How to move mouse cursor out of your window's application with QB64 keywords

[TempodiBasic]

Hi guys
talking with Ashish about how to move the mouse cursor , by code, out of window of our application
I have tried this workaround

Code: QB64: [Select]

1. Screen _NewImage(300, 300, 32)
2. waitScreen
3. winX = _DesktopWidth / 2
4. winY = _DesktopHeight / 2
5. _ScreenMove winX, winY
6. DMouseX = 100
7. DmouseY = 100
8.  
9. Do
10.     k$ = InKey$
11.     If k$ = " " Then
12.         MoveDesktopMouse DMouseX, DmouseY
13.         Print " we move mouse pointer at "; DMouseX; " "; DmouseY
14.         If DMouseX < _DesktopWidth - 100 Then DMouseX = DMouseX + 100 Else DMouseX = 100
15.         If DmouseY < _DesktopHeight - 100 Then DmouseY = DmouseY + 100 Else DmouseY = 100
16.     End If
17.     _Limit 20
18. Loop Until k$ = "m"
19. End
20.  
21. Sub MoveDesktopMouse (x As Integer, y As Integer)
22.     _ScreenHide
23.     _FullScreen
24.     _MouseMove Int((x * 300) / _DesktopWidth), Int((y * 300) / _DesktopHeight)
25.     waitScreen
26.     _FullScreen Off
27.     _ScreenShow
28. End Sub
29.  
30. Sub waitScreen
31.     Do While Not _ScreenExists: Loop
32. End Sub
33.  

Well the code works but in the developing of application I have fallen into a strange issue (or bug?) about _FULLSCREEN.
Give a try to the code to see what happens.
( the code that stresses the issue/bug is on the discussion part of the forum)

while here at bottom I post the version of code using user32.dll that works very well but we must use a windows API call

Code: QB64: [Select]

1. Declare Dynamic Library "user32"
2.     Function SetCursorPos (ByVal x As Long, Byval y As Long)
3. End Declare
4.  
5. Screen _NewImage(300, 300, 32)
6. waitScreen
7. winX = _DesktopWidth / 2
8. winY = _DesktopHeight / 2
9. _ScreenMove winX, winY
10. DMouseX = 100
11. DmouseY = 100
12.  
13. Do
14.     k$ = InKey$
15.     If k$ = " " Then
16.         MoveDesktopMouse DMouseX, DmouseY
17.         Print " we move mouse pointer at "; DMouseX; " "; DmouseY
18.         If DMouseX < _DesktopWidth - 100 Then DMouseX = DMouseX + 100 Else DMouseX = 100
19.         If DmouseY < _DesktopHeight - 100 Then DmouseY = DmouseY + 100 Else DmouseY = 100
20.     End If
21.     _Limit 20
22. Loop Until k$ = "m"
23. End
24.  
25. Sub MoveDesktopMouse (x As Integer, y As Integer)
26.     Print SetCursorPos(x, y)
27. End Sub
28.  
29. Sub waitScreen
30.     Do While Not _ScreenExists: Loop
31. End Sub
32.  

[AtomicSlaughter]

How about using _MOUSEHIDE and _MOUSESHOW and just hide it when you need to.

[TempodiBasic]

Hi AtomicSlaughter
I can find interesting your proposal if you show how to get the movement out of the window of the mouse pointer. 

[SMcNeill]

Here’s a question: can you mousemove to a non-visible screen?  I’m back down watching mom for the next ten days, so I’m not where I can test it, but something like:


Sub MoveDesktopMouse (x As Integer, y As Integer)
    STATIC tempscreen
    IF tempscreen = 0 THEN
        tempscreen = _NEWIMAGE(_DESKTOPWIDTH, _DESKTOPHEIGHT, 32)
        D = _DISPLAY
        _SCREENHIDE
        SCREEN tempscreen
        _SCREENMOVE (0,0)
        SCREEN D
        _SCREENSHOW
    END IF
    D = _DEST: S = _SOURCE
    _DEST tempscreen: _SOURCE tempscreen
    _MouseMove Int((x * 300) / _DesktopWidth), Int((y * 300) / _DesktopHeight)
    waitScreen
    _DEST D: _SOURCE S
End Sub

The idea would be to have a hidden screen the size of your desktop, set it as dest and source, and see if mousemove would work relative to that screen’s dimensions.


