(This is the documentation for SDL3, which is the current stable version. SDL2 was the previous version!)

SDL_StartTextInputWithProperties

Start accepting Unicode text input events in a window, with properties describing the input.

Header File

Syntax

bool SDL_StartTextInputWithProperties(SDL_Window *window, SDL_PropertiesID props);

Function Parameters

SDL_Window *	window	the window to enable text input.
SDL_PropertiesID	props	the properties to use.

Return Value

(bool) Returns true on success or false on failure; call SDL_GetError() for more information.

Remarks

This function will enable text input (SDL_EVENT_TEXT_INPUT and SDL_EVENT_TEXT_EDITING events) in the specified window. Please use this function paired with SDL_StopTextInput().

Text input events are not received by default.

On some platforms using this function shows the screen keyboard and/or activates an IME, which can prevent some key press events from being passed through.

These are the supported properties:

SDL_PROP_TEXTINPUT_TYPE_NUMBER - an SDL_TextInputType value that describes text being input, defaults to SDL_TEXTINPUT_TYPE_TEXT.
SDL_PROP_TEXTINPUT_CAPITALIZATION_NUMBER
- an SDL_Capitalization value that describes how text should be capitalized, defaults to SDL_CAPITALIZE_SENTENCES for normal text entry, SDL_CAPITALIZE_WORDS for SDL_TEXTINPUT_TYPE_TEXT_NAME, and SDL_CAPITALIZE_NONE for e-mail addresses, usernames, and passwords.
SDL_PROP_TEXTINPUT_AUTOCORRECT_BOOLEAN
- true to enable auto completion and auto correction, defaults to true.
SDL_PROP_TEXTINPUT_MULTILINE_BOOLEAN
- true if multiple lines of text are allowed. This defaults to true if SDL_HINT_RETURN_KEY_HIDES_IME is "0" or is not set, and defaults to false if SDL_HINT_RETURN_KEY_HIDES_IME is "1".

On Android you can directly specify the input type:

SDL_PROP_TEXTINPUT_ANDROID_INPUTTYPE_NUMBER
- the text input type to use, overriding other properties. This is documented at https://developer.android.com/reference/android/text/InputType

Thread Safety

This function should only be called on the main thread.

Version

This function is available since SDL 3.1.3.