I want to make an application in vb.net which will allow user to use mouse in a different way. i.e Dwell Clicking.
Suppose user moves mouse pointer at particular location and if the user doesnt move the mouse pointer from that location for 2 seconds then single click will be initiated.
Can any one help me out! How should I start?
All I know is I will need a form, 2 buttons i.e for selecting single click and double click, and a timer!
What is Dwell Clicking ?
@debasisdas ..The user moves mouse pointer at particular location(dwelling) and if the user doesnt move the mouse pointer from that location for particular time then clicks will be initiated.
1. On a timer keep tacking of the X,Y coordinates of the mouse.
2. Check the same after desired time gap and compare with the old location, if it has changed call the click event.
3. On each mouse move reset the timer.
@debasisdas.. First I would like to Thank you for your time.
I understood your first step, and successfully implemented it. But, I m stuck in second step i.e checking the new coordinates with old ones for desired time gap? How do I set timer and which data structure should I use? Should I use array, or variables will do? If possible can you post the sample code of second step? - Thank you.
No need of using array ,using variables should work for you.
Can you post the sample code of second step? - Thank you.
what is the problem with step2 ?
suppose
on start of the timer
x=1500
y=2000
after 2 seconds
x1=2500
y1=3000
if x <> x1 and y <>y1 then
' your next logic here
Why not just use the MouseHover event?
Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
'Do click code here
End Sub
Private Sub Button1_MouseHover(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.MouseHover
Button1_Click(Nothing, Nothing)
End SubActually that does not give you much control over the dwell time.
Try using a ToolTip control like this.
Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
ToolTip1.AutomaticDelay = 1500
ToolTip1.SetToolTip(Button1, "Button1")
End Sub
Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
'Do click code here
MessageBox.Show("Clicked")
End Sub
Private Sub ToolTip1_Popup(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.PopupEventArgs) Handles ToolTip1.Popup
If e.AssociatedControl Is Button1 Then
e.Cancel = True
Button1_Click(Nothing, Nothing)
End If
End SubI dont want cursor to be able to initiate clicks on form only!
It should initiate clicks anywhere like on desktop, taskbar...etc
I dont want cursor to be able to initiate clicks on form only!
It should initiate clicks anywhere like on desktop, taskbar...etc
Ohh, you mean change the whole OS mouse experience so that you can Dwell click a Desktop shortcut.
That will require very deep knowledge of the OS and is not available via .Net directly.
You will need to do some research on Windows OS messaging and how Windows handles mouse operations. Then call on some Windows APIs.
Sorry, this is a bit beyond my knowledge.
Maybe someone else could help.
Good luck.
@debasisdas & @nick.crane - Thank you for helping me!
I have successfully created dwell click application. But, I m facing some problem.
I have used a timer whose interval is set to 2 sec, so this program is initiating clicks every 2 sec. I want it to click only when my mouse does not move for 2 sec or so.
means if I move mouse continuously it should not initiate click.
Please help me out with timer syntax - Thank you!
Public Class Form1
Dim x As Integer ' X variable to store x coordinate of cursor
Dim y As Integer ' X Variable to store y coordinate of cursor
Dim x1 As Integer ' X1 Variable to store x1 new coordinate of cursor
Dim y2 As Integer 'y2 Variable to store y2 new coordinate of cursor
Private Declare Sub mouse_event Lib "user32.dll" (ByVal dwFlags As Integer, ByVal dx As Integer, ByVal dy As Integer, ByVal cButtons As Integer, ByVal dwExtraInfo As Integer)
Private Sub Mouse_Click(ByVal button As Integer, ByVal state As String)
Select Case button
Case 1
If state = "down" Then
mouse_event(2, 100, 100, 0, 0)
Else
mouse_event(4, 100, 100, 0, 0)
End If
Case 2
If state = "down" Then
mouse_event(8, 100, 100, 0, 0)
Else
mouse_event(16, 100, 100, 0, 0)
End If
Case 3
If state = "down" Then
mouse_event(32, 100, 100, 0, 0)
Else
mouse_event(64, 100, 100, 0, 0)
End If
End Select
End Sub
Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
x = MousePosition.X
y = MousePosition.Y
End Sub
Private Sub Timer1_Tick(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Timer2.Tick
x1 = MousePosition.X
y2 = MousePosition.Y
If x <> x1 And y <> y2 Then
Mouse_Click(1, "down")
Mouse_Click(1, "up")
End If
x = x1
y = y2
End SubReply..!
You have no code to capture the mouse movement!
Your application will capture mouse events while it has focus.
However, when the user clicks outside your app you will not receive any mouse event notifications.
This is a feature of the OS and you must do more research to find out how to capture the mouse at a lower level. Not sure how you do this. Good luck in finding out.
Also, according to MSDN mouse_event Function the mouse_event is superseded with the SendInput Function .
