Emoji search function

[hjarnek]

Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe. There are lots of emojis today, most of which I have no clue where they are in the list. An emoji search function like the one in GBoard would be very useful to more easily find the emoji you're looking for, and also see alternatives based on your search term.

Describe the solution you'd like An emoji search bar that sits somewhere when you press the emoji button.

Use case See above.

Describe alternatives you've considered Endless scrolling???

[BlackyHawky]

@hjarnek I think you can close this issue as it has already been answered here: #134

[Helium314]

@hjarnek is using an emoji dictionary an acceptable alternative to the search bar?

The search bar would have the advantage of being able to work on the full emoji texts or short names provided in the unicode list. But it's much more work to implement, especially considering how the emoji keyboard works internally, and certainly very low priority for me.

[adarsh1001]

@Helium314 so with the emoji dictionary (always enabled as part of multilingual suggestions I assume), basically the matching emojis would show up in the word suggestion strip? Like if I normally type "pizza" in a text field, one of the word suggestions would be pizza emoji? I think that would work fine.

[Helium314]

Like if I normally type "pizza" in a text field, one of the word suggestions would be pizza emoji?

I just tried, and when using the English emoji dictionary this indeed happens.

(I have the idea of adding/enabling the emoji dictionaries by default, but the currently things work only for a single app-internal dictionary per language)

[meichthys]

One thing I have noticed is if I have the google Swype lib loaded from here: https://github.com/erkserkserks/openboard/blob/master/app%2Fsrc%2Fmain%2FjniLibs%2Farm64-v8a%2Flibjni_latinimegoogle.so Then the suggestions do show emoji quite well, otherwise it is very hit or miss.

[GameOverFlowChart]

Here is an image about how I expect this to look like: https://github.com/Helium314/openboard/issues/348#issuecomment-1870049341

[noodlejetski]

I really like the way it works in AnySoftKeyboard (also open source) - typing a search key after a colon lists all matching emoji in the suggestion bar, so you can just type :laugh or :pumpkin or :cat or whatever in the same text field you're writing your message in, without having to open a separate menu or pressing any extra buttons. no emoji is actually pasted until you explicitly pick it from the suggestions.

[Uranusek]

@noodlejetski It is possible and works similarly to AnySoftKeyboard. Just download the emoji dictionary for your language. If there is no dictionary, you can still get emojis in the suggestion bar, but you need to add them to the dictionary first. It looks like this

[noodlejetski]

@Uranusek it looks like the dictionaty method suggest emoji whenever you type a word that matches its description, doesn't it? meanwhile the way ASK implements it, emoji gets out of the way until you explicitly write the symbol telling the keyboard that you're searching for one.

[Uranusek]

Yes. The solution in AnySoftKeyboard may be better for more emoji with the same name. HeliBoard then suggests only emoticons, not text.

[Handrail9]

I'd like to add that the current dictionary method is very poor for accessibility. A lot of emojis just do not show up when searching for them through the dictionary, and seem to only have one or two contexts in which they will be recommended. Attaching some examples

[Uranusek]

I guess they're not in the dictionary or they just have a different name. You can add the missing emojis to your personal dictionary, name them as you like and they will be displayed.

[machinaeZER0]

I would really love this feature, if it ends up getting implemented! Since there is an option in heliboard to turn off the suggestion strip at the top of the keyboard, an alternate, explicit way to search through emojis is something I would use regularly and very much appreciate coming from gboard.

[AaronKnowls]

I'm also so looking forward to this. This keyboard is a blessing, I can't believe how good it is. The emoji search is the only thing I'm missing, and I'm very picky! Such amazing work this brilliant app.

Thank you so so much for HeliBoard!

P.S.: the annoying thing about using emojis and not having the search feature is that to find an emoji otherwise takes such a long long time.

[meichthys]

It could just be me, but it doesn't seem like the emoji dictionary import workaround is working anymore. It used to work fine for me, but recently I've noticed that the emojis are not being suggested anymore.

Update: it did start working again after switching keyboards, then switching back.

[Sommergoldhaehnchen]

As a workaround, how to activate that emoji dictionary? I imported it to my multilingual german keyboard but there are no suggestions at all.

[sudoshindo]

I vote for the use of : to trigger emoji suggestions. It's quick and simple and I'm used to it because Discord and Anysoft both use that method.

[novoid]

I vote for the use of : to trigger emoji suggestions. It's quick and simple [and] because Discord and Anysoft both use that method.

I agree. It's a fairly common convention in most applications using emoticons such as messaging apps of all sorts.

and I'm used to it

Sorry, but that argument is not of any importance to this discussion. We should stick to objective arguments and not personal preferences because of habits that might or might not shared ones among the majority of people.

