Input Director - FREE software 'KVM' / Synergy alternative.

[Mukade]

While this is Windows only it has the benefit over using Kavoom / Multiplicity instead of Synergy of being free.
Works with mixed Vista(X64)/XP set ups / multi-monitor per computer setups / vertical / rows / columns monitor arrangements. There's a button in the control window to switch to broadcasting keystrokes/mouse clicks to all windows (although you'll have to bind a key to turn this off again). Keys can be bound to turn on/off screen edge mouse transitions. You can record macros and assign them to hotkeys in the program (WoW ToS permitting). The Clipboard is shared between all computers. Supports login screen use on the client computers.
To be honest I'm surprised so few people are using it, as combined with it's zero cost and ease of use I see no reason to even consider any other alternatives.

http://www.inputdirector.com/index.html


[edit] And no, I'm not involved in any way with the project, it's just the first thing I found that did the job well enough, when I went looking for a Synergy alternative.

[Svpernova09]

Thanks for this, working great Between my XP Pro Desktop and Windows 7 laptop.

[Frosty]

Anyone else tried this out?

Just curious..and I hate to be the first to try anything new! :P

[Tynk]

Anyone else tried this out?

Just curious..and I hate to be the first to try anything new! :PCHICKEN!!!

We are supposed to be an adventurous group of people living on the knifes edge of technology! Dive in head first and hope for more then a dixie cup of water!




Then let me know how it goes so I can switch. :)

(will be trying this out when I get home from work)

[Svpernova09]

I've been using it a few days now, specifically just to KVM Desktop -> Laptop. I've got it configured to run automatically on boot. So when i get to work and setup my laptop, the desktop automatically connects to it. And it supports login screens, so I can log into my laptop. When I go home I just set up my laptop there and the same thing happens with my hope PC, it sees the laptop and connects.

The only issue I've noticed (and haven't even tried to fix yet) is when WoW is the focus and you mouse over to the other computer, your toon autoruns. Not sure of the cause, i don't use any special keybindings to autorun.

[Mukade]

That'll be the numlock key toggling on when you switch to the other computer. WoW seems to have it's own setting for numlock, separate from the rest of windows, which causes all kinds of problems when you thought you'd turned it on/off and either WoW or windows changes it around.

For me, autorun's been set to ` since I started playing WoW, so that problem only bugs me when I've picked up default settings from somewhere (top left of the KB under escape, far more convenient than the other side of the KB to my movement keys).

[Nosdivad]

You can stop Input Director toggling the num lock, caps lock and scroll lock keys by switching off the "Master Keyboard LEDs reflect the status of the directed slave" option found under the "Master Configuration" tab on your master.

[Scytale]

I've been using Input Director for months now. It's solid, and fixes one of the biggest problems I had with Synergy - I couldn't get it to broadcast keys to my host in addition to the slaves. I haven't tried the paid KVM solutions, but I can definitely recommend Input Director over Synergy.

[Jezebel]

does this software suffer from the same 'mouse-look-spin' issue that Synergy does?

[Jubber]

I have been using this software for a couple months now and love it. I have not run into any issues with mouselook spinning. I tried this after trying out Multiplicity. Could not get that to work for me.

[Ronin]

after some test on synergy(ehm...mouse problem is really annoying) thinking to buy and set up some hardware solution for use 1 K and 1 M...but Input director at first tests looks really good.
Simple, and with some nice functions (wraparound! and easy visual monitors setup).

TY so much!

[Mercurio]

There's a button in the control window to switch to broadcasting keystrokes/mouse clicks to all windows (although you'll have to bind a key to turn this off again).

So theoretically I could bind a key to "turn on mouse click passing", click the mouse once, then hit a key I bound to "turn off mouse click passing"?

Seems like a great way to cast targetable AOEs like blizzard, hurricane, etc. Or to have all 5 (or more) toons enter a portal in OS at the same time. (I know there may be other options out there for this kind of thing, but wondering if ID will work).

Can someone who uses Input Director confirm that it could be used for this?

Thanks!

