diff --git a/src/dusk/asset/loader/cutscene/assetcutsceneloader.c b/src/dusk/asset/loader/cutscene/assetcutsceneloader.c
index 23aea0aa..9defbe91 100644
--- a/src/dusk/asset/loader/cutscene/assetcutsceneloader.c
+++ b/src/dusk/asset/loader/cutscene/assetcutsceneloader.c
@@ -327,7 +327,7 @@ errorret_t assetCutsceneLoaderSync(assetloading_t *loading) {
         item->battleForceAction.targetIndex = assetCutsceneReadU8(data, &offset);
         break;
 
-      case CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_MODAL:
+      case CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_MODAL: {
         assetCutsceneReadEmbeddedString(
           data, &offset, item->modal.title, CUTSCENE_MODAL_TITLE_MAX_CHARS
         );
@@ -337,12 +337,28 @@ errorret_t assetCutsceneLoaderSync(assetloading_t *loading) {
         // v1 only supports the message-only form: MODAL and MODAL_OPTIONS
         // share this same tag with no separate discriminator, and there is
         // no native-callback registry yet to resolve an options callback.
-        assertTrue(
-          assetCutsceneReadU8(data, &offset) == 0,
-          "Cutscene MODAL item with options is not supported in file-based "
-          "cutscenes yet - use MODAL_OPTIONS_MARKERS instead"
-        );
+        // Read into a local first (not inline in the check below) - on a
+        // release build with DUSK_ASSERTIONS_FAKED, an assert's condition
+        // is never evaluated at all, so a byte-consuming call inside one
+        // would silently desync every item after it. This is untrusted
+        // file content anyway, so it gets a real error, not an assert.
+        uint8_t optionCount = assetCutsceneReadU8(data, &offset);
+        if(optionCount != 0) {
+          memoryFree(data);
+          memoryFree(out->items);
+          out->items = NULL;
+          if(out->pool != NULL) {
+            memoryFree(out->pool);
+            out->pool = NULL;
+          }
+          assetLoaderErrorThrow(
+            loading,
+            "Cutscene MODAL item with options is not supported in "
+            "file-based cutscenes yet - use MODAL_OPTIONS_MARKERS instead"
+          );
+        }
         break;
+      }
 
       case CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_MODAL_OPTIONS_MARKERS: {
         assetCutsceneReadEmbeddedString(
@@ -410,8 +426,10 @@ errorret_t assetCutsceneLoaderSync(assetloading_t *loading) {
         }
         assetLoaderErrorThrow(
           loading,
-          "Cutscene item type %u is not supported in file-based cutscenes",
-          (uint32_t)item->type
+          "Cutscene item type %u is not supported in file-based cutscenes "
+          "(item %u/%u, offset %u/%u, poolSize %u)",
+          (uint32_t)item->type, (uint32_t)i, (uint32_t)itemCount,
+          (uint32_t)offset, (uint32_t)fileSize, (uint32_t)poolSize
         );
     }
   }
diff --git a/src/dusk/ui/dialog/keyboard/CMakeLists.txt b/src/dusk/ui/dialog/keyboard/CMakeLists.txt
index 26276b29..9e5f2567 100644
--- a/src/dusk/ui/dialog/keyboard/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/dusk/ui/dialog/keyboard/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -6,7 +6,4 @@
 target_sources(${DUSK_LIBRARY_TARGET_NAME}
   PUBLIC
     uikeyboard.c
-    uikeyboardqwerty.c
-    uikeyboardnumbers.c
-    uikeyboardsymbols.c
 )
diff --git a/src/dusk/ui/dialog/keyboard/uikeyboard.c b/src/dusk/ui/dialog/keyboard/uikeyboard.c
index 668d3502..8a149827 100644
--- a/src/dusk/ui/dialog/keyboard/uikeyboard.c
+++ b/src/dusk/ui/dialog/keyboard/uikeyboard.c
@@ -25,11 +25,153 @@
 
 uikeyboard_t UI_KEYBOARD;
 
