Database Develop

Butler - Using capacitive area as stroke launcher and many more features

I really enjoy this forum since it helps me a lot to increase the productivity with my HTC Touch Pro. I found many useful applications. Unfortunately, after installing a large number of them, I run into the infamous 32 processes limit of Windows Mobile. So I decided to write my own app that combines all the features that I find useful. It is implemented as a Pocket PC service, so it does not require an own process.
Here are the features:
- Better vibration for incoming calls. I found the built-in vibration function very annoying as it vibrates permanently during an incoming call. This extensions vibrates in pulses of 300 ms with a pause of one second when a call is incoming
- SIP changer depending on stylus state. If stylus is out, another soft input panel is selected as if stylus is in. Can be changed via the registry keys StylusInSIP and StylusOutSIP.
- Stroke Launcher. If the finger is stroked from one button to another, an application is launched.Four directions are possible: From home button to accept phone call button and vice versa as well as from back button to reject phone call button and vice versa. The applications can be configured via the RightUpApp, RightDownApp, LeftUpApp and LeftDownApp registry keys. The required length of the stroke can be configured via the GestureMinLen registry key. Unfortunately, the program has to poll HTC's NAV sensor directly in order to not disturb the functionality of the wheel sensor. The sleep time between two polls can be configured with the GesturePollingDelay (in ms). If you use very fast strokes and the device does not react, try to decrease this value.
- Key lock if device is face down. The key lock is activated and the device is powered off if it is turned face down. The key locked is acknowledged by two short vibrations. Key lock can be disabled depending on the foreground window or active process list. Exclude list can be specified via the ExcludedProcesses and ExcludedWindows registry keys. The tolerance for the face down detection can be configured via the FacedownTolerance registry key.
The registry settings for Buttler are stored in HKLM\Software\Butler. Each extension described above can be switched of by setting the EnableFeature registry key to 0.
As I have not much time to react on bugs or feature requests, I have also attached the source code. Fell free to modify my Butler but please publish it here so that we all can benefit from it.
The Butler service is started with the program "StartButler.exe" located in the Windows directory. I call it from a MortScript during device boot. It is important that HTC Touch Flo 3D is already loaded. For some reason, the gsensors can not be initialized if Touch Flo 3D is not loaded. Here is the code I use:
# Wait for TouchFlo3D
While(ProcExists("manila.exe")=0)
Sleep(1000)
EndWhile
# Start the butler
Run("\Windows\StartButler.exe")
Have fun!
Siggie
Change log:
V1.0:
- Initial release
V1.1:
- Reading of the NAV sensor completely rewritten. The sensor is now directly polled. This does not interfere with other programs, so the wheel sensor and the camera is working again.
- EnableFeature registry keys added for switching off each extension individually.
linuxis said:
New thread For Keyboard Slide Out Support:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=3305730#post3305730
Updated CAB is there. Happy using.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

sounds like an excellent program, I'll try it

man, great app. it is totally replacing hbutton, and lets me start using voice commander again. two questions....can you list the other sip layout entries? i really want to use the full qwerty when the stylus is out and in. secondly, is there a way to define a diff lock such as s2u2 and then shut down. either way, the function is fine as is and really, thanks for sharing

I'm interest in Stroke Launcher more than the other apps. is there a chance you can provide a cab for just that portion of your application> I know it's contrary to your original intent (of combining apps) but that's the only one of those apps I really would want so I have the opposite- no desire to install any extra apps even if it's a single process Thanks.

about to give it a shot, sounds great
but i second the request to have s2u2 when put face down

noticed that if you delete the entries for sip, keeping the actual keys though. butler wont start. guess it still needs to check those values i was trying to get it to do nothing to my sip's and just keep full qwerty.
edit** here is the key for full qwerty {36BC8FF6-8241-4c36-ABDE-204885471FEE} and the other keys are all listed under HKCR/CLSID and look like this:
(HTC SIPs)
{198D503A-...} = Phone Keypad
{36BC8FF6-...} = Full QWERTY
{62B00599-...} = Compact QWERTY
(MS Default SIPs)
{42429667-...} = Keyboard
{42429690-...} = Letter Recognizer
{42429691-...} = Block Recognizer
{F0034DD0-...} = Transcriber
Maybe it would be easier to be able to just input the name

Sound great, I'll give it a try as well.
can you make it so that when it face down, the light turn off?

ok i figured out how to change what sip came when
and i turned off "facedown"
only problem is that the smart scroll such as zooming in opera and pics no longer works or autofocus in camera

Great app cannot go unrecognized!
so i downloaded and installed and forgot to make shortcut. A day after i just luanch it using fileexplorer with copy on storage card. Sounds like alot but considering i only reset once a week maybe... its not so bad.
After using it for a half day. I have to admit i was waiting for a way to use shortcuts with out using manilla. I am a RLtoday fan and i dont really use all of manilla features. I LOVE IT. I am considering removing Manilla all together. This has great potential for those of use that want alternatives to manilla.
This should really be placed in essentials.
Thank you.
**BTW cant get screen lock disabled, anyone have more detailed instructions for disabling face down lock?

to disable the lock i set the sensor threshold to 0
in the registry path that was said earlier in the thread

V1.1 available
I have added a new version that fixes the wheel sensor and camera problem. There are also now registry keys available to switch off each feature individually.

ok I dont know what happend but i installed this app and after a restart the keyboard pops up on the splash screen and the phone freezes.. I need a resolution fast. I really dotn want to hard reset. I have a lot of stuff i need back up.... Please help!!!

fuk it. had to hard reset.

any chance on just releasing stroke launcher as a standalone app so we don't need to install all and then disable them? Thanks

Exclude S2U2
How can I disable stroke launcher, when s2u2 is active? I tried to add S2U2(name of DWORD value=0) to ExcludedWindows and s2u2.exe to ExcludedProcesses, but stroke launcher is still active, any ideas?

Great App siggie1970,
Thanks .. I Think The most important thing to do now is to add a User Interface for the configuration..as it kinda hard to do it through the registry
thanks

Wow amazing programs are being released and 09 just started. Great name btw How are resources being used with this program? Since your combining apps perhaps you could work with the guy to incorporate his new alternative to gyrator/ screen tilt app.

bugsykoosh said:
any chance on just releasing stroke launcher as a standalone app so we don't need to install all and then disable them? Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that is not the purpose of the program

would it be possible to turn one of the sides into scrolling up and down?
like leave the left up and down for app launching but right side scrolling that would make it pretty much perfect for me
then of course a configurator, although i got it setup but no fun having to change on each new install

It sounds like a great program, thanks! Stroke Launcher, I like that one LOL

Open Split Keyboard

I'm working on a new free split keyboard designed for people who use connectbot or have other full keyboard needs. It's out on the market now. I've heard there are problems on the Galaxy Tab 10.1. I'm still waiting for a logcat from someone with a tab to send me a log cat. It currently only supports 1280x (xoom) resolution devices. Any suggestions on changes to the key layout? I'll probably be adding a Dvorak mode soon (the original version had it).
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.doubtech.inputmethod.latin&feature=search_result
This is an early release of a free Holo themed split keyboard. It currently only supports 1280x800 screens (Xoom, Iconia Tab, etc).
Notable Features
* Selectable Themes (Holographic, Gingerbread, Stone)
* Multiple keyboard modes (split, full, and one handed)
* 100% customizable key and key label color combinations. See the "Colorize" options in Theme Settings on the keyboard preference page.
Keyboard Selection Gestures:
* Swipe right or left to toggle keyboards swipes must be pretty large (avoids accidental keyboard changes)
Change Log
Added support for setting key background and label colors.
--
Fixed a bug where keyboard wouldn't reload after a full system reboot.
--
Removed gesture mode in favor of using swipes for switching keyboards. Gestures were preventing some multitouch capabilities from working.
--
Added ability to change keyboard theme (see Keyboard Theme option in preferences).
Rearranged keyboard so space and other functions are farther from the notification bar.

I am trying it out now and its so far better than the tablet keyboard free I was using. I like the predictive text, but it lags a little.

Been checking it out for the last couple hours. Buttons are a little small but I really like the look and function. Great job.

I like it because it flows more with the HC UI and design.
I know it's an early build so I took that into account.
Right off the bat, you can tell that it just LOOKS nice. Functionally, I have only a few issues which don't take away from the effort that the Dev is putting into this.
The keys are a little small so there is more room for making typo's.
The auto-correct needs some more polish.
I use Thumb Keyboard 4 and like the ability to switch between 1 of 3 layouts (Split, Full and One Handed).
There is a bit more wasted space between the key sections which could be used to make the keys slightly larger.
Regardless of those minor issues, I have been using it all day and quite honestly am getting used to it and am liking what I see, a LOT.
I'll keep this installed and updated to keep an eye on what comes out. A lot of promise and if this is a preview of what else this Dev can do, keep an eye on their other stuff!!!

Ok, why do keyboard devs HATE putting a comma key on the main keydoard sceeen? LOL!
Oh, other than the comma thing, when pressing and holding the backspace key, it does the repeat.
Also, when ending a sentence, doing a dounle space, it does not perfoem an auto period.
Does not auto capiltalize the letter i when placed on it's own.
I'm going to keep using it though!!!!!!

Timbledore said:
The keys are a little small so there is more room for making typo's.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The keys are that small so there is little stretching to reach the main keys. I could possibly make this customizable, but that would be down the road (not a simple task).
Timbledore said:
The auto-correct needs some more polish.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure when I'll get to mess with this, I don't really use it so it's lower priority for me
Timbledore said:
I use Thumb Keyboard 4 and like the ability to switch between 1 of 3 layouts (Split, Full and One Handed).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What do you think of the layouts on the attached screenshots for one handed mode?
For full I usually just switch to the regular keyboard, but it wouldn't be hard to add a full keyboard mode as well.

I love the look but i would love for:
Fast backspacing (only one at a time right now)
Make the .com and ?123 larger buttons
And possibly make the letter keys a little?diffdrent from number keys as it is a somewhat hard to tell
Put ! On the main keyboard
Other than that amazing!
Sent from my Xoom using Tapatalk

New Version on Market
I fixed the problem with backspace not repeating.

New Release
I put the latest version on the market. It includes a new full keyboard and a swappable one handed keyboard. You can now swype or use gestures to switch between keyboards. Let me know if there's anything about keyboard layouts that you would like to see changed.

Great work but there needs to be a little change between letters and everything else. The different colors make the stock one easy to use. If you improve your ease of use, you can start charging money( and possibly donating it to your favorite charity?)
Sent from my Xoom using Tapatalk

craby1925 said:
Great work but there needs to be a little change between letters and everything else.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So you'd like to see more space between characters?
craby1925 said:
The different colors make the stock one easy to use.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you thinking possibly a slightly lighter color for numeric characters vs alpha characters or are you requesting a theme more like the stock keyboard altogether?

Ok, love this keyboard with a couple of exceptions :
1) space key is too close to the bottom, I keep touching the home key or the notification bar...
2) I accidentally switched it to full size and I want it split again...I don't even know how I got it to full...
Other than that this is awesome.
Sent from my Xoom using Tapatalk

rmarquez1974 said:
1) space key is too close to the bottom, I keep touching the home key or the notification bar...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm working on that problem right now.
rmarquez1974 said:
2) I accidentally switched it to full size and I want it split again...I don't even know how I got it to full...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are several ways to switch keyboard modes.
* There is a keyboard button on the bottom row of each keyboard that will switch to the next keyboard mode. If you want a list of keyboard types (Split, One Handed, or Full) you can long press the keyboard key to get a popup menu.
* You can also switch keyboards by swiping to the right or left.
* You can go straight to the split keyboard by drawing a S on the keyboard
Would a lock keyboard mode button help with the accidentally swapping keyboard problem?

yolan said:
I'm working on that problem right now.
There are several ways to switch keyboard modes.
* There is a keyboard button on the bottom row of each keyboard that will switch to the next keyboard mode. If you want a list of keyboard types (Split, One Handed, or Full) you can long press the keyboard key to get a popup menu.
* You can also switch keyboards by swiping to the right or left.
* You can go straight to the split keyboard by drawing a S on the keyboard
Would a lock keyboard mode button help with the accidentally swapping keyboard problem?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I like the idea of a lock mode!
Thanks for the quick response! Got my split back, oh yeah!
Sent from my Xoom using Tapatalk

New Version on Market
Turns out the last couple revisions didn't get released (goofy new multiapk changes to market publishing).
This version includes:
* Ability to change themes. People who like the gingerbread theme can now switch to it if they go to Keyboard Settings->Keyboard Theme
* There's now space between the spacebar and other core bottom row keys and the notification bar.
* You can disable gestures so you don't accidentally change keyboards or you just don't like gestures. (See "Disable Gestures" in Keyboard Settings)
* You can lock the selected keyboard so you don't accidentally change keyboards. (See "Lock keyboard to selected keyboard?" in Keyboard Settings)
* Colors on space and other control keys have changed in holo mode.

yolan said:
Turns out the last couple revisions didn't get released (goofy new multiapk changes to market publishing).
This version includes:
* Ability to change themes. People who like the gingerbread theme can now switch to it if they go to Keyboard Settings->Keyboard Theme
* There's now space between the spacebar and other core bottom row keys and the notification bar.
* You can disable gestures so you don't accidentally change keyboards or you just don't like gestures. (See "Disable Gestures" in Keyboard Settings)
* You can lock the selected keyboard so you don't accidentally change keyboards. (See "Lock keyboard to selected keyboard?" in Keyboard Settings)
* Colors on space and other control keys have changed in holo mode.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome. That's all I gotta say...
Sent from my SGH-T959 using Tapatalk

New version out. I changed the gesture method for switching keyboards. Using actual gestures was breaking multitouch features of the keyboard so I switched to using swipe gestures for switching keyboard. This method is also less sensitive so you are less likely to accidentally switch keyboards.

I think I found a bug. Might be the xoom or the rom not sure.
Issue is if I reboot, I lose the setting for this keyboard. I tried to re-enable this keyboard in settings but it was not in the list. I had to uninstall it after trying to clear the cache in applications which didn't work.
Only uninstall/install brought it back.
Anything you would like me to check or test?
Sent from my Xoom using Tapatalk

rmarquez1974 said:
I think I found a bug. Might be the xoom or the rom not sure.
Issue is if I reboot, I lose the setting for this keyboard. I tried to re-enable this keyboard in settings but it was not in the list. I had to uninstall it after trying to clear the cache in applications which didn't work.
Only uninstall/install brought it back.
Anything you would like me to check or test?
Sent from my Xoom using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good find. I think I found it and it should be fixed now. I had the problem and the fix works on my Xoom. After you get updated let me know if you can still repeat the problem.

yolan said:
Good find. I think I found it and it should be fixed now. I had the problem and the fix works on my Xoom. After you get updated let me know if you can still repeat the problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It survived a reboot, all my settings are still set. Great job!
I really dig this keyboard!
I'd even pay for a key or something,
Sent from my Xoom using Tapatalk

Changing nav bar buttons and their functions - is this possible?

Hi, newbie here trying to find out if it’s possible to turn an android phone into a fast desktop type multitasker. Was told I need a combination of AOSP ROM + eXposed, +Tasker +plugins, and a launcher like Lightning Launcher Extreme. so trying to assemble a list of things I’ll need, and find out if it’s even possible or not to achieve these tasks. In priority sequence:
1) Add as many as 15 buttons to nav bar. would love to change the size and more impornt spacing maybe even location of each button.
2) Optional (ability to lock some of the buttons across the board so lets say, on left side I have a locked home and back button, btu the ones on the right I can swipe left or right and move the nav bar buttons just like on Xtended NavBar app , so it’s kind of like a split nav bar.
Is it possible to add specific functions to each nav bar button I create:
3) Three zoom buttons, one with preset zoom %, so I click it once it zooms in to my preset % I click it second time zoom out must be able to preset the % of zoom somewhere. The other two zoom buttons are regular zoom in and out by increments (if possible preset increments as well per each click)
4) Multitask, instead of resent app, where it shows my open apps as smaller windows, I’d rather switch between them in full screen view, so the navbar recent app button must be mapped to simply switch between all open apps in rotation with each click.
5) Copy/ paste/ cut / undo / 4 buttons, not sure if it needs mapping in each app I use or universal, if each app, can it be done in Firefox or any other web browser, and in Microsoft office or any other office program so when I highlight text I can use these buttons, just like they normally would work in desktop versions?
6) 4 arrow keys, this is for Microsoft excel to shift quickly between cells so in each direction. Or as scrolling in web browser in all 4 directions.
7) search button, same concept as copy paste only once I highlight a text this button will search the net for highlighted text not sure if it’s possible to do from office app as well.
8) Now this is a tricky one, is it possible to automate the nav bar buttons, so if I had 10 or more buttons in total, they can’t fit the screen obviously, os once I open a certain app, the nav bar would move left or right depending on my app, so lets say I open an office app, the cut/paste /undo are automatically in front of me, if I open a excel then the arrow keys are in front……and so on
9) Is it also possible to remap volume keys in certain apps, so lets say I open excel, I have space in my nav bar only for 4 arrow keys, so in this case the volume buttons would become copy/paste.
If some could list the ROM, which launcher, specific modules, specific takser plug ins that could accomplish this or some things, well in an optimized way so I’m not running 15 apps for each request, then I will research each one individually.
Sorry for the long post.
Cheers

I have honestly never heard of such things...
And I think (having owned a Note 3 and now a Nexus 5) that the closest you can ever get to such multitasking experience is to own a Galaxy Note 4, with all the S-Pen functionality that's been added so that it'll work like a mouse on a computer. I know this may not add a lot to your cause; it's just what my knowledge offers.

Well for a newbie the confusion comes to me from not understanding the fundamentals of the android, what things are in the core and what things are on top as a layer? So for example if there is a back button on most phones that’s a fundamental core feature, does that mean it will be easy to add a forward button, so this way I’m compromising on my number 4) request and trying to go more a long the lines of android fundamentals.
As for the note 4 if it does add some mouse like functionality it’s only 50% since some things are faster via keyboard shortcuts rather then a mouse.
The problem I see is too many menus, so you select a text even with an s pen you must open a menu then select a copy, then open another app where you want to paste it in a specific location first you must zoom in that means turn the pen away and zoom then turn the pen towards another menu to open so you can select paste… The pen only has one or two buttons so if it has the zoom buttons I can’t paste quickly with a pen, if it has the paste buttons then I need to use my fingers to zoom in again turning my hand back and forth
way too many menus and not very productive way of working in trying to accomplish a small task of coping a text in one app and pasting in another in specific location. As you can see I’m trying to combine both mouse and keyboard shortcuts into one nav bar button this is to overcome the shortcomings of a small size screen and lack of keyboard and mouse of course.
I realize maybe the whole goal of android was never geared towards my way of thinking, but if it’s open source platform and as I see it there are many things that can be changed compared to a more closed system, it’s how difficult to do it only a programmer will understand, a I’m not a programmer. So I’m here trying to get some answers.
Cheers

Strange button issues

Hello I'm having an issue with the button widget looking strange on older devices. Ive set the minsdk to 8 so it will run on my test device (old froyo version). But for some reason my buttons always end up looking completely white with no background or hover effects.
I've tried changing the styles and searched around and no one mentions the issue.
I've reproduced the problem on another machine as well.
Steps to reproduce problem:
Start a new blank activity project, minsdk to 8
Put a button on the layout with the layout editor, then change the dropdown that say "21" to preview all versions. You will then see all buttons are simple white rectangles with no border, except for lollipop version.
When I run it on my device the button background is same as activity background so its hard to tell its even a button, also there is no hover effects, but it does listen for clicks.
But when I use a togglebutton or imagebutton it looks as it should, a button.. with gradient background with beveled edges and onhover effects.. but you cant set text... what am I missing here?
I simply want a button that looks and feels like a button without any fancy custom styling, just device default style..
EDIT: Problem solved, its bug in SDK 22, had to revert to SDK 21

You have to create style for your button, or drawable background for it.
If you use default button it's appearance will depend on version of Android .

ReLaunch 1.4 (repost)

Can someone kindly repost the APK of ReLaunch 1.4?
The links on the original post are dead now.
Thanks!

marcoNST said:
Can someone kindly repost the APK of ReLaunch 1.4?
The links on the original post are dead now.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There seem to be at least 3 ReLaunch forks. The original ends at 1.3.8 (the easiest one to find--Google is your friend). There is then the sequence you are asking about, moving from 1.4 to now 1.4.8. I've attached 1.4.8 below. Don't know anything about it. The source is the Russian The-eBook.org forum and the original ReLaunch thread. Going back from the end of the thread, all earlier versions (all dropbox links) seem to not be available, just like 1.4.
Then there is ReLaunchX which supposedly takes up where the original 1.3.8 left off and renumbers the newer versions starting again with 1.0 (now at 2.x). The GitHub for ReLaunchX is here: https://github.com/Leszek111/ReLaunchX and the app is available on F-Droid: https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.gacode.relaunchx/
You have many choices!
Edit: one more choice. Member @digixmax offers 1.4.3 here: https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=72246935&postcount=42

Thank you so much @nmyshkin !
You are a star

nmyshkin said:
There seem to be at least 3 ReLaunch forks. The original ends at 1.3.8 (the easiest one to find--Google is your friend). There is then the sequence you are asking about, moving from 1.4 to now 1.4.8. I've attached 1.4.8 below. Don't know anything about it. The source is the Russian The-eBook.org forum and the original ReLaunch thread. Going back from the end of the thread, all earlier versions (all dropbox links) seem to not be available, just like 1.4.
Then there is ReLaunchX which supposedly takes up where the original 1.3.8 left off and renumbers the newer versions starting again with 1.0 (now at 2.x). The GitHub for ReLaunchX is here: https://github.com/Leszek111/ReLaunchX and the app is available on F-Droid: https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.gacode.relaunchx/
You have many choices!
Edit: one more choice. Member @digixmax offers 1.4.3 here: https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=72246935&postcount=42
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
marcoNST said:
Thank you so much @nmyshkin !
You are a star
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just rooted using NM and I am using the default system. ReLaunch seems to have a very barebones interface, and I wish I could do certain things (the two main ones is to toggle visibility of the statusbar at will (making any application full screen) using some button or button combination, and the other is to change orientation.
What benefits are there to using a new version?
Thanks!

Winston S. said:
I just rooted using NM and I am using the default system. ReLaunch seems to have a very barebones interface, and I wish I could do certain things (the two main ones is to toggle visibility of the statusbar at will (making any application full screen) using some button or button combination, and the other is to change orientation.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think you can exercise much control over the visibility of the status bar--at least not in Android 2.1. App developers either choose full-screen as the default display mode or give a programmed option which regulates the size of the window in which the app is viewed (essentially covering the status bar). I'd like to be wrong about that and I'll keep looking around a little, but I am not hopeful.
Screen orientation is easily regulated with an app. Probably the best one for the NST is Rotation Locker (there's a copy attached to this post: https://forum.xda-developers.com/nook-touch/themes-apps/app-reading-button-menu-t3815212).
You could theoretically assign a hardware button to the app. All it does is bring up a small menu (Portrait, Landscape, Auto). A simple tap on your choice makes the change, but a long-press sets up a background service that forces the change, even when apps want to resist. You'll see a notification that the service is running. You really need this for the NST because it does not much care for being in landscape mode and many apps will try to escape back into portrait with only a single tap on landscape.
Unfortunately the app suffers from a problem common to many in that it was not designed with e-ink devices in mind. Colors were used in the menu system and they are such that you don't see anything but the menu boxes! I've given you the correct order above, from top to bottom in the menu. A better and more general solution is to slightly darken the background color on all NST menus. This makes most of the offending "invisible" menu choices at least somewhat visible. The change is effected by replacing about 30 images in framework-res.apk. Two sets of images were prepared by someone on the Russian e-book forum. One is lighter and the other darker, but both are darker than the originals. I use the lighter ones.
Alternatively, if you don't expect to be running a lot of apps with potentially unreadable settings or menus but you would like a simple orientation toggle to assign to a hardware button, I could probably just extract that portion from my Reading Now menu app and assemble it as a stand-alone. It still relies on the Rotation Locker app, but you'd never see or interact with the menu, just press a hardware button.

nmyshkin said:
I don't think you can exercise much control over the visibility of the status bar--at least not in Android 2.1. App developers either choose full-screen as the default display mode or give a programmed option which regulates the size of the window in which the app is viewed (essentially covering the status bar). I'd like to be wrong about that and I'll keep looking around a little, but I am not hopeful.
Screen orientation is easily regulated with an app. Probably the best one for the NST is Rotation Locker (there's a copy attached to this post: https://forum.xda-developers.com/nook-touch/themes-apps/app-reading-button-menu-t3815212).
You could theoretically assign a hardware button to the app. All it does is bring up a small menu (Portrait, Landscape, Auto). A simple tap on your choice makes the change, but a long-press sets up a background service that forces the change, even when apps want to resist. You'll see a notification that the service is running. You really need this for the NST because it does not much care for being in landscape mode and many apps will try to escape back into portrait with only a single tap on landscape.
Unfortunately the app suffers from a problem common to many in that it was not designed with e-ink devices in mind. Colors were used in the menu system and they are such that you don't see anything but the menu boxes! I've given you the correct order above, from top to bottom in the menu. A better and more general solution is to slightly darken the background color on all NST menus. This makes most of the offending "invisible" menu choices at least somewhat visible. The change is effected by replacing about 30 images in framework-res.apk. Two sets of images were prepared by someone on the Russian e-book forum. One is lighter and the other darker, but both are darker than the originals. I use the lighter ones.
Alternatively, if you don't expect to be running a lot of apps with potentially unreadable settings or menus but you would like a simple orientation toggle to assign to a hardware button, I could probably just extract that portion from my Reading Now menu app and assemble it as a stand-alone. It still relies on the Rotation Locker app, but you'd never see or interact with the menu, just press a hardware button.
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You are correct about the status bar visibility, I think there is nothing you can do about it if any specific app forces that setting. There is a configuration setting for ReLaunch to not show the status bar, but even then PocketBook Reader will display it.
For the orientation right now I am resorting to starting APV PDF Viewer (which I have set to landscape,) and then starting PocketBook Reader. Because PocketBook doesn't force a specific setting, it will continue on Landscape until I go out and something else changes orientation to Portrait. Rotation Locker seems like the perfect solution to somewhat streamline orientation selection a bit more. Also, I think I'll manage by knowing which selection to press and not care about the lack of visibility of its menu.
Thank you for your kind offer to assemble that menu app with the toggle built in, but I'd hate you to spend time doing that. Instead, I'll investigate more and go through all the posts you have already provided! :good: