Synergy

[Ellay]

Synergy, an open source software application that allows you to control multiple PC's through TCP/IP (your network).

http://synergy2.sourceforge.net/

http://www.dual-boxing.com/SynergyWBroad.zip (includes Broadcasting of Keystrokes, tested and approved)

I personally use this application and love its functionality. Allows you to seamlessly transition from 1 PC to another simply by moving your mouse to that screen or through the use of hotkeys. Once you've moved over to another PC your keyboard and mouse have complete functionality.

Each PC does require it's own monitor, it just enables you to control all with 1 keyboard and mouse. Setup time does take a bit, but is well worth the time spent.


Learning Curve - Medium

Post Reviews, Suggestions, and Comments below.

[Ellay]

Added Broadcasting keystrokes link, under the hotkeys option you can create a hotkey to toggle broadcasting.
Special thanks for Micah for this wonderful addition.

[Hydrocool]

Hey just wondering if I can get a download code to get this app

Edit: Np, hehe, I guess I was pressing the wrong button. I got it now

[ocaTwins]

Say Ellay, what button do you use for broadcasting? So far I don't use broadcasting, but I am willing to give it a try. Just have no idea, what key would be well accessible from a ESDF setup (moving keys).

Most of them are used... :?

[Micah]

I use the ~ key for keyboard broadcast toggling while 5-boxing.

[ocaTwins]

Brings me to the next problem: i use a german keyboard layout so the key positioned in the top left corner is "^" which normally fired of a "^" if pressed once.

Now that I have synergy running, I always have to press SPACEBAR after "^" for it to get a software feedback in a chatwindow or wherever.

Any suggestions?

[Los]

Just started using this program to duobox on twee systems. One is upstairs in a seperate room, other one is the one i'm sitting behind. I've set it up so I only have to use some shortcuts, works like charm! The shortcut creating bit is a bit tedious but after setting up, its very easy.

[clothboxer]

This is a great addition to an already wonderful tool! much appreciated!

[way]

I'm using this too. It's great and thanks for the broadcasting build which works so much better for me.

The biggest gripe I have is the mouse-look on the client machine. It's beserk. I constantly use mouse-look when playing wow so if I want to solo on a client box for bit (go train etc.) I quickly end up doing a face-palm as my camera goes out of control whenever I click drag my camera. If anyone has any insight on this I would love to hear it. It's not a big deal though, just really really annoying ;)


<edit>
Nevermind, I've switched the MultiBox now and it's working great.
</edit>

[Kaldris]

Heya, I'm Kaldris, got a Question for everyone here about this program.

From what I can see the program lets you hotswap your keyboard / mouse by using a programmable keypress (` for instance) My question is as follows, assuming this program actually does what I'm thinking, and dosen't just emulate key presses on both computers at once.

How fast is an average swap for the keyboard / mice, as in when I click a trigger key, how long will it take before my keypresses / mouse registers on the other computer? I need it to be almost isntantanious in order for my setup idea to work.

Currently trying to 2 box with a Shaman and Warrior (for world of warcraft) so I need to switch back and forth with the 2 characters with response times less then a second.

If this program can do it, then yay! If not do any of you know of any type of program that can achieve what I'm aiming for, or am I SoL because the response time I'm aiming for cannot be reached from trying to relay like this.

Thanks for any help, sry bout the post size :P

[rieperx]

The program does not switch the keyboard between computers your tilde would activate a broadcast that wuold send all the keyboard commands to both machines at the same time. It also allows you to move your mouse to the edge of one screen and have it transition to the other computer's screen but its not like a KVM where you hit a button and it just transfers control from one computer to the other with the push of a button to transfer control you move the mouse to the other screen.

[Kaldris]

alright, wasn't totally sure so thought I should ask, any ideas on a program that might be able to do what I'm aiming for, if any?

[Mannyman]

Nice program:)

I have to agree, the mouse look on the client is bonkers. But other than that, sweet program:)

[overkil2]

The program does not switch the keyboard between computers your tilde would activate a broadcast that wuold send all the keyboard commands to both machines at the same time. It also allows you to move your mouse to the edge of one screen and have it transition to the other computer's screen but its not like a KVM where you hit a button and it just transfers control from one computer to the other with the push of a button to transfer control you move the mouse to the other screen.

Actually, you can create a hotkey which will switch control to the other screen. Works well. When you press it, you are instantly on the other screen.

I created 2 hot keys so I could switch backa nd forth quickly if I needed it.

[stoffe_ffs]

still cant get this work i tryed to go windowed mode and al i can think about. it works fine outside game but not inside. how do i solve this?

[stoffe_ffs]

bump

[Xzin]

You tried windowed fullscreen?

[stoffe_ffs]

You tried windowed fullscreen?


yes i have tested server as windowed and dident work, then i tested server normal and client windowed no changes. it dont work :cry: whenever i tab from wow i can controll my client computer :?

[Wally]

I got this up and running - pretty good so far.

Just one annoying problem:

When using hotkeys I am unable to get a key press on the server.
eg (in WOW):
Pressing "1" on the server (normaly casts whatever spell you have in the postion 1..) this works great on all the client PCs but nothing happens on the server

Reading the Synergy forums suggests that this is the way it work. Other people have had the same problem and no response on how to fix it.

Obviously when you are playing multiple toons you want them all (usually) to cast at once.

Anyone else having this problem? what are you doing to get around it?

[Otana]

I personally use the AHK script found in these forums to make the server react to key commands.

Its configured to the same keys that are hotkeyed in Synergy. It works for WoW, but not for anything else. So the main problem pops back up when your back in windows or other apps.

Its annoying, but it works.

[smiles]

Firstly, great site!

I'd like to test my understanding:

standard Synergy 1.3.1: Will deliver preconfigured hotkeys to CLIENTs only, hotkey is not passed locally to server.

broadcast-enabled Synergy (linked above): Once broadcast mode is toggled on (via a hotkey), will pass ALL keys to all CLIENTs AND SERVER.

Did I capture the functionality correctly?

If so, is anyone up for creating a middle-ground where configured hotkeys will be delivered to CLIENT and SERVER? I definitely need the "local echo", but having every keystroke passed is overkill for me.

I've tried things like
[code:1]keystroke(1) = keyDown(1,*); keyUp(1,*)[/code:1] and [code:1]keystroke(1) = keyDown(1,servername),keyDown(1,clientname); keyUp(1,servername),keyUp(1,clientname)[/code:1] which I think should intuitively work, but don't seem to. Tried in both the standard release and the broadcast version.

I've played with AHK, but I think Synergy is (almost) exactly what I need for my EverQuest boxing needs.

Thanks in advance!

[The New Guy]

HI there, Im a longtime listener first time caller

Im trying out Synergy and alls is going well, but Id like to know how do you set it up so Syn only sends cetain keystrokes to the client, instead of all of them.

Im playing WoW (ofcorse XD) and trying out 2 mages, I have full controll of my "main" and all I want my slave to do is cast fireball and eat drink when I do, not copy everything I do.

thanks for any help =)

[Picticon]

The easiest way is to change the key bindings on the slave. For instance, if when you press the "1" key, you only want your master to cast, unbind the "1" key from the slave. This is an in-game option.

Anything advanced will require a different program.

[The New Guy]

Now that I think about it, that is a pretty obvious solution lol, thanks =)

[Los]

Have the same berserk option, i do however really like the fast response between the windows of the different computers and scroll lock does resolve the berserking but then you cant switch back untill you scroll lock again :|

[Evilsmith]

GREAT program! is there a way to 'unbind' certain keys?

for instance i dont want w-a-s-d to be broadcast...

thanks!

[Xzin]

Why not broadcast it but just remap it? Not an option?