+// String literals have static storage duration, so these stay valid for
+// as long as the process runs - safe for uiButtonInit's non-copying
+// label contract. "" cells are blank filler/reserved slots, NULL is
+// shorthand for the same thing where there's no key at all - see
+// uikeyboard.h and uiKeyboardNormalizeKey.
+//
+// Unshifted, caps off - also the canonical table (see
+// uiKeyboardGetCanonicalKey).
+static const char_t *const UI_KEYBOARD_KEYS_NONE[UI_KEYBOARD_KEY_COUNT] = {
+  // 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0  DEL
+  "1", "2", "3", "4", "5", "6", "7", "8", "9", "0",
+  UI_KEYBOARD_KEY_BACKSPACE,
+
+  // q w e r t y u i o p
+  "q", "w", "e", "r", "t", "y", "u", "i", "o", "p", NULL,
+
+  // CAPS a s d f g h j k l (NEWLINE)
+  UI_KEYBOARD_KEY_CAPS,
+  "a", "s", "d", "f", "g", "h", "j", "k", "l", NULL,
+
+  // SHIFT z x c v b n m SHIFT
+  UI_KEYBOARD_KEY_SHIFT,
+  "z", "x", "c", "v", "b", "n", "m",
+  UI_KEYBOARD_KEY_SHIFT,
+  NULL, NULL,
+
+  // (CANCEL)   SPACE   (CONFIRM)
+  NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, UI_KEYBOARD_KEY_SPACE, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL,
+  NULL
+};
+
+// Caps on - letters uppercase; caps doesn't affect digits/symbols on a
+// physical keyboard, so this table is otherwise identical to _NONE.
+static const char_t *const UI_KEYBOARD_KEYS_CAPS[UI_KEYBOARD_KEY_COUNT] = {
+  "1", "2", "3", "4", "5", "6", "7", "8", "9", "0",
+  UI_KEYBOARD_KEY_BACKSPACE,
+
+  "Q", "W", "E", "R", "T", "Y", "U", "I", "O", "P", NULL,
+
+  UI_KEYBOARD_KEY_CAPS,
+  "A", "S", "D", "F", "G", "H", "J", "K", "L", NULL,
+
+  UI_KEYBOARD_KEY_SHIFT,
+  "Z", "X", "C", "V", "B", "N", "M",
+  UI_KEYBOARD_KEY_SHIFT,
+  NULL, NULL,
+
+  NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, UI_KEYBOARD_KEY_SPACE, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL,
+  NULL
+};
+
+// Shift held - letters uppercase, digits become their US-layout shift
+// symbols, '-'/'=' become '_'/'+'. Takes priority over caps (see
+// uiKeyboardGetChar).
+static const char_t *const UI_KEYBOARD_KEYS_SHIFT[UI_KEYBOARD_KEY_COUNT] = {
+  "!", "@", "#", "$", "%", "^", "&", "*", "(", ")",
+  UI_KEYBOARD_KEY_BACKSPACE,
+
+  "Q", "W", "E", "R", "T", "Y", "U", "I", "O", "P", NULL,
+
+  UI_KEYBOARD_KEY_CAPS,
+  "A", "S", "D", "F", "G", "H", "J", "K", "L", NULL,
+
+  UI_KEYBOARD_KEY_SHIFT,
+  "Z", "X", "C", "V", "B", "N", "M",
+  UI_KEYBOARD_KEY_SHIFT,
+  NULL, NULL,
+
+  NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, UI_KEYBOARD_KEY_SPACE, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL,
+  NULL
+};
+
+// Collapses a table entry's NULL ("no key here") down to "" (blank
+// filler), the only form of "nothing" callers need to handle.
+const char_t * uiKeyboardNormalizeKey(const char_t *key) {
+  return key != NULL ? key : "";
+}
+
+// Shift takes priority over caps - there's no fourth table for "shift
+// while caps is on", unlike a physical keyboard.
+const char_t *const * uiKeyboardSelectTable(
+  const bool_t shift,
+  const bool_t caps
+) {
+  if(shift) return UI_KEYBOARD_KEYS_SHIFT;
+  if(caps) return UI_KEYBOARD_KEYS_CAPS;
+  return UI_KEYBOARD_KEYS_NONE;
+}
+
+uint8_t uiKeyboardBuildItems(
+  uimenuitem_t *items,
+  const bool_t shift,
+  const bool_t caps
+) {
+  assertNotNull(items, "Items cannot be NULL");
+  const char_t *const *table = uiKeyboardSelectTable(shift, caps);
+
+  for(uint8_t i = 0; i < UI_KEYBOARD_KEY_COUNT; i++) {
+    items[i].type = UI_MENU_WIDGET_TYPE_BUTTON;
+    uiButtonInit(&items[i].button, uiKeyboardNormalizeKey(table[i]));
+  }
+
+  return UI_KEYBOARD_KEY_COUNT;
+}
+
+void uiKeyboardUpdateDisplay(
+  uimenuitem_t *items,
+  const bool_t shift,
+  const bool_t caps
+) {
+  assertNotNull(items, "Items cannot be NULL");
+  const char_t *const *table = uiKeyboardSelectTable(shift, caps);
+
+  for(uint8_t i = 0; i < UI_KEYBOARD_KEY_COUNT; i++) {
+    items[i].button.label.text = uiKeyboardNormalizeKey(table[i]);
+    items[i].button.label.dirty = true;
+  }
+}
+
+const char_t * uiKeyboardGetCanonicalKey(const uint8_t index) {
+  assertTrue(index < UI_KEYBOARD_KEY_COUNT, "Index out of range");
+  return uiKeyboardNormalizeKey(UI_KEYBOARD_KEYS_NONE[index]);
+}
+
+bool_t uiKeyboardIsShiftSensitive(const uint8_t index) {
+  assertTrue(index < UI_KEYBOARD_KEY_COUNT, "Index out of range");
+  return stringCompare(
+    uiKeyboardNormalizeKey(UI_KEYBOARD_KEYS_NONE[index]),
+    uiKeyboardNormalizeKey(UI_KEYBOARD_KEYS_SHIFT[index])
+  ) != 0;
+}
+
+char_t uiKeyboardGetChar(
+  const uint8_t index,
+  const bool_t shift,
+  const bool_t caps
+) {
+  assertTrue(index < UI_KEYBOARD_KEY_COUNT, "Index out of range");
+  const char_t *const *table = uiKeyboardSelectTable(shift, caps);
+  return uiKeyboardNormalizeKey(table[index])[0];
+}
+
 void uiKeyboardFocusConfirm(void) {
   uiMenuSetPosition(
     &UI_KEYBOARD.menu,
-    UI_KEYBOARD_QWERTY_CONFIRM_INDEX % UI_KEYBOARD_QWERTY_COLUMNS,
-    UI_KEYBOARD_QWERTY_CONFIRM_INDEX / UI_KEYBOARD_QWERTY_COLUMNS
+    UI_KEYBOARD_CONFIRM_INDEX % UI_KEYBOARD_COLUMNS,
+    UI_KEYBOARD_CONFIRM_INDEX / UI_KEYBOARD_COLUMNS
   );
 }
 
@@ -110,7 +252,7 @@ void uiKeyboardMenuSelected(
   const uint8_t index,
   const uimenuitem_t *item
 ) {
-  if(index == UI_KEYBOARD_QWERTY_CONFIRM_INDEX) {
+  if(index == UI_KEYBOARD_CONFIRM_INDEX) {
     if(UI_KEYBOARD.trimmed) {
       stringTrim(UI_KEYBOARD.text);
       UI_KEYBOARD.textLabel.dirty = true;
@@ -130,49 +272,66 @@ void uiKeyboardMenuSelected(
     return;
   }
 
-  if(UI_KEYBOARD.cancel && index == UI_KEYBOARD_QWERTY_CANCEL_INDEX) {
+  if(UI_KEYBOARD.cancel && index == UI_KEYBOARD_CANCEL_INDEX) {
     UI_KEYBOARD.confirmed = false;
     uiKeyboardClose();
     return;
   }
 
-  const char_t *key = item->button.label.text;
+  if(index == UI_KEYBOARD_NEWLINE_INDEX && UI_KEYBOARD.lineCount > 1) {
+    if(
+      UI_KEYBOARD.onKeyPress != NULL &&
+      !UI_KEYBOARD.onKeyPress('\n', UI_KEYBOARD.user)
+    ) return;
+    uiKeyboardAppendChar('\n');
+    return;
+  }
+
+  // The canonical (unshifted) key, independent of whatever character
+  // it's currently drawn as - see uiKeyboardGetCanonicalKey. Used to
+  // identify the key, not item->button.label.text, which changes with
+  // shift/caps.
+  const char_t *key = uiKeyboardGetCanonicalKey(index);
 
