Android - Handle "Enter" in an EditText

Solution 1:

I am wondering if there is a way to handle the user pressing Enter while typing in an EditText, something like the onSubmit HTML event.

Yes.

Also wondering if there is a way to manipulate the virtual keyboard in such a way that the "Done" button is labeled something else (for example "Go") and performs a certain action when clicked (again, like onSubmit).

Also yes.

You will want to look at the android:imeActionId and android:imeOptions attributes, plus the setOnEditorActionListener() method, all on TextView.

For changing the text of the "Done" button to a custom string, use:

mEditText.setImeActionLabel("Custom text", KeyEvent.KEYCODE_ENTER);

Solution 2:

final EditText edittext = (EditText) findViewById(R.id.edittext);
edittext.setOnKeyListener(new OnKeyListener() {
    public boolean onKey(View v, int keyCode, KeyEvent event) {
        // If the event is a key-down event on the "enter" button
        if ((event.getAction() == KeyEvent.ACTION_DOWN) &&
            (keyCode == KeyEvent.KEYCODE_ENTER)) {
          // Perform action on key press
          Toast.makeText(HelloFormStuff.this, edittext.getText(), Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
          return true;
        }
        return false;
    }
});

Solution 3:

Here's what you do. It's also hidden in the Android Developer's sample code 'Bluetooth Chat'. Replace the bold parts that say "example" with your own variables and methods.

First, import what you need into the main Activity where you want the return button to do something special:

import android.view.inputmethod.EditorInfo;
import android.widget.TextView;
import android.view.KeyEvent;

Now, make a variable of type TextView.OnEditorActionListener for your return key (here I use exampleListener);

TextView.OnEditorActionListener exampleListener = new TextView.OnEditorActionListener(){

Then you need to tell the listener two things about what to do when the return button is pressed. It needs to know what EditText we're talking about (here I use exampleView), and then it needs to know what to do when the Enter key is pressed (here, example_confirm()). If this is the last or only EditText in your Activity, it should do the same thing as the onClick method for your Submit (or OK, Confirm, Send, Save, etc) button.

public boolean onEditorAction(TextView exampleView, int actionId, KeyEvent event) {
   if (actionId == EditorInfo.IME_NULL  
      && event.getAction() == KeyEvent.ACTION_DOWN) { 
      example_confirm();//match this behavior to your 'Send' (or Confirm) button
   }
   return true;
}

Finally, set the listener (most likely in your onCreate method);

exampleView.setOnEditorActionListener(exampleListener);