[Evilsmith]

definitely an option. that is what what i am trying now and it works nicely.. my only complaint is not being able to use those keys now for the alts should my main die or if i need to micro manage there positioning in combat. i can still use arrow keys of course, its just one more leap i have to make.

this is a fix 'ughmaheadhurtz' posted in the wow part of the forums...

1) Make macro for "/follow <mainchar>"
2) Go into Interface Options-->Advanced and show all the other hotbars
3) Go into Keybinds and bind your "W" key to a hotbar button
4) Drag macro for /follow onto that key
5) ???
6) Profit!

[augure]

Hi

I feel noob but i dont find how to unbind keys.
Here is my problem :
Got 2 chars, everything works fine when broadcasting but i mainly use arrowkeys to move.
And of course, it's moving on the 2 comps where i'd like the followers to just follow actually.
So anyone got a explanation how to "block" the broadcast of arrowkeys ?

Thanks

[WyldKard]

I played around with Synergy last night, and realized that broadcasting would be enormously helpful. My server machine, however, is a Mac, and the broadcasting-capable version of Synergy posted here is Windows-only.

Does anyone have a distribution of Synergy that includes broadcasting for OS X?

[Quix]

I have the same question as the above poster, but for linux.

Anyone have a way to handle software broadcasting in linux?

Or if not that, then maybe source code for the modifications made to the
above link, so that I can attempt to write it myself?

[Xarry]

I am having a little problem when playing WoW.

When I go from my main screen to my laptop, it minimizes WoW to the desktop and then there is about a 3 second delay before I can get back to the main screen, is there anything I can do to correct this?

Thanks.

[Tionkje]

I am having a little problem when playing WoW.

When I go from my main screen to my laptop, it minimizes WoW to the desktop and then there is about a 3 second delay before I can get back to the main screen, is there anything I can do to correct this?

Thanks.

run wow in windowed maximized mode in the video settings in wow that solves that problem

[WyldKard]

Is anyone able to keep WoW in fullscreen mode on the server computer when using Synergy? I'm unable to move the mouse to a client machine when I do this, and am forced to keep WoW maximized in windowed mode in order to access the client's screen. This degrades performance of the game somewhat, so I'm hoping there's a workaround.

Secondly, any update on whether a broadcast-enabled version of Synergy for OS X is available, or whether we can get the source code for a broadcast-enabled version?

[Rhod]

Secondly, any update on whether a broadcast-enabled version of Synergy for OS X is available, or whether we can get the source code for a broadcast-enabled version?

Have you tried the second link Ellay's first post of this thread. It has broadcast capability.

[WyldKard]

Yes, but that is a Windows-only version of the executable, and I do not recall seeing any source code included in the ZIP file; for non-Windows users, it doesn't help with broadcasting.

[rjenkins8142]

The source code to synergy is available on source-forge.

http://synergy2.sourceforge.net/

I was able to modify synergy to broadcast with OS X.

It just required changes to lib/platform/COSXScreen.cpp, lib/platform/COSXScreen.h, lib/server/CServer.cpp, lib/server/CServer.h

Note that only the server needs to be modified to broadcast. The normal clients are used on the other machines.

I can provide my patches, if you want to compile it yourself, (recommended), or I can provide my executable if you want. Note than this patch requires OSX 10.4 (Tiger), it won't work on earlier versions. And you have to check "Enable access for assistive devices" under Universal Access in System Preferences.

[rjenkins8142]

Is anyone able to keep WoW in fullscreen mode on the server computer when using Synergy? I'm unable to move the mouse to a client machine when I do this, and am forced to keep WoW maximized in windowed mode in order to access the client's screen. This degrades performance of the game somewhat, so I'm hoping there's a workaround.
I haven't poked around the Windows code, but for OS X, you have to be in windowed mode, because of the way Synergy works. It more or less creates a tiny invisible window in the middle of the screen that captures mouse movements when you move to a client machine. (That's why the cursor on OS X jumps to the center of the screen when you switch to another computer.) From the descriptions of issues from other people, it sounds like the Windows server code works in a similar manner.

