AutoHotkey Community

[Drugwash]

COMPATIBILITY: AutoHotkey 1.0.48.05 (AHK Basic)

Following a request in the Ask for help section, I have developed the following script. When found in a multi-monitor environment, it performs the simple task of confining the mouse cursor within the boundaries of a single monitor, chosen by the user.

EDIT (following SoggyDog's report):
The CTRL key allows the mouse cursor to pass through to the other monitor and stay there until it returns to the locked monitor. This way it's easy to operate on other windows or change script's own settings.
/EDIT

The script can be launched in trayless mode (no tray icon) by specifying a commandline parameter when launching it. While in this mode, the options dialog can be brought up through the Ctrl+Alt+F9 hotkey, configurable by editing the script.

Currently, the images used would have to reside in the script's folder. At a later time, this may change. All icons as well as the script can be found in the archive on the download page.

Settings are automatically saved to an ini file, in the script's folder, on exit. Make sure you have writing permission to that folder, in Vista and later OS.

Final considerations: the script has only been tested in the configuration [primary: Left] [secondary: Right]. I'm quite reluctant to change display configuration to test the reverse (screws up desktop icons and custom toolbars), so if you can, please do and report back if there's problems.

Enjoy!

Download page for MouseTrap2Mon:
MouseTrap2Mon download page

[SoLong&Thx4AllTheFish]

For those interested, see also ConfineMouse by Skrommel
http://www.donationcoder.com/Software/Skrommel/index.html#ConfineMouse

Non AHK, but useful at times for games for example:
http://www.dr-hoiby.com/MouseJail/
it locks the mouse for a specific program.

@Drugwash: I hope you don't mind, your script is fine but the
more solutions to a problem the better in my opinion
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[Z_Gecko]

Did you know there is a build-in windows function to limit the mouse to a certain area? You could use ClipCursor.
see this: http://www.autohotkey.com/forum/post-141037.html#141037

i guess using ClipCursor will reduce the resource usage of your script.

[SoggyDog]

It might be nice to have the Options dialog open on the monitor in which the mouse has been trapped;
Though you can keyboard your way between Disable and Exit, you can't change the selected monitor.
_________________

SoggyDog
Dwarf Fortress:
"The most intriguing game I've ever played."

[Drugwash]

SoggyDog:
What I forgot to mention is that the Ctrl key allows the mouse to pass through to the other monitor and stay there until it goes back to the locked monitor. There is no need to Tab through options or whatnot.
(I edited first post adding this information, thanks)

Z_Gecko:
I haven't yet checked the ClipCursor API but it's doubtful it can do the above. Will have a look at it soon, thanks for the heads up.

HugoV:
Compare their capabilities and choose based on personal preferences; I only did what was requested in the thread mentioned in first post. Alternatives are always welcome, for various tastes. Personally I don't feel the need to confine the mouse but it's always a pleasure being able to help others.

Thank you all for your input and apologies for late reply - I've been away from home.

[Z_Gecko]

[Drugwash]

I've read part of that thread, when there were reports of malfunctioning after focus switching. Will go back and read it completely but if additional efforts are required to keep it working then I'd better leave it as is since it does the job.

[MikeJ]

Nice job Drugwash! Everything works as expected here, and far more than I ever expected when I started the other thread. I`m sure many more will find it useful, as dual monitors become more popular.

Dual Monitor Warning: Habit forming! Especially since this little annoyance has been tamed.

[Drugwash]

Thank you, Mike! I'm glad you're happy with the script.

Dual-monitor is indeed catchy; my current video card (or mobo?) started failing on me and I'm in panic knowing the other card offered to me by a friend has the secondary (digital) output defective and will not be able to continue using dual-video.

[ballyhairs]

I have been through almost all the threads concerning blocking the mouse from certain area, none work effectively, the one posted above by Z_Gecko seem to work sometimes and sometimes not, but once there a video running on the TV out in my case then it doesn't work ar all, it will even block the upper half of my primary monitor. All I need is to block the mouse from going to TV-Out completely, if someone got something that works please let know.

[Drugwash]

Doesn't my script work? Admittedly, I haven't tested it with TV-Out (don't have a TV set at this location) but works fine with 2 analog monitors on a MSI GeForce 4 Ti4200VTD8X 128MB vRAM under Win98SE.

I won't be around anytime soon but posting your hardware/software details (videocard brand/model, video driver version, operating system version, etc) might help others offer some advices.

[ballyhairs]

[Ecto]

I keep having the issue that the mouse crosses to the screen and is then moved back. Is there any way to do it that doesn't allow the mouse on to the second screen at all? Basically, I'm trying to use screen-edge scrolling in a game, but the game only registers it as long as the mouse is on the monitor, not when it's crossed across to the other.

[Guest]

look at reply 3 - Z_Gecko's reply
it provides a much solid way to limit mouse moving area

[Drugwash]

Indeed the behavior is not perfect, the cursor does step into the other screen and is then brought back on a timer basis (10 ms). The time interval could of course be lowered to 1 ms but I'm afraid it would create too much overhead.

The solution mentioned by Z_Gecko didn't work correctly for me either, in that it kept getting disabled under certain conditions. Dunno of a better solution right now so any new ideas are welcome.