Languages instructions are also available within the app
2026 Oct 1
INTRODUCTION and DOCUMENTATION in 2 Sections.
IMPORTANT: This document is for both iPhone models 6" or larger and iPad 11" or larger. Differences will be noted by (Phone) or (Pad)
WEBSITE: myownkeyboard.tech For news, updates, tips and documentation.
EMAIL: support@myownkeyboard.tech
Note: Abbreviations of keyboard (KB) keyboards (KBs))
*** Maintaining documentation is forever. The Introduction and Detailed sections are available on the website. As changes occur, the website is updated. See the Elements view. Check occasionally for Update alerts. ***
What does MyOwnKeyboard (MYOKB) app do and why?
The major difference from other KBs you can change the key values on your KB. Why do that? World languages change constantly with new characters, symbols, emojis and personal. MYOKB provides a process to add or change key values. You maintain your KBs as the texting world changes. Share KBs with others that have similar iPhones to yours.
MyOwnKeyboard gives you future flexibility. The app will change for iPhone and iPad as new hardware and updated operating systems occur.
HIGHLIGHTS to make incredible messages:
* The KB design was designed for typing ease. Notice the first row keys have one value, not numbers with punctuations, (no shifting). The numbers are in a calculater block. All punctuation is on single keys. Except 4 financial symbols: Shift $ for Pound, Euro for Yuan, Zero for slashed Zero.
* There are 7 instant KBs buttons. T1 - T7 are Country, Numbers, Punctuation, Vowels, Emojis, Phrases and Symbols.
Create 5 more with T8 - T12 for other or extended languages, additional phrases and various symbols.
* Compose View to create messages.
* Voice View for 'voice to text' of phrases or paragraphs. Edit the text and paste elsewhere.
* Create View to create your style of KBs, change at any time. Assign them to instant buttons.
* Storage View to view KB and message files. Also to assign KBs to instant keys.
* Every app KB has edit keys.
They are: tab, shift, caplock, scroll, delete, pointer, cut, copy, paste, repeating keys,undo and redo.
INTRODUCTION
MyOwnKeyboard has 6 views:
1. HOME shows access to the 5 other views.
2. INTRODUCTION Read about the app and detailed documentation.
3. CREATE, Create KBs and store them from suggested formats.
4. COMPOSE, Messages are created, saved and sent via the Apple Message app and email.
5. VOICE, Voice to text, selected, copied, pasted to other views, text messages and email.
6. STORAGE, Stores KBs, phrases and messages. Show lists of Compose message files, KB files. Delete messages and KBs. Assign KBs to instant keys.
Create your own country KB quickly with suggested layouts, emojis and phrases. Create other supporting KBs with extended languages, sciences, education.
MyOwnKeyboard was designed to create and change KB layouts as languages change. Multiple KBs are instantly available for messaging as they alternate back and forth. They can be used for country languages, emojis, symbols, phrases, paragraphs, formulas, teaching and your imagination.
KBs are stored as text files and can be assigned to 12 Instant buttons for instant access. They can be transferred to other users as an email attachment, stored locally and the cloud. Use the installed free Apple app called Files. The Files app provides user control of KBs and message files. There is no limit of KBs that can be created. Assign any KB to Instant keys T1 through T12. While other KBs are easily accessed to swap in and out.
There are 27 country KBs, each has their basic suggested layout to use and customize.
(Phone) Seven instant KBs: ABC, 123, Emojis, Punctuation, Vowels, Phrases, symbols that you can change.
(Pad) Three instant KBs: ABC,Vowel+,Emojis.
A single key can contain one or many characters, emojis, phrases, sentences and paragraphs. KBs can be edited, stored and shared with other users. Also receive KBs from others using similar devices.
The app is a KB texting system for all languages in all countries. KBs can be created with basic latin alpha or ideogram (oriental) characters. KB key values can be changed using Create, Save and Edit methods.
There are about 7000 languages spoken in world. The most dominant are in about 32 countries. Apple supports 175 languages for users that you can copy their key values to your KB. There are variants within those countries that are constantly changing. MyOwnKeyboard provides the ability to change your KBs from different sources: Apple's system country KBs and Apple supported Unicode characters.
