XTI Windows Virtual Keyboard

The pre-existing Windows virtual touch keyboard is terrible for typing on for productivity.

• Mainly designed for power users where all standard keyboard keys are available.
• Has basic extensible JSON config.
• Designed to work on with thumbs only in the middle of the tablet in portrait mode (like a big mobile phone).
• Brings the cursor back by using virtual keyboard area as a touchpad simultaneously.

Known limitations

• Don't change scaling or DPI of the system after starting.
• The program expects only one primary screen attached (the tablet screen). Adding more monitors after starting will screw things up.
• Must run as administrator otherwise Windows kernel will deny access to certain functions.
• It is not designed to work with a physical keyboard or other virtual keyboards. This program takes over control of the system for keyboard input.
• Requires D20 thumb dexterity.

Building

Supports either x64 or Arm64 computers running Windows 11.

1. Install C++ Visual Studio feature (or Visual Studio C++ Build Tools).
2. Install Qt open source with MSVC desktop feature.
3. Install CMake.
4. TODO (does not exist yet): Run build.ps1.
5. Copy the set of .dll's and exe binaries in /release-output to where ever you want. Run the exe as admin. Creating an official installer and registering to start at startup as Admin might come later if I get time. I recommend configuring the exe to run with Windows Scheduler as admin at startup to begin with.

Before Running

1. Create a config text file in user profile directory at ~/xti.json. See example-xti.json at root of repository for example usage.
   1. displayName: Text to show for dropdown in UI.
   2. startExePath: The executable or file to open if checkExeName and checkTitleName was not found.
   3. startParams: The parameters to pass to open if checkExeName and checkTitleName was not found. Leave empty if not needed.
   4. startWorkingDir: The working directory to use when opening.
   5. checkExeName: Used to determine if this entry is already running and brings it to the foreground.
   6. checkTitleName: Used to determine if this entry is already running and brings it to the foreground. The process specified in checkExeName must have at-least one window with checkTitleName text contained inside it. Leave empty for any title name.
2. Before running its recommended to make these changes:
   1. Bottom right of screen -> press battery/sound/wifi icon -> force rotation lock in portrait mode.
   2. Settings app -> time & language -> typing -> touch keyboard -> show the touch keyboard -> set as never.
   3. Disable 'tablet optimized' sizes of buttons and spacing: from elevated command prompt run the reg add command further below.
   4. (Optional): Settings app -> personalization -> taskbar -> system tray icons -> touch keyboard -> always show. Use this in emergency situation where you still need the old windows virtual keyboard.

reg add "HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\PriorityControl" /v ConvertibilityEnabled /t REG_DWORD /d 0

Restart computer after making above changes.

Developing

This is a C++ CMake QT Creator project https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qt_Creator. Simply open up the CMakeLists.txt file. It is recommended to run QT Creator as admin so when debugging xti will also run as admin.

Remaining TODO's

1. Don't create new thread each time for dispatching SendInput mouse events.
2. Virtual touchpad cursor goes behind some native Win32 contexts/windows.
3. General code cleanup/renaming and creating build.ps1.
4. Erroneous 'R' window icon showing on taskbar.
5. Key repeat on Backspace
6. Seems to be an issue with one of the modifier keys getting stuck (I think ALT).

License

GNU General Public License 3.0

This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
(at your option) any later version.

This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
GNU General Public License for more details.

You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.