How to track the mouse without capturing it?

[Will Pittenger]

If I were writing a C++ program, I would write a mouse hook. Does C# and
..NET 1.1 have anything equivalent. If not, I suppose I will need to use the
Win32 API.
----------
Will Pittenger
E-Mail: mailto:will.pit tenger@verizon. net
All mail filtered by Qurb (www.qurb.com)

[Chad Myers]

Re: How to track the mouse without capturing it?


"Will Pittenger" <will.pittenger @verizon.net> wrote in message
news:ueXavKgYDH A.1784@TK2MSFTN GP09.phx.gbl...[color=blue]
> If I were writing a C++ program, I would write a mouse hook. Does C#[/color]
and[color=blue]
> .NET 1.1 have anything equivalent. If not, I suppose I will need to[/color]
use the[color=blue]
> Win32 API.[/color]

A 5-second Google search revealed:

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=318804

;)

-C

P.S. - nothing personal, I do the same thing sometimes
and people give me crap about it all the time, I'm just
spreading the sarcasm a little :)

[Peter N Roth]

Re: How to track the mouse without capturing it?

so... is "spreading it" supposed to somehow ameliorate
"the crap", or is this revenge?

;o)
--
Grace + Peace,
Peter N Roth
Engineering Objects International

http://engineeringobjects.com

"Chad Myers" <cmyers@N0.SP.4 M.austin.rr.com > wrote in message
news:tGB_a.1681 21$hV.11261088@ twister.austin. rr.com...[color=blue]
>
> "Will Pittenger" <will.pittenger @verizon.net> wrote in message
> news:ueXavKgYDH A.1784@TK2MSFTN GP09.phx.gbl...[color=green]
> > If I were writing a C++ program, I would write a mouse hook. Does C#[/color]
> and[color=green]
> > .NET 1.1 have anything equivalent. If not, I suppose I will need to[/color]
> use the[color=green]
> > Win32 API.[/color]
>
> A 5-second Google search revealed:
> http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=318804
>
> ;)
>
> -C
>
> P.S. - nothing personal, I do the same thing sometimes
> and people give me crap about it all the time, I'm just
> spreading the sarcasm a little :)
>
>[/color]

[Will Pittenger]

Re: How to track the mouse without capturing it?

Not only does it cover hooks, but it does so with the mouse hook. Still, I
was hoping that somewhere there was a .NET event which did the hook for
you..
----------
Will Pittenger
E-Mail: mailto:will.pit tenger@verizon. net
All mail filtered by Qurb (www.qurb.com)
"Chad Myers" <cmyers@N0.SP.4 M.austin.rr.com > wrote in message
news:tGB_a.1681 21$hV.11261088@ twister.austin. rr.com...[color=blue]
>
> "Will Pittenger" <will.pittenger @verizon.net> wrote in message
> news:ueXavKgYDH A.1784@TK2MSFTN GP09.phx.gbl...[color=green]
> > If I were writing a C++ program, I would write a mouse hook. Does C#[/color]
> and[color=green]
> > .NET 1.1 have anything equivalent. If not, I suppose I will need to[/color]
> use the[color=green]
> > Win32 API.[/color]
>
> A 5-second Google search revealed:
> http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=318804
>
> ;)
>
> -C
>
> P.S. - nothing personal, I do the same thing sometimes
> and people give me crap about it all the time, I'm just
> spreading the sarcasm a little :)
>
>[/color]

[ncaHammer]

Re: How to track the mouse without capturing it?

"Will Pittenger" <will.pittenger @verizon.net> wrote in message
news:%235TAcvgY DHA.2648@TK2MSF TNGP09.phx.gbl. ..[color=blue]
> Not only does it cover hooks, but it does so with the mouse hook. Still,[/color]
I[color=blue]
> was hoping that somewhere there was a .NET event which did the hook for
> you..[/color]

if you want to hook only your app messages you should use the IMessageFilter
else use the above which is a system hook

[Will Pittenger]

Re: How to track the mouse without capturing it?