If it works, you’ll want to use this routine here for absolute screen positioning: https://www.qb64.org/forum/index.php?topic=3659.0

[AtomicSlaughter]

from what ive noticed the mouse pointer is visable as soon as you move it out of the app window and dissapears again when you move it back in

[TempodiBasic]

@SMcNeill
hi Steve , your idea of workaround is very fine that I have robbed 10 minutes to try it now...
but with this code the mouse has been moved into the area of the window of application

Code: QB64: [Select]

1. Screen _NewImage(500, 400, 32)
2. Do
3.     k$ = InKey$
4.     If k$ = " " Then MoveDesktopMouse Int(Rnd * (_DesktopWidth / 2) + 100), Int(Rnd * (_DesktopHeight / 2) + 100)
5.     Locate 24, 1: Print " press space to move mouse on screen, m to quit";
6. Loop Until k$ = "m"
7.  
8. End
9.  
10. Sub MoveDesktopMouse (x As Integer, y As Integer)
11.     Static tempscreen
12.     If tempscreen = 0 Then
13.         tempscreen = _NewImage(_DesktopWidth, _DesktopHeight, 32)
14.         D = _Display
15.         _ScreenHide
16.         Screen tempscreen
17.         _ScreenMove 0, 0
18.         Screen D
19.         _ScreenShow
20.     End If
21.     D = _Dest: S = _Source
22.     _Dest tempscreen: _Source tempscreen
23.     _MouseMove Int((x * 300) / _DesktopWidth), Int((y * 300) / _DesktopHeight)
24.     '    waitscreen
25.     _Dest D: _Source S
26. End Sub
27.  
28. Sub waitscreen
29.     Do While _ScreenExists = 0
30.     Loop
31. End Sub

but if I have time tonight I'll try in another way following your idea

@AtomicSlaughter
I think that there is a bad communication from me. The goal is to move the pointer of mouse out of the window of our program.
It doesn't matter if it is visible or no.  In the first my workaround I have used the tip to fullscreen window of application, calculate the position of the point out of our window, mousemove there, take back to original size the window of our application... and the hide/show window has the  goal to be not visible this trick.
In this attempt I fall in the _FULLSCREEN _OFF issue that works alternatively.

The second code demo that I have posted at beginning of the thread solve the issue not using a workaround but the API window that move the mouse at a point of the screen.

[SMcNeill]

If setting DEST and SOURCE doesn’t work, you might try to use SCREEN to change the active screen, without changing the visible screen.

http://qb64.org/wiki/SCREEN (Look at the 3rd and 4th parameters which aren’t used very often anymore, but which might do what you’re looking for here.)

[bplus]

Sounds like a job for that API guy. ;)

There must be an API for mouse functions.

[SMcNeill]

Sounds like a job for that API guy. ;)

There must be an API for mouse functions.

Here is.  Just look at the 2nd demo of the first post.  Tempodi is just trying to do it with QB64 only.

[bplus]

@SMcNeill

in post of yest 7:16 PM code

what is wait screen supposed to be?

Code: QB64: [Select]

1. Do
2.     Cls
3.     MoveDesktopMouse mx, my
4.     Print mx, my
5. Loop
6.  
7. Sub MoveDesktopMouse (x As Integer, y As Integer)
8.     Static tempscreen
9.     If tempscreen = 0 Then
10.         tempscreen = _NewImage(_DesktopWidth, _DesktopHeight, 32)
11.         D = _Display
12.         _ScreenHide
13.         Screen tempscreen
14.         _ScreenMove 0, 0
15.         Screen D
16.         _ScreenShow
17.     End If
18.     D = _Dest: S = _Source
19.     _Dest tempscreen: _Source tempscreen
20.     _MouseMove Int((x * 300) / _DesktopWidth), Int((y * 300) / _DesktopHeight)
21.     'waitScreen
22.     _Dest D: _Source S
23. End Sub
24.  

