Android Question Building app to be accessible to Fire TV controller

[Scotter]

I have a friend who's only Android device is an Amazon Fire TV.
My app scales well to it.
BUT he said his controller doesn't work well with it.
Does anyone have advice on how I can make the app work better with his Fire TV controller?
Thanks!

 

[moster67]

Check the "input event reference guides" of the Fire TV remote control and its game controller:

https://developer.amazon.com/it/docs/fire-tv/remote-input.html#input-event-reference
https://developer.amazon.com/it/docs/fire-tv/game-controller-input.html#inputreference

Normally, the basic input events are standard among all remote- and game-controllers independent of make/model.

Then using the Activity_KeyPress event, get the KeyCode and do something with your code. Perhaps something like this:

Sub Activity_KeyPress (KeyCode As Int) As Boolean 'return true if you want to consume the event
    
    Select KeyCode
        Case KeyCodes.KEYCODE_DPAD_LEFT
            Log("DPAD_LEFT")
        Case KeyCodes.KEYCODE_DPAD_RIGHT
            Log("DPAD_RIGHT")
        Case KeyCodes.KEYCODE_DPAD_DOWN
            Log("DPAD_DOWN")
        Case KeyCodes.KEYCODE_DPAD_UP
            Log("DPAD_UP")
        Case KeyCodes.KEYCODE_ENTER
            Log("DPAD_ENTER/CENTER")
 
        Case Else
            Log(KeyCode)
    End Select

Return False
 
End Sub

This may also be helpful:
https://www.b4x.com/android/help/constants.html#keycodes

 

[Scotter]

Check the "input event reference guides" of the Fire TV remote control and its game controller:

https://developer.amazon.com/it/docs/fire-tv/remote-input.html#input-event-reference
https://developer.amazon.com/it/docs/fire-tv/game-controller-input.html#inputreference

Normally, the basic input events are standard among all remote- and game-controllers independent of make/model.

Then using the Activity_KeyPress event, get the KeyCode and do something with your code. Perhaps something like this:

Sub Activity_KeyPress (KeyCode As Int) As Boolean 'return true if you want to consume the event
    
    Select KeyCode
        Case KeyCodes.KEYCODE_DPAD_LEFT
            Log("DPAD_LEFT")
        Case KeyCodes.KEYCODE_DPAD_RIGHT
            Log("DPAD_RIGHT")
        Case KeyCodes.KEYCODE_DPAD_DOWN
            Log("DPAD_DOWN")
        Case KeyCodes.KEYCODE_DPAD_UP
            Log("DPAD_UP")
        Case KeyCodes.KEYCODE_ENTER
            Log("DPAD_ENTER/CENTER")
 
        Case Else
            Log(KeyCode)
    End Select
 
End Sub

This may also be helpful:
https://www.b4x.com/android/help/constants.html#keycodes

Wow, Monster, that is a wealth of information and you even gave me code examples!
Much appreciation for your generosity!

 

[Scotter]

Sub Activity_KeyPress (KeyCode As Int) As Boolean 'return true if you want to consume the event
    Select KeyCode
        Case KeyCodes.KEYCODE_DPAD_LEFT
            Log("DPAD_LEFT")
        Case KeyCodes.KEYCODE_DPAD_RIGHT
            Log("DPAD_RIGHT")
        Case KeyCodes.KEYCODE_DPAD_DOWN
            Log("DPAD_DOWN")
        Case KeyCodes.KEYCODE_DPAD_UP
            Log("DPAD_UP")
        Case KeyCodes.KEYCODE_ENTER
            Log("DPAD_ENTER/CENTER")
        Case Else
            Log(KeyCode)
    End Select
End Sub

OK I'm getting sporadic behavior with logging my key presses on the d-pad (and tab and enter buttons) on my Android keyboard.
Like sometimes it logs D-pad-left, right, etc. but most of the time not.
Having a hard time isolating why.
Here's your code slightly modified:

'FOR FIRE TV
Sub Activity_KeyPress (KeyCode As Int) As Boolean 'return true if you want to consume the event
    Select KeyCode
        Case KeyCodes.KEYCODE_DPAD_LEFT
            Log("DPAD_LEFT")
            'Tab_Prev will go in this spot
        Case KeyCodes.KEYCODE_BACK
            Log("KEYCODE_BACK") 'remote controller
            'Tab_Prev will go in this spot
        Case KeyCodes.KEYCODE_MEDIA_REWIND
            Log("KEYCODE_MEDIA_REWIND") 'remote controller
            'Tab_Prev will go in this spot   
        Case KeyCodes.KEYCODE_DPAD_RIGHT
            Log("DPAD_RIGHT")
            Tab_Next 'never gets called :-(
            'Do I want to consume the event?
            'Return True           
        Case KeyCodes.KEYCODE_MEDIA_FAST_FORWARD
            Log("KEYCODE_MEDIA_FAST_FORWARD") 'remote controller
            Tab_Next 'never gets called :-(
            'Do I want to consume the event?
            'Return True
        Case KeyCodes.KEYCODE_DPAD_DOWN
            Log("DPAD_DOWN")
        Case KeyCodes.KEYCODE_DPAD_UP
            Log("DPAD_UP")
        Case KeyCodes.KEYCODE_ENTER
            Log("DPAD_ENTER/CENTER")
        Case Else
            Log("activity_keypress=" & KeyCode)
            'this firing SOMETIMES
    End Select
End Sub

Ideas?

 

[moster67]

I did this ages ago (5-6 years ago) and I probably don't even have the code any longer so I doubt I can be on any further help.

However, you could test with the Android emulator. If I recall correctly, you can enable the directional pads and use them. Just to make sure it is not the android keyboard creating any problems. Best would be to send over a test app to your friend with the Fire TV and see how it behaves.

Not sure what your issues are. Timing? Try to insert "Return false" at the end of the code-snippet I posted (I modified it so you can see where). Search the forum for other examples using keycodes. Herre is another one:
https://www.b4x.com/android/forum/t...-or-down-on-remote-control.66147/#post-422274

Good luck.