No, I need something global.
----------
Will Pittenger
E-Mail: mailto:will.pit tenger@verizon. net
All mail filtered by Qurb (www.qurb.com)
"ncaHammer" <ncahammer@nos. pamhot.mail.com > wrote in message
news:O4ex1$mYDH A.1204@TK2MSFTN GP12.phx.gbl...[color=blue]
> "Will Pittenger" <will.pittenger @verizon.net> wrote in message
> news:%235TAcvgY DHA.2648@TK2MSF TNGP09.phx.gbl. ..[color=green]
> > Not only does it cover hooks, but it does so with the mouse hook.[/color][/color]
Still,[color=blue]
> I[color=green]
> > was hoping that somewhere there was a .NET event which did the hook for
> > you..[/color]
>
> if you want to hook only your app messages you should use the[/color]
IMessageFilter[color=blue]
> else use the above which is a system hook
>
>[/color]

[Will Pittenger]

Re: How to track the mouse without capturing it?

Well the code that I wrote was based on the article that you pointed me to.
And as I noted, I used Word to help OE. Can a MEC++ DLL be written with out
VC++.NET? All I have is VC# Standard. It sounds like with .NET, if you
want the professional compilers, you MUST buy the entire studio. I do not
have that kind of money.
----------
Will Pittenger
E-Mail: mailto:will.pit tenger@verizon. net
All mail filtered by Qurb (www.qurb.com)
"Chad Myers" <cmyers@N0.SP.4 M.austin.rr.com > wrote in message
news:cmT_a.1656 29$XV.8798002@t wister.austin.r r.com...[color=blue]
>
> "Will Pittenger" <will.pittenger @verizon.net> wrote in message
> news:efbUjuqYDH A.1916@TK2MSFTN GP12.phx.gbl...[color=green]
> > Ok. I now have the code below. This class is intended to hide the[/color]
> hook[color=green]
> > concept. The owner sees a C# event --- sort of anyway. The event[/color]
> itself is[color=green]
> > private so I could implement On and Off functions. Instead the owner[/color]
> passes[color=green]
> > its caller to the tracker's consturctor. The problem is that my hook
> > handler is never called. I have verified that mouseTrack.on is[/color]
> called, but[color=green]
> > onHook (at the bottom) is never called. Could someone tell me what is
> > wrong?[/color]
>
> Hrm, I know that certain global hooks are impossible from .NET. I know
> you cannot set global keyboard handlers (like for CTRL+ALT+DEL, etc)
> in .NET. It's *possible*, but I"m not sure, that this same limitation
> exists for mouse hooks.
>
> For global hooks, you have to have a DLL that has at least one
> export method and you must pass that export method to the global hook.
> Windows will load your DLL into it's process space and call your export
> function. I think that it will be in a different process space, so you
> can't do everything in one process. I may be wrong on that last part.
>
> Anyhow, you cannot create old C-style DLL exports with .NET unless
> you have a small MEC++ wrapper for your .NET assembly.
>[color=green]
> > BTW: When I pasted my code from VS.NET 2003 into Outlook Express 6,[/color]
> all[color=green]
> > indentation was lost and all lines were triple spaced -- even though[/color]
> OE is[color=green]
> > using plain text for newsgroup messages (all font colors remain,[/color]
> including[color=green]
> > the backgrounds). I had to copy this text into Word 2002 and copy[/color]
> that to[color=green]
> > the message. If someone knows why OE does not take the plain text[/color]
> version[color=green]
> > of what is on the clipboard rather than the RTF version, I would be
> > grateful.[/color]
>
> Yeah, OE is not the greatest newsread. It uses a rich text box which
> is always capable of receiving colored text, so even if it's in
> "plain text" mode, it'll still receive the colors. When you actually
> post, it'll remove the colorization.
>
> Unfortunately, I don't think there's a way to preserve the formatting.
> You might try a text editor like EditPlus or TextPad. Paste into
> there and then copy from there and paste into OE. Sometimes that
> works.
>
> <SNIP code>
>
> -c
>
>[/color]

[Chad Myers]

Re: How to track the mouse without capturing it?