[Diablostar]

Reeeeeeally cool tool! Thx a lot!

[Drecan]

ZOMG this program rocks and its easy to set up. Was having issues with Synergy not working for me on Windows 7 but this this is awesome. thanks

[Quix]

Synergy Spinergy.....
Worked Great except for the spinning in WOW.

Multiplicity = Costs money and useless for lefties. I actually paid for this hoping that it would fix my issues with synergy, just to find out that it doesnt handle left hander's reversed mouse buttons very well.

Input director does exactly what I need it to, and at a very attractive price (Free). No issues whatsoever.

Thanks for the info.

[Drecan]

yeah i love that i don't have a spinning camera lol

[Gearboxx]

Mmmmm... what a delicious program!
Works great between my vista rig and windows 7 laptop while boxing FFXI. Just what i was looking for.

[Diablostar]

There are two issues which I have with InputDirector while multiboxing WoW (Main Char on Comp1 and 4 toons on Comp2). I using Win Vista 64bit:

1.) From time to time the mouse doesn't move to Comp2 anymore. What I need to do then is richt-clicking the ID icon and use the function "show Input Director". The problem is fixed if I scroll over from another window. Any help on this? Does it have something to do with the Windows Vista UAC?

2.) From tme to time my main char starts moving forward when I move the mouse to the second PC. It's moving as long as the mouse in on Comp2. Really annoyin. Any help?

Other than that GREAT TOOL!

Cheers
G

[Junkyard Dawg]

From what I've read here and on the site, this app supports "Mirror Input" key broadcasting. Mine is not enabled by default however. I have 2 PC's running 1 instance of Wow each. One setup as master, the other slave. How do I enable keystroke broadcasting in Input director? I can switch screens by edging to the other and clicks and keys work. But I need to hit a key and have both machines receive it at once. Please help a DB youngling.

[Starbuck_Jones]

There is a button in the options that says something like Disable input director. Push that and it will clone keystrokes as well as your mouse.

[Mukade]

2.) From tme to time my main char starts moving forward when I move the mouse to the second PC. It's moving as long as the mouse in on Comp2. Really annoyin. Any help?See post 6 in this thread. #1 might be due to having a WoW in fullscreen mode.

[mmcookies]

oh man this app is awesome

i can't believe i missed this and bought multiplicity

[Darelik]

oh man this app is awesome

i can't believe i missed this and bought multiplicityi second that!

had a problem with mouse lag and this has happened with a previous iteration of my os install and was attributed to multiplicity. so i thought the hell with it. skipped all software updates including mouse driver and got input director (only allowed it to pass thru the LAN/WAN and not the intarweb via router firewall rules coz of trust issues).

and man...it is awesome. +1 for clipboard sharing feature which is what i liked about multiplicity. if i run into any issues, ill be sure to post it here :evil: but im hoping i dont have to.

[Coranthium]

Just curious before I set all of this up-Can I use this if I have 3 computers? Also, I'm planning on running 10 at a time. All I've seen is 5 at a time, so wanted to ask if this solution would work. Looks like it will be great as long as it can handle those two things.

[lumpy]

I am trying to use 2 computers with Input Director. Is there a way to keep the mouse settings the same(moves to other computer when dragged to edge of screen) but mirror just the keyboard? Right now it is mirroring both and it is making it hard to play wow.
Thanks for the help

[Shaden]

Love it!

Just got it tonight. I've been using Multiplicity Pro for a long time now but got sick of the mouse cursor sticking at the edge of my screen before transitioning to slave pc, had to right click every time I wanted it to cross over. Really annoying. Found out about Input Director on the Stardock forums after someone with a similar problem received no response to his post from tech support, someone told them to get Input Director instead. Haven't had that problem at all with Input Director, seemless transitioning with no stickiness.

[MilaShizu]

do this work with one computer (laptop) ad 2 acc?? if yes ill dl right now..erm the moment i get home if not can you recomend me a nice program?

