onscreen number pad

[michaewlewis]

The onscreen number pad in Windows 8 is set up like the numbers on a phone instead of the numbers on a keyboard, which seems really dumb to me. Anybody know how to change the onscreen number pad layout? I've done a bit of searching but all of the keywords I use just come up with results to change the keyboard language. I'm fine with the normal onscreen keyboard layout, just not the number pad layout.

[patio]

Every thing i found on this says it cannot be changed...
On that note...there was an 8 page Topic at the MS community Flaming them for this choice...apparently Redmond in this instance did not listen.
Can't believe how incensed some were about it though...

[soybean]

What is the onscreen number pad in Windows 8?  It is an app that comes with Windows 8?  Exactly what is the title of it?  How is it accessed? 

[michaewlewis]

TabTip32.exe is built in to Windows 8. There is a button on the taskbar next to the notification area which will open it on demand. If using a tablet (I'm using the surface pro) without the keyboard it will automagically open when selecting text input fields.


Edit: sorry, TabTip32 is the helper, TabTip.exe seems to be the actual program...... I think.

[soybean]

Well, it's not in my Windows 8 laptop.     I tried accessing it via Start by typing it but it is not recognized.  Then, I tried starting it from a Command Prompt panel.  Again, not recognized.

[michaewlewis]

C:\Program Files \Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Ink\TabTip.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Ink\TabTip32.exe

[soybean]

C:\Program Files \Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Ink\TabTip.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Ink\TabTip32.exe

OK, that worked.  +1  I also see now that I can start it via a Command Prompt panel; I made a mistake the first time I tried that (mentioned in my previous post).   

I wonder why that is the only way I can start it.  How do you start it?  Is it an app on your Start screen? 

[michaewlewis]

OK, that worked.  +1  I also see now that I can start it via a Command Prompt panel; I made a mistake the first time I tried that (mentioned in my previous post).   

I wonder why that is the only way I can start it.  How do you start it?  Is it an app on your Start screen? 

No the button is on the taskbar next to the notification area. It also will open when selecting any text input field. I can also open it via explorer. The program starts with windows (hidden) on my surface but not my laptop.

[Geek-9pm]

If enough people protest, somebody will either hack the existing program or build a replacement for it.
There are articles about changing the keyboard, so logically somebody will find a way to change just the numeric pad layout.
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/type-with-the-on-screen-keyboard

Apparently MS wants to to use the number pad for dialing a phone. They may have reasoned that two layouts would just confuse everybody.

The supports my theory that MS wants your PC to become a Smartphone.

[patio]

Here we go yet again...

[michaewlewis]

Here we go yet again...

Some things never change.

Anyone else notice that this is topic 137137

[soybean]

No the button is on the taskbar next to the notification area.

Does the button look like the icon on  the left end of the image below, from my laptop?

That's normally not on my taskbar.  It's only there now because I opened the Touch Keyboard in response to this discussion.  Really, having the button there upon startup on a laptop that does not have a touchscreen makes no sense; it's useless.  So, I suspect that, when Windows 8 is installed by a  manufacturer on such laptops, the Touch Keyboard is simply disabled.   

[michaewlewis]

Actually I'm pretty sure windows detects whether it is a touch screen or tablet and enables it on install. I reinstalled win8 on my surface and it was already enabled, whereas my laptop wasn't already enabled.