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Soft Keyboard – Extract

It works like this:

  1. The extract mode of entering text is commonly used when in landscape orientation.

  2. When an input field is tapped…

  3. …the field is extracted and displayed full-screen, along with the soft keyboard.

  4. The field gets highlighted and text can be entered using the keyboard. When the keyboard is hidden…

  5. …the previous screen is shown, and the entered text is displayed in the corresponding input field.

Use when

A few modes are used to organize the available space between the application and the soft keyboard. The extract mode of entering text is used when, while displaying the soft keyboard, the resulting available space is too small to be usable. This is usually only the case when your app is used in landscape orientation. When your app is in portrait orientation, consider using the pan & scan mode for entering text.

The Good

  • Enough space to enter text in landscape orientation
  • It is possible to jump from one input field to another without leave the soft keyboard. (tecnonucleo)

The Bad

  • Input field is extracted from the app. The context might not be clear for users

    Examples

    Dropbox

    1 For searching in dropbox, an input field is displayed at the top of the screen. When the input field is selected...

    2 ... it is extracted and displayed fullscreen on top of the current screen, along with the soft keyboard. The input field is highlighted and text can be entered using the keyboard. When the keyboard is hidden...

    3 ... the original input field is displayed, and the entered text is displayed in the field.

    Gmail

    1 When composing a new email, several input fields are displayed on the screen. When one of them is tapped...

    2 ... it is extracted and displayed fullscreen on top of the current screen, along with the soft keyboard. The input field is highlighted and text can be entered using the keyboard. When the keyboard is hidden...

    3 ... the user returns to the original screen, and the entered text is displayed in the corresponding input field.

    Twitter

    1 In landscape mode, to create a tweet, the user has to tap the textinput field.

    2 Upon tapping, the screen extracts into only a text input field, keybord, and a button for updating the tweet.

    3 The user can start typing in his tweet.

    4 And when the keyboard is hidden, the original text input field is displayed again.

    One Response to Soft Keyboard – Extract

    1. jason says:
      August 30, 2012 at 2:19 pm

      is there an app that will allow the user to force this extract mode?

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