"Will Pittenger" <will.pittenger @verizon.net> wrote in message
news:eG62HGrYDH A.2548@TK2MSFTN GP09.phx.gbl...[color=blue]
> Well the code that I wrote was based on the article that you pointed[/color]
me to.[color=blue]
> And as I noted, I used Word to help OE. Can a MEC++ DLL be written[/color]
with out[color=blue]
> VC++.NET? All I have is VC# Standard. It sounds like with .NET, if[/color]
you[color=blue]
> want the professional compilers, you MUST buy the entire studio. I do[/color]
not[color=blue]
> have that kind of money.[/color]

You can write .NET code in notepad if you want.

Well, I thought that a MEC++ compiler came with the .NET Framework
SDK, but I can't seem to find it, so I must be wrong :(

As far as the other compilers, you don't need VS.NET 2003.

The .NET Framework SDK (free) comes with a C# compiler,
a VB.NET compiler and a JScript.NET compiler, as well as
an IL compiler and an assembly linker. All free.

Shoulda got VC++.NET and then used SharpDevelop or something :(

-c

[color=blue]
> ----------
> Will Pittenger
> E-Mail: mailto:will.pit tenger@verizon. net
> All mail filtered by Qurb (www.qurb.com)
> "Chad Myers" <cmyers@N0.SP.4 M.austin.rr.com > wrote in message
> news:cmT_a.1656 29$XV.8798002@t wister.austin.r r.com...[color=green]
> >
> > "Will Pittenger" <will.pittenger @verizon.net> wrote in message
> > news:efbUjuqYDH A.1916@TK2MSFTN GP12.phx.gbl...[color=darkred]
> > > Ok. I now have the code below. This class is intended to hide[/color][/color][/color]
the[color=blue][color=green]
> > hook[color=darkred]
> > > concept. The owner sees a C# event --- sort of anyway. The event[/color]
> > itself is[color=darkred]
> > > private so I could implement On and Off functions. Instead the[/color][/color][/color]
owner[color=blue][color=green]
> > passes[color=darkred]
> > > its caller to the tracker's consturctor. The problem is that my[/color][/color][/color]
hook[color=blue][color=green][color=darkred]
> > > handler is never called. I have verified that mouseTrack.on is[/color]
> > called, but[color=darkred]
> > > onHook (at the bottom) is never called. Could someone tell me[/color][/color][/color]
what is[color=blue][color=green][color=darkred]
> > > wrong?[/color]
> >
> > Hrm, I know that certain global hooks are impossible from .NET. I[/color][/color]
know[color=blue][color=green]
> > you cannot set global keyboard handlers (like for CTRL+ALT+DEL, etc)
> > in .NET. It's *possible*, but I"m not sure, that this same[/color][/color]
limitation[color=blue][color=green]
> > exists for mouse hooks.
> >
> > For global hooks, you have to have a DLL that has at least one
> > export method and you must pass that export method to the global[/color][/color]
hook.[color=blue][color=green]
> > Windows will load your DLL into it's process space and call your[/color][/color]
export[color=blue][color=green]
> > function. I think that it will be in a different process space, so[/color][/color]
you[color=blue][color=green]
> > can't do everything in one process. I may be wrong on that last[/color][/color]
part.[color=blue][color=green]
> >
> > Anyhow, you cannot create old C-style DLL exports with .NET unless
> > you have a small MEC++ wrapper for your .NET assembly.
> >[color=darkred]
> > > BTW: When I pasted my code from VS.NET 2003 into Outlook Express[/color][/color][/color]
6,[color=blue][color=green]
> > all[color=darkred]
> > > indentation was lost and all lines were triple spaced -- even[/color][/color][/color]
though[color=blue][color=green]
> > OE is[color=darkred]
> > > using plain text for newsgroup messages (all font colors remain,[/color]
> > including[color=darkred]
> > > the backgrounds). I had to copy this text into Word 2002 and copy[/color]
> > that to[color=darkred]
> > > the message. If someone knows why OE does not take the plain text[/color]
> > version[color=darkred]
> > > of what is on the clipboard rather than the RTF version, I would[/color][/color][/color]
be[color=blue][color=green][color=darkred]
> > > grateful.[/color]
> >
> > Yeah, OE is not the greatest newsread. It uses a rich text box which
> > is always capable of receiving colored text, so even if it's in
> > "plain text" mode, it'll still receive the colors. When you actually
> > post, it'll remove the colorization.
> >
> > Unfortunately, I don't think there's a way to preserve the[/color][/color]
formatting.[color=blue][color=green]
> > You might try a text editor like EditPlus or TextPad. Paste into
> > there and then copy from there and paste into OE. Sometimes that
> > works.
> >
> > <SNIP code>
> >
> > -c
> >
> >[/color]
>
>[/color]

[Will Pittenger]

Re: How to track the mouse without capturing it?