   // Blank filler/reserved cell (includes an unused cancel/newline slot).
   if(key[0] == '\0') return;
 
-  if(stringCompare(key, UI_KEYBOARD_QWERTY_KEY_BACKSPACE) == 0) {
+  if(stringCompare(key, UI_KEYBOARD_KEY_BACKSPACE) == 0) {
     uiKeyboardBackspace();
     return;
   }
 
-  if(stringCompare(key, UI_KEYBOARD_QWERTY_KEY_SHIFT) == 0) {
+  if(stringCompare(key, UI_KEYBOARD_KEY_SHIFT) == 0) {
     UI_KEYBOARD.shift = !UI_KEYBOARD.shift;
+    uiKeyboardUpdateDisplay(
+      UI_KEYBOARD.items, UI_KEYBOARD.shift, UI_KEYBOARD.caps
+    );
     return;
   }
 
-  if(stringCompare(key, UI_KEYBOARD_QWERTY_KEY_CAPS) == 0) {
+  if(stringCompare(key, UI_KEYBOARD_KEY_CAPS) == 0) {
     UI_KEYBOARD.caps = !UI_KEYBOARD.caps;
+    uiKeyboardUpdateDisplay(
+      UI_KEYBOARD.items, UI_KEYBOARD.shift, UI_KEYBOARD.caps
+    );
     return;
   }
 
   char_t c;
-  if(stringCompare(key, UI_KEYBOARD_QWERTY_KEY_SPACE) == 0) {
+  if(stringCompare(key, UI_KEYBOARD_KEY_SPACE) == 0) {
     c = ' ';
-  } else if(
-    UI_KEYBOARD.lineCount > 1 &&
-    stringCompare(key, UI_KEYBOARD_KEY_NEWLINE) == 0
-  ) {
-    c = '\n';
-  } else if(key[0] >= 'A' && key[0] <= 'Z') {
-    // Letter keys are always drawn uppercase - shift/caps only decide
-    // the case of the character actually entered. Shift is a one-shot,
-    // consumed here; caps is a persistent toggle.
-    bool_t upper = UI_KEYBOARD.caps != UI_KEYBOARD.shift;
-    c = upper ? key[0] : (char_t)tolower(key[0]);
-    UI_KEYBOARD.shift = false;
   } else {
-    c = key[0];
+    c = uiKeyboardGetChar(index, UI_KEYBOARD.shift, UI_KEYBOARD.caps);
+
+    // Shift is a one-shot, consumed by any letter/digit/-/= it actually
+    // affected (and the display refreshed to drop back to whatever caps
+    // alone says); caps is a persistent toggle.
+    if(UI_KEYBOARD.shift && uiKeyboardIsShiftSensitive(index)) {
+      UI_KEYBOARD.shift = false;
+      uiKeyboardUpdateDisplay(
+        UI_KEYBOARD.items, UI_KEYBOARD.shift, UI_KEYBOARD.caps
+      );
+    }
   }
 
   if(UI_KEYBOARD.onKeyPress != NULL && !UI_KEYBOARD.onKeyPress(c, UI_KEYBOARD.user)) {
@@ -245,25 +404,26 @@ void uiKeyboardOpen(const uikeyboardopen_t *open) {
   UI_KEYBOARD.open = true;
 
   // Builds the full fixed grid, including blank filler at the
-  // newline/confirm/cancel reserved slots (see uikeyboardqwerty.h) -
-  // patched with real buttons below where applicable.
-  uiKeyboardQwertyBuildItems(UI_KEYBOARD.items);
+  // newline/confirm/cancel reserved slots - patched with real buttons
+  // below where applicable. Letters start lowercase and digits
+  // unshifted, matching caps/shift both being reset to false above.
+  uiKeyboardBuildItems(UI_KEYBOARD.items, false, false);
 
   if(UI_KEYBOARD.lineCount > 1) {
     uiButtonInit(
-      &UI_KEYBOARD.items[UI_KEYBOARD_QWERTY_NEWLINE_INDEX].button,
+      &UI_KEYBOARD.items[UI_KEYBOARD_NEWLINE_INDEX].button,
       UI_KEYBOARD_KEY_NEWLINE
     );
   }
 
   uiButtonInit(
-    &UI_KEYBOARD.items[UI_KEYBOARD_QWERTY_CONFIRM_INDEX].button,
+    &UI_KEYBOARD.items[UI_KEYBOARD_CONFIRM_INDEX].button,
     UI_KEYBOARD_CONFIRM_LABEL
   );
 
   if(UI_KEYBOARD.cancel) {
     uiButtonInit(
-      &UI_KEYBOARD.items[UI_KEYBOARD_QWERTY_CANCEL_INDEX].button,
+      &UI_KEYBOARD.items[UI_KEYBOARD_CANCEL_INDEX].button,
       UI_KEYBOARD_CANCEL_LABEL
     );
   }
@@ -272,8 +432,8 @@ void uiKeyboardOpen(const uikeyboardopen_t *open) {
     &UI_KEYBOARD.menu, uiKeyboardMenuSelected, uiKeyboardMenuClosed, NULL
   );
   uiMenuSetItems(
-    &UI_KEYBOARD.menu, UI_KEYBOARD.items, UI_KEYBOARD_QWERTY_KEY_COUNT,
-    UI_KEYBOARD_QWERTY_COLUMNS
+    &UI_KEYBOARD.menu, UI_KEYBOARD.items, UI_KEYBOARD_KEY_COUNT,
+    UI_KEYBOARD_COLUMNS
   );
 