All KBs are stored in app storage. Transfer them to attached storage devices and the Apple cloud. All KB layouts can be shared between users of like Apple devices that have MyOwnKeyboard installed. Attach them to emails.
Use the Apple Files app to move, copy and delete files from app directories. See # 13 in section 2.
Messages created in the Compose view can be stored as files, copy, pasted to other apps or AirDrop. The Compose view does not use touch screen methods as the app provides all edits faster with precision.
FEATURES:
* Create your own KB with other instant KBs in the same view.
* 12 Instant KBs. T1-T12
* Undo and Redo if you accidently delete one or more characters or words.
* Delete words immediately with the Wx button.
* Four pointer navigation buttons with arrows to relocate the pointer.
Two buttons that move the pointer one position left or right.
Two buttons that move the pointer left and right one WORD at a time.
* All character keys repeat from slow, medium and fast. Also Tab, Delete, Undo, Redo and arrow keys repeat at the same rates.
* All Compose keys pulse on touch.
* Voice to text translation. Refer to #2 in section 2.
* We use phrases like "Good Morning", "Have a Great day", "Lets get together for lunch", etc.
There are (Pad) 12 suggested instant phrases that appear when you select your country layout. Change them in Create.
(Phone) A dedicated PH KB for phrases. 11 shown with 22 more keys for expansion.
The app also creates a phrase index and a phrase KB with your phrases. This applies to many phrases, sentences and paragraphs.
Put the phrase KB on instant T# key, access with a button touch while composing. see #9 in section 2.
* Suggested country KBs appear when selecting a country button during CREATE. Either accept or change key values as needed.
* Change KB key values using IOS system country KBs or copy, paste from Unicode character sets.
* KB Instant(switch) buttons T1-T12 are instant KBs.
Assign KBs to buttons T1-T12. Typical are language KBs, supplement language KBs to assist Latin, ideographic (oriental).
* Any key value can be changed, deleted except edit keys.
* Space cluster for easy access. Shown as ⚛⚛⚛⚛ from 1 to many in any direction. Place any where.
* EDIT keys: (Cannot change their location).
Tab (3 spaces).
CapLock. (Locks upper case).
Shift. Touch & release the Shift button, then touch a lower case key, the upper case appears in the text area. No need to hold down the shift button.
Delete one character or 1 word.
Return. Go to the next line.
Cut, Copy, using text markers (surround a word/s with pipe | characters).
Paste to the pointer position.
Cursor navigation arrows. Very useful to move the pointer around your text message. These arrows replace the touch screen cursor movement, are easier to precisely position the pointer. You can move the pointer one position or one word at a time. .
Undo and Redo up to 500 text images. Saves retyping when making an error (undo) or redo a previous(undo).
* The as you type, the system pasteboard is constantly updated. Great for pasting the whole message anywhere.
* In addition to the system paste board, the app pasteboard with buttons of 'SavPast' and 'GetPast'. Select some text with the pipe markers, touch the Copy button, touch SavPast, move the pointer, touch GetPast. The text is saved until you change it later.
* KBs, messages and phrase text files are stored in app directories, shared in messages, air drop or email. Use the Files app to select and copy to other apps. see #13 in Create documentation.
* Start making KBs in the CREATE country documentation. Create a country KB, make changes to the emoji KB, assign the KBs to instant buttons T1, T5, test in Compose.
Go to the Create, touch your country's button to see the country's KB layout, make changes, then read documentation #1.
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DOCUMENTATION DETAILS
MyOwnKeyboard Index
__________________________
#1 Start Up, create 2 KBs.
#2 Voice translation.
#3 KB structure.
#4 Instant KBs.
#5 Key groups, navigation keys.
#6 CREATE a training KB.
#7 KB storage.
#8 COMPOSE.
#9 Phrase indexed KBs.
#10 Cut/Copy/Paste, Save, Restore.
#11 Text file storage.
