Mobile Keyboard Testing Guide

Owned by Clarissa Forbes
May 11, 2023
6 min read

This guide is meant for beta testers of unreleased FirstVoices keyboards.

Introduction

Thank you for testing out one of our new or improved keyboards! Before you get started, there are a few steps you need to take. Normally, our keyboards are available through our FirstVoices Keyboards App, but since the version you will be sent is not officially released there are a few steps you need to take before testing.

Installation / Setup guide

The first step you will need to take is install the Keyman App. Keyman is the software we use to develop and update our keyboards before we officially release them. Keyman has its own app that you will be using to test these unreleased keyboards.

 

The screenshots taken for this tutorial come from a Samsung Z Flip3. Some icons and layouts may look different depending on your device. If you need help finding anything, please reach out to us and we will help you out!

Installing the Keyman App

  • Open up Google Play or the App Store on your device. Search for “Keyman”. The first result should be the Keyman App. Tap install, then open the app.

1. Searching for Keyman in Google Play

 

2. Official Keyman app

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Allow Keyman to send notifications and close out of the Get Started page. Unchecking the “Show “Get Started” on startup” will prevent it from popping up in the future.

 

 

 

  • Bring up the menu drop down by tapping the three dots in the top right corner, and select “Settings”. Check off “Enable Keyman as a system-wide keyboard”. This will take you to the keyboard settings window

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Toggle Keyman on and press ok

 

 

 

  • Keyman is now installed and the keyboard can be used across your device!

Installing Keyboard to Test

Once you have installed Keyman, you are ready to move on to installing the keyboard for testing!

 

  • You will receive an email with the keyboard to test when it is ready that includes a .zip file. Click on the attachment, and download it to the device you want to test the keyboard on.

 

 

  • In your notifications menu, there will be a notification that the folder has downloaded. Tap here and it will take you to the folder in your phone or tablets Files.

     

  • Alternatively, you can open your Files app if you know where it is located. Select the folder for the keyboard you just downloaded

This may be located somewhere else or look different depending on the model of your device and how you’ve customised or organised your device.

 

 

 

  • Once you are in the folder, choose to extract the file and save it under the name it downloaded as

 

 

 

 

 

  • Once you have extracted and saved the file, open Keyman

 

  • Once Keyman is open, click the three dots in the top right corner to open the menu dropdown, then select “Settings”

 

 

 

  • In Settings, select “Install Keyboard or Dictionary”, then “Install from local file”. This will open up your File browser

 

 

 

 

 

  • In your File Browser, open up the extracted folder, then the .kmp file inside of it.

 

 

 

  • The screen will display the keyboard’s install page with some brief information on the keyboard, followed by the welcome screen with further information and resources for using the keyboard. If there are any links that don’t work, files that won’t open, or instructions that don’t match how the keyboard works, please let us know.

 

 

 

 

 

  • Open the app of your choosing and tap on a text box. Your default keyboard should pop up, and in the bottom right corner there should be a small keyboard icon. Selecting that will open up your keyboards menu. From there, you should be able to select the Keyman app. If Keyman is not showing, please go back to the Keyman installation instructions and ensure you have toggled it on in your system settings.

  • Once this is complete, you are ready to test the keyboard!