   // Back deletes a character rather than closing the dialog outright -
diff --git a/src/dusk/ui/dialog/keyboard/uikeyboard.h b/src/dusk/ui/dialog/keyboard/uikeyboard.h
index 582d351e..7509318e 100644
--- a/src/dusk/ui/dialog/keyboard/uikeyboard.h
+++ b/src/dusk/ui/dialog/keyboard/uikeyboard.h
@@ -9,25 +9,65 @@
 #include "error/error.h"
 #include "ui/widget/uilabel.h"
 #include "ui/widget/uimenu.h"
-#include "ui/dialog/keyboard/uikeyboardqwerty.h"
+
+// A fixed 11x5 QWERTY grid - the only layout that exists (numbers/
+// symbols layouts were removed as separate concepts; digits already
+// live on this one):
+//   1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0  DEL
+//   q w e r t y u i o p
+//   CAPS a s d f g h j k l (NEWLINE)
+//   SHIFT z x c v b n m SHIFT
+//   (CANCEL)   SPACE   (CONFIRM)
+// Rows shorter than 11 columns are padded with blank filler buttons
+// (empty label) so every key lands in its intended position - the menu/
+// focus grid only supports uniform columns, it has no concept of a key
+// spanning multiple cells or a row being narrower than the grid, so this
+// is the only way to get real positioning out of it. A filler cell is
+// still a focusable/navigable-to grid slot, it just does nothing when
+// selected - see uiKeyboardMenuSelected's blank-label check. A
+// UI_KEYBOARD_KEYS_* table may use NULL for a slot with no key at all -
+// see uiKeyboardGetCanonicalKey, which normalizes it to the same blank
+// filler behavior.
+//
+// NEWLINE/CANCEL/CONFIRM are reserved slots the tables always leave
+// blank - uiKeyboardOpen patches them with real buttons depending on
+// lineCount/cancel (CONFIRM is unconditional, just needed as a fixed
+// slot addressable by constant).
+#define UI_KEYBOARD_COLUMNS 11
+#define UI_KEYBOARD_ROWS 5
+#define UI_KEYBOARD_KEY_COUNT (UI_KEYBOARD_COLUMNS * UI_KEYBOARD_ROWS)
+
+// Reserved slot indices uiKeyboardOpen patches with real buttons.
+#define UI_KEYBOARD_NEWLINE_INDEX 32
+#define UI_KEYBOARD_CANCEL_INDEX 44
+#define UI_KEYBOARD_CONFIRM_INDEX 54
+
+// Labels uiKeyboardMenuSelected checks for by pointer/string compare to
+// tell special keys apart from an ordinary single-character key. A blank
+// ("") label is a filler cell - see above. Identical across every
+// UI_KEYBOARD_KEYS_* table, since these don't change with shift/caps.
+#define UI_KEYBOARD_KEY_SPACE "SPACE"
+#define UI_KEYBOARD_KEY_BACKSPACE "DEL"
+#define UI_KEYBOARD_KEY_SHIFT "SHIFT"
+#define UI_KEYBOARD_KEY_CAPS "CAPS"
+// Only patched into UI_KEYBOARD_NEWLINE_INDEX when
+// uikeyboardopen_t.lineCount > 1 - otherwise that slot stays blank.
+#define UI_KEYBOARD_KEY_NEWLINE "NEWLINE"
 
 #define UI_KEYBOARD_TITLE_TEXT_MAX 64
 #define UI_KEYBOARD_TITLE_SPRITES_MAX UI_KEYBOARD_TITLE_TEXT_MAX
 #define UI_KEYBOARD_TEXT_MAX 64
 #define UI_KEYBOARD_TEXT_SPRITES_MAX UI_KEYBOARD_TEXT_MAX
-// The grid is a fixed size (see uikeyboardqwerty.h) - only the QWERTY
-// layout exists today, so this is just its key count.
-#define UI_KEYBOARD_ITEMS_MAX UI_KEYBOARD_QWERTY_KEY_COUNT
+// The grid is a fixed size - only one layout exists today, so this is
+// just its key count.
+#define UI_KEYBOARD_ITEMS_MAX UI_KEYBOARD_KEY_COUNT
 
 // Hardcoded for now - a uiModalOpen-style title/button text override is
 // planned (see uikeyboardopen_t) but not built yet. Patched into the
-// grid's reserved slots (UI_KEYBOARD_QWERTY_CONFIRM_INDEX etc.) rather
-// than appended, since the grid is a fixed physical-keyboard shape.
+// grid's reserved slots (UI_KEYBOARD_CONFIRM_INDEX etc.) rather than
+// appended, since the grid is a fixed shape.
 #define UI_KEYBOARD_CONFIRM_LABEL "CONFIRM"
 #define UI_KEYBOARD_CANCEL_LABEL "CANCEL"
-// Only patched into UI_KEYBOARD_QWERTY_NEWLINE_INDEX when
-// uikeyboardopen_t.lineCount > 1 - otherwise that slot stays blank.
-#define UI_KEYBOARD_KEY_NEWLINE "NEWLINE"
 #define UI_KEYBOARD_TITLE_DEFAULT "ENTER YOUR TEXT"
 
 #define UI_KEYBOARD_CONFIRM_QUESTION_MAX 64
@@ -145,11 +185,9 @@ typedef struct {
   bool_t confirmed;
 
