Narrow non-breaking space. `zwj` | Zero-width joiner. `zwnj` | Zero-width non-joiner. ## Other modifiers and diacritics Value | Meaning :------------------- | :------ `accent_aigu` | Acute accent. `á` `accent_caron` | Háček. `č` `accent_cedille` | Cedilla. `ç` `accent_circonflexe` | Circumflex. `â` `accent_grave` | Grave accent. `à` `accent_macron` | Macron. `ā` `accent_ring` | Ring accent. `å` `accent_tilde` | Tilde. `ã` `accent_trema` | Dieresis/umlaut. `ä` `accent_ogonek` | Ogonek. `ą` `accent_dot_above` | Dot accent. `ż` If applied to the lowercase `i`, removes the dot instead for Turkish. `ı` `accent_double_aigu` | Double acute accent. `ő` `accent_slash` | Slash through. `ø` `accent_arrow_right` | Right arrow above, used to denote a vector. `a⃗` `accent_breve` | Breve. `ă` `accent_bar` | Bar/strikethrough. `ɨ` `accent_dot_below` | Dot below. `ạ` `accent_horn` | Horn accent. `ơ` `accent_hook_above` | Hook accent. `ả` `accent_double_grave` | Double grave accent. `ȁ` `superscript` | Superscript. `ᵃ` `subscript` | Subscript. `ₐ` `ordinal` | Turns `a` and `o` into `ª` and `º`. `arrows` | Turns `1`-`4` and `6`-`9` into arrows. `box` | Turns `1`-`9`, `0`, and `.` into single-line, thin box-drawing characters. ## Bidirectional Value | Meaning :------ | :------ `lrm` | Left-to-right mark. `rlm` | Right-to-left mark. `b(`, `b)`, `b[`, `b]`, `b{`, `b}`, `blt`, `bgt` | Sends the bracket characters, but with mirrored key legends for right-to-left languages. (`blt` and `bgt` print `<` and `>` respectively.) ## Hebrew Keys ending in `_placeholder` are normally hidden unless the Fn key is pressed. `qamats`, `patah`, `sheva`, `dagesh`, `hiriq`, `segol`, `tsere`, `holam`, `qubuts`, `hataf_patah`, `hataf_qamats`, `hataf_segol`, `shindot`, `shindot_placeholder`, `sindot`, `sindot_placeholder`, `geresh`, `gershayim`, `maqaf`, `rafe`, `ole`, `ole_placeholder`, `meteg`, `meteg_placeholder` ## Keyboard behavior keys Value | Meaning :--------------------- | :------ `config` | Gear icon; opens Unexpected Keyboard settings. `switch_text` | Switch to the text layer (main layer). `switch_numeric` | Switch to the numeric layer. `switch_emoji` | Switch to the emoji layer. `switch_back_emoji` | Switch to the text layer from the emoji layer. `switch_forward` | Change the keyboard layout, as long as Unexpected Keyboard has multiple keyboard layouts enabled in the settings. `switch_backward` | Change the keyboard layout to the previous one in the list. `switch_greekmath` | Switch to the Greek & Math Symbols layer. `switch_clipboard` | Switch to the clipboard pane. `change_method` | Open the input method picker dialog. `change_method_prev` | Switch to the previously used input method. `action` | Performs a special context-sensitive operation related to the Enter key. For example, in the Twitter (X) app, `enter` adds a new line, while `action` posts. `voice_typing` | Begin voice typing. `voice_typing_chooser` | Shows a menu where you can choose which voice typing provider to use, then begins voice typing when you make a selection. `shareText` | Emit a share Intent for the selected text. **Oddity:** This is in CamelCase. ## Unused These keys are known to do nothing. `replaceText`, `textAssist`, `autofill`, `removed` ## Placeholders These keys are normally hidden unless the Fn modifier is activated. `f11_placeholder` | `f12_placeholder`