MultiBox Modified Version

[shockbeta]

Alright here's a new thread for the modified version I've been coding. So any ideas, bugs, or comments should go in here. Also I'll be able to keep the first post updated with current versions when they are released.

This is the current build I use, I'm sure it doesn't have a fix for some of the bugs that were listed in the other thread. If it does have them, let me know and I'll get a fix for them.

<Dated 5/25/2007>
Current Multibox Modified:
http://dualbox.novembear.com/

EDIT: Xzin - Fixed link for now. Thanks Mooglemayhem!

More discussions about Multibox and problems/issues/bugs/whatever else can be read at these to lengthy threads..

http://www.dual-boxing.com/forums2/viewtopic.php?t=35

http://www.dual-boxing.com/forums2/viewtopic.php?t=29


Multibox was originally coded by Micah. Since Micah no longer had time I picked up where he left off to add more funcitonality to it as needed. Micah started with a modifed version of synergy to work better with games, but then he decided to write his own program as it was easier then modifying synergy. Thus Multibox arrived. I have not personaly used Synergