To customize a key in Unexpected Keyboard, create or select a Custom layout and edit that key’s XML <key> element. Change c for its tap output, compass-direction attributes for swipe outputs, and optionally width or shift for spacing. Import the edited XML in the app, and keep a separate backup.
Choose how to edit your custom layout
Unexpected Keyboard’s documented per-key customization happens in XML rather than through individual on-screen key controls. You can edit the XML in the app or prepare it elsewhere; both routes end with importing the XML as a Custom layout. The project’s official documentation and repository describe the syntax, but the accessed documentation is on the master branch and does not specify an app version or Android compatibility matrix. If behavior differs, check the installed version.
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| Route | Useful when | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Edit in the app | You want to make a small change directly to a generated or existing custom layout. | You work with XML in the app; save a separate copy so the only version is not stored there. |
| Prepare XML externally | You want a file backup, want to copy a built-in layout, or prefer arranging keys in the linked web editor. | You still need to copy or paste the finished XML into Unexpected Keyboard. |
Open and import a Custom layout
- Open the keyboard’s Settings by swiping the gear icon.
- At the top of Settings, tap an existing layout or choose Add an alternate layout, then choose Custom layout.
- The app opens the layout’s XML definition. Edit it there, or replace it with XML you prepared separately, then tap OK.
- Keep an external copy of the finished XML. The project guide warns that edits kept only inside the app may be lost if you install a version from another website with a different signature.
The project’s linked web editor can be used to define keys and swipes, move keys, and generate XML. Copy its result to the clipboard and paste it into the Custom layout editor.
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Change what a key does
Each key is represented by a <key /> element within a <row>. The key elements’ order in a row determines their left-to-right positions. In this example, the first key types a when tapped and @ on a northeast swipe:
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<row>
<key c="a" ne="@" />
<key c="b" />
</row>Tap output
Set c to the value you want on a tap. For example, c="a" types the character a.
Swipe output
Use compass attributes to assign a value to a directional swipe: n, ne, e, se, s, sw, w, and nw. The documentation also lists legacy key1–key8 attributes; for a new layout, use compass notation and do not define the same direction twice.
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Width and spacing
width sets a key’s positive floating-point width and defaults to 1.0. shift adds nonnegative space before that key and defaults to 0.0. These values use units relative to the widest row, which fills the screen width.
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Secondary legend
indication adds text below the main legend. The project guide warns that this text can overlap a legend for a downward swipe.
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Use special values, modifiers, and conditional keys
Key values are not limited to ordinary characters. The official possible-key-values reference documents special keys, literal text sequences, visible legends paired with an action, Android key events, and action macros. Its examples include sending a string such as an email address and defining shortcuts. Supported special values include editing and clipboard actions, modifiers, accents, and keyboard-layer switches. Check the exact value names there before putting one in your XML.
An optional <modmap> element outside the rows can remap Shift, Fn, or Ctrl behavior. The guide’s examples include changing the output for i under Shift to İ, and mapping Cyrillic в under Ctrl to Ctrl-V. This is modifier remapping, not a documented control for changing a key’s color or visual style.
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Values beginning with loc are conditional placeholders: they do nothing unless enabled through Add keys to keyboard or made available by the device language.
Start with a small complete layout
This minimal example defines one key that types a on tap, sends @ on a northeast swipe, and is wider than the default key:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<keyboard name="My layout" script="latin">
<row>
<key c="a" ne="@" width="1.2" />
</row>
</keyboard>The keyboard metadata supports a layout name shown in Settings, a writing-system script, and whether the built-in bottom row is shown. Consult the project’s documentation for the accepted metadata and any special key values you plan to use.
Keep different layouts for portrait and landscape
Unexpected Keyboard remembers the last-used layout separately for portrait and landscape. You can therefore choose one custom layout in portrait and another in landscape; the app switches between them when the device orientation changes.
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