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Google Keyboard - how to change to number pad?

UncleMike

Android Expert
Due to frequent lag when using Swype, I'm trying to give the Google Keyboard a good shot at becoming me new favorite keyboard. Among the several adjustments I'm having to make, by far the most frustrating by not having a way (or not KNOWING a way) to change to the number pad layout (as opposed the alphabetic or symbol layouts). With Swype I could just long press and hold on the number key on the lower left. Is there a way to do this with Google Keyboard?
 
I don't know that keypad, but try pressing the symbols key twice. The first should give you symbols, the second may give you a number pad. IIRC, that's how the AnySoft keyboard does it.
 
Either I'm not understanding, or were not talking about the same thing. Here's a screen shot of the layout I'm talking about.
 

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I use Super Keyboard Pro, it and others have numbers and symbols on the same key. A long press will give you an option. Usually letter or number. Some keys have more than 2 functions. Down in the lower left corner there is usually a key with numbers on it. Mine says 123? Push that key, you get numbers or symbols.

Android Keyboard didn't do this years ago, that's why I bought Super keyboard. Even the old Palm PDAs did this.
 
Either I'm not understanding, or were not talking about the same thing. Here's a screen shot of the layout I'm talking about.
That's what you get when you press Symbols (or the equivalent) twice or 3 times (depeding on the keyboard). The keys in the right column may be layed out differently, but you get the "telephone" keypad.
 
I'm still not getting it. If I press "?123" on the standard keyboard layout, I get the layout with the number keys across the top. If I then press "=\<" on that keyboard I get the other keyboard shown. I can only seem to toggle between the two, and never get a telephone keypad layout. I'm clearly missing something, but... if I knew what it was I wouldn't be missing it. :)
 

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The only number pad I see on the Google keyboard is when you press the 123 button on the left it brings up different symbols and numbers. You can also hold the top row keys to bring the number up.
 
I have been bothered by this ever since I got the Google Keyboard. I feel it's better than Swype in every way except for this numeric keyboard thing. On Swype, you can just do one motion (Swype - F) to bring up the numeric keyboard. I can't seem to get to it anyway I try on the Google Keyboard unless it brings it up by default. We know it exists, but why can't we access it?

If anyone knows, please let me know!
 
I have gone back to Swype several times specifically because of this, but always come back to Google Keyboard because for me, out really is better, except for this one issue. It's infuriating to know that it's in there somewhere but there's no UI for exposing it. If it's not presented by the app receiving the input, there's no way to get to it.

I find it very hard to believe that none of the programmers working on the keyboard experience the same issue.
 
As long as we are discussing the keyboard itself, I hope Uncle Mike doesn't mind me asking does anyone know how the new prediction system works for the keyboard now? I love how the three pre-loaded boxes show up now like with Swype and Swiftkey, but they seem to change randomly and at will during the day. If I knew what the selection was based on I could try and tailor them to my needs, but even the one's that I like and use a lot get swapped out for others seemingly at random as the day wears on.
 
I think the confusion comes from UncleMike looking for the 'number keypad'. The proper term is alphanumeric or T9 keyboard. AFAIK Google Keyboard doesn't have that.
 
I think your referring to the "next word" prediction, which I don't use, so I don't really know anything about it.

Yes that's exactly what I was referring too, I rely on it quite heavily because it improves my speed a lot while typing. Thanks for letting me ride along in your thread!!
 
I think the confusion comes from UncleMike looking for the 'number keypad'. The proper term is alphanumeric or T9 keyboard. AFAIK Google Keyboard doesn't have that.

You're talking about something else. What I'm talking about is pictured below, from a screen shot on my Moto X. As you can see, it's not alphanumeric or T9. Some apps make this keyboard appear when requesting numeric input. I'd like to be able to make it appear any time I want to provide numeric input, even if the field allows non-numeric characters. With a single swype action I can make a very similar keyboard appear with Swype, but it seems impossible (or extremely well hidden) in Google Keyboard.

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Due to frequent lag when using Swype, I'm trying to give the Google Keyboard a good shot at becoming me new favorite keyboard. Among the several adjustments I'm having to make, by far the most frustrating by not having a way (or not KNOWING a way) to change to the number pad layout (as opposed the alphabetic or symbol layouts). With Swype I could just long press and hold on the number key on the lower left. Is there a way to do this with Google Keyboard?

Yes, the Google keyboard can do that, but its a hidden feature.

* When you see the qwerty layout, press the symbols button on the lower lefthand side of the keyboard
* On the next layout you see, there is a [1234] button next to the space-bar. Press this button, and you will be on the numberpad screen you want.
 
Thats precisely the Problem! My ”Symbols” key is not available since 7.1.0 So... I am never able to see the ”123” key anymore! In the bottom left, all I have is the tool icon ”gear”, above that is the caps ”Up Arrow”, to the right of the gear is the ”smiley” icon...

I simply cannot find a method of making the number keypad available. It's the same as the phone dialing keys, in case I haven't explained it correctly. It used to be available by holding down on symbol key which would cause the ”123” key to show - press that and voila', but that doesn't happen anymore... No Joy!
 
Hello @Honestly, welcome to Android Forums.

My Gboard does exactly the same as the previous poster :-

Yes, the Google keyboard can do that, but its a hidden feature.

* When you see the qwerty layout, press the symbols button on the lower lefthand side of the keyboard
* On the next layout you see, there is a [1234] button next to the space-bar. Press this button, and you will be on the numberpad screen you want.

Have you tried clearing the app cache and/or clear app data, uninstalling then reinstalling the app?

If it's following an update to 7.1.0 it may also be worth trying a 'wipe cache partition'.
 
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Yup, typing this on Gboard in 8.0.0. I have the little "123” key in the bottom left corner and if I select that there is another "1234" grid key on the number+symbol page which takes me to the "number pad" layout. So it is definitely there in the latest version of the app and the latest OS version.
 
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