I presume that you are doing this as an exercise, as the program you linked runs just fine on Win7; and normally re-inventing the wheel is not worth-while.:)
Also, I found this thread DaniWeb - Intercept windows mouse events
which reference this page The Code Project - Processing Global Mouse and Keyboard Hooks in C#
Hope it helps.
I dont have problem with mouse clicks!
I just want to control timer! i.e if mouse doesnt move for specific time initiate click. If I continously move my mouse it should not perform clicks!
C'mon guys help me out!
In your code that captures the mouse move event you should reset the timer.
Then when the mouse stops moving your timer is allowed to timeout.
When the timer times out the mouse has been stationary for timeout period.
Try this in the mouse move event handler.
Timer2.Enabled = False;
Timer2.Enabled = True;This will start and stop a timer with mouse movement.
The Form's timer checks every half second if there was movement.
Option Strict On
Public Class Form1
Private LastMoveTime As DateTime
Private WithEvents MouseDetector As MouseDetector
Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Me.Load
MouseDetector = New MouseDetector
Timer1.Interval = 500
Timer1.Start()
End Sub
Private Sub Timer1_Tick(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Timer1.Tick
'If the last time of movement and right now is >= 2 seconds then mouse hovered.
If DateAndTime.DateDiff(DateInterval.Second, LastMoveTime, DateAndTime.Now) >= 2 Then
Timer1.Enabled = False
MsgBox("Cursor Hovered for 2 Seconds")
End If
End Sub
Private Sub MouseDetector_GlobalMouseMove(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.MouseEventArgs) Handles MouseDetector.GlobalMouseMove
'MouseMove raised from anywhere on the desktop
'Set the time of movement
LastMoveTime = DateAndTime.Now
If Not Timer1.Enabled Then Timer1.Enabled = True
End Sub
End ClassThe MouseDetector Class
The mouse detectory class creates a global mouse hook and raises the Global mouse move event on mouse move.
You will need to add a class called mousedetector and paste the following code into it. You will also need to go to Project/Properties/Debug and uncheck enable the visual studio hosting process.
Imports System.Runtime.InteropServices
Imports System.Reflection
Imports System.Windows.Forms
Public Class MouseDetector
Public Event GlobalMouseLeftButtonClick(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As MouseEventArgs)
Public Event GlobalMouseRightButtonClick(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As MouseEventArgs)
Public Event GlobalMouseMove(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As MouseEventArgs)
Private Delegate Function MouseHookCallback(ByVal nCode As Integer, ByVal wParam As Integer, ByVal lParam As IntPtr) As Integer
Private MouseHookCallbackDelegate As MouseHookCallback
Private MouseHookID As Integer
Public Sub New()
If MouseHookID = 0 Then
MouseHookCallbackDelegate = AddressOf MouseHookProc
MouseHookID = SetWindowsHookEx(CInt(14), MouseHookCallbackDelegate, Marshal.GetHINSTANCE(Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly.GetModules()(0)), 0)
If MouseHookID = 0 Then
'error
End If
End If
End Sub
Public Sub Dispose()
If Not MouseHookID = -1 Then
UnhookWindowsHookEx(MouseHookID)
MouseHookCallbackDelegate = Nothing
End If
MouseHookID = -1
End Sub
Private Enum MouseMessages
WM_LeftButtonDown = 513
WM_LeftButtonUp = 514
WM_LeftDblClick = 515
WM_RightButtonDown = 516
WM_RightButtonUp = 517
WM_RightDblClick = 518
WM_MouseMove = 512
End Enum
<StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential)> _
Private Structure Point
Public x As Integer
Public y As Integer
End Structure
<StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential)> _
Private Structure MouseHookStruct
Public pt As Point
Public hwnd As Integer
Public wHitTestCode As Integer
Public dwExtraInfo As Integer
End Structure
<DllImport("user32.dll", CharSet:=CharSet.Auto, CallingConvention:=CallingConvention.StdCall)> _
Private Shared Function CallNextHookEx( _
ByVal idHook As Integer, _
ByVal nCode As Integer, _
ByVal wParam As IntPtr, _
ByVal lParam As IntPtr) As Integer
End Function
<DllImport("User32.dll", CharSet:=CharSet.Auto, CallingConvention:=CallingConvention.StdCall, SetLastError:=True)> _
Private Shared Function SetWindowsHookEx _
(ByVal idHook As Integer, ByVal HookProc As MouseHookCallback, _
ByVal hInstance As IntPtr, ByVal wParam As Integer) As Integer
End Function
<DllImport("user32.dll", CharSet:=CharSet.Auto, CallingConvention:=CallingConvention.StdCall, SetLastError:=True)> _
Private Shared Function UnhookWindowsHookEx(ByVal idHook As Integer) As Integer
End Function
Private Function MouseHookProc(ByVal nCode As Integer, ByVal wParam As Integer, ByVal lParam As IntPtr) As Integer
If nCode < 0 Then
Return CallNextHookEx(MouseHookID, nCode, wParam, lParam)
End If
Dim MouseData As MouseHookStruct = Marshal.PtrToStructure(lParam, GetType(MouseHookStruct))
Select Case wParam
Case MouseMessages.WM_MouseMove
RaiseEvent GlobalMouseMove(Nothing, New MouseEventArgs(MouseButtons.None, 1, MouseData.pt.x, MouseData.pt.y, 0))
Case MouseMessages.WM_LeftButtonUp
RaiseEvent GlobalMouseLeftButtonClick(Nothing, New MouseEventArgs(MouseButtons.Left, 1, MouseData.pt.x, MouseData.pt.y, 0))
Case MouseMessages.WM_RightButtonUp
RaiseEvent GlobalMouseRightButtonClick(Nothing, New MouseEventArgs(MouseButtons.Right, 1, MouseData.pt.x, MouseData.pt.y, 0))
End Select
Return CallNextHookEx(MouseHookID, nCode, wParam, lParam)
End Function
End ClassHeres another example since you just completley ignored the last.
