Is there a way to move the caret in a text box without using the hard keyboard and without a bunch of single touches?

Question

Often when I'm editing in a text box, I'm trying to insert text and specific location or delete text from a specific location. It usually takes me a few touches to get it right, but sometimes I just say screw it, delete the word and and retype.

Since I'm usually off by just one character, is there a way to move the caret to left or right by 1 character? Maybe a gesture of some sort?

I'm a little unsure if this falls under keyboard software functions(If it does then I'll take a closer look @ the alternative keyboard questions).

My device is a Droid which does have a hard keyboard, but I want to be prepared for the day I decide to get phone that doesn't have one.

score 6 · Answer 1 · answered Feb 17 '11 at 11:42

This depends on the phone you're using, on my Spica, for example, I can use the directional keypad to adjust the position of the cursor. On phones that have trackballs, the trackball does the same job.

Otherwise, the backspace key can be used as a workaround for left-arrow key (delete a few chars, then retype the word you're inserting and retype the deleted chars.

Another alternative, if you're typing in English or in one of the supported languages, you can try Swype. Swype is a word-based text input (as opposed to character based), and you typically delete or swipe one word at a time and the correction mode (double tap on the word you want to correct and pick or swipe the new word) make correcting errors a breeze.

I use the optical trackball on my HTC Desire to adjust the cursor position. — Alastair, Feb 17 '11 at 15:21
Alastair, that should be an answer! Thanks for the tip, I'm using the Desire as well and didn't know about this. — jhwist, Feb 23 '11 at 12:38

score 4 · Accepted Answer · answered Feb 17 '11 at 11:48

4

In Froyo and later, there is a "cursor handle" that you can grab and drag to the right location.

cursor handle

Now this photo doesnt show it, but the actual cursor is still there blinking too. that handle will also bring up a quick action menu to select text or paste. and once text is selected, you can copy and cut too.

answered Feb 17 '11 at 11:48

Ryan Conrad

22,673
9
58
81

I'm quite sure that the text handle is added in Gingerbread, since my Froyo does not have the handle – Lie Ryan Feb 17 '11 at 13:06
That looks exactly what I'm looking for. I have Froyo, but i don't have that cursor handle. How do I enable it? Or does is it not available when a hard keyboard is available to the device? – Jay Cummins Feb 17 '11 at 13:09
1

oh, well maybe its part of TouchWiz then, or a "hack" added to my Rom... because I have it in my TouchWiz froyo Rom... i just assumed that it was part of froyo already... – Ryan Conrad Feb 17 '11 at 13:18
1

I am running Froyo on my Galaxy S and the cursor handle is there too. – Edelcom Feb 17 '11 at 13:41
Motoblur has something like this. A long press and hold in a text field will bring up a small, magnified view of the cursor and text, allowing you to move it around the field freely. – shambleh Feb 17 '11 at 13:51
I have Froyo on my SGS (Nero v5) but am using the Gingerbread Android keyboard. I'm not sure whether the handle was present when I was using the Froyo kb. – Matthew Read Feb 17 '11 at 14:32
@Mathew read are you using the one that has working vibrate? That's probably my mod :-) – Ryan Conrad Feb 17 '11 at 22:07
@Ryan I have the one built into Nero and vibrate shut off ;) – Matthew Read Feb 18 '11 at 15:25
yes, the one built in to nero is my mod :) – Ryan Conrad Feb 18 '11 at 15:38
Cool times! +1. – Matthew Read Feb 19 '11 at 13:46

score 4 · Answer 3 · edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:18

4

Providing this as an answer for those who don't want to install a custom ROM and want something close to the stock soft keyboard.

I installed Anysoft Keyboard (found it on this question). The android market doesn't have the current screenshots, but here's one that shows the small left/right arrows at the top of the keyboard: enter image description here

edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:18

Community

1

answered Feb 19 '11 at 10:34

Jay Cummins

687
1
7
17

score 3 · Answer 4 · edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:18

3

The Samsung keyboard and the Swype keyboard have arrow keys you can use for this; see this question.

edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:18

Community

1

answered Feb 17 '11 at 14:33

Matthew Read

50,567
30
145
273

1

...as does the HTC Touch Input keyboard on my Desire HD. – Matt H Feb 18 '11 at 15:18
1

I did try Swype for a while and I love the idea,but I couldn't adjust to it. – Jay Cummins Feb 19 '11 at 10:32

score 2 · Answer 5 · answered Dec 27 '17 at 00:15

2

As of 2017 and since 2016, in Gboard (previously known as Google Keyboard), you can swipe along the space-bar to navigate text and move the cursor.

Source (CNET)

answered Dec 27 '17 at 00:15

Timothy Langer

369
3
10

score 1 · Answer 6 · answered May 17 '11 at 16:57

1

MultiLing keyboard has arrow keys in there somewhere.

answered May 17 '11 at 16:57

Nick Dixon

209
1
8

Is there a way to move the caret in a text box without using the hard keyboard and without a bunch of single touches?

6 Answers6