#12 File Errors
#13 File transfers: KBs and Text.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#1 START UP - CREATE 2 KBS:
START UP NOTES:
~ Important on entering text. ~
The Compose view creates your messages using the app KB for text enter and editing. The compose text view screen is touch disabled as the app editing is faster and precise.
Editing the file Message Name calls the IOS system KB (small or large) to enter a name.
In other text views or text fields, screen touching shows the IOS system KB and is the only way to enter text into those views/fields. The IOS KB appears, as a large KB or a small floating movable KB by dragging its bottom. If the large IOS KB appears or pinch it to show the small IOS KB. Pinch out the small KB to make a large KB. (Not if the magic KB is attached). To dismiss a small or large KB touch the KB icon or the return button. The return button is used to dismiss the current method and shows the view bar on top.
Create the FIRST KB. Go to the CREATE View.
IMPORTANT:
Touching the app Protect button protects your KB from deleting all entered key characters with either the Clear button or a country button. It is unprotected after saving the KB. The UnProtect button stops protection.
Select your country language KB and touch PROTECT. Touch Clear or any bottom buttons, nothing is cleared or replaced.
Enter a file name, a system KB appears, suggest a short name like a 3 character country code as shown on the layout.
To use other country KBs for key sources, go to settings/general/KB/KBs/Add New KB and select the country of choice.
Make changes on the keys using the popup system KB or select a country KB from the globe button that you selected, select a country. Touch a key, enter your change. The keys with 2 characters are lower and upper case. Dual Emojis are OK.
When your changes are done, Save the file (Protect is turned off), touch Test, touch COMPOSE and there's your KB! The file is stored in the app Document directory.
To edit your KB, enter the file name, touch Edit, make changes, Save, Test, COMPOSE to test it.
Try it out. Type a message, use some edit keys.
Go back to Create, touch Restore to see your KB. Make changes then Save, Test and COMPOSE over and over as many times as needed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SECOND KB Go to Create.
Select the Emoji layout, turn PROTECT on.
Make some changes to the suggested emoji KB by touching the Globe and select Emoji. Then select a layout key and touch the Emoji you want.
If you put 2 emojis on one key you will have a lower and upper case pair. Like thumbs up, thumbs down 👍👎, Smile or frown.
Enter a File Name: Like emo. Touch Save (Protect is turned off). The file is stored in the app Document directory.
To test: touch Test, COMPOSE to see your KB. Test some emojis. Return to CREATE, touch Restore. Make changes, Save, Test, COMPOSE and Restore over and over.
To edit your KB, enter the file name emo, touch Edit, make changes, Save, Test, COMPOSE to test it.
You have created your language KB and changed your Emoji KB. Now assign them to the instant buttons in the Storage view.
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ASSIGNMENT:
Go to the app STORAGE view, touch KB List and see the 2 KB names.
Assign your two KBs to instant Instant buttons:
Enter your country KB name, touch T1 for assignment.
Enter your next KB name(emo), touch T5 for assignment.
Go to COMPOSE, touch T1 and your country KB appears, then T5 for the emoji.
Nice job!
This is the end of creating two KBs.
Make a KB with just the alphabet for your children. Or arithmetic samples like 2+2= 4x2= 27/3= 16-7=. Put each on one key. Show an emoji with a name. You are the teacher!
MORE DETAILS:
In CREATE.
Touch a ? key, touch a KB character/s to fill the key. You can put any language or Unicode character value on any key, add or delete them. Also copy, paste to them. You can enter multiple characters. Enter any 2 characters, you create a prime and secondary (lower/upper) characters. No character limit. The editing keys cannot be changed or moved they are code.
#2 VOICE TRANSLATION IN THE VOICE VIEW: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Think of a name for your phrases, like ph1, ph2 etc. Enter into the FileName box, touch Save.
The Voice view translates voice to text. There is a View message that says:
Touch screen, touch mic(black), talk in a quiet place, when done talking, turn mic off (touch the mic). To edit, (touch screen), select a portion using text handles or Select, Select All, Copy, Paste. You can copy all or a portion and paste into COMPOSE or into Create keys.