If you look at the more recent thread where someone is asking which C# to
get, you will find that the main reason I got the book that I did was that
it came with C# (a $100 value), but cost only $79. Where do your deals come
from?
----------
Will Pittenger
E-Mail: mailto:will.pit tenger@verizon. net
All mail filtered by Qurb (www.qurb.com)
"Chad Myers" <cmyers@N0.SP.4 M.austin.rr.com > wrote in message
news:CbU_a.1656 40$XV.8804677@t wister.austin.r r.com...[color=blue]
>
> "Will Pittenger" <will.pittenger @verizon.net> wrote in message
> news:eG62HGrYDH A.2548@TK2MSFTN GP09.phx.gbl...[color=green]
> > Well the code that I wrote was based on the article that you pointed[/color]
> me to.[color=green]
> > And as I noted, I used Word to help OE. Can a MEC++ DLL be written[/color]
> with out[color=green]
> > VC++.NET? All I have is VC# Standard. It sounds like with .NET, if[/color]
> you[color=green]
> > want the professional compilers, you MUST buy the entire studio. I do[/color]
> not[color=green]
> > have that kind of money.[/color]
>
> You can write .NET code in notepad if you want.
>
> Well, I thought that a MEC++ compiler came with the .NET Framework
> SDK, but I can't seem to find it, so I must be wrong :(
>
> As far as the other compilers, you don't need VS.NET 2003.
>
> The .NET Framework SDK (free) comes with a C# compiler,
> a VB.NET compiler and a JScript.NET compiler, as well as
> an IL compiler and an assembly linker. All free.
>
> Shoulda got VC++.NET and then used SharpDevelop or something :(
>
> -c
>
>[color=green]
> > ----------
> > Will Pittenger
> > E-Mail: mailto:will.pit tenger@verizon. net
> > All mail filtered by Qurb (www.qurb.com)
> > "Chad Myers" <cmyers@N0.SP.4 M.austin.rr.com > wrote in message
> > news:cmT_a.1656 29$XV.8798002@t wister.austin.r r.com...[color=darkred]
> > >
> > > "Will Pittenger" <will.pittenger @verizon.net> wrote in message
> > > news:efbUjuqYDH A.1916@TK2MSFTN GP12.phx.gbl...
> > > > Ok. I now have the code below. This class is intended to hide[/color][/color]
> the[color=green][color=darkred]
> > > hook
> > > > concept. The owner sees a C# event --- sort of anyway. The event
> > > itself is
> > > > private so I could implement On and Off functions. Instead the[/color][/color]
> owner[color=green][color=darkred]
> > > passes
> > > > its caller to the tracker's consturctor. The problem is that my[/color][/color]
> hook[color=green][color=darkred]
> > > > handler is never called. I have verified that mouseTrack.on is
> > > called, but
> > > > onHook (at the bottom) is never called. Could someone tell me[/color][/color]
> what is[color=green][color=darkred]
> > > > wrong?
> > >
> > > Hrm, I know that certain global hooks are impossible from .NET. I[/color][/color]
> know[color=green][color=darkred]
> > > you cannot set global keyboard handlers (like for CTRL+ALT+DEL, etc)
> > > in .NET. It's *possible*, but I"m not sure, that this same[/color][/color]
> limitation[color=green][color=darkred]
> > > exists for mouse hooks.
> > >
> > > For global hooks, you have to have a DLL that has at least one
> > > export method and you must pass that export method to the global[/color][/color]
> hook.[color=green][color=darkred]
> > > Windows will load your DLL into it's process space and call your[/color][/color]
> export[color=green][color=darkred]
> > > function. I think that it will be in a different process space, so[/color][/color]
> you[color=green][color=darkred]
> > > can't do everything in one process. I may be wrong on that last[/color][/color]
> part.[color=green][color=darkred]
> > >
> > > Anyhow, you cannot create old C-style DLL exports with .NET unless
> > > you have a small MEC++ wrapper for your .NET assembly.
> > >
> > > > BTW: When I pasted my code from VS.NET 2003 into Outlook Express[/color][/color]
> 6,[color=green][color=darkred]
> > > all
> > > > indentation was lost and all lines were triple spaced -- even[/color][/color]
> though[color=green][color=darkred]
> > > OE is
> > > > using plain text for newsgroup messages (all font colors remain,
> > > including
> > > > the backgrounds). I had to copy this text into Word 2002 and copy
> > > that to
> > > > the message. If someone knows why OE does not take the plain text
> > > version
> > > > of what is on the clipboard rather than the RTF version, I would[/color][/color]
> be[color=green][color=darkred]
> > > > grateful.
> > >
> > > Yeah, OE is not the greatest newsread. It uses a rich text box which
> > > is always capable of receiving colored text, so even if it's in
> > > "plain text" mode, it'll still receive the colors. When you actually
> > > post, it'll remove the colorization.
> > >
> > > Unfortunately, I don't think there's a way to preserve the[/color][/color]
> formatting.[color=green][color=darkred]
> > > You might try a text editor like EditPlus or TextPad. Paste into
> > > there and then copy from there and paste into OE. Sometimes that
> > > works.
> > >
> > > <SNIP code>
> > >
> > > -c
> > >
> > >[/color]
> >
> >[/color]
>
>[/color]