[fightcow]

I am trying to use 2 computers with Input Director. Is there a way to keep the mouse settings the same(moves to other computer when dragged to edge of screen) but mirror just the keyboard? Right now it is mirroring both and it is making it hard to play wow.
Thanks for the help

i asked the creator of ID for this functionality ages ago: well, a new version has just been released and you still cant mirror keystrokes without also mirroring the mouse. Such a shame, as it makes this otherwise excellent software just about useless for wow as i (and clearly others) play it.

[Snyp]

I wonder if anyone can point me at the setting I seem to have wrong? The problem is that ID will only work when it has input focus on the master. I am three-boxing EQ2, and the moment I click on the version running on the master, I am stuck in that screen, unless I reopen the ID set-up screen. It appears to happen whatever else I am doing though, so the issue is not limited to EQ2

I am sure it's something simple, but nevertheless frustrating as it is otherwise such a good programme.

Thanks,

Eric

Edit: I eventually realised that if I click on the edge of the master screen, the cursor will move to the slave, which makes it usable, if a little cumbersome. It makes it seem even more certain that ithis is just a setting on the master.

Final edit: I realised in the end that running ID on start-up was the problem, as I needed to run it as admin. A pretty basic mistake but posted in case anyone else makes it.

[Strasza]

i asked the creator of ID for this functionality ages ago: well, a new version has just been released and you still cant mirror keystrokes without also mirroring the mouse. Such a shame, as it makes this otherwise excellent software just about useless for wow as i (and clearly others) play it.

Replicating keypresses to any number of computers works just fine. Set them up as macros and can specify exactly which computer(s) it should go to.

[shockme]

Great program.!!!! does everything I need out side of Aion Innerspace extension.

[dRiN]

Did not find the time before to try this. Just set this up in 3 min. at my workplace.

I have done synergy cross platform, and three others.

This one has won in easy to use!

Thanks.

[alcattle]

ok, this program is everything synergy should have been. I love it
Fursphere F*** YOU UP YOUR F***ING A**HOLE MOTHER F***ER! EAT S**T AND DIE AND GROW A GOD DAMN F***IN DICK YOU MOTHER FU***N DIRT BAG!


-Fursphere Fan Club Nov '09.


What ever happened to Gurbash?

[Fizzler]

Anyone else have issues with the shared clipboard crashing explorer.exe?

[Fizzler]

What OS? I haven't had any issues with XP, but I've heard some issues with Win7

With Windows 7 64 Ultimate. For years I have been using Multiplicity and it works great.... well up until yesterday when I built a new computer and added it into the mix. For some reason it will just not add the third computer. I mean it adds it but it does not work. Wierd. I thought I would try Input Director instead of troubleshooting Multiplicity. I.D. worked on all three PC's just fine but when I try and Copy from one computer and paste on another the second computer crashes explorer.exe

[dadan]

That'll be the numlock key toggling on when you switch to the other computer. WoW seems to have it's own setting for numlock, separate from the rest of windows, which causes all kinds of problems when you thought you'd turned it on/off and either WoW or windows changes it around.

.

[Nosdivad]

Hi,

Just noticed that Input Director v1.2.2 has been released (http://www.inputdirector.com/downloads.html) and lets you mirror just keyboard (or just mouse) and you can now use a hotkey to quick switch between mirroring and its normal setup.

[Fursphere]

Hi,

Just noticed that Input Director v1.2.2 has been released (http://www.inputdirector.com/downloads.html) and lets you mirror just keyboard (or just mouse) and you can now use a hotkey to quick switch between mirroring and its normal setup.

During the beta phase for this version, I asked the author to add the hotkey mentioned here. :) I've been using it for awhile, and it definitely plays with WIndows 7 better.

Personally I use Mojo for keyboard broadcasting, and Input Director for KVM and mouse broadcasting. The mouse broadcasting here (across multiple PCs) is the best I've seen yet. Works perfected - and auto-adjusts for different sized screens.

[Moorea]

Fur, what's missing / different in mojo's KM that you prefer Input Director ? (wouldn't be simpler to use 1 software instead of 2 ? so I assume there is something missing...)