In the select pop-up there is Autofill. The Autofill has an option of Scan text. Scan text uses the iPhone camera to copy text in focus, insert to the Voice area. Copy, edit and paste anywhere. Why type? Try it. A nice Apple feature!
For voice command help, search internet "apple voice to text commands". Try these: Say 'period' and a period shows, 'comma' see a , 'question mark' see a ?. See the search for more commands.
Voice translating is not available in the COMPOSE view. Use the Voice view for voice to text, select, copy and paste into the COMPOSE text area. Read from a newspaper, book, translates instantly. It is best to name and save the COMPOSE message as you go back and forth, adding new stuff and deleting others.
#3 KB STRUCTURE: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Phone) There are 5 rows of 11 keys or 55 keys: 38 for any character values and 17 for edit. Atomic icons keys ⚛ ⚛ ⚛ ⚛ are space indicators. Copy, paste a ⚛ (space) anywhere.
(Pad) There are 8 rows of 14 keys or 112 keys: 95 for any character values and 17 for edit. Atomic icons keys ⚛ ⚛ ⚛ ⚛ are space indicators. Copy, paste a ⚛ (space) anywhere.
There are 17 edit keys, described in #5 below.
#4 INSTANT KBS: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Phone) There are 7 instant KBs that come with the app. They are: ABC, 123, Punctuation, Vowels, Emojis, Phrases and Symbols.
They can be changed in the Create View.
(Pad) There are 3 instant KBs that come with the app. They are: ABC, Vowels+, Emojis. They can be changed in the Create View.
Instant KBs are a new concept by having 12 different KBs instantly available for enhanced texting that switch back and forth. This solves situations where languages have layers of symbols and characters that overload a KB. Another situation is where multiple phrases, emojis are needed and many symbols in the arts and sciences required for texting. Once you have created your KBs you can assign KBs up to 12 buttons T1-T12. Assign them in the STORAGE view, select them in COMPOSE. During normal texting, touch a T# button, select the characters, phrases, emojis and symbols into the text message.
You can ID phrases on a key. Preface the phrase with a tilde character followed by 2 characters. (no emojis in the ID) Example: ~A1Good Morning. In COMPOSE, touch the key and only the message appears as Good Morning. The code recognizes the ~ and does not print the index ~A1. There are 2 buttons, IDon and IDoff, they either show the ID or not. Default is IDoff. See #9 for phrase info in Section 2.
Print the Indexed phrase reference list: In the Voice view, select a phrase index file, copy and paste to Notes to print. You might need for reference or to rebuild the phrases.
#5 KEY GROUPS AND NAVIGATION KEYS: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Text edit keys are in fixed key locations. You cannot change their icons or positions, they represent editing code. All edit keys repeat slow, medium, fast except cut, copy, paste, shift, caplock and |x| mark remover.
The COMPOSE edit keys:
X Deletes one character at a time.
⇠WX Deletes a word at a time.
⏩ Tabs 3 spaces
🔒 The CapLock button locks upper case. Touch to turn off.
🔁 (2) Shiftkeys for upper case character. Touch and release,(no touch and hold), touch a key, the upper case shows in text. This is faster as you capitalize the first character then immediately continue in lower case.
↩️ Return to the next line.
|x| Remove Text Markers used in cut, copy and paste.
Cut or copy results are placed in the system paste board. Paste copies its contents at the pointer mark.
✂ Cut
❐ Copy
📋 Paste
↖️ ↗️ Undo and Redo up to 500 text images.
Pointer navigation.
Move left one ⇠
Move right one ⇢
Move word left ⇠W Text characters between spaces.
Move word right W⇢
In CREATE, the KB has 2 groups of keys, ?s (place holders) and text edit keys. Enter data into the ? textfields with 1 or more characters, emojis, NO images. If 2 characters, they become lower and upper case.
The ? key textfields are Apple supported Unicode characters including emojis. All textfields are editable including cut/copy/paste. Tap to select and see edit options. (Autofill, Scan text shows the Camera, focus camera on some text, its captured and translated to text.) Select and copy. Amazing.
