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There's no keyboard for my language - can you make one?Thank you for your interest in the FirstVoices Keyboards! Our answer to this is a bit different depending on if you’re looking for a keyboard for a language that is spoken within BC or outside of BC. Within BC If you are looking to make a new keyboard for your language or specific writing system within BC, please see this guide, and send us an email at hello@firstvoices.com. Outside of BC While we primarily serve BC First Nations, we are open for collaboration with communities outside of BC. Limited funds do sometimes restrict the amount of support that we are able to provide. As such, customizing keyboards for languages outside of BC is done on a capacity basis - currently, we are at capacity and will not be taking requests for keyboards outside of BC. Our keyboards come from several sources that may be helpful to you: If you are looking to develop a customized keyboard layout that isn't available on either of those lists, then you can also create your own. We would suggest referencing the developer guides on Keyman Developer, which is software for creating open source keyboards available for desktop and mobile. Our FirstVoices Keyboards app is able to host keyboards designed with this software. |
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What fonts work with my keyboard?Not all fonts are created equal, and unfortunately there are many that still are not compatible with many Indigenous languages. For languages based in British Columbia, we recommend Aboriginal Sans, Aboriginal Serif, and BC Sans. Some popular default options are Arial and Times New Roman. |
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Mobile
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What are the keys with green text on my mobile keyboard?The mobile keyboard you use may have some keys with green text, as shown in the example below from the Sahtúgot'ı̨nę́ Yatı̨́ keyboard:  These green keys are combining keys. This means that they don’t output a letter or character like a normal key, but they work in combination with other keys. When pressed after a vowel, they create accented vowels:  Which combining keys work with which letters will change depending on which accents your language uses and the combinations needed to write your language. If you’re not sure, check out the keyboard’s help page! If you’re not sure how to do that, see Where do I find the help page for my mobile keyboard? below. |
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How do I swap between mobile keyboards?Android There are two methods that can be used to switch between mobile keyboards. One method is by pressing and holding the little globe key, usually located to the left of the space bar. Holding this key will bring up your input method menu, where you can select which keyboard you wish to use. Tapping the globe key allows you to switch between multiple languages if you have more than one installed on your keyboard.  The other method is by tapping the Keyboard Button in your navigation bar. Tapping it brings up the input method menu, where you can select the keyboard you want. Note: This button is only visible if you have enabled it. If you would like to enable it, see Step 2: Setting up the FirstVoices Keyboard App in the installation guide.  iOS To swap between keyboards, pressing and holding the little globe key, usually located to the left of the space bar. Holding this key will bring up your keyboard menu, where you can select which keyboard you wish to use.
Tapping the globe key allows you to switch between multiple languages if you have more than one installed on your keyboard.  |
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Where do I find the help page for my mobile keyboard?The help page for each keyboard is linked on the Keyboard Installation Guide on this knowledge base. In the FirstVoices Keyboards app, there is a question mark button ( Android  iOS  |
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What are the light gray dots in the top right corner of certain keys?The light gray dots in the top right corner of a key denote that it is a long press key. Pressing and holding on these keys will open up a menu with additional characters or punctuation. Keeping your finger on your screen, slide over to the option you would like and remove your finger from the screen to type the chosen letter.  |
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The Keyboard doesn't work on my iPhone/iPad anymore!The update to iOS 16 in the fall of 2022 created a bug that prevented the app from working properly. This has since been fixed - please see this page for the solution. If this does not help, contact us at hello@firstvoices.com for support. |
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Desktop
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How do I access numbers or punctuation on my computer keyboard?On many of the FirstVoices keyboards, the number and punctuation keys are modified to type out letters and special characters that are not on the English keyboard. To access the original values of modified keys, press Right-Alt (Windows) / Option (Mac). The Slash / is typed Right-Alt + Slash on Windows, Option + Slash on Mac. |
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How do I switch between keyboards on my computer?Mac You can swap between keyboards by pressing on the input menu button in the top right side of your screen.  Alternatively, you can swap between a Keyman keyboard and an English keyboard by holding Ctrl and tapping Spacebar. Note: You cannot switch between two Keyman keyboards using this method, only Keyman and another keyboard. You must switch keyboards by going into the Keyman menu. Windows You can swap the keyboard you’re using by pressing on the input methods button in the bottom right corner of your screen and selecting the keyboard you want in the menu that pops up. The icon shown on your input methods button will vary depending on what keyboard you currently have active.  Alternatively, you can press windows key + tap the space bar to quickly swap between keyboards. You can navigate down the menu that pops up by tapping the space bar again. |
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How do I open my on-screen keyboard?Mac To open your on-screen keyboard, you will need to open your Keyman menu. First, switch to a Keyman keyboard. Then click again on your input menu button to open the Keyman drop down, and scroll down to On-Screen Keyboard. The on-screen keyboard will open momentarily.  Your on-screen keyboard will stay in front of any other windows you open, and can be dragged anywhere. It’s a great resource to use when first using a keyboard since it shows you the keymap, and changes if you are pressing on any modifying keys (shift, alt, ctrl, and combinations of those keys). Windows To open your on-screen keyboard, you will need to open your Keyman menu. Click on the little arrow (^) to access the hidden icon menu, and click on the Keyman icon. In the Keyman menu, click on On-Screen Keyboard at the top of the right column. The on-screen keyboard will pop up momentarily.  Your on-screen keyboard will stay in front of any other windows you open, and can be dragged anywhere. It’s a great resource to use when first using a keyboard since it shows you the keymap, and changes if you are pressing on any modifying keys (shift, alt, ctrl, and combinations of those keys). Another way that you can open the on-screen keyboard is by pressing Shift + right-Alt + K. This shortcut will only work if click off of whatever screen you are working in, and tends to work much more consistently in Windows 11. |
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How do I open Keyman Configuration / settings?Mac To open Keyman Configuration, you will need to open your Keyman menu. First, switch to a Keyman keyboard. Then click again on your input menu button to open the Keyman drop down, and scroll down to Configuration…. Keyman Configuration will open momentarily.  Windows To open Keyman Configuration, you will need to open your Keyman menu. Click on the little arrow (^) to access the hidden icon menu, and click on the Keyman icon. Once in the Keyman menu, click on Configuration… in the middle of the right column. Keyman Configuration will open momentarily.  |
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Why are some letters autocapitalising in the middle of a word when using Microsoft Word?Microsoft Word has a feature that automatically causes letters to become capitals in certain situations, such as an ‘i' without a preceding letter. Sometimes, due to how a special character is formed, it will automatically capitalise the 'i’ in the middle of a word. This can become quite annoying after a while! Mac To turn it off, open up Word and select Tools, then click on AutoCorrect Options….   In the options menu, click the check next to Capitalize the first letter of sentences to turn it off. You can change any other autocorrect features that may have an effect on writing your language, like Replace text as you type, here as well.  Windows To turn it off, open up Word. On the right side of the Home Screen, select Options.  Once Options is open, click on Proofing. In Proofing, click on the AutoCorrect Options… button.  Click the check next to Capitalize the first letter of sentences to turn it off. You can change any other autocorrect features that may have an effect on writing your language, like Replace text as you type, here as well. 
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