On the OSX version of Synergy, when you switch to another computer, it moves the invisible "capture" window to the center of the screen, moves the cursor to the middle of the screen and changes focus to that invisible window. So even if you could switch computers while in full-screen mode, the act of focusing on that invisible window would make WoW minimize, which would be bad. So, we have to live with the maximized windowm which isn't too bad, IMO.

[WyldKard]

Fantastic! An executable would fine, as I'm also running 10.4. If you prefer to e-mail it to me, my address is wyldkard (at) mendax.org.

If you'd like, I'd be happy to set aside a little server space to host the executable and/or source code for other Synergy users under OS X.

[Xarry]

I am having a little problem when playing WoW.

When I go from my main screen to my laptop, it minimizes WoW to the desktop and then there is about a 3 second delay before I can get back to the main screen, is there anything I can do to correct this?

Thanks.

run wow in windowed maximized mode in the video settings in wow that solves that problem

Thanks mate.

[WyldKard]

Thanks to rjenkins8142, the OS X version of Synergy with keystroke broadcasting is now available here: http://mendax.org/?p=577

[Xarry]

Hi again,

For some reason, after a while Synergy will stop responding, well, I get errors from the other PC's saying that there is already a PC with the name connected to the client, and the client saying that there already is a PC connected with the same name.

Any thing that can be done?

Cheers.

[Xarry]

Hi again,

For some reason, after a while Synergy will stop responding, well, I get errors from the other PC's saying that there is already a PC with the name connected to the client, and the client saying that there already is a PC connected with the same name.

Any thing that can be done? Having to reboot all the time to fix this is getting alittle annoying :)

Cheers.

[Xarry]

Fixed this, was windows firewall, never really had a problem, but I added Synergy to the firewall exceptions and its all well now.

[Mons]

The mac compiled version is located here: http://software.landryhetu.com/synergy/

[WyldKard]

That link is dead.

[Erron]

Firstly, great site!

I'd like to test my understanding:

standard Synergy 1.3.1: Will deliver preconfigured hotkeys to CLIENTs only, hotkey is not passed locally to server.

broadcast-enabled Synergy (linked above): Once broadcast mode is toggled on (via a hotkey), will pass ALL keys to all CLIENTs AND SERVER.

Did I capture the functionality correctly?

If so, is anyone up for creating a middle-ground where configured hotkeys will be delivered to CLIENT and SERVER? I definitely need the "local echo", but having every keystroke passed is overkill for me.

I've tried things like
[code:1]keystroke(1) = keyDown(1,*); keyUp(1,*)[/code:1] and [code:1]keystroke(1) = keyDown(1,servername),keyDown(1,clientname); keyUp(1,servername),keyUp(1,clientname)[/code:1] which I think should intuitively work, but don't seem to. Tried in both the standard release and the broadcast version.

I've played with AHK, but I think Synergy is (almost) exactly what I need for my EverQuest boxing needs.

Thanks in advance!


I am looking for the same funcitonality. I only really want to broadcast the top row of keys `,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,0,-,= and not pass any other keys. The hot keys feature seemed ideal, but as Smiles pointed out, the host machine doesn't get these keys. I've been playing with keyclone and can't seem to get it to work. Hotkey was my other solution, but has been pulled?

Recommendations?

[maqz]

I am using synergy to share a keyboard between a windows computer (the server) and a mac. It works great, except that I can't share the numeric keypad. Num 5 becomes a regular 5 on the mac which means I can't use the numpad for key bindings.

Does anyone know anything about this?

[57odd75]

Synergy seems to be working fine, but when I switch to the client pc in the game, and then try to look around, it spins either looking up or looking down. Can't get it to look horizontal. Basically, can't use mouse look correctly. Any ideas?

