display soft keyboard (iPad) when is connected a bluetooth input device

Question

I'm really bangin' my head because I can't find the way to show the soft keyboard when there's a bluetooth input device connected to the iPad. I made some search on the web and this is the result:

• a question on stackoverflow with a very short answer How can I detect if an external keyboard is present on an iPad?
• an application developed by erica sadun for the cydia env http://www.tuaw.com/2010/06/02/hacksugar-bringing-back-the-on-screen-keyboard/

Erica said that the trick is to answer to the system that "There's no hardware keyboard attached". I tried to write a category for UIKeyboardImpl and I overrided:

- (BOOL)isInHardwareKeyboardMode {
    DEBUG(@"is called");
    return NO;
}   

But until now I haven't obtained anything. The overrided method is called but there's no soft keyboard. Erica also said the application works by dynamic linking but I don't know how can I accomplish it. I don't need to be in the AppStore because this is a private application so I don't bother about rejection.

Thanks in advance

Answer 1

Ok. Finally got it. Many thanks to David, Matthias and Enrico. Here are the steps:

• import the private framework GraphicsServices
• call GSEventSetHardwareKeyboardAttached(NO) inside the viewDidLoad

• add a button that toggles the keyboard by calling

  static void toggleKeyboard(UIKeyboardImpl * keyImpl){
  if (UIKeyboardAutomaticIsOnScreen()) {
      UIKeyboardOrderOutAutomatic();
  } else {
      UIKeyboardOrderInAutomatic();
  }
  

I've found this function on http://code.google.com/p/btstack/wiki/iPhoneKeyboardHiding Now I can take input from the soft keyboard and from the bluetooth device at the same time.

Answer 2

To get around it using the apple keyboard you hit the eject key. Perhaps you can implement an action that sends the eject keycode? I think iSSH has a feature where you can tap the onscreen keyboard icon to bring it up even when a bluetooth keyboard is connected.