Any 2 characters on a key are lower and upper case as qQ, wW. The upper case is accessed using the shift key or cap lock during COMPOSE. You can use any 2 characters on any key but only 2. The second character is upper case. Alpha keys are doubled, use them in CapLock or Shift.
Try it, touch a ? (place holder) key and type. You can type, cut, copy, paste to and from ? keys. Character font and size are fixed. No limit on characters. Even double emojis can be put on a key, one lower case, one upper case.
You can create and identify phrases, formulas etc. to enter on a ? key. A phrase ID is optional, place a ~ (tilde) in front of 2 characters 10 as ~10. In COMPOSE, the ~ is seen and the 3 character ID does not print.
Copy/paste long phrases, paragraphs to any ? key. Or type directly on the ? key. No limit on key characters. Place chapters of a book on a key. Use the phrase index to read, change or delete a chapter at a time. See #9 for details.
The app cut, copy, paste method is precise and easier to use than IOS. The app uses text |(pipe) markers. Place them around the |text| to cut or copy. The markers remain to show where a cut or copy was made for reference. touch |x| to remove the markers. Position the pointer first for pasting.
#6 LEARN TO CREATE A KB: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TIP: To get a KB layout, go online to myownkeyboard.tech. Select Create, click the PDF, air drop to a device for printing. This is the basic layout containing only edit keys. Pencil in the layout you want, make changes, when done, enter them into the suggested Basic layout in Create.
In CREATE, touch Basic to show the basic KB (KB). Enter a KB name in the FileName box. The file name can be any mix of characters, upper or lower and special characters can be used. Lower case short names are easier to track (No emojis). Space characters are not allowed in the file name and are removed. (Less confusion when entering a name for reading, editing and deleting). If you forgot the name, go to STORAGE and touch KB List.
(PAD) Consider placing a KB name in the lower left key for reference when composing. You will know what KB is present in COMPOSE.
(Phone) Place the name on an open key in punctuation, PH or Symbol KBs. The ABC key is for the country KB
Select Protect to NOT erase your KB by touching Clear or country key selections. After Save, the current KB can be cleared or over written. IMPORTANT: If no file name and touch clear or country bottoms, your layout is over written.
Enter key values onto any ? key from the system KB or select a country KB. Make the changes and Save the KB.
The KB's names appear in alpha order in the STORAGE view, touch KB List to view.
Assign a KB to a Instant button as in #1 exercise. In Storage, enter the KB filename and touch a T? button. Go to COMPOSE, touch T? and the KB appears.
TIP. If using all instant KBs T1-T12, save a T? as a swap Instant button for the occasional calling other KBs created above 12.
Delete a KB, enter the created file name, from the KB list, into the file name box. Touch DELETE, touch KB List and its gone.
If error deleting, read the file from the cloud or attached devices and store in the app Documents directory. Use the Files app to transfer the file or:
In the KB List are T1KB through T12KB. These are internal names assigned when assigning KBs onto Instant buttons. Do not delete any of the t1KB-t12KB files. If any of those that were assigned that you deleted, go to Create, edit the T?KB, rename it to the one deleted. Save it. You've got your original KB back.
Use the Files app, #13, to copy KBs from the app document directory to external storage or the cloud for safety. If you lose your device or buy another Apple iPad/iPhone, copy the KB files from external storage, the cloud, to your new device using the Files app. Copy KBs to the app document directory.
#7 FILE STORAGE: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
All files are stored in the application's Documents directory and sub directories. All
files created in CREATE, COMPOSE and VOICE have a copy made on SAVE. Their file names begin with as zcopy.filename. The copy files are updated when any original file is saved. When you save your files to external or the cloud, copy all files including the zcopy. files.
You can use the apple Files app to view the document directory. (There must be at least one KB file stored before the MyOwnKeyboard name appears.)
Messages are stored in Documents sub directory 'messageDir'. Phrases are stored in the phraseDir.(The ones created in the Voice view). Message files are managed in Compose. Phrase files are managed in Voice. KB files created in Create are only Saved, Tested and Edited(read)to make changes.