   // Persistent caps-lock toggle, and a one-shot shift consumed by the
-  // next letter typed - see uiKeyboardMenuSelected. A letter's effective
-  // case is caps != shift (matches physical keyboards: shift while caps
-  // is on gives lowercase). Key labels are always drawn uppercase
-  // regardless of this state - only the appended character's case
-  // changes.
+  // next letter/digit/-/= typed - see uiKeyboardMenuSelected. Key labels
+  // are redrawn to match (see uiKeyboardUpdateDisplay) rather than
+  // staying static.
   bool_t caps;
   bool_t shift;
 } uikeyboard_t;
@@ -166,8 +204,7 @@ errorret_t uiKeyboardInit(void);
 /**
  * Draws the on-screen keyboard: a semi-transparent black backdrop
  * covering the whole screen, then its own centered frame with the title,
- * currently entered text, and the active layout's key grid. No-op when
- * not open.
+ * currently entered text, and the key grid. No-op when not open.
  *
  * @return Any error that occurs.
  */
@@ -284,3 +321,110 @@ void uiKeyboardMenuClosed(const uimenu_t *menu);
  * default pop.
  */
 bool_t uiKeyboardMenuCancel(const uimenu_t *menu);
+
+/**
+ * Collapses a UI_KEYBOARD_KEYS_* table entry's NULL ("no key here") down
+ * to "" (blank filler), the only form of "nothing" callers need to
+ * handle.
+ *
+ * @param key A table entry, possibly NULL.
+ * @returns key, or "" if key was NULL.
+ */
+const char_t * uiKeyboardNormalizeKey(const char_t *key);
+
+/**
+ * Picks which of UI_KEYBOARD_KEYS_NONE/_CAPS/_SHIFT is active for the
+ * given state - shift takes priority over caps when both are set.
+ *
+ * @param shift Current shift state.
+ * @param caps Current caps state.
+ * @returns The selected table.
+ */
+const char_t *const * uiKeyboardSelectTable(
+  const bool_t shift,
+  const bool_t caps
+);
+
+/**
+ * Builds the key grid's buttons into items, starting at index 0, one
+ * UI_MENU_WIDGET_TYPE_BUTTON per grid cell (UI_KEYBOARD_KEY_COUNT of
+ * them, in row-major order across UI_KEYBOARD_COLUMNS columns). Each
+ * button's label is a single character, one of the UI_KEYBOARD_KEY_*
+ * literals, or "" for a blank filler/reserved slot, read straight from
+ * whichever of the three UI_KEYBOARD_KEYS_* tables shift/caps selects
+ * (see uiKeyboardGetChar) - can be refreshed later with
+ * uiKeyboardUpdateDisplay. See uiKeyboardGetCanonicalKey for identifying
+ * a picked key independent of its displayed character.
+ *
+ * @param items Destination array; must have room for at least
+ * UI_KEYBOARD_KEY_COUNT entries.
+ * @param shift Initial shift state - see uiKeyboardGetChar.
+ * @param caps Initial caps state - see uiKeyboardGetChar.
+ * @returns The number of items written (UI_KEYBOARD_KEY_COUNT).
+ */
+uint8_t uiKeyboardBuildItems(
+  uimenuitem_t *items,
+  const bool_t shift,
+  const bool_t caps
+);
+
+/**
+ * Repoints every key already built into items by uiKeyboardBuildItems at
+ * whichever UI_KEYBOARD_KEYS_* table the new shift/caps state selects,
+ * marking all of them dirty so they redraw. Unconditional (not just the
+ * letter/digit/-/= keys that actually differ between tables) - simpler
+ * than tracking which changed, and cheap since this only runs on an
+ * infrequent SHIFT/CAPS press.
+ *
+ * @param items The same array passed to uiKeyboardBuildItems.
+ * @param shift New shift state - see uiKeyboardGetChar.
+ * @param caps New caps state - see uiKeyboardGetChar.
+ */
+void uiKeyboardUpdateDisplay(
+  uimenuitem_t *items,
+  const bool_t shift,
+  const bool_t caps
+);
+
+/**
+ * Returns a grid slot's canonical (unshifted, no-caps) key label,
+ * independent of whatever character it's currently drawn as - use this
+ * to identify which key was picked instead of reading a selected item's
+ * own (possibly shifted) label.text.
+ *
+ * @param index Grid slot index, from 0 to UI_KEYBOARD_KEY_COUNT - 1.
+ * @returns The slot's canonical label.
+ */
+const char_t * uiKeyboardGetCanonicalKey(const uint8_t index);
+
+/**
+ * True if a grid slot's character actually differs between the
+ * unshifted and shifted tables - i.e. a letter, digit, '-', or '='. False
+ * for a slot whose UI_KEYBOARD_KEYS_* entry is the same in every table
+ * (SPACE, DEL, SHIFT, CAPS, or blank filler).
+ *
+ * @param index Grid slot index, from 0 to UI_KEYBOARD_KEY_COUNT - 1.
+ * @returns True if shift affects this slot's character.
+ */
+bool_t uiKeyboardIsShiftSensitive(const uint8_t index);
+
+/**
+ * Looks up the character a grid slot represents under the given shift/
+ * caps state, straight from whichever UI_KEYBOARD_KEYS_* table they
+ * select - shift takes priority over caps when both are set (so, unlike
+ * a physical keyboard, shift while caps is on still gives uppercase, not
+ * lowercase - there is no fourth table for that combination). For a slot
+ * whose label isn't a single character (a blank filler cell, or a
+ * multi-character special key like "SPACE"), returns that label's first
+ * byte ('\0' for blank).
+ *
+ * @param index Grid slot index, from 0 to UI_KEYBOARD_KEY_COUNT - 1.
+ * @param shift Current shift state (one-shot, see UI_KEYBOARD.shift).
+ * @param caps Current caps state (persistent toggle, see UI_KEYBOARD.caps).
+ * @returns The character to display/type.
+ */
+char_t uiKeyboardGetChar(
+  const uint8_t index,
+  const bool_t shift,
+  const bool_t caps
+);
diff --git a/src/dusk/ui/dialog/keyboard/uikeyboardnumbers.c b/src/dusk/ui/dialog/keyboard/uikeyboardnumbers.c
deleted file mode 100644
index a885f95e..00000000
--- a/src/dusk/ui/dialog/keyboard/uikeyboardnumbers.c
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,24 +0,0 @@
-/**
- * Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
- *
- * This software is released under the MIT License.
- * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
- */
-
-#include "uikeyboardnumbers.h"
-
-uikeyboardnumbers_t UI_KEYBOARD_NUMBERS;
-
-errorret_t uiKeyboardNumbersInit(void) {
-  // Nothing to initialize yet -- uikeyboardnumbers_t is currently a
-  // placeholder with no fields.
-  errorOk();
-}
-
-errorret_t uiKeyboardNumbersDraw(void) {
-  errorOk();
-}
-
-errorret_t uiKeyboardNumbersDispose(void) {
-  errorOk();
-}
diff --git a/src/dusk/ui/dialog/keyboard/uikeyboardnumbers.h b/src/dusk/ui/dialog/keyboard/uikeyboardnumbers.h
deleted file mode 100644
index c39291a4..00000000
--- a/src/dusk/ui/dialog/keyboard/uikeyboardnumbers.h
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,37 +0,0 @@
-/**
- * Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
- *
- * This software is released under the MIT License.
- * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
- */
-
-#pragma once
-#include "error/error.h"
-
-typedef struct {
-
-} uikeyboardnumbers_t;
-
-extern uikeyboardnumbers_t UI_KEYBOARD_NUMBERS;
-
-/**
- * Initializes the numbers keyboard layout. Currently a placeholder --
- * no behavior implemented yet.
- *
- * @return Any error that occurs.
- */
-errorret_t uiKeyboardNumbersInit(void);
-
-/**
- * Draws the numbers keyboard layout. Currently a placeholder -- no-op.
- *
- * @return Any error that occurs.
- */
-errorret_t uiKeyboardNumbersDraw(void);
-
-/**
- * Disposes of the numbers keyboard layout.
- *
- * @return Any error that occurs.
- */
-errorret_t uiKeyboardNumbersDispose(void);
diff --git a/src/dusk/ui/dialog/keyboard/uikeyboardqwerty.c b/src/dusk/ui/dialog/keyboard/uikeyboardqwerty.c
deleted file mode 100644
index fa96f499..00000000
--- a/src/dusk/ui/dialog/keyboard/uikeyboardqwerty.c
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,57 +0,0 @@
-/**
- * Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
