Applications will not normally use this interface themselves, instead * relying on the standard interaction provided by * {@link android.widget.TextView} and {@link android.widget.EditText}. * *
Those implementing input methods should normally do so by deriving from * {@link InputMethodService} or one of its subclasses. When implementing * an input method, the service component containing it must also supply * a {@link #SERVICE_META_DATA} meta-data field, referencing an XML resource * providing details about the input method. All input methods also must * require that clients hold the * {@link android.Manifest.permission#BIND_INPUT_METHOD} in order to interact * with the service; if this is not required, the system will not use that * input method, because it can not trust that it is not compromised. * *
The InputMethod interface is actually split into two parts: the interface
* here is the top-level interface to the input method, providing all
* access to it, which only the system can access (due to the BIND_INPUT_METHOD
* permission requirement). In addition its method
* {@link #createSession(android.view.inputmethod.InputMethod.SessionCallback)}
* can be called to instantate a secondary {@link InputMethodSession} interface
* which is what clients use to communicate with the input method.
*/
public interface InputMethod {
/**
* This is the interface name that a service implementing an input
* method should say that it supports -- that is, this is the action it
* uses for its intent filter.
* To be supported, the service must also require the
* {@link android.Manifest.permission#BIND_INPUT_METHOD} permission so
* that other applications can not abuse it.
*/
@SdkConstant(SdkConstantType.SERVICE_ACTION)
public static final String SERVICE_INTERFACE = "android.view.InputMethod";
/**
* Name under which an InputMethod service component publishes information
* about itself. This meta-data must reference an XML resource containing
* an
* <{@link android.R.styleable#InputMethod input-method}>
* tag.
*/
public static final String SERVICE_META_DATA = "android.view.im";
public interface SessionCallback {
public void sessionCreated(InputMethodSession session);
}
/**
* Called first thing after an input method is created, this supplies a
* unique token for the session it has with the system service. It is
* needed to identify itself with the service to validate its operations.
* This token must not be passed to applications, since
* it grants special priviledges that should not be given to applications.
*
*
Note: to protect yourself from malicious clients, you should only * accept the first token given to you. Any after that may come from the * client. */ public void attachToken(IBinder token); /** * Bind a new application environment in to the input method, so that it * can later start and stop input processing. * Typically this method is called when this input method is enabled in an * application for the first time. * * @param binding Information about the application window that is binding * to the input method. * * @see InputBinding * @see #unbindInput() */ public void bindInput(InputBinding binding); /** * Unbind an application environment, called when the information previously * set by {@link #bindInput} is no longer valid for this input method. * *
* Typically this method is called when the application changes to be * non-foreground. */ public void unbindInput(); /** * This method is called when the application starts to receive text and it * is ready for this input method to process received events and send result * text back to the application. * * @param inputConnection Optional specific input connection for * communicating with the text box; if null, you should use the generic * bound input connection. * @param info Information about the text box (typically, an EditText) * that requests input. * * @see EditorInfo */ public void startInput(InputConnection inputConnection, EditorInfo info); /** * This method is called when the state of this input method needs to be * reset. * *
* Typically, this method is called when the input focus is moved from one * text box to another. * * @param inputConnection Optional specific input connection for * communicating with the text box; if null, you should use the generic * bound input connection. * @param attribute The attribute of the text box (typically, a EditText) * that requests input. * * @see EditorInfo */ public void restartInput(InputConnection inputConnection, EditorInfo attribute); /** * Create a new {@link InputMethodSession} that can be handed to client * applications for interacting with the input method. You can later * use {@link #revokeSession(InputMethodSession)} to destroy the session * so that it can no longer be used by any clients. * * @param callback Interface that is called with the newly created session. */ public void createSession(SessionCallback callback); /** * Control whether a particular input method session is active. * * @param session The {@link InputMethodSession} previously provided through * SessionCallback.sessionCreated() that is to be changed. */ public void setSessionEnabled(InputMethodSession session, boolean enabled); /** * Disable and destroy a session that was previously created with * {@link #createSession(android.view.inputmethod.InputMethod.SessionCallback)}. * After this call, the given session interface is no longer active and * calls on it will fail. * * @param session The {@link InputMethodSession} previously provided through * SessionCallback.sessionCreated() that is to be revoked. */ public void revokeSession(InputMethodSession session); /** * Flag for {@link #showSoftInput}: this show has been explicitly * requested by the user. If not set, the system has decided it may be * a good idea to show the input method based on a navigation operation * in the UI. */ public static final int SHOW_EXPLICIT = 0x00001; /** * Flag for {@link #showSoftInput}: this show has been forced to * happen by the user. If set, the input method should remain visible * until deliberated dismissed by the user in its UI. */ public static final int SHOW_FORCED = 0x00002; /** * Request that any soft input part of the input method be shown to the user. * * @param flags Provides additional information about the show request. * Currently may be 0 or have the bit {@link #SHOW_EXPLICIT} set. * @param resultReceiver The client requesting the show may wish to * be told the impact of their request, which should be supplied here. * The result code should be * {@link InputMethodManager#RESULT_UNCHANGED_SHOWN InputMethodManager.RESULT_UNCHANGED_SHOWN}, * {@link InputMethodManager#RESULT_UNCHANGED_HIDDEN InputMethodManager.RESULT_UNCHANGED_HIDDEN}, * {@link InputMethodManager#RESULT_SHOWN InputMethodManager.RESULT_SHOWN}, or * {@link InputMethodManager#RESULT_HIDDEN InputMethodManager.RESULT_HIDDEN}. */ public void showSoftInput(int flags, ResultReceiver resultReceiver); /** * Request that any soft input part of the input method be hidden from the user. * @param flags Provides additional information about the show request. * Currently always 0. * @param resultReceiver The client requesting the show may wish to * be told the impact of their request, which should be supplied here. * The result code should be * {@link InputMethodManager#RESULT_UNCHANGED_SHOWN InputMethodManager.RESULT_UNCHANGED_SHOWN}, * {@link InputMethodManager#RESULT_UNCHANGED_HIDDEN InputMethodManager.RESULT_UNCHANGED_HIDDEN}, * {@link InputMethodManager#RESULT_SHOWN InputMethodManager.RESULT_SHOWN}, or * {@link InputMethodManager#RESULT_HIDDEN InputMethodManager.RESULT_HIDDEN}. */ public void hideSoftInput(int flags, ResultReceiver resultReceiver); /** * Notify that the input method subtype is being changed in the same input method. * @param subtype New subtype of the notified input method */ public void changeInputMethodSubtype(InputMethodSubtype subtype); }