[GameOverFlowChart]

Having the emoji search in the emoji menue is obvious. Making it only accessible with : will make the function undiscoverable for many people. I could install the keyboard on the phones of not so tech savvy people around me, even show them how they can find Emojis with by typing : and the next week they will forget how that was done. Gboard is used by a far wider variety of people and of different ages in contrast to discord, sticking with Gboards method makes more sense. But adding an additional option to enable emoji search with : as a shortcut wouldn't hurt anyone.

[hjarnek]

Having the emoji search in the emoji menue is obvious. Making it only accessible with : will make the function undiscoverable for many people. I could install the keyboard on the phones of not so tech savvy people around me, even show them how they can find Emojis with by typing : and the next week they will forget how that was done. Gboard is used by a far wider variety of people and of different ages in contrast to discord, sticking with Gboards method makes more sense. But adding an additional option to enable emoji search with : as a shortcut wouldn't hurt anyone.

I think this is a great point.

[ccoVeille]

Update: it did start working again after switching keyboards, then switching back.

I had to do the exact same thing to make it work, I was disappointed at first.

[joewood9364]

Can someone fork this app and add search? The dev is weirdly anti-search which is a basic feature to be honest.

[Helium314]

@joewood9364 if the users who are too lazy to read "contributor needed" and rather spread lies would move along to this fork, it wouldn't even bother me. I'd consider implementing it myself only if I have the time. Given that I still have a pretty large amout of PRs open, and for every merged PR another one is opened, I don't think this is going to happen anytime soon.

[joewood9364]

@joewood9364 if the users who are too lazy to read "contributor needed" and rather spread lies would move along to this fork, it wouldn't even bother me. I'd consider implementing it myself only if I have the time. Given that I still have a pretty large amout of PRs open, and for every merged PR another one is opened, I don't think this is going to happen anytime soon.

No one cares how much time you have. I would highly recommend contributors to fork ☺️ (I mean that's basically what this lazy dev did anyway with OpenBoard.)

[Charles7z]

A user could, if they really wanted to, add emojis to the personal dictionary with a "shortcut" = simple search. Or even build a dictionary of such items.

You can also, well you could before the spell checker was broken in this last update, add numbers 0-999 to the dictionary and they will be predicted = no need for number row 🤷🏻‍♂️

There's a lot you can do with the dictionary 😉

[candroid-man]

No unhinged comment, just wanted to say I too would like this feature at some point. Thank you!

[joewood9364]

No unhinged comment, just wanted to say I too would like this feature at some point. Thank you!

Ass-kissing is pointless kid. Use an actually functional keyboard instead: https://github.com/futo-org/android-keyboard

[Handrail9]

No unhinged comment, just wanted to say I too would like this feature at some point. Thank you!

Ass-kissing is pointless kid. Use an actually functional keyboard instead: https://github.com/futo-org/android-keyboard

No need to imply HeliBoard is non-functional because of one feature, or to demean others by calling them "kid". While FUTO keyboard is a fantastic option for people who want a source-available keyboard, many people would prefer a fully FOSS keyboard. Please try to keep issues on topic.

[woj-tek]

Ass-kissing is pointless kid. Use an actually functional keyboard instead:

@joewood9364 please go spam with your "product" somewhere else, ok?

Also, it's so "amazing" that in dictionary section (https://keyboard.futo.org/dictionaries) it states:

Under construction

For now, check out third-party community dictionaries at https://codeberg.org/Helium314/aosp-dictionaries#dictionaries

If it's so awesome and functional why hoard dictionaries from HeliBoard repos? xD

[joewood9364]

Lool I searched for ~15 different emojis today with absolutely no need to scroll or use silly dictionary workarounds and it was great. This is what using a proper keyboard feels like.🥰💅 Heliboard users like yourselves in contrast seem very pent-up which I understand because your keyboard is giving you blue balls all the time.🤭🫠

[noodlejetski]

@Helium314 I don't think the "discussion" going on in here is very productive.

[Sommergoldhaehnchen]

Lool I searched for ~15 different emojis today with absolutely no need to scroll or use silly dictionary workarounds and it was great. This is what using a proper keyboard feels like.🥰💅 Heliboard users like yourselves in contrast seem very pent-up which I understand because your keyboard is giving you blue balls all the time.🤭🫠

I actually have to agree with you on this point! Searching Emojis via dictionary in HB isn't that comfortable. You have to know the keyword for that specific emoji and even if you know sometimes that emoji replaces the keyword instantly, which is not intended, if you simply want to put it after the word. Most of the time, however, I can't even find the right keyword for Emojis. In GBoard is was so nice to simply type different keywords for the right emoji. I wish so much that this would ever be possible in HB.

[hjarnek]

I will make an attempt to steer this discussion back on track again.

First off, I think it's amazing how much has happened to this keyboard since its fork from OpenBoard. Thank you @Helium314 for that!