- *
- * This software is released under the MIT License.
- * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
- */
-
-#include "uikeyboardqwerty.h"
-#include "assert/assert.h"
-#include "ui/widget/uibutton.h"
-
-uikeyboardqwerty_t UI_KEYBOARD_QWERTY;
-
-// String literals have static storage duration, so these stay valid for
-// as long as the process runs - safe for uiButtonInit's non-copying
-// label contract. "" cells are blank filler/reserved slots - see
-// uikeyboardqwerty.h.
-static const char_t *const UI_KEYBOARD_QWERTY_KEYS[UI_KEYBOARD_QWERTY_KEY_COUNT] = {
-  // ~ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 - =  DEL
-  "~", "1", "2", "3", "4", "5", "6", "7", "8", "9", "0", "-", "=",
-  UI_KEYBOARD_QWERTY_KEY_BACKSPACE,
-
-  // Q W E R T Y U I O P
-  "Q", "W", "E", "R", "T", "Y", "U", "I", "O", "P", "", "", "", "",
-
-  // CAPS A S D F G H J K L (NEWLINE)
-  UI_KEYBOARD_QWERTY_KEY_CAPS,
-  "A", "S", "D", "F", "G", "H", "J", "K", "L", "", "", "", "",
-
-  // SHIFT Z X C V B N M SHIFT
-  UI_KEYBOARD_QWERTY_KEY_SHIFT,
-  "Z", "X", "C", "V", "B", "N", "M",
-  UI_KEYBOARD_QWERTY_KEY_SHIFT,
-  "", "", "", "", "",
-
-  // (CANCEL)      SPACE      (CONFIRM)
-  "", "", "", "", "", "", UI_KEYBOARD_QWERTY_KEY_SPACE, "", "", "", "", "", "", ""
-};
-
-errorret_t uiKeyboardQwertyInit(void) {
-  errorOk();
-}
-
-uint8_t uiKeyboardQwertyBuildItems(uimenuitem_t *items) {
-  assertNotNull(items, "Items cannot be NULL");
-
-  for(uint8_t i = 0; i < UI_KEYBOARD_QWERTY_KEY_COUNT; i++) {
-    items[i].type = UI_MENU_WIDGET_TYPE_BUTTON;
-    uiButtonInit(&items[i].button, UI_KEYBOARD_QWERTY_KEYS[i]);
-  }
-
-  return UI_KEYBOARD_QWERTY_KEY_COUNT;
-}
-
-errorret_t uiKeyboardQwertyDispose(void) {
-  errorOk();
-}
diff --git a/src/dusk/ui/dialog/keyboard/uikeyboardqwerty.h b/src/dusk/ui/dialog/keyboard/uikeyboardqwerty.h
deleted file mode 100644
index 194f974c..00000000
--- a/src/dusk/ui/dialog/keyboard/uikeyboardqwerty.h
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,84 +0,0 @@
-/**
- * Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
- *
- * This software is released under the MIT License.
- * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
- */
-
-#pragma once
-#include "error/error.h"
-#include "ui/widget/uimenu.h"
-
-// A fixed 14x5 grid shaped like a physical keyboard:
-//   ~ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 - =  DEL
-//   Q W E R T Y U I O P
-//   CAPS A S D F G H J K L    (NEWLINE)
-//   SHIFT Z X C V B N M SHIFT
-//   (CANCEL)      SPACE      (CONFIRM)
-// Rows shorter than 14 columns are padded with blank filler buttons
-// (empty label) so every key lands in its real physical-keyboard
-// position - the menu/focus grid only supports uniform columns, it has
-// no concept of a key spanning multiple cells or a row being narrower
-// than the grid, so this is the only way to get real positioning out of
-// it. A filler cell is still a focusable/navigable-to grid slot, it just
-// does nothing when selected - see uiKeyboardMenuSelected's blank-label
-// check.
-//
-// NEWLINE/CANCEL/CONFIRM are reserved slots this builder always fills
-// with blank filler - uiKeyboard patches them with real buttons
-// depending on lineCount/cancel (CONFIRM is unconditional, just needed
-// as a fixed slot the caller can address by constant).
-#define UI_KEYBOARD_QWERTY_COLUMNS 14
-#define UI_KEYBOARD_QWERTY_ROWS 5
-#define UI_KEYBOARD_QWERTY_KEY_COUNT \
-  (UI_KEYBOARD_QWERTY_COLUMNS * UI_KEYBOARD_QWERTY_ROWS)
-
-// Reserved slot indices uiKeyboard patches with real buttons - see
-// uikeyboard.c's uiKeyboardOpen.
-#define UI_KEYBOARD_QWERTY_NEWLINE_INDEX 38
-#define UI_KEYBOARD_QWERTY_CANCEL_INDEX 56
-#define UI_KEYBOARD_QWERTY_CONFIRM_INDEX 69
-
-// Labels uiKeyboard checks for by pointer/string compare (see
-// uiKeyboardMenuSelected) to tell special keys apart from an ordinary
-// single-character key. A blank ("") label is a filler cell - see above.
-#define UI_KEYBOARD_QWERTY_KEY_SPACE "SPACE"
-#define UI_KEYBOARD_QWERTY_KEY_BACKSPACE "DEL"
-#define UI_KEYBOARD_QWERTY_KEY_SHIFT "SHIFT"
-#define UI_KEYBOARD_QWERTY_KEY_CAPS "CAPS"
-
-typedef struct {
-
-} uikeyboardqwerty_t;
-
-extern uikeyboardqwerty_t UI_KEYBOARD_QWERTY;
-
-/**
- * Initializes the QWERTY keyboard layout. Currently a no-op - the key
- * labels are static string literals with no per-instance state.
- *
- * @return Any error that occurs.
- */
-errorret_t uiKeyboardQwertyInit(void);
-
-/**
- * Builds the QWERTY layout's key buttons into items, starting at index
- * 0, one UI_MENU_WIDGET_TYPE_BUTTON per grid cell (UI_KEYBOARD_QWERTY_KEY_COUNT
- * of them, in row-major order across UI_KEYBOARD_QWERTY_COLUMNS columns).
- * Each button's label is a single character, one of the
- * UI_KEYBOARD_QWERTY_KEY_* literals, or "" for a blank filler/reserved
- * slot - uiKeyboard reads a selected item's own label back to know which
- * key it was, rather than this function returning a separate mapping.
- *
- * @param items Destination array; must have room for at least
- * UI_KEYBOARD_QWERTY_KEY_COUNT entries.
- * @returns The number of items written (UI_KEYBOARD_QWERTY_KEY_COUNT).
- */
-uint8_t uiKeyboardQwertyBuildItems(uimenuitem_t *items);
-
-/**
- * Disposes of the QWERTY keyboard layout. Currently a no-op.
- *
- * @return Any error that occurs.
- */
-errorret_t uiKeyboardQwertyDispose(void);
diff --git a/src/dusk/ui/dialog/keyboard/uikeyboardsymbols.c b/src/dusk/ui/dialog/keyboard/uikeyboardsymbols.c
deleted file mode 100644
index 1a85476f..00000000
--- a/src/dusk/ui/dialog/keyboard/uikeyboardsymbols.c
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,24 +0,0 @@
-/**
- * Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
- *
- * This software is released under the MIT License.
- * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
- */
-
-#include "uikeyboardsymbols.h"
-
-uikeyboardsymbols_t UI_KEYBOARD_SYMBOLS;
-
-errorret_t uiKeyboardSymbolsInit(void) {
-  // Nothing to initialize yet -- uikeyboardsymbols_t is currently a
-  // placeholder with no fields.
-  errorOk();
-}
-
-errorret_t uiKeyboardSymbolsDraw(void) {
-  errorOk();
-}
-
-errorret_t uiKeyboardSymbolsDispose(void) {
-  errorOk();
-}
diff --git a/src/dusk/ui/dialog/keyboard/uikeyboardsymbols.h b/src/dusk/ui/dialog/keyboard/uikeyboardsymbols.h
deleted file mode 100644
index 224b876b..00000000
--- a/src/dusk/ui/dialog/keyboard/uikeyboardsymbols.h
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,37 +0,0 @@
-/**
- * Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
- *
- * This software is released under the MIT License.
- * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
- */
-
-#pragma once
-#include "error/error.h"
-
-typedef struct {
-
-} uikeyboardsymbols_t;
-
-extern uikeyboardsymbols_t UI_KEYBOARD_SYMBOLS;
-
-/**
- * Initializes the symbols keyboard layout. Currently a placeholder --
- * no behavior implemented yet.
- *
- * @return Any error that occurs.
- */
-errorret_t uiKeyboardSymbolsInit(void);
-
-/**
- * Draws the symbols keyboard layout. Currently a placeholder -- no-op.
- *
- * @return Any error that occurs.
- */
-errorret_t uiKeyboardSymbolsDraw(void);
-
-/**
- * Disposes of the symbols keyboard layout.
- *
- * @return Any error that occurs.
- */
-errorret_t uiKeyboardSymbolsDispose(void);
diff --git a/src/dusk/ui/focus/uifocus.c b/src/dusk/ui/focus/uifocus.c
index c5fb9020..443ed035 100644
--- a/src/dusk/ui/focus/uifocus.c
+++ b/src/dusk/ui/focus/uifocus.c
@@ -118,9 +118,17 @@ void uiFocusMoveDirection(
   ) {
     if(m->direction != dir) continue;
 
