
VirtualKB started as an experimental keyboard (DoubleInput) that
generated syllables so that word completing applications could
guess words faster.  The original keyboard layout was arranged as
a matrix that had the most used syllables at the top left corner
(they should have been arranged toward the center).  The most used
consonants where arranged from left to right, and the most used
vowels from top to bottom.  When the user typed on a spot on the
matrix layout, a syllable consisting of the consonant directly up
and the vowel directly left was output. Maybe a better solution
could have been to tap on a key, and then slide in different angles
to generate syllables.  Anyway, to write you had to break words into
syllables, that was not natural for users, and so the keyboard layout
was unsuccessful.  The DoubleInput keyboard could be configured for
different languages.

Since all the code was there to support any layout, I tried a
new idea, which was to create a layout as close as possible to a
standard PC layout, but with the number keys put where the (Palm
handheld not used) control keys are.

Finally, I decided that no closed set of options offered to the user
was complete, and the VirtualKB (mini)engine was coded.  Any developer
can add a new keyboard layout for use with VirtualKB, be it some
standard layout (maybe Dvorak), some international specific layout,
or an experimental one.

The program is launched when you call the keyboard on a Palm device,
but it can also be useful to graffiti users; they can call the
program from any application and some editing functions will be
available.

It is being released under the GNU GPL because the program still seems
useful to Palm users after Palm OS 4.0 release.


VirtualKB version history.

* 2.6 beta 29-04-2002

What is new:

-Made the left and right move cursor keys a bit more sensitive.
-Made some adjustments for better compatibility in different hack managers.
Configuration was working for X-Master users, but not for HackMaster users.

* 2.5 beta 25-04-2002

What is new:

-Source code now available under the terms of the GNU GPL.
-Solved a compatibility problem for the HackMaster version with
other particular HackMaster extension.  Made a few changes hoping
for better general compatibility.
-Added extended shift and caps graffiti moves (There was a very
rare synchronization bug when enabling them, but it is better to have
the moves since the bug is benign, and occurs in very rare circumstances).
-Cleaned the information database structure (the user must delete the
previous version before install).
-A compatibility problem was reported with the keyboard undo feature,
so it now begins disabled by default.  Changed the option name from
"system undo" to "KB undo".
-The keys are entered at pen up by default. Changed the option
name (and effect) from "pen up keys" to "fast keys".
-Other changes to options.
-Added a new type f area upon request, it is needed to support more
alphabets.  I once received some layouts that needed that option,
but those mails were lost, I hope I can contact the layout creators
again, and I apologize for adding the feature after so long.
-Key repeat feature (still needs some configuration options).
-Fixed some bugs in the keyboard undo feature (move left or right keys are
now consistently not part of the undo list)
-Changed the undo/redo feature to be more useful (was character by character),
made it a bit faster for character input.
-Fixed memory leaks.
-After receiving a lot of reports that the German keyboard was misbehaving
in PalmOS 4.0/m500/m505 models, I fixed some system interaction details, now
I have no problems under the emulator with those models, I hope it works as
fine on the real thing.
-Added the USE TAP demonstration speed-arranged layout. (There are good
speed arranged layouts such as Dvorak, or better yet, work that is (was?)
being done in IBM AlphaWorks focused on handhelds, I hope that non-patented
such layouts can be added to the program in a not too distant future).
-Fixed the default color selection (work still needs to be done).

* 2.0 beta 06-12-2000

What is new:

-The program is now FREEWARE.
-Fixed a keyboard not starting problem related to a particular
application.
-Added various international layouts.
-Added the requested abc unused option. This helps if you have
another keyboard installed (Chinese, Japanese, etc.).
-Added an inactive pixel margin between keys (if the pen lands on
that margin, no click will sound).
-Wrote the explanation on how to create new overlay files (see
overlay.txt).
-Added the D-Keyboard and PowerInput keyboard layouts.  The idea of
the D-Keyboard layout is to closely resemble a standard keyboard,
putting the number keys where the (handheld-nonexistent) control,
alt, and menu keys are. This keyboard layout is very compact but
complete and thus optimized for the small screens of handheld
devices.

* 1.0 beta 01-08-2000

What is new:

-First release.  This program replaces PowerInput (D-Keyboard).
-*Virtual overlay engine enabling to configure the keyboard to
any layout.*
-Major user interface and layout changes (including more and
bigger keys).
-Performance and bug fixes from previous development.
-Added the pen up keys option which (when not selected) allows
faster input by giving the keyboard more time to process taps.
I have seen this mode also helps to make less errors when typing
very rapidly. This mode is not compatible with some word completers
and possibly other apps.
-Added a virtual pixel margin around keys (when pen up keys mode
is selected) so that when the pen is lifted from the screen, even
if the pen is a few pixels outside from the original key tapped,
the key will still input.  This could help when typing very rapidly.

=============================================================================

Previous development (D-Keyboard and PowerInput)

* 2.5 10-07-2000

What is new:

-Merged the HackMaster and Standalone Edition distributions.
-Added missing confirmation alert in the find dialog.

* 2.4 08-07-2000

What is new:

-Name changed to PowerInput because D-Keyboard was similar to
Horace Ho's Keyboard Hack.

-Some minor bug fixes

-Space move now less sensitive.

* 2.3 06-07-2000

What is new:

-Better shortcut user interface.

* 2.2 05-07-2000

What is new:

-Exact search option added (caps and accent sensitive).

* 2.1 03-07-2000

What is new:

-Autoshift lock option.

* 2.01 01-07-2000

Bug fixes:

-Keyboard OS 3.5 "funny look" & no colors bug terminated.

* 2.0 01-07-2000

What is new:

-Multiple undo/redo
-French, German and Spanish main keyboard layouts
-Color support.
-Improved compact international keypad.
-New replace all code now performs quickly and can
be stopped with a pen tap.
-No click option disables the click sound implemented in version 1.3.
-Other minor improvements.
-Alphabet and frequency layouts removed.

Bug fixes:

-Y diaeresis was missing.
-Now you can replace text with an empty string.
-During find, items off the screen, in the beginning of a line,
remained off the screen.
-Scroll bar bugs.
-Bug triggered when a fatal alert (no memory, etc.) needed to be shown.
-Shortcut text field too big.
-Autoshift bug in OS 3.5.

* 1.3SE 01-06-2000

What is new:

-This is the stand alone edition, which does not require HackMaster.

* 1.3 01-05-2000

What is new:

-Click sound after taping a key.

Bug fixes:

-Bug when showing an alert over some dialogs.

* 1.22 5-04-2000

What is new:

-Make it more compatible with other applications.

* 1.21 31-03-2000

Bug fixes:

-Scrollbar was not linked to repeat buttons.
-New shortcut validation was not complete.

* 1.2 30-03-2000

What is new:

-Bigger keys for the letters (smaller keys for tab and caps lock).
-Euro symbol (only in OS>=3.3).
-Case insensitive search (for single byte text encodings).
-Faster text scroll in go to top/bottom and search.
-Auto detect LeftHack.

Bug fixes:

-Scrollbar refreshing/positioning incorrectly.
-When entering an existing name for a shortcut an alert did not show.
-The last two characters of the international keypad were affected
by shift.

* 1.01 17-03-2000

Bug fixes:

-Selection painting bug fixed.

* 1.0 16-03-2000

-First release.