[Chad Myers]

Re: How to track the mouse without capturing it?

MSDN Subscriptions :)

I've always been fortunate enough to work for companies
with enough MSDN subscriptions for me to legally have a copy
of VS.NET on my laptop for work or whatnot.

-c

"Will Pittenger" <will.pittenger @verizon.net> wrote in message
news:%23%23UINV rYDHA.2548@TK2M SFTNGP09.phx.gb l...[color=blue]
> If you look at the more recent thread where someone is asking which C#[/color]
to[color=blue]
> get, you will find that the main reason I got the book that I did was[/color]
that[color=blue]
> it came with C# (a $100 value), but cost only $79. Where do your[/color]
deals come[color=blue]
> from?
> ----------
> Will Pittenger
> E-Mail: mailto:will.pit tenger@verizon. net
> All mail filtered by Qurb (www.qurb.com)
> "Chad Myers" <cmyers@N0.SP.4 M.austin.rr.com > wrote in message
> news:CbU_a.1656 40$XV.8804677@t wister.austin.r r.com...[color=green]
> >
> > "Will Pittenger" <will.pittenger @verizon.net> wrote in message
> > news:eG62HGrYDH A.2548@TK2MSFTN GP09.phx.gbl...[color=darkred]
> > > Well the code that I wrote was based on the article that you[/color][/color][/color]
pointed[color=blue][color=green]
> > me to.[color=darkred]
> > > And as I noted, I used Word to help OE. Can a MEC++ DLL be[/color][/color][/color]
written[color=blue][color=green]
> > with out[color=darkred]
> > > VC++.NET? All I have is VC# Standard. It sounds like with .NET,[/color][/color][/color]
if[color=blue][color=green]
> > you[color=darkred]
> > > want the professional compilers, you MUST buy the entire studio.[/color][/color][/color]
I do[color=blue][color=green]
> > not[color=darkred]
> > > have that kind of money.[/color]
> >
> > You can write .NET code in notepad if you want.
> >
> > Well, I thought that a MEC++ compiler came with the .NET Framework
> > SDK, but I can't seem to find it, so I must be wrong :(
> >
> > As far as the other compilers, you don't need VS.NET 2003.
> >
> > The .NET Framework SDK (free) comes with a C# compiler,
> > a VB.NET compiler and a JScript.NET compiler, as well as
> > an IL compiler and an assembly linker. All free.
> >
> > Shoulda got VC++.NET and then used SharpDevelop or something :(
> >
> > -c
> >
> >[color=darkred]
> > > ----------
> > > Will Pittenger
> > > E-Mail: mailto:will.pit tenger@verizon. net
> > > All mail filtered by Qurb (www.qurb.com)
> > > "Chad Myers" <cmyers@N0.SP.4 M.austin.rr.com > wrote in message
> > > news:cmT_a.1656 29$XV.8798002@t wister.austin.r r.com...
> > > >
> > > > "Will Pittenger" <will.pittenger @verizon.net> wrote in message
> > > > news:efbUjuqYDH A.1916@TK2MSFTN GP12.phx.gbl...
> > > > > Ok. I now have the code below. This class is intended to[/color][/color][/color]
hide[color=blue][color=green]
> > the[color=darkred]
> > > > hook
> > > > > concept. The owner sees a C# event --- sort of anyway. The[/color][/color][/color]
event[color=blue][color=green][color=darkred]
> > > > itself is
> > > > > private so I could implement On and Off functions. Instead[/color][/color][/color]
the[color=blue][color=green]
> > owner[color=darkred]
> > > > passes
> > > > > its caller to the tracker's consturctor. The problem is that[/color][/color][/color]
my[color=blue][color=green]
