Entering notes to grid sequencer with ext MIDI keys

[whatisnotrue]

Hi, I am trying to figure out how to enter notes or chords into Push's grid sequence without live recording using an external MIDI keyboard. You can easily do this when you have layout split by holding a few notes on the pads and they pressing the desired step in a sequence but this does not work with an external MIDI keyboard. This couldn't possibly be an absent feature right? I hope I am just doing something wrong......