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I am using Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 with Logitech bluetooth keyboard.

I don't want to use a Dvorak layout for my on-screen keyboard like the other discussion here. I only want my external keyboard to use the Dvorak layout, without rooting and hacking my device.

How can I set my external keyboard to use a Dvorak layout on Android 3.1 without hacks?

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I doubt you can, those files aren't editable without root and Android doesn't support it yet. – Matthew Read♦ Jan 3 '12 at 17:34
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Not sure if its a duplicate, but this sounds very similar to this previous question How to switch keyboard layout for external keyboard although that is a localization as well as layout change, and you're presumably keeping the same language, but changing layout. – GAThrawn Jan 3 '12 at 17:49
@MatthewRead Have you any idea when the support is coming to Android? - I know it is not their first priority but still it would improve a lot of the usability of tablets. – Masi Jan 4 '12 at 22:51

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You can use this app to do it. No need for rooting. Dvorak is not available as a predefined layout (yet) but you can customize your own layout using the advanced settings. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.apedroid.hwkeyboardhelper

EDIT: This morning I published version 2.7 of the app which supports Dvorak out-of-the-box.

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You can use the Root Explorer to change the keyboard layout file in /system/usr/keylayout/

This site explains it:

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1336114

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Seems that I need to root my Galaxy Tab to be able to just move one file /system/usr/keylayout/. - No Drovak -support for Android 4 so seems to be a must to root my tablet. – Masi Jan 23 '12 at 16:31
So the solution is to root your device and then make the given change. – Masi Jan 30 '12 at 22:03
Note my friend told me that although you root your device you will get future OS updates in the future a lot easier than in iPad. So you will not lose the official support. – Masi Jan 30 '12 at 22:04

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