> > hook[color=darkred]
> > > > > handler is never called. I have verified that mouseTrack.on[/color][/color][/color]
is[color=blue][color=green][color=darkred]
> > > > called, but
> > > > > onHook (at the bottom) is never called. Could someone tell me[/color]
> > what is[color=darkred]
> > > > > wrong?
> > > >
> > > > Hrm, I know that certain global hooks are impossible from .NET.[/color][/color][/color]
I[color=blue][color=green]
> > know[color=darkred]
> > > > you cannot set global keyboard handlers (like for CTRL+ALT+DEL,[/color][/color][/color]
etc)[color=blue][color=green][color=darkred]
> > > > in .NET. It's *possible*, but I"m not sure, that this same[/color]
> > limitation[color=darkred]
> > > > exists for mouse hooks.
> > > >
> > > > For global hooks, you have to have a DLL that has at least one
> > > > export method and you must pass that export method to the global[/color]
> > hook.[color=darkred]
> > > > Windows will load your DLL into it's process space and call your[/color]
> > export[color=darkred]
> > > > function. I think that it will be in a different process space,[/color][/color][/color]
so[color=blue][color=green]
> > you[color=darkred]
> > > > can't do everything in one process. I may be wrong on that last[/color]
> > part.[color=darkred]
> > > >
> > > > Anyhow, you cannot create old C-style DLL exports with .NET[/color][/color][/color]
unless[color=blue][color=green][color=darkred]
> > > > you have a small MEC++ wrapper for your .NET assembly.
> > > >
> > > > > BTW: When I pasted my code from VS.NET 2003 into Outlook[/color][/color][/color]
Express[color=blue][color=green]
> > 6,[color=darkred]
> > > > all
> > > > > indentation was lost and all lines were triple spaced -- even[/color]
> > though[color=darkred]
> > > > OE is
> > > > > using plain text for newsgroup messages (all font colors[/color][/color][/color]
remain,[color=blue][color=green][color=darkred]
> > > > including
> > > > > the backgrounds). I had to copy this text into Word 2002 and[/color][/color][/color]
copy[color=blue][color=green][color=darkred]
> > > > that to
> > > > > the message. If someone knows why OE does not take the plain[/color][/color][/color]
text[color=blue][color=green][color=darkred]
> > > > version
> > > > > of what is on the clipboard rather than the RTF version, I[/color][/color][/color]
would[color=blue][color=green]
> > be[color=darkred]
> > > > > grateful.
> > > >
> > > > Yeah, OE is not the greatest newsread. It uses a rich text box[/color][/color][/color]
which[color=blue][color=green][color=darkred]
> > > > is always capable of receiving colored text, so even if it's in
> > > > "plain text" mode, it'll still receive the colors. When you[/color][/color][/color]
actually[color=blue][color=green][color=darkred]
> > > > post, it'll remove the colorization.
> > > >
> > > > Unfortunately, I don't think there's a way to preserve the[/color]
> > formatting.[color=darkred]
> > > > You might try a text editor like EditPlus or TextPad. Paste into
> > > > there and then copy from there and paste into OE. Sometimes that
> > > > works.
> > > >
> > > > <SNIP code>
> > > >
> > > > -c
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >[/color]
> >
> >[/color]
>
>[/color]