[SOLVED: nueKBLight] Quest to modify the timeout for hardware keyboard.
 

Thanks to no2chem for getting this puppy working:

http://www.nuerom.com/BlogEngine/page/nueKBLight.aspx

NOTE: Is not confirmed working on GSM version yet. DO NOT INSTALL on GSM Touch Pro

Re: Quest to modify the timeout for hardware keyboard.
 

I thought I heard somewhere that the timeout on the keyboard may be hardware related.

Re: Quest to modify the timeout for hardware keyboard.
 

HTC e-mailed me back about it when I questioned them if it was controlled by hardware or not, and they said it was, but it seemed like they really didn't know what they were talking about either.

I really want to dig into some of these DLL's and find out the truth, because I'm sure the average HTC tech doesn't know.

Re: Quest to modify the timeout for hardware keyboard.
 

hell ill donate if u can gurantee itll work lol

Re: Quest to modify the timeout for hardware keyboard.
 

I wish I could guarantee it, but without seeing the decompiled code, I can't. :(

Re: Quest to modify the timeout for hardware keyboard.
 

I tired the reg edit and that didn't work. Something else is happening.

Re: Quest to modify the timeout for hardware keyboard.
 

there has to be a way for this to be done every htc device was capable of it....maybe theres a file somewhere in the registry that links to this issue?

Re: Quest to modify the timeout for hardware keyboard.
 

Have you checked with no2chem? He has written several drivers for HTCs like this and could probably do this as well.

Re: Quest to modify the timeout for hardware keyboard.
 

No2chem to the rescue!!!!!!!!

Re: Quest to modify the timeout for hardware keyboard.
 

Anyone else have the issue that when making a call, the screen turns off...if you want to press a button to check voicemail or whatever, you have to hit the power button to turn the screen back on. Is there a way to make it stay on longer??

Re: Quest to modify the timeout for hardware keyboard.
 

This is the one thing I would change also. I think with every other phone used, the keyboard/keypad was synchronized with the screen backlight. This seems very logical, I don't know why they would have the keyboard light go out so soon.

Re: Quest to modify the timeout for hardware keyboard.
 

This is prolly my number one complaint ATM with this phone...

Re: Quest to modify the timeout for hardware keyboard.
 

Subscribed!

Re: Quest to modify the timeout for hardware keyboard.
 

Man I'm so glad someone else feel the same. Its a pain in the "you know what" when you are trying to you the keyboard in the dark. I'll be watching this thread. Thanks for trying.

Re: Quest to modify the timeout for hardware keyboard.
 

Just of note since I've been playing a little with this. The GSM version of the pro responds to the qkeytimeout reg key, but sprints does not. I tried to install some dll's from the gsm rom but it only disabled my key lights completely. But you may want to look at those to get an idea. I'm convinced its not hardware because of this.

Re: Quest to modify the timeout for hardware keyboard.
 

Hmm...this brings some new light to it, I guess. Now I just need to get this DLL decompiled!

Re: Quest to modify the timeout for hardware keyboard.
 

I tried a few programs to decompile it but was unsuccessful. Said there is no CLI header. I'm refering to Microp.dll and allledmgr.dll. I'm wondering if they can even be decompiled at all

Re: Quest to modify the timeout for hardware keyboard.
 

Anything can be decompiled.

What disassembler are you using, and what language are you trying to disassemble?

If there's no CLI header, then it can't be .NET, which I didn't expect, but I guess that's the deal. All your decompilers must only handle managed code. Do you have access to a diassembler that will handle unmanaged or native code?

EDIT: Now that I think about it, I'm not surprised if it's not managed code. Hell, they've been using these same DLL's for ages, most likely. Probably before .NET even became a programming standard. It's probably coded in old C++.

Re: Quest to modify the timeout for hardware keyboard.
 

There is another approach one can take as well. Write an intermediate driver that sits between the system and the regular driver. For example, no2chem wrote an intermediate driver that talked to the alledmgr.dll on the 6800s and 6900s. It allowed us to control the LED behavior. The registry was changed to the new intermediate driver which in turned talked to alledmgr.dll.

Re: Quest to modify the timeout for hardware keyboard.
 

I only have PE explorer and reflector (which is free btw). I tried the following:

IL
MC++
C#
Visual Basic
Delphi
Chrome

I'm sure a way exists to do it but I'm not an experienced in decompiling but thought I would help in anyway I could, cause this problem drives me nuts lol

And I'm sure a new driver could be introduced by someone with the know-how. But without seeing the current structure, source of the dll's, I would assume it would be much harder to make one. Kind of like programming in the dark.

