external keyboard?

when I connect to my bluetooth keyboard it just works

so apart from turning on bluetooth and connecting to the keyboard you dont do anything

Get yourself a bluetooth keyboard. On the pad, turn on bluetooth in settings. The pad and the board will try to pair, and you will be asked to type in a code during the pairing process. When the board is paired and on, when an entry is needed, you can do it on the keyboard.

You should be able to pair a Bluetooth keyboard via Settings > General > Bluetooth . More info here : http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4111

Once you have connected, make sure you check out this article that shows a few tips and tricks you can perform with your external keyboard, that you cannot do with the software keyboard. http://iphonetipsandtricks.lookitupforme.com/things-you-can-do-on-an-ipad-with-a n-external-keyboard/