UI bug/ Steam Deck Virtual Keyboard + Text Box

DraziiNa

Been playing on Steam Deck for something like 2 years now on Gamepad mode with Keyboard chat. Prior to the update, to use the chat box one simply connected a keyboard or manually called up Steam's virtual keyboard with the steam button. The virtual keyboard was always clunky but passable. Connecting one worked just fine.

As of update 45, the virtual keyboard is automatically opened every single instance of text input with an additional overlayed "Please Enter Text" box. The windows block over half the screen. There's input delays with each instance of them opening AND closing. Hitting Enter on my physical keyboard no longer sends messages- I have to use Enter from the on screen keyboard or click Submit to send messages. Being tied to the textbox also prevents me from cycling through older messages with the up key. The mouse is partially disabled. Closing the virtual keyboard automatically exits zone chat and in-game cursor.
Exiting any text window now requires 2 presses each. Once to close the virtual keyboard and again to close the text box. The input delays add up REAL quick...

I found a workaround for the mouse issue, but chat is still unusable. Playing in Desktop mode removes the virtual keyboard but the framerate takes a sharp hit (only tested in Mournhold admittedly) so that's not ideal either.



I mean... all these issues aside do you SEE how much of the screen is blocked???

Just_Bappie

Same problem here, I just want to get rid of this. It always worked very well until U45. I don't need a virtual keyboard while playing docked, I just use my Bluetooth Keyboard. Now you have to push all kinds of buttons before you can write something in chat.

awayfar

+1 to this.

I use steam big picture and the controller UI for my television-based gaming PC, and do not need/want a virtual keyboard. I can see the need for some cases, but please make it something I can configure and remain completely in gamepad mode. I do not want to use the "automatically switch between modes" setting.

Love the game, thanks!

said no one ever

Steamdeck uses linux with proton to provide a translation layer for windows calls. Yes i see this as a ui issue with gamepad mode but you might not get much in the way of support here. Though it seems less intuiitive to do so you may need to go complain on steams forums first.

FatnissEverdeen1

I submitted a support ticket describing this issue and some of my experiences with it. I'll keep you guys posted if I receive feedback, and I'll bold the section with my current solution and some of its drawbacks. Hope this helps.

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What were you doing?
Using text box features in the game (e.g. the chat feature in the lower left corner of the screen and the search feature in my inventory).

What did you expect to happen?
To use the features without any Steam keyboard overlays. Until Update 45, I have never had a Steam keyboard pop up in game.

What actually happened?
The Steam keyboard, without intentional prompting, automatically popped up when using the chat and search text boxes, which is problematic since Steam's keyboard while potentially convenient is buggy and very inconvenient in the following ways:

1. When inputting multiple strings in quick succession in the search text box (e.g. "pl" to filter for platinum jewelry, quickly followed by "wr" to filter for master writs, "surv" to filter for surveys, and "" to view an unfiltered inventory), the keyboard will "freeze" in place while the game continues to operate normally (e.g. animations, sound, etc. are all normal). The only solution is to restart the game.

2. Suggestions for forward slash commands in the chat box aren't visible since the Steam keyboard covers much of the screen. This makes finding emotes a bit more difficult.

3. Managing chat is also more difficult since the Steam keyboard covers the chat box. For example, switching between zone chat, guild chat, whispers, etc. must be managed in under the Social tab of the menu, which is simply more cumbersome.

4. Traditionally, when dealing with other menus (e.g. the WritWorthy addon menu), I would typically press "Enter" on my keyboard to enable/favor mouse and keyboard actions on those menus; now however, pressing "Enter" on my keyboard prompts the Steam keyboard to activate, which ultimately forces me to disable gamepad mode before attempting any actions that begin with pressing the "Enter" key.

What else would you like us to know?
1. I'm including a screenshot of the overlay for context.

2. I play on a PC with Windows 10.

3. I play through Steam to take advantage of their gamepad mode since I prefer to play with controller and/or keyboard depending on the activity.

4. I updated Steam the same day that I updated ESO for U45.

5. There is very little information/support for this niche problem.

6. I have already used step-by-step guides to remove Steam's keyboard display by navigating "Settings" > "Controller" > "Non-game controller layouts" > "Desktop Layout" & "Guide Button Chord Layout" > "Edit" > "Edit Layout" > and removing all actions that trigger the on-screen keyboard.

7. I can disable Steam's keyboard by navigating "Settings" > "In Game" > "Enable/Disable Steam Overlay". However, this causes a litany of minor problems. For example, disabling Steam overlay disables screenshots and, perhaps, other features. Furthermore, even when disabled, I can hear Steam UI audio in the background during gameplay, which is distracting and concerning since I don't know if I'm accidentally playing with Steam while playing the game. In addition, I am forced to click on text boxes twice before I can type anything into them. And oddly, for reasons unknown, ESO doesn't shut down smoothly when I disable Steam's overlay.

8. While this may be a Steam issue at its core, my experience playing ESO is noticeably worse as a consequence. Honestly, I'd be happy if I never had to see another Steam keyboard pop up in game ever again!

FatnissEverdeen1

I just started a thread in Steam's forums on this topic to raise awareness. @DraziiNa I'm using your thread title to keep things consistent and because I, and probably others, immediately knew what you were talking about with your title. The abstract and "technical" nature of the issue makes it awkward to find the words to talk about it, and I imagine that if the problem was easier to describe we'd see more people commenting on this thread.

https://steamcommunity.com/app/306130/discussions/0/565870482297025423/