Public Class Form1
Private LastPoint As Point
Private LastTimeMoved As Date
Sub New()
' This call is required by the Windows Form Designer.
InitializeComponent()
' Add any initialization after the InitializeComponent() call.
LastTimeMoved = Now
Timer1.Interval = 100
Timer1.Start()
End Sub
Private Sub Timer1_Tick(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Timer1.Tick
If LastPoint = Cursor.Position Then
If DateDiff(DateInterval.Second, LastTimeMoved, Now) >= 2 Then
LastPoint = New Point(Integer.MinValue, Integer.MinValue)
MsgBox("Cursor Hovered over " & Cursor.Position.ToString & " for 2 seconds")
End If
Else
LastPoint = Cursor.Position
LastTimeMoved = Now
End If
End Sub
End Class@Unhnd_exception....Thankyou very much!
Your code works perfectly fine! But there is a problem. If I dont move the cursor for more than 2 sec or so, it keeps on clicking! I just want one click to be initiated.
Public Class Form1
Private LastPoint As Point
Private LastTimeMoved As Date
Private Declare Sub mouse_event Lib "user32.dll" (ByVal dwFlags As Integer, ByVal dx As Integer, ByVal dy As Integer, ByVal cButtons As Integer, ByVal dwExtraInfo As Integer)
Sub New()
' This call is required by the Windows Form Designer.
InitializeComponent()
' Add any initialization after the InitializeComponent() call.
LastTimeMoved = Now
Timer1.Interval = 200
Timer1().Start()
End Sub
Private Sub Mouse_Click(ByVal button As Integer, ByVal state As String)
Select Case button
Case 1
If state = "down" Then
mouse_event(2, 100, 100, 0, 0)
Else
mouse_event(4, 100, 100, 0, 0)
End If
Case 2
If state = "down" Then
mouse_event(8, 100, 100, 0, 0)
Else
mouse_event(16, 100, 100, 0, 0)
End If
Case 3
If state = "down" Then
mouse_event(32, 100, 100, 0, 0)
Else
mouse_event(64, 100, 100, 0, 0)
End If
End Select
End Sub
Private Sub Timer1_Tick(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Timer1.Tick
If LastPoint = Cursor.Position Then
If DateDiff(DateInterval.Second, LastTimeMoved, Now) >= 1 Then
LastPoint = New Point(Integer.MinValue, Integer.MinValue)
Mouse_Click(1, "down")
Mouse_Click(1, "up")
Beep()
End If
Else
LastPoint = Cursor.Position
LastTimeMoved = Now
End If
End SubYou need to latch the click event with a boolean.
You also do not need to reset LastPoint unless the cursor has moved.
Try this
Private ClickDone As Boolean
Private Sub Timer1_Tick(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Timer1.Tick
If LastPoint = Cursor.Position Then
If DateDiff(DateInterval.Second, LastTimeMoved, Now) >= 1 And Not ClickDone Then
ClickDone = True
Mouse_Click(1, "down")
Mouse_Click(1, "up")
Beep()
End If
Else
ClickDone = False
LastPoint = Cursor.Position
LastTimeMoved = Now
End If
End SubHeres another since I already did it.
Private LastPointWhenClicked As Point
Private Sub Timer1_Tick(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Timer1.Tick
If LastPoint = Cursor.Position AndAlso LastPointWhenClicked <> Cursor.Position Then
If DateDiff(DateInterval.Second, LastTimeMoved, Now) >= 2 Then
LastPoint = New Point(Integer.MinValue, Integer.MinValue)
LastPointWhenClicked = Cursor.Position
End If
Else
LastPoint = Cursor.Position
LastTimeMoved = Now
End If
End SubWe're a friendly, industry-focused community of developers, IT pros, digital marketers, and technology enthusiasts meeting, networking, learning, and sharing knowledge.