Deleting and assigning KBs.
Use the app STORAGE view, select KB List to see the KB files. Touch the file name box using the system KB, enter a file name. For assignment, touch T1 - T12, it is assigned. Test it in Compose. To delete a KB, enter a file name, touch KB Delete. touch KB List, the file is gone. There is no undo delete, (if error, replace with a zcopy.?? file or the T?KB internal file.)
#8 COMPOSE: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Composing is where you type a text message. You can enter, copy, paste text and edit any text in the text area.
Before you start texting, enter a file name for your message (no spaces or emojis). If you want to send it email as an attachment, add .txt to the file name. The .txt tells other apps that the format is text. That is an industry standard.
Occasionally touch Save for recovery. The Restore button contains the whole message as you type. It is used if you
leave Compose to another view and return.
The complete text message is stored in the IOS pasteboard and updated as you type. This is for recovery and pasting elsewhere.
If planning a long message, enter a file name. Touch Save after a few minutes as a precaution. If your device quits and a reboot necessary, you will lose the whole message. If going to a different view and returning the message disappears. Touch Restore or the Paste button. Or Read the file from the last time saved.
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Above the text area are the buttons that control the COMPOSE view.
They are:
Save. The text message is stored in the messageDir directory with the file name entered.
Read. The named file is read into the text area.
(Pad) LastFileName. The file name appears in the FileName box. It was saved after the last Save.
Delete. The named file is deleted. Important files should be backed up in the cloud. Use the Files app for that.
StorePaste. Select some text, either cut or copy from your message, touch StorePaste and the system pasteboard content is stored in the app pasteboard that was cut or copied. The system pasteboard is a mirror of your complete text message whenever you alter the message.
Paste. Paste the saved text at the pointer.
TextStart. Moves the pointer to the text begin.
TextEnd. Moves the pointer to the text end.
IDon and IDoff. ID-On shows the ID of the phrase. ID-Off does not show the phrase ID.
Restore. After a COMPOSE exit to another view, on return, touch Restore Text. You should also Save the file for added protection.
Clear All. Clears the complete message area to start another message or if cleared in error, touch the Paste button or the Restore Text button.
Type some text, enter a file name (no spaces) in the FileName box, use the popup IOS KB for a name, Save the file. Go to STORAGE, touch Message List to see your message files.
#9 PHRASE Keyboards ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There are two parts of creating phrases. Instant phrases and indexed phrases.
(Pad) Instant suggested phrases appear in the country layouts. There is block of 12 phrases for instant access. Delete or change any of them. They are saved when the country layout is saved.
(Phone) There is a dedicated instant phrase KB on button IPH in the Create View. There are 12 examples shown,type onto the button, Change, add or delete. Touch the button to slide the message back and forth.
If you want to create a additional phrase keyboard read on:
There are 2 files in the phrase system, a phrase index and a phrase KB. The phrase index file is created and maintained in the Voice view and stored in the phraseDir drectory. Suggest filenames like ph1, ph2 etc. The phrase KB is created in the Create view, suggest names like kb1, kb2 etc. By reference they are paired to ph1,ph2 etc. They are stored with all the other KBs.
(1) Create indexed phrases:
Go to the Voice view and touch Index to show a list of phrase IDs. The IDs show as ~01, ~02, etc. There is a max of 90 phrase index lines. Each line is for one phrase, paragraph etc. The tilde ~ is used during composing to not show the 3 character ID only the phrase. The IDs are used for reference in COMPOSE.
Enter a Phrase file name as ph1 for the index file name then later use kb1 for the phrase KB name. The same # pairs them as ph1 and kb1.
The Voice view provides voice to text translation. You can speak your phrases one at at time on each line right after the index.
It would easier if your write down your phrases first then translate them one by one.
As you enter a few phrases, touch Save to store them. When you leave the Voice view and return, touch LastFileName or enter a FileName, touch Read from storage. PhraseList shows your phrases, HideList dismisses the list. DeletePhrase deletes the named index file. Make sure you backup the phrase files located in the phraseDir directory. Or copy paste to Notes. Print them for reference when composing.