[sway]

Synergy seems to be working fine, but when I switch to the client pc in the game, and then try to look around, it spins either looking up or looking down. Can't get it to look horizontal. Basically, can't use mouse look correctly. Any ideas?

press "scrol lock" on the the PC you like to use the mouse look, with this key the mouse gets locked on that screen, but you have to press the key again, that you can switch between your monitors with the mouse.

[Kumakei]

I am using synergy to share a keyboard between a windows computer (the server) and a mac. It works great, except that I can't share the numeric keypad. Num 5 becomes a regular 5 on the mac which means I can't use the numpad for key bindings.

Does anyone know anything about this?Have you found a solution to this? I am having the same problem :(

[Kumakei]

I am using synergy to share a keyboard between a windows computer (the server) and a mac. It works great, except that I can't share the numeric keypad. Num 5 becomes a regular 5 on the mac which means I can't use the numpad for key bindings.

Does anyone know anything about this?Have you found a solution to this? I am having the same problem :(I ended up finding an older client version (1.2.6) that has a numpad patch for the Mac, it works great on my Leopard system: http://sourceforge.net/forum/message.php?msg_id=3441934

[dualnoct]

Synergy seems to be working fine, but when I switch to the client pc in the game, and then try to look around, it spins either looking up or looking down. Can't get it to look horizontal. Basically, can't use mouse look correctly. Any ideas?

press "scrol lock" on the the PC you like to use the mouse look, with this key the mouse gets locked on that screen, but you have to press the key again, that you can switch between your monitors with the mouse.I am using the following in my synergy options file. No need to press Scroll Lock anymore.
However, a new side-effect is the mouse will jump to the center of the screen after using mouse look.

In you synergy.sgc file (this remaps the right mouse button):


section: options
relativeMouseMoves = true
mousebutton(3) = mouseDown(3), lockCursorToScreen(on); mouseUp(3), lockCursorToScreen(off)
end

[Kumakei]

Thanks to rjenkins8142, the OS X version of Synergy with keystroke broadcasting is now available here: http://mendax.org/?p=577Thank you for this broadcast version! The only thing is that on the client it would interpret a numpad keystroke as a top row keystroke.

I ended up editing the original source code (COSXKeyState.cpp) and added the following after function keys:



{ kKeyKP_0, 82},
{ kKeyKP_1, 83},
{ kKeyKP_2, 84},
{ kKeyKP_3, 85},
{ kKeyKP_4, 86},
{ kKeyKP_5, 87},
{ kKeyKP_6, 88},
{ kKeyKP_7, 89},
{ kKeyKP_8, 91},
{ kKeyKP_9, 92},
{ kKeyKP_Subtract, 78},
{ kKeyKP_Divide, 75},
{ kKeyKP_Add, 69},
{ kKeyKP_Multiply, 67},
{ kKeyKP_Enter, 76},
{ kKeyKP_Equal, 81},
{ kKeyKP_Decimal, 65},
{ kKeyClear, 71},
I recompiled it on my i386 OS X 10.5 iMac and Macbook and it works like a charm.

[Xzi]

Synergy seems to be working fine, but when I switch to the client pc in
the game, and then try to look around, it spins either looking up or
looking down. Can't get it to look horizontal. Basically, can't use
mouse look correctly. Any ideas?
had the same issues with synergy when i was using it around 1-2 months ago. Ended up forking out $20 and paying for similar software called Multiplicity
http://www.stardock.com/products/multiplicity/

works a treat, currently have it running on my main (Vista Ultimate 64bit) and running on my laptop (Win XP Pro 32bit) dont have any issues with mouse look etc, that i was getting with synergy and it also broadcasts the keyboard. (Dont think u can tell it to only broadcast certain keys tho) But with Hotkeynet, its not needed anyway.

If ur willing to try an alternative (even tho it is not free) there is a trial version available