Getting Invalid handle error for Screen D line.

Wait... want to move the mouse outside QB64 screen? Not just read it when it's out?!? Yikes!

[bplus]

Testing Tempodi's test with my own main loop st

Code: QB64: [Select]

1. Screen _NewImage(500, 400, 32)
2. _Delay .25
3. _ScreenMove _Middle
4. Do
5.     k$ = InKey$
6.     If k$ = " " Then MoveDesktopMouse 10, 10
7.     Locate 24, 1: Print " press space to move mouse on screen, m to quit";
8. Loop Until k$ = "m"
9.  
10. End
11.  
12. Sub MoveDesktopMouse (x As Integer, y As Integer)
13.     Static tempscreen
14.     If tempscreen = 0 Then
15.         tempscreen = _NewImage(_DesktopWidth, _DesktopHeight, 32)
16.         D = _Display
17.         _ScreenHide
18.         Screen tempscreen
19.         _ScreenMove 0, 0
20.         Screen D
21.         _ScreenShow
22.     End If
23.     D = _Dest: S = _Source
24.     _Dest tempscreen: _Source tempscreen
25.     _MouseMove Int((x * 300) / _DesktopWidth), Int((y * 300) / _DesktopHeight)
26.     '    waitscreen
27.     _Dest D: _Source S
28. End Sub
29.  
30. Sub waitscreen
31.     Do While _ScreenExists = 0
32.     Loop
33. End Sub
34.  
35.  

The first time I press space, the QB64 screen moves to 0,0 then when I drag it back in middle and press space the mouse curser moves to 0,0 inside QB64 screen not outside of it, so I'd say quit wasting time and call up that API guy if you really need to move mouse outside a QB64 screen (and can't do it yourself?!?)

[SMcNeill]

The API code was included at the bottom of the first post, as the second example:

Code: [Select]

Declare Dynamic Library "user32"
    Function SetCursorPos (ByVal x As Long, Byval y As Long)
End Declare
 
Screen _NewImage(300, 300, 32)
waitScreen
winX = _DesktopWidth / 2
winY = _DesktopHeight / 2
_ScreenMove winX, winY
DMouseX = 100
DmouseY = 100
 
Do
    k$ = InKey$
    If k$ = " " Then
        MoveDesktopMouse DMouseX, DmouseY
        Print " we move mouse pointer at "; DMouseX; " "; DmouseY
        If DMouseX < _DesktopWidth - 100 Then DMouseX = DMouseX + 100 Else DMouseX = 100
        If DmouseY < _DesktopHeight - 100 Then DmouseY = DmouseY + 100 Else DmouseY = 100
    End If
    _Limit 20
Loop Until k$ = "m"
End
 
Sub MoveDesktopMouse (x As Integer, y As Integer)
    Print SetCursorPos(x, y)
End Sub
 
Sub waitScreen
    Do While Not _ScreenExists: Loop
End Sub
 
Sometimes it's just fun to try and think outside the box and try to find a method to use normal commands in abnormal ways -- which is what Tempodi is playing around here with.

[SpriggsySpriggs]

I prefer using the Win32 API SetCursorPos function because it definitely does move the cursor exactly where you want it and doesn't require anything more than:

Code: QB64: [Select]

1. Declare CustomType Library
2.     Function SetCursorPos& (ByVal x As Long, Byval y As Long)
3. End Declare
4.  
5. Dim As Long move
6. move = SetCursorPos(200, 400) 'or whichever coordinate you want

[SpriggsySpriggs]

One could also even use _ScreenClick as a way to move the mouse wherever you want as it does move the mouse in order to click

[bplus]

One could also even use _ScreenClick as a way to move the mouse wherever you want as it does move the mouse in order to click

Well that looks good!