[Svpernova09]

Fur, what's missing / different in mojo's KM that you prefer Input Director ? (wouldn't be simpler to use 1 software instead of 2 ? so I assume there is something missing...)

This should probably be it's own thread.

In my *very limited* experience with build 21, mojo would just lockup on me, thus killing the KVM functionality. Until I figure out why it was locking up on me I'm also sticking with ID.


(I haven't troubleshooted mojo locking up as I was waiting until the next build)

[Fursphere]

Input Director is a KVM solution. It offers all the standard software KVM stuff.

cut/copy/paste
mouseover
manages all PCs (remote shutdown)
no UAC nag screens

the fact that it does "multiboxing" stuff is just a bonus - its not the reason I use the product. I have a software and hardware KVM hooked up. I use the software one 99% of the time - the hardware KVM is just for backup - its rackmounted so I just ignore it. :D

Mojo is not a KVM solution. Its a multiboxing program. The lines may blur a little, but they are fundamentaly two different things.

During the last beta phase of Input DIrector, I just threw out some ideas to the author (hotkey mouse broadcasting) and he liked them and implemented them. His goals aren't multiboxing, so I don't want to monoplize his time with things that our outside his design scope.

I originally contacted him because of some conflicts with Hardware broadcasting and software KVMs. Through a few emails, I ended up on the beta team - probably because I have a "non standard" hardware setup when compared to most users (six monitors, five PCs).

[3box]

This program is awesome. I wish it was available when I boxed back in 07.

[Nomahd]

This software is awesome! I can't believe it's free...

I registered here just to say thanks for this thread. I've tried several different programs for boxing dual PCs and one program would work for one situation but fail in another. I found this thread while Googling boxing software.

With Synergy I had the WoW camera problems. With HotKeyNet I didn't have mouse movement broadcasting for use with AoE spells (just clicks). With Keyclone I couldn't broadcast over a network for AoE spells. Multiplicity wouldn't work right between my XP 32-bit and my Vista 64-bit...

This program was up and running within minutes by following the setup guide and worked perfect the first time! I'm still using HotKeyNet however, for hotkeys, regional mouseclicking, and WoW window size/position setups. If it wasn't for needing my regional mouseclicking and window setups I wouldn't need anything but this program... Maybe some future options. ;)

[Toned]

It bugs out once in awhile but overall it is amazing.

[Nomahd]

It bugs out once in awhile but overall it is amazing.

So far so good for me. I've used it for about a week and haven't had a single issue with it. But I have minimal programs installed on my pc and laptop. I use them soley for gaming and keep very few programs on them to maximize available memory/cpu.

The only problem I have had I don't think is ID's fault. I get the same problem with HotKeyNet. If I try to connect them through my crossover cable it works fine until I start up the wireless internet on both machines. Then neither program wants to continue using the LAN. They want to use the wireless along with the internet. But as I said, I don't think that's an issue with ID, I think it's a OS config issue. I was just trying to cut down my wireless traffic by keeping those proggies on the LAN. Oh, well...

Setting up ICS would prob fix the issue, but I don't want all my traffic bottlenecked through a single wireless since I use G band (like 3 MB/s max speed).

[Worldwide]

Anyone else tried this out?

Just curious..and I hate to be the first to try anything new! :P


I've tried it and it works great for me! If you have multiple CPUs this is a must-have!

[Alibaster]

Honestly I'm necroing this just to say "HOLY SH*T!! " With the utmost respect of course, I just bought a 4 port KVM today and I'm waiting on it to be delivered, and then I'm stumbling around looking for a way to box my three pcs, and this thing shows up and I tried it out and was essentially mind fucked lol. I've only had it bug on me twice so far, when i was bouncing from my media laptop, to my custom built desktop, then to my mini laptop, the mouse flickered and didn't transfer back to mini, but nothing a redrag didn't solve, But this is an amazing program and I only wished I'd found it sooner, I've yet to multibox with it, but so far4 it seems like it's gonna be great. I just don't know how well it will do with sending commands to background applications like HKN has issues with.

[Svpernova09]

Input Director is not a multicaster. It is a software KVM.