The index identifies the phrases, paragraphs, pages chapters, formulas and emojis. They show as ~01 through ~90. Place the pointer right after the index. Type or voice the message. Make some or many. Voicing inserts a space automatically (IOS) before the message.
It is easier to create phrases with their IDs first. Sample phrases: ~01Good Morning, ~02Have a Great Day!, ~03I Love You, ~04Chapter 1.
Record a phrase line: Touch the end of the Id showing a blinking pointer. Keep your room quiet, touch the microphone icon, it turns black. Speak your phrase, touch the mic off. Repeat the process, after a few lines, touch Save.
Stack the indexes in the following suggested format. Insert headings for your reference.
Index name: ph?
GREETINGS
~01Good Morning.
~02Have a Great Day!
~03I Love You.
SAYINGS
~10The best thing that happened to me was you.
MATH FYI
~20e=mc² It's relative.
~21a²+b²=√c² Pathagorian formula for a perfect 90 degree corner. a and b are the sides. c is the hypotenuse.
When you're done creating indexed phrases, touch Save, then CREATE a phrase KB below.
For reference, backup and to find the index ID while texting. Select the whole index file, copy and paste it to Notes for printing and backup reference in case you deleted it. It's a text file.
Later, for phrase changes, go to Voice, enter the file name ie ph1, touch "ReadPhrases" to see the phrases for the index number reference and make changes. Save the index. Go to Create, update and Save the phrase KB.
CREATE a phrase KB
Go to The Create view.
Touch the XPH button to show the blank phrase layout with edit keys. Enter a phrase name as kb1 matching ph1. Touch PROTECT.
Go to Voice and select the VOICE index layout (either present or ReadPhrases), select and copy one phrase at a time. Go to CREATE with the new phrase KB showing, paste them one at a time starting with ~01 . Start at the top left key with ~01. You will be able to find them in order in Compose. When finished posting the phrases, Save the KB, Test, Compose review them for accuracy. If changes, return to Create touch Restore for the layout, make changes, Save,Test, Compose, Restore until they are OK.
Instant button assignment. Go to Storage, enter the filename ie kb1, touch the next available T?. Go to Compose touch T? and there are your indexed phrases. If you have printed your phrase list, select a indexed number and show the phrase. GOOD JOB!
If you do not have a printed list, go to Voice, enter name ie ph1 and see the layout. Remember the index number of the phrase, go back to COMPOSE, touch Restore. touch the phrase KB kb1 index number. After a while you'll remember the index numbers. The text you created in the index can be a phrase, sentence, paragraph, chapter, there is no limit.
#10 CUT COPY PASTE: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
IMPORTANT: After after composing text and before cut, copy or paste, enter a file name and touch Save for permanent storage. This will help recovery if you accidently delete or misalign the text. Touch Read with the file name to recover.
The app cut, copy, paste method is more precise and easier to use. The app uses text |(pipe) markers. Place them around the |text| to cut or copy. The markers remain showing where cut or copy was made for reference. Touch |x| to remove the markers. For pasting, use the arrows to place the pointer at an insertion point then paste. If marked text was stored in StorePaste, position the pointer then select Paste to paste any where in the current text message.
Only 2 markers at a time for each cut or copy.
There are 2 pasteboards(PB), the operating system(IOS) PB and the app PB.
The IOS PB receives all the text from all the apps running on this device using cut, copy text. The next step is to paste the text somewhere.
Touching the app StorePaste button, copies all the content from the IOS pasteboard. Typically used to cut, copy a piece of the current message (using |pipe| markers) and paste back into the message. Move the pointer to the message insert point, touch the Paste button.(Not the paste icon)
The Restore button stores the COMPOSE message constantly as it changes. If the system IOS PB was changed from outside of the app, from another app or the internet, pasted into your message, add a space to update restore.
The app method is more precise than IOS as the app cut/copy leaves text markers in place at the cut or copy point. Helps when you forgot where the cut was.
For pasting into the message, move the pointer to any point and paste the text either from IOS PB or the app Paste button.