-    uint8_t x = (uint8_t)(item->x + m->dx);
-    uint8_t y = (uint8_t)(item->y + m->dy);
-    uiFocusSetPosition(item, x, y);
+    // Widened to int16_t so a move off the left/top edge (e.g. x=0,
+    // dx=-1) stays negative here instead of wrapping straight to 255 via
+    // a uint8_t truncation - that would then land on `255 % cols`
+    // (column 3 of a 14-wide grid, not the intended last column) rather
+    // than wrapping to the row/column's actual last cell.
+    int16_t x = (int16_t)item->x + m->dx;
+    int16_t y = (int16_t)item->y + m->dy;
+    if(x < 0) x += item->cols;
+    if(y < 0) y += item->rows;
+
+    uiFocusSetPosition(item, (uint8_t)x, (uint8_t)y);
     break;
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/dusk/ui/widget/uimenu.c b/src/dusk/ui/widget/uimenu.c
index ca118f43..4728295a 100644
--- a/src/dusk/ui/widget/uimenu.c
+++ b/src/dusk/ui/widget/uimenu.c
@@ -230,41 +230,97 @@ bool_t uiMenuFocusDirection(
 ) {
   assertNotNull(focusItem, "Focus item cannot be NULL");
   assertNotNull(focusItem->user, "Focus item user cannot be NULL");
-  if(direction != UI_FOCUS_DIRECTION_LEFT && direction != UI_FOCUS_DIRECTION_RIGHT) {
-    return false;
-  }
-
   uimenu_t *menu = (uimenu_t *)focusItem->user;
-  uint8_t slot = focusItem->y * menu->columns + focusItem->x;
-  uint8_t index = uiMenuFocusSlotToIndex(menu, slot);
-  if(index == 0xFF) return false;
 