Nevertheless, this is a feature that I think would add more value than 50 PRs of button polishing and style customization options. I know it's a time and resource question, and that this is marked "contributor needed", but I'm just trying emphasize how many people value this.

To me, an emoji dictionary is not the same thing. It's better than nothing, but I think having the emojis detached from the text suggestions is a relief. I don't want emojis taking up space in my text suggestions. And when I'm looking for emojis, I only want emojis. A dedicated emoji search view can show much more than just three suggestions - perhaps inspiration for something better than what you were looking for in the beginning.

So, there it goes, my 2 cent. I hope someone else comes along, that can help you speed up the implementation of things like this. Thank you for your hard work.

[Sommergoldhaehnchen]

[...] but I think having the emojis detached from the text suggestions is a relief. I don't want emojis taking up space in my text suggestions.

And that is exactly how HeliBoard's behaviour is like, right now! I want to type (glide-typing): "How much is the fish?" and the result is: "How much is the 🐟?" Not very serious. And I also don't want the emojis to be suggested with the text together in the upper bar. It would be so much better how GBoard is dealing with it: Simply implement an emoji search function within the emoji section, please.

[joewood9364]

I will make an attempt to steer this discussion back on track again.

First off, I think it's amazing how much has happened to this keyboard since its fork from OpenBoard. Thank you @Helium314 for that!

Nevertheless, this is a feature that I think would add more value than 50 PRs of button polishing and style customization options. I know it's a time and resource question, and that this is marked "contributor needed", but I'm just trying emphasize how many people value this.

To me, an emoji dictionary is not the same thing. It's better than nothing, but I think having the emojis detached from the text suggestions is a relief. I don't want emojis taking up space in my text suggestions. And when I'm looking for emojis, I only want emojis. A dedicated emoji search view can show much more than just three suggestions - perhaps inspiration for something better than what you were looking for in the beginning.

So, there it goes, my 2 cent. I hope someone else comes along, that can help you speed up the implementation of things like this. Thank you for your hard work.

This is a community project so attributing and thanking this one individual who just merges others people's work for all the community progress made is weird and cult-like. 90% of this thread is already mindless drones begging and worshipping this individual so sure if you want to steer the conversation back to that then go ahead (but it wont do anything lol).

[candroid-man]

I'd like to remind everyone, especially @joewood9364, that this project is being developed FOR FREE, so that YOU can enjoy it. It doesn't matter who works on it, that's just the reality. If you don't like it, then stop using it, and stop bitching about it in the place where productive conversation is supposed to take place.

I cannot believe I am even having to say this, I have never seen such a deranged GitHub thread in my life. All of this over a KEYBOARD APP! Yes, this is a feature that would be great to have, and that's why I'm here! But I also know that this is being made by people who just have a passion for FOSS, and this is not what FOSS is about. We are supposed to work together to make something great, and if you don't feel like doing that then move on with your life.

I would like to turn this into a positive thing, so I want to take the time to thank EVERYONE who has worked on the project. This keyboard has been a great choice for me and I am excited to see how to project moves forward.

[joewood9364]

I'd like to remind everyone, especially @joewood9364, that this project is being developed FOR FREE, so that YOU can enjoy it. It doesn't matter who works on it, that's just the reality. If you don't like it, then stop using it, and stop bitching about it in the place where productive conversation is supposed to take place.

I cannot believe I am even having to say this, I have never seen such a deranged GitHub thread in my life. All of this over a KEYBOARD APP! Yes, this is a feature that would be great to have, and that's why I'm here! But I also know that this is being made by people who just have a passion for FOSS, and this is not what FOSS is about. We are supposed to work together to make something great, and if you don't feel like doing that then move on with your life.

I would like to turn this into a positive thing, so I want to take the time to thank EVERYONE who has worked on the project. This keyboard has been a great choice for me and I am excited to see how to project moves forward.

No unhinged comment, just wanted to say I too would like this feature at some point. Thank you!

Didn't take long for this hypocrite to post an actually unhinged comment lmao. Pot calling the kettle black much?

[Handrail9]

@Helium314 would you mind locking the thread to moderators only? I feel Everything that needs to be said has been said and having someone in the thread who is actively speaking negatively about the project and the users is not the best for moral.

[Sommergoldhaehnchen]

@Helium314 would you mind locking the thread to moderators only? I feel Everything that needs to be said has been said and having someone in the thread who is actively speaking negatively about the project and the users is not the best for moral.

That's the real free speech and democracy! 🐹👍 Perhaps someone can think of another point they would like to make on this topic. So please leave the thread open.

[joewood9364]

@Helium314 would you mind locking the thread to moderators only? I feel Everything that needs to be said has been said and having someone in the thread who is actively speaking negatively about the project and the users is not the best for moral.

