We have a scenario where a controller will emulate USB mouse to the main host
cpu (over PCI). The controller receives the mouse data from a client in
absolute positioning.

In our USB mouse emulation, can we pass the absolute positioning data to the
host (when OS is running)? Or do we need to convert it into the relative data
(which is not easy as the controller doesn't know the host cursor position &
mouse acceleration can further complicate things)

My understanding is that HID spec allows both absolute & relative
positioning data. So a fully compliant HID driver should be able to pass the
absolute mouse events up.

I will appreciate any information on this. Thank you very much,
-Sanjeev Sood

Sanjeev wrote:

The HID drivers support all mice (absolute or relative).
AFAIK it is Windows which does not fully handle absolute pointing devices.
Still it should work. At least i have seen several devices work.

Which problems do you encounter?

mouhid understands absolute pointing devices. you need to make sure that
your HID descriptor correctly reports that your device is an asbolute
pointing device.

d

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"Sanjeev" <Sanjeev@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:FBDC4A61-7776-41CE-A4C0-175C9AF954E8@microsoft.com...

Robert,

Thanks for your prompt reply. i have few questions to your replies:

a) You have stated that windows doesn't fully handle absolute pointing
devices. Do you know any shortcomings or pit-falls?

b) What kind of devices you have seen work? Tablets or also some pointer
devices w/ buttons providing pointer data?

emulate a absolute USB device to Windows host.

Hopefully, with absolute positioning, we dont have to worry about any mouse
acceleration or speed issues. Is that a correct assumption?

Thanks again and best regards,
-Sanjeev

Doron,

Thank you for your prompt reply too! Yes, we will make sure that our Report
descriptors declares X & Y inputs as Absolute.

I have few more questions:
a) Robert (previous post) has stated that windows doesn't fully handle
absolute pointing
devices. Do you know any shortcomings or pit-falls?

b) What kind of absolute devices you know that work? Tablets or also some
pointer
devices w/ buttons providing pointer data?

c) With absolute positioning, we dont have to worry about any mouse
acceleration or speed issues. Is that a correct assumption?

Thanks and best regards,
-Sanjeev

"Doron Holan [MS]" wrote:

Sanjeev wrote:

No, not really.
One possible pitfall is extra mouse software like the one from Logitech
or Kensington. They take over all mice via drivers and how they support
absolute pointing devices has to be tested.
Fortunately you can download the software. Both also uninstall
reasonably well.

I had a real pointing device with buttons.

i don't know what robert is talking about. Windows itself natively supports
absolute pointing devices. the only restriction with mouhid is if you are
running with multimon, the absolute mouse is restricted to the primary
monitor.

d

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"Sanjeev" <Sanjeev@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:3A90BFF0-B6ED-4C07-BCDC-560C6D3F937B@microsoft.com...

Doron Holan [MS] wrote:
That is the issue i meant. Windows accepts the device but does not fully
use it. I do not know how games handle such mice, but my bet is on problems.

"fully use it" is a subjective evaluation. An absolute pointing device
spread over the entire virtual multimon desktop is a bit useless, especially
if the desktop has blank spaces in it. I have seen usability studies trying
to do this, it isn't pretty. Every single user was confused by it.
besides, how many folks are using an absolute pointing device on a multimon
system?

d

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"Robert Marquardt" <robert_marquardt@gmx.de> wrote in message
news:ex$SQuvWFHA.3712@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...

Doron Holan [MS] wrote:
I dimly recall that there has been a signed/unsigned problem once (Win
95 or 98).