#Beta 1.15 Feedback - Mouse Cursor visibility

[SebVFX]

Mouse Cursor is properly hidden, but is only shown on the edge of the left side of the screen if i move the cursor to the far right side of my screen. As if the x-axis is shifted 100% to the right.

Well, of course I don't know if the problem only occurs on my side, like with the freezing bug.

[mausimus]

Got it, how many monitors do you have? Is there anything special in how they are laid out?

[mausimus]

Ok I was able to mess up my setup and I think I see the problem, your primary monitor is likely not top-left of your setup. Hotfix incoming.

[mausimus]

I've updated 1.1.5 in-place, please redownload it when you have a chance (README will say 1.1.5.1)

[LordArchantos]

Functions well here now with the hotfix, with a PC monitor + TV setup, and the mouse feels good and as it should even when changing mouse dpi, sensitivity, acceleration, etc.

Personally though I was more looking forward to having this option with clone mode, any chance of that happening? 😅☺️

[mausimus]

@LordArchantos What are you cloning, a window or a desktop? In Clone mode I use the regular Windows Capture API cursor so it should work fine. Let me know your setup.

[SebVFX]

Works great now :)

You were right, my main monitor is on the right and secondary on the left.

[LordArchantos]

@LordArchantos What are you cloning, a window or a desktop? In Clone mode I use the regular Windows Capture API cursor so it should work fine. Let me know your setup.

I'm cloning windows. E.g. running a game in a borderless window @1280x720, and upscaling it to 4k with ShaderGlass in clone mode. Same happens with e.g. Windows file explorer, I can see both the captured cursor, and the normal cursor on top of ShaderGlass.

EDIT: I discovered just now that if I start ShaderGlass with a profile that directly hooks to a window, the hiding works. However, the captured mouse's coordinates are then incorrect. Once I go to "Input -> Window" and choose a window to "re-hook" the source, the coordinate issue for the captured cursor is fixed but the normal cursor also comes back on top.

[mausimus]

@LordArchantos got it, thanks a lot, I should be able to add clone support in the next patch; will check this bug report also

[SebVFX]

There seems to be an incompatibility with software cursor in some old games. Tested with Might and Magic VI, Morrowind / OpenMW, Dosbox (Might and Magic IV and V, Darghul). Sometimes the cursor is no longer visible, sometimes the hardware cursor is centered and the software cursor is working. In Might and Magic VI the emulated one is hidden and the hardware one is shown.

[mausimus]

Thanks, I had a look at:

• OpenMW - yes this is unfortunately expected, games that set custom Windows cursors won't work; the method I'm using replaces all system cursors (with blanks) but it's not able to replace another application's cursor; unless I find a way to do this, fix is unlikely
• Might and Magic IV in DOSBox - here you wouldn't use "Capture Cursor" because DOSBox uses an internal cursor, I think you're referring to an issue with DOSBox where mouse input stops working when ShaderGlass is on top; to fix:
  • use Input -> Window with DOSBox (i.e. clone mode)
  • tick Output -> Window -> Click-Through in SG
  • move mouse back into DOSBox so that it has focus
  • Ctrl+Shift+G for fullscreen
  • I also find disabling "Auto lock mouse" in DOSBox helps here

[SebVFX]

[That's good to know, thanks.
In Might and Magic VI though the cursor "overrides" somehow. I tried to capture it on video. As long as i don't move the cursor after tabbing out with "win" and clicking back into the game, the emulated cursor appears. As soon as I move the mouse it reverts back to the old one. Is it a Ddraw issue and not fixable?

Thank you so much for what you are doing here. that really is not be taken for granted. ](url)

IMG_3455.mov

[mausimus]

Yes this mouse cursor business is getting a bit out of control, it's a great moment when you just shade your whole desktop but for gaming it's only trouble. There doesn't seem to be a legit way to control other apps' cursors (kinda makes sense) and making fake .dlls or system hooks is probably not where I want to go.

I was doing some testing and came across this, basically by adding a virtual display, putting your game there (using Shift+Win+arrow keys) and using Display Clone in ShaderGlass you get perfect results with any type of mouse cursor; I might start pointing people there for those tricky scenarios.
https://github.com/VirtualDrivers/Virtual-Display-Driver

[mausimus]

@LordArchantos I added a fix where it's possible to hide mouse cursor in your scenario, you can try the nightly build from here:
https://github.com/mausimus/ShaderGlass/actions/runs/16484234860/artifacts/3601972750
In your case, you will need to change Output -> Window to Click-through to engage the emulated mouse cursor. The reason I don't want to make it default is that Windows built-in cursor capture is better at handling custom cursors so if you are cloning from another screen for example it's better to use the old style API. Only if you are covering your source window with ShaderGlass it makes sense to use the new method to avoid the duplicate.
Judging from your screenshot, you will however run into the issue of custom game cursor not being hidden and using a virtual display is probably your best bet unfortunately.

[LordArchantos]

The nightly seems to work perfectly aside from those custom game cursors. Thank you for working on this and the info on the virtual display driver, I'll look into that. ☺️

[SebVFX]

Yes this mouse cursor business is getting a bit out of control, it's a great moment when you just shade your whole desktop but for gaming it's only trouble. There doesn't seem to be a legit way to control other apps' cursors (kinda makes sense) and making fake .dlls or system hooks is probably not where I want to go.

I was doing some testing and came across this, basically by adding a virtual display, putting your game there (using Shift+Win+arrow keys) and using Display Clone in ShaderGlass you get perfect results with any type of mouse cursor; I might start pointing people there for those tricky scenarios. https://github.com/VirtualDrivers/Virtual-Display-Driver

Thank you a lot, that works great!