-  uimenuitem_t *item = &menu->items[index];
-  bool_t right = direction == UI_FOCUS_DIRECTION_RIGHT;
+  if(direction == UI_FOCUS_DIRECTION_LEFT || direction == UI_FOCUS_DIRECTION_RIGHT) {
+    uint8_t slot = focusItem->y * menu->columns + focusItem->x;
+    uint8_t index = uiMenuFocusSlotToIndex(menu, slot);
 
-  if(item->type == UI_MENU_WIDGET_TYPE_SLIDER) {
-    if(right) {
-      uiSliderStepUp(&item->slider);
-    } else {
-      uiSliderStepDown(&item->slider);
+    if(index != 0xFF) {
+      uimenuitem_t *item = &menu->items[index];
+      bool_t right = direction == UI_FOCUS_DIRECTION_RIGHT;
+
+      if(item->type == UI_MENU_WIDGET_TYPE_SLIDER) {
+        if(right) {
+          uiSliderStepUp(&item->slider);
+        } else {
+          uiSliderStepDown(&item->slider);
+        }
+        return true;
+      }
+
+      if(item->type == UI_MENU_WIDGET_TYPE_CHECKBOX) {
+        uiCheckboxToggle(&item->checkbox);
+        return true;
+      }
+
+      if(item->type == UI_MENU_WIDGET_TYPE_DROPDOWN) {
+        if(right) {
+          uiDropdownStepNext(&item->dropdown);
+        } else {
+          uiDropdownStepPrev(&item->dropdown);
+        }
+        return true;
+      }
     }
-    return true;
   }
 
-  if(item->type == UI_MENU_WIDGET_TYPE_CHECKBOX) {
-    uiCheckboxToggle(&item->checkbox);
-    return true;
-  }
+  return uiMenuFocusSkipBlanks(menu, focusItem, direction);
+}
 
-  if(item->type == UI_MENU_WIDGET_TYPE_DROPDOWN) {
-    if(right) {
-      uiDropdownStepNext(&item->dropdown);
-    } else {
-      uiDropdownStepPrev(&item->dropdown);
+bool_t uiMenuItemIsBlank(const uimenuitem_t *item) {
+  return
+    item->type == UI_MENU_WIDGET_TYPE_BUTTON &&
+    item->button.label.text[0] == '\0';
+}
+
+bool_t uiMenuFocusSkipBlanks(
+  uimenu_t *menu,
+  const uifocusitem_t *focusItem,
+  const uifocusdirection_t direction
+) {
+  int8_t dx = 0;
+  int8_t dy = 0;
+  for(
+    const uifocusdirmap_t *m = UI_FOCUS_DIR_MAP;
+    m->action != INPUT_ACTION_NULL;
+    m++
+  ) {
+    if(m->direction != direction) continue;
+    dx = m->dx;
+    dy = m->dy;
+    break;
+  }
+  if(dx == 0 && dy == 0) return false;
+
+  // Only one of dx/dy is ever non-zero (a direction moves along a single
+  // axis), so the number of distinct cells reachable before this would
+  // cycle back to the start is exactly that axis's length.
+  uint8_t attempts = dx != 0 ? menu->columns : focusItem->rows;
+
+  int16_t x = focusItem->x;
+  int16_t y = focusItem->y;
+
+  for(uint8_t i = 0; i < attempts; i++) {
+    x += dx;
+    y += dy;
+    if(x < 0) x += menu->columns;
+    if(y < 0) y += focusItem->rows;
+    x %= menu->columns;
+    y %= focusItem->rows;
+
+    uint8_t slot = (uint8_t)y * menu->columns + (uint8_t)x;
+    uint8_t index = uiMenuFocusSlotToIndex(menu, slot);
+    // Treat a missing item (label/spacer slot) the same as a blank
+    // button - both get skipped over transparently.
+    if(index != 0xFF && !uiMenuItemIsBlank(&menu->items[index])) {
+      uiMenuSetPosition(menu, (uint8_t)x, (uint8_t)y);
+      return true;
     }
-    return true;
   }
 
+  // Every cell along this line is blank/missing - nothing to land on,
+  // fall through to the default single-step move.
   return false;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/dusk/ui/widget/uimenu.h b/src/dusk/ui/widget/uimenu.h
index c9a8c997..74a8defd 100644
--- a/src/dusk/ui/widget/uimenu.h
+++ b/src/dusk/ui/widget/uimenu.h
@@ -240,18 +240,55 @@ bool_t uiMenuFocusClosed(const uifocusitem_t *focusItem);
 
 /**
  * Internal focus callback  -  gives the focused item's widget a chance to
- * handle LEFT/RIGHT itself (e.g. a slider adjusting its value) before
- * falling back to the default cell-to-cell movement.
+ * handle LEFT/RIGHT itself (e.g. a slider adjusting its value); failing
+ * that, moves to the next non-blank cell in the given direction (see
+ * uiMenuFocusSkipBlanks) rather than the default single-step move, which
+ * would happily land on a deliberately-blank layout cell (e.g. a
+ * UI_MENU_WIDGET_TYPE_BUTTON with an empty label, used as filler).
  *
  * @param focusItem The active focus item; user field must point to uimenu_t.
  * @param direction The direction that was pressed or held.
- * @returns True if the focused widget handled the direction.
+ * @returns True if handled (a widget adjusted itself, or focus moved to
+ * a non-blank cell); false to fall through to the default single-step
+ * move (only when every cell along this line is blank).
  */
 bool_t uiMenuFocusDirection(
   const uifocusitem_t *focusItem,
   const uifocusdirection_t direction
 );
 
+/**
+ * True for a menu item that should be transparently skipped during
+ * d-pad navigation - a UI_MENU_WIDGET_TYPE_BUTTON with an empty label,
+ * used purely to hold a grid cell's position (the menu/focus grid has no
+ * concept of a row narrower than its column count, so short rows are
+ * padded with these instead). Labels/spacers are unaffected by this -
+ * they're already excluded from the focus grid entirely.
+ *
+ * @param item The item to check.
+ * @returns True if this item is blank filler.
+ */
+bool_t uiMenuItemIsBlank(const uimenuitem_t *item);
+
+/**
+ * Moves focusItem to the next cell in the given direction that isn't
+ * blank (see uiMenuItemIsBlank), wrapping within that row/column as many
+ * times as needed - so, from the menu's perspective, a blank cell simply
+ * isn't there. Gives up (returning false, so the default single-step
+ * move applies instead) only if every cell along that entire row/column
+ * is blank.
+ *
+ * @param menu The menu to move within.
+ * @param focusItem The active focus item; must belong to menu.
+ * @param direction The direction that was pressed or held.
+ * @returns True if a non-blank cell was found and focus moved there.
+ */
+bool_t uiMenuFocusSkipBlanks(
+  uimenu_t *menu,
+  const uifocusitem_t *focusItem,
+  const uifocusdirection_t direction
+);
+
 /**
  * Internal focus callback  -  forwards INPUT_ACTION_CANCEL to the menu's
  * cancel handler, if one is set.