Android Question keyboard show

i've been using the following:

Dim inputMethod As IME
inputMethod.Initialize("")
inputMethod.ShowKeyboard(b1)

b1 is the name of the edittext field.
sometimes it works and the keyboard displays and other times it doesn't.

also another issue is with the edittext ...
if i start a new app and put an edittext on design, when i run it, there's a orange box around the edittext box.
if i add an edit text in an app already made with lots of activates and other thing on the screren then there is a red line under the input field..
what i would like is to keep the outline around box.
any suggestions.

thanks
paul