Re: Quest to modify the timeout for hardware keyboard.
 

Yeah, both PE Explorer and Reflector only handle managed code. If these DLL's were written in .NET, I'm pretty sure either of those would have disassembled it.

I think what stroths is suggesting may be a possibility, but will take more time, as I'm not exactly sure how to speak to the LED DLL's. I may have to get with no2chem on this one...

Re: Quest to modify the timeout for hardware keyboard.
 

i'm aware of these issues and they should be controllable with next build of nueROM, along with some mappable keys.

Re: Quest to modify the timeout for hardware keyboard.
 

Drivers are not written in C#/.net for performance reasons, and no C++ decompiler exists (well, that works well anyway) for ARM. If you are going to attempt to modify the driver, you need to have a clear understanding of ARM assembly, and a resonably clear understanding of Win32 and the WinCE driver model. Even with that, it still takes a bit of creativity to both read the obscure driver code (which I don't know, seems that HTC intentionally obfustacates, at times) - and to patch in what you want it to do in the limited space you have. As stroths mentioned, I wrote an intermediate driver for older, non-MicroP/pSOC devices, because it was appropiate given the limited amount of space, however, IMO, this isn't the best approach with the new devices.

Either way, there is no way to just "plop" your own C code and get the drivers to do what they want; that would be way too easy. Sorry, but if you want to do stuff, you'll have to get your hands grimy in assembly... Sometimes, it may take you an hour to just identify or find a part of the code you want to modify or understand! Reverse engineering is an art, which they unfortunately do not teach in school... fortunately, they do usually teach some kind of assembly (RISC assembly, typically, last I checked), so any experience in that would help greatly - it is just the different mode of thinking - (how do I change this code given that I've identified this routine, and these imports, and, i have 6 opcodes to do it in?) that will be the leap..

Re: Quest to modify the timeout for hardware keyboard.
 

mighty one has spoken! TUM TUM TUUUMMMM! thxs for all the help no2chen in the past with our toys.

Re: Quest to modify the timeout for hardware keyboard.
 

Yeah I am by no means a programming expert or claim to be but was happy to see someone trying at least to solve this annoying issue. And now I'm even happier seeing no2 involved. Looking forward to the results!

Re: Quest to modify the timeout for hardware keyboard.
 

Well, i spent an hour or two on it -

I think the timeout might be set by the light controller, not 100% sure. Would a driver that keeps the kb light on whenver the keyboard is out be better?

Re: Quest to modify the timeout for hardware keyboard.
 

That would be pretty nice. Maybe you could make one of your nue control panels to control it as well (timer, always on, etc).

Re: Quest to modify the timeout for hardware keyboard.
 

That would be great!

I can't imagine what this community would be like without you.

Re: Quest to modify the timeout for hardware keyboard.
 

+3

Thats how I had it on my mogul. I wouldnt even need a timeout at all really.

Re: Quest to modify the timeout for hardware keyboard.
 

YES!!!!!!

Re: Quest to modify the timeout for hardware keyboard.
 

Yes, something that does this and also can be turned on/off as an option would be fantastic!

Re: Quest to modify the timeout for hardware keyboard.
 

That would be great!

Re: Quest to modify the timeout for hardware keyboard.
 

that would be more than perfect i only use the keyboard to type lol and if i loose my path and it goes out on me in the dark i have to hit a button. this would be perfect!

Re: Quest to modify the timeout for hardware keyboard.
 

Anyone have IDA Pro ? It handles PPC's fairly well.

Re: Quest to modify the timeout for hardware keyboard.
 

subscribed

Re: Quest to modify the timeout for hardware keyboard.
 

i would rather have a driver that keeps the keyboard backlight on for 60seconds, then shuts it off until key is pressed again

Re: Quest to modify the timeout for hardware keyboard.
 

I think achieving this would be significantly more work than his proposed idea. I would say go with the always on while open, then later if it can be enhanced with timeout functionality that would be great.

Re: Quest to modify the timeout for hardware keyboard.
 

yes no2chem, that would be PERFECT!!

thanks for all your hard work.

Re: Quest to modify the timeout for hardware keyboard.
 

no2chem i bet is prolly trying to make it back to the old way where you can select it or change a value in registry this used to work and it currently does........damn drivers lol i used to set mine to 60 sec on my apache and i miss it oh so much

Re: Quest to modify the timeout for hardware keyboard.
 

WTF!
What's up with all of these "subscribed" post I am seeing lately?