xmimd: X11 <-> Meego Input Method bridge
 

xmimd is bridge between the MeeGo Input Method framework (aka Maliit) and the standard X11 input method system, XIM.

Latest version is 1.2 . Old versions are available. If you are using Easy Debian, please follow the excellent instructions by rcolistete.

It was originally designed to be able to write text using the N9 virtual keyboard to remote X applications being run under SSH X redirection. These applications were neither Gtk+ or Qt.
However, I realized it would also be useful for running non-Qt applications under Harmattan, including those from Easy Debian. If Xephyr is being used, xmimd can be configured to use the Xephyr Window id when talking with Maliit instead of sending "invalid" (from the point of view of Maliit) Window IDs.

http://depot.javispedro.com/nit/harm/xmim/landscape.pnghttp://www.robertocolistete.net/Maem...-Debian-N9.png

Using XIM has a few advantages versus other solutions such as the Maliit GTK input method, apart from the Xephyr redirection feature.
XIM is supported by virtually every application and widget framework in the Unix world, so nothing has to be installed on the remote system or chroot, and it works with applications that do not use Gtk+ or Qt. Additionally, XIM uses X11 as the transport protocol, so no new network ports have to be opened (or bind mounts for D-Bus).

However, there are several cons to using XIM:
- XIM is arcane. It is hard to understand, hard to debug. May the Gods of X11 help you!
- XIM is quite strict regarding locale configuration and does not tolerate some of the stuff distros have been doing as of lately.
- "Native" input methods such as Maliit GTK input context will provide much more integration between the virtual keyboard and applications. XIM is just "good enough".


Here's a brief description of xmimd command line arguments.
Please note that if you are using Easy Debian, most is already set up for you.

• -v is verbose mode
• -d is shorthand for setting $DISPLAY. xmimd will register as a X input method in the specified display.
• -x activates the "Xephyr proxy mode" described above. As mandatory parameter, you need to specify Xephyr's window ID

In the target environment (e.g. inside the chroot or in the remote system), you need to set the following environment variables:
A brief tutorial if you are using a custom chroot.

You might post your xmimd problems and experiences on this thread :)

Re: xmimd: X11 <-> Meego Input Method bridge
 

Javispedro, is it possible to MeeGo Maliit virtual keyboard have (semi-)transparency ?
I know some X Terminal virtual keyboards have transparency, like MTermite and FingerTerm (which has incompatibility problems with qchroot, i.e., mounting Easy Debian).
But his transparent vkb are not available outside these X Terminal implementations.

Re: xmimd: X11 <-> Meego Input Method bridge
 

http://depot.javispedro.com/nit/harm..._1.2_armel.deb

Try the above 1.2 release with the "-t" or "--translucent" command line option (when launching xmimd). If it works for you, make some pictures!

Apart from this I also fixed a crash when running in the old PR1.2 ;P

Re: xmimd: X11 <-> Meego Input Method bridge
 

Wowww !!! Yeah, it works ! Fantastic, Javispedro !

http://www.robertocolistete.net/Maem...-Debian-N9.png

I've noticed the translucent vkb remains (for some time ?) outside LXDE, when using MeeGo with other softwares. It is also useful in MeeGo but I'll leave it as an option with 3 LXDE icons : LXDE trvkb, LXDE, LXDE novkb (or something similar).

PS: I've deleted by accident this post and retyped it...

Re: xmimd: X11 <-> Meego Input Method bridge
 

Simply awsome. Thanks Javispedro.

And by the way, I second that this translucent keyboard would be very useful in Meego too. I mean in all Meego applications.

Re: xmimd: X11 <-> Meego Input Method bridge
 

I don't know why, but now that Easy Debian Harmattan 1.1.0 is released, the translucent vkb doesn't remains outside LXDE (i.e., on MeeGo). Any way, it is better. The icon "LXDE opVKB" uses the opaque vkb, but it remains translucent if "Debian LXDE" was used last time, the workaround is to open some MeeGo application with text entry.

Re: xmimd: X11 <-> Meego Input Method bridge
 

Which other software, doesn't the same happen with mtermite also?

Re: xmimd: X11 <-> Meego Input Method bridge
 

See my post #6, this behaviour doesn't happen anymore. Before I was testing xmimd as user in X Terminal.

Re: xmimd: X11 <-> Meego Input Method bridge
 

I upgraded shared repo to latest one ...
btw :
https://gitorious.org/javispedro-n95...rge_requests/1

Re: xmimd: X11 <-> Meego Input Method bridge
 

Hello.

I was trying this, but can't seem to get it working. I fetched the linked .deb package and installed it. In one terminal I started "xmimd -v" locally on the N9. It immediately reports "Server running" and stays there (not daemonized). On another terminal, still locally on the N9, I start a python GTK program. Nothing I do seem to trigger the virtual keyboard.

Being puzzled by this, I also tried setting the GTK_IM_MODULE and XMODIFIERS environment variables, although I understood the text as if it was only needed for chroot and remote environments. Still no reaction.

Could anyone please guide me in the right direction? Am I starting the xmimd in wrong way? Am I starting the python GTK application in wrong way?

Re: xmimd: X11 <-> Meego Input Method bridge
 

4th paragraph of 1st post can be your answer :
"If Xephyr is being used, ..."

In Easy Debian Harmattan, only LXDE has vkb, standalone Debian softwares outside LXDE don't have vkb provided by MeeGo Maliit via xmimd.

Re: xmimd: X11 <-> Meego Input Method bridge
 

The problem is that the VKB will NOT popup over a non fullscreen window. I have no idea ATM how to fix this without replacing core packages/scripts. The workarounds are to:
A) Use Xephyr and run the native apps under Xephyr...
B) OR Patch Gtk+ or the app you are running so that it creates top-level windows as fullscreen.

(fullscreen = NET_WM_STATE_FULLSCREEN -- aka without the bottom gray empty toolbar)

No, you are always supposed to set this -- but on the Gtk+ app environment.

Re: xmimd: X11 <-> Meego Input Method bridge
 

Thanks Javispedro. After testing some Easy Debian softwares running outside LXDE (i.e., without xephyr), the following work in fullscreen with translucent vkb : Gnumeric, TeXMaker, wxMaxima.
I use the command :
$ xmimd -t -x <window-id> -v
as user in MeeGo Terminal.
The more practical "wmctrl" is not present in MeeGo, just in Debian (image), so I run "wmctrl" in Debian terminal.

Anyway, I am not convinced that vkb outside LXDE is useful (to Easy Debian) due to some limitations :
- some open/save/about windows are not fullscreen and not fully visible so cannot be closed;
- it is more difficult to gain focus to make the vkb visible;
- only some softwares in fullscreen outside LXDE has working vkb.

Re: xmimd: X11 <-> Meego Input Method bridge
 

Good news. After disabling the option "Settings->Time and language->Text input->Error correction", then Abiword and wxMaxima now show the text as its typed with the virtual keyboard.

With the above option on, the text is shown only after spaces or enter.

I will document this tip in Easy Debian Harmattan topic.

Re: xmimd: X11 <-> Meego Input Method bridge
 

This is all amazing stuff and I really thank you guys...it's just that I have this tiny little problem here. Wasn't really sure whether to post it here or in the easy debian thread but I guess this works. So anyway I went throught the wonderful guide for noobs like me by rcolistete and it worked. AMAZING! Then I looked at the guide again and saw the vkb was supposed to be translucent. Now I can use the vkb inside lxde and it works perfectly. Installed the latest files and stuff.

EDIT:Fixed the aegis/wazapp thingy reinstalled the whole stuff and still no transparancy.

Re: xmimd: X11 <-> Meego Input Method bridge
 

Hi your screenshot isn't visible but I am sure its about failed loading policy etc...Just do a apt-get purge wazapp, reboot then install wazapp again...


Edit: Try:


If it still doesn't work out, send me a PM as its getting off-topic here...

Re: xmimd: X11 <-> Meego Input Method bridge
 

Sorry for the somehow stupid question, but can xmimd be used with other applications besides the ones from EasyDebian? Specifically, I want to try to use it with DosBOX port (link). Is it possible?

Re: xmimd: X11 <-> Meego Input Method bridge
 

Certainly. But it will not fix DOSBox's problem.

I did implement the required support in the past, but it won't work as-is in the N9.

I'm working on the N9 version, but as usual with me these years, progress is glacially slow because of little available time.

Re: xmimd: X11 <-> Meego Input Method bridge
 

Hi to everyone,

I´m already installed easy debian on my n9, but I didn´t want it because of the big keyboard on the screen. I just noticed about xmimd 1.2, but I can´t download it (error 404). Can someone upload it again please?

Thanks a lot!

Re: xmimd: X11 <-> Meego Input Method bridge
 

My ISP is seemingly "missing in action" at the moment, but it should be back anytime "soon", it's not that I'm deleting it.

Re: xmimd: X11 <-> Meego Input Method bridge
 

Hey, thanks a lot for your response. I´ll will be waiting then.

Regards.

Re: xmimd: X11 <-> Meego Input Method bridge
 

It should be back up as soon as the DNS changes propagate.

Re: xmimd: X11 <-> Meego Input Method bridge
 

About Easy Debian Harmattan : there are 3 different icons to lauch LXDE. "Debian LXDE" with translucent vkb, "LXDE opVKB" with opaque virtual keyboard, "LXDE noVKB" with no vkb.

Re: xmimd: X11 <-> Meego Input Method bridge
 

xmimd on SailfishOS.

Re: xmimd: X11 <-> Meego Input Method bridge
 

Fantastic ! Are you running gedit using Debian chroot ?

Re: xmimd: X11 <-> Meego Input Method bridge
 

Nope, I was SSHing into the host.

By the way, no idea about the corrupted graphics. It's as if the vkb was not properly redrawing itself after each keypress.

Re: xmimd: X11 <-> Meego Input Method bridge
 

I've also similar problems with vkb not redrawing properly inside Sailfish Emulator, when testing a Python/PySide/QML software.