Install Zebra Enterprise Keyboard as Default and Disable GBoard

When installing Zebra Enterprise Keyboard to a device you want it to be the default keyboard and disable GBoard to prevent the user from changing the keyboard, and to make sure the users is using the keyboard you have provided.

This process can be used both for Android Classic and Android Enterprise devices.

You will need the following:

• MobiControl Package Studio
• Text Editor (example Visual Studio Code)
• Zebra Enterprise Keyboard APK file (can be downloaded from Zebra, https://www.zebra.com/us/en/support-downloads/software/productivity-apps/enterprise-keyboard.html)
• MX XML files
• Optional, test device for testing the deployment

Example XML files: (this can be copied/pasted into your own XML file using any text editor):

Disable_GBoard.xml

<wap-provisioningdoc>
    <characteristic version="4.2" type="AppMgr">
        <parm name="Action" value="DisableApplication" />
        <parm name="Package" value="com.google.android.inputmethod.latin" />
    </characteristic>
</wap-provisioningdoc>

Enterprise_Keyboard_Set_Default_ver3.9.xml

<wap-provisioningdoc>
    <characteristic type="UiMgr" version="4.3" >
        <parm name="InputMethodAction" value="1"/>
        <characteristic type="InputMethodDetails">
        <parm name="InputMethodOption" value="4"/>
        <parm name="InputMethodPackageName" value="com.symbol.mxmf.csp.enterprisekeyboard"/>
        <parm name="InputMethodClassName" value="com.android.inputmethod.latin.LatinIME"/>
        </characteristic>
    </characteristic>
</wap-provisioningdoc>

Enterprise_Keyboard_Set_Default_ver4.0.xml

<wap-provisioningdoc>
    <characteristic type="UiMgr" version="4.3" >
        <parm name="InputMethodAction" value="1"/>
        <characteristic type="InputMethodDetails">
        <parm name="InputMethodOption" value="4"/>
        <parm name="InputMethodPackageName" value="com.zebra.mdna.enterprisekeyboard"/>
        <parm name="InputMethodClassName" value="com.android.inputmethod.latin.LatinIME"/>
        </characteristic>
    </characteristic>
</wap-provisioningdoc>

Reference links:

• https://supportcommunity.zebra.com/s/article/000014571?language=en_US
• https://supportcommunity.zebra.com/s/article/StageNow-Set-Enterprise-Keyboard-as-the-Default-Keyboard?language=en_US

Note: Test below deployment on handful of test devices before applying on production fleet.

1. Start MobiControl Package Studio.
 

2. Create a new project by selecting New Project or select File > New Project.
 

3. Enter project details and select the location for it to be saved and then select Next.
 

4. Select Post-Install script to be included and select Next.
 

5. Skip the page where to add files and just select Next.
  
6. Confirm Size Settings and select Finish.
  
7. Select Close.

8. We now have a project with only a Post-Install script added
 
9. The next steps are optional but it is good practice to keep all project files in the same folder structure as the project. If you want to skip this and just add the files go for step 10.

1. 1. Open your File Browser and navigate to the location of the project.
      
      
   2. Create another subfolder, for example called files.
       
      
      
   3. Copy all of the project files to the files folder, in this case, APK file and XML files.
       

10. Add the files to project by right-clicking on the project parent and select Add Android Apk.
 

11. Navigate to the folder of the project and the files folder and select the APK file.
 

12. Deselect Automatically Run Activity after Install if do not want the application to start after installed on the device, in this case we do not want that. Then press OK.
 

13. Continue with adding the XML files by once again right-clicking on the parent and select Add Files.
 

14. Select the XML files and add them to the project.
 

15. Confirm the location where the files will be installed to the device, in this case we stick with %sdcard% folder. Then press OK.
 

16. Confirm that all files have been added to the project.
 

17. Double-click the Post-Install script.
 

18. Add the following script commands:

mxconfig "%sdcard%Disable_Gboard.xml"
mxconfig "%sdcard%Enterprise_Keyboard_Set_Default_ver3.9.xml"

19. The Post-Install script will be run after the installation of the APK file and the files and the mxconfig command will initiate the XML processing by Zebra MX Framework.

20. To start building the project, select Project > Build Package.
 

21. Wait for the package to be built and then upload it to the web console and assign it in a profile. For example, try it on a test device first to verify that it is being installed correctly.
 

Manually verify on the test device that the setting for virtual keyboard has been changed to Enterprise Keyboard and that GBoard is now disabled.