The IOS pasteboard text can be pasted anywhere, before exiting COMPOSE to another view, enter a file name and touch Save for app permanent storage. Upon return to COMPOSE, touch Restore Text to see the original message or touch Read after entering a file name.
The ClearAll button clears all the text. Recover the text by touching Restore Text button.
To paste into the current text, using the arrows, place the pointer at any point, touch the Paste button or the paste icon.
Remember, any time you change the text message, the system pasteboard is updated and the app Restore button. Before COMPOSE exit, Save the text file. If you exit COMPOSE and return, the text screen is blank, touch Restore Text to recover or Read the file. Always save your text file before exiting COMPOSE.
Create extra KBs with characters, symbols, phrases that cannot fit on the current KB. Especially extended languages, engineering, various trades, business, teaching and personal use.
#11 COMPOSE TEXT STORAGE: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
All COMPOSE text files are stored in the Documents sub directory 'messageDir'. Only text files are stored there. If you transfer the file outside of the app documents directory, append .txt to the file name. Other computer apps need that extension to identify the content. See # 13.
For backup and advanced editing, copy, paste to Notes or Pages. Pages is a free Apple application to enhance your text creations with fonts, sizes, images or colors. You can also use the Apple Files app (which you have) and store your file in the cloud or local attached drives.
#12 FILE ERRORS: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When attempting to read or save a file and nothing happens, either the file is not there or the name was entered incorrectly. Look at the sorted lists (Message and KB) closely for the actual name.
#13 FILE TRANSFER: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Apple Files app transfer files IN or OUT of the app Documents directory, the messageDir directory, the phraseDir to other directories like the Downloads directory, the iCloud Drive, external storage devices or email.
IMPORTANT: Transfering or receiving files of Messages, Keyboards and Phrases have to be format identified. When app files are sent to other apps, emails etc. it is mandatory to indicate file formats(Industry standard).
The app's files are all text files and must have a filename extension of (.txt). If you have a file named love, change to love.txt Below in TRANSFER/RECEIVE is how the .txt extension is added or removed.
Open the Apple Files app, left column shows the Locations of directories.
They are iCloud Drive, On My Own iPhone or On My iPad and Recently Deleted.
Touch On My iPad or On My iPhone and select a MyOwnKeyboard app name. Touch it to see the sub-directories of the messageDir directory containing Compose message files, phraseDir for phrases. The KB files are shown. They don't show until you create the files.
TRANSFER a KB file, message file, phrase file with .txt extension added to the file name, transfer it to the IOS Download directory to allow access for other apps.
Rename a file with .txt: Touch and hold the file name until a drop down screen shows. Touch Rename and add the .txt to the name. Touch checked box(return) touch Add. Touch and hold the transfer KB name until a drop down screen shows. Touch copy (on top).
Go back to the Files column, touch Downloads in the Favorites section, touch and hold Downloads an open screen part on bottom, touch paste. The file appears in the IOS Download directory.
Copy the files for transfer. Touch ... touch select, touch the circle/s to see the check mark. Touch ... on bottom, touch copy or copy items. Go to within this app or other apps, the iCloud Drive and paste.
AirDrop. Also after selecting files (the ones checked), on the bottom drop down box, select the air drop (box with arrow). Send to your friends or your other devices.
RECEIVE a KB/MESSAGEfile:
Copy the incoming file to the app's download directory.
Open the Apple Files app and select Downloads.
Touch ... touch select, touch the circle to see a check mark. Touch ... select copy or copy items. Go to within this app or other apps, the cloud and paste.
This is the Apple process, detailed but very functional.
ARCHIVE files
VERY IMPORTANT!
If something happens to your device, damaged or stolen, you can recover your keyboard, message and phrase files to a new device.
Transfer your files to the iCloud Drive or external drive.
Use the Apple Files app, go to On My Phone, MyOwnKeyboard-Phone(appName), touch ... touch select, touch all circles, touch ... copy ? items. Go back to locations, touch iCloud Drive and paste.
If you have created files during a week, at least, backup your FILES!
You will be happy and sleep good.
🌸 THE END 🌸