Oh he's on holiday (while you're triggered lol).

[novoid]

That's the real free speech and democracy!

This is NOT about free speech nor about politics.

@joewood9364 @Sommergoldhaehnchen

In my humble opinion, you have crosses the line already.

This is a free software project where you are able to politely suggest features, hand in well-formulated bug reports or decent pull requests or you can even fork this project and make it your own according to the license at hand.

This is in no case a way of being impolite to people who invest their spare time in order to provide you a great keyboard and still get unqualified comments like those in this thread.

Many people - like me - have already proven our point that the current workaround is not 100% satisfactory to everybody. If you're not OK with that, implement it yourself or switch to a different app or be fine with it at the moment: love it, change it or leave it.

But never, ever come here to insult or start some sort of flame war or troll around. This would guarantee that the project maintainers get discouraged and then you might have killed another great software maybe 99% of its users are very happy in its current state.

Thank you for considering.

++Damn, I wish Github had a blocking feature for users.++ :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:

Edit: thanks for pointing me to the blocking and reporting feature. I already tested it. (I assumed blocking/reporting should be in the context of a particular message but it's OK, I now got it.)

[Handrail9]

Damn, I wish Github had a blocking feature for users. 😜

[candroid-man]

@novoid Well put. Now let us all put this behind us and get back to work on making this a great project for everyone!

[Sommergoldhaehnchen]

That's the real free speech and democracy!

This is NOT about free speech nor about politics.

@joewood9364 @Sommergoldhaehnchen

In my humble opinion, you have crosses the line already.

Why me? 🤨

In my opinion, it's not your place to dictate what can and cannot be said here, especially since nothing was offensive. And even here on Github, the project thrives on free discourse. Censorship and blocking leads in the completely wrong direction! And now I hope we can get back to the topic and not continue to antagonise each other.

[joewood9364]

That's the real free speech and democracy!

This is NOT about free speech nor about politics.

@joewood9364 @Sommergoldhaehnchen

In my humble opinion, you have crosses the line already.

This is a free software project where you are able to politely suggest features, hand in well-formulated bug reports or decent pull requests or you can even fork this project and make it your own according to the license at hand.

This is in no case a way of being impolite to people who invest their spare time in order to provide you a great keyboard and still get unqualified comments like those in this thread.

Many people - like me - have already proven our point that the current workaround is not 100% satisfactory to everybody. If you're not OK with that, implement it yourself or switch to a different app or be fine with it at the moment: love it, change it or leave it.

But never, ever come here to insult or start some sort of flame war or troll around. This would guarantee that the project maintainers get discouraged and then you might have killed another great software maybe 99% of its users are very happy in its current state.

Thank you for considering.

++Damn, I wish Github had a blocking feature for users.++ :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:

Edit: thanks for pointing me to the blocking and reporting feature. I already tested it. (I assumed blocking/reporting should be in the context of a particular message but it's OK, I now got it.)

Rambling aside how incompetent does one have to be to only now discover how blocking people works🙃

[Sommergoldhaehnchen]

That's the real free speech and democracy!

This is NOT about free speech nor about politics. @joewood9364 @Sommergoldhaehnchen In my humble opinion, you have crosses the line already. This is a free software project where you are able to politely suggest features, hand in well-formulated bug reports or decent pull requests or you can even fork this project and make it your own according to the license at hand. This is in no case a way of being impolite to people who invest their spare time in order to provide you a great keyboard and still get unqualified comments like those in this thread. Many people - like me - have already proven our point that the current workaround is not 100% satisfactory to everybody. If you're not OK with that, implement it yourself or switch to a different app or be fine with it at the moment: love it, change it or leave it. But never, ever come here to insult or start some sort of flame war or troll around. This would guarantee that the project maintainers get discouraged and then you might have killed another great software maybe 99% of its users are very happy in its current state. Thank you for considering. ++Damn, I wish Github had a blocking feature for users.++ 😜 Edit: thanks for pointing me to the blocking and reporting feature. I already tested it. (I assumed blocking/reporting should be in the context of a particular message but it's OK, I now got it.)

Rambling aside how incompetent does one have to be to only now discover how blocking people works🙃

Hm, btw. I never used that feature and would never used it. So it's me, who didn't know it exists! 😂 I would tolerate every kind of opinion.

[Sommergoldhaehnchen]

Back to topic: Is it known whether the developer / contributors is considering implementing emoji search?

[GameOverFlowChart]

Back to topic: Is it known whether the developer / contributors is considering implementing emoji search?

This issue is still open which means yes. That's the point of the issue. And everything else is spam, and needs to be shut down, and no spam is not free speech if you want to talk about a topic you have to find a fitting place for it. This place is to talk about the addition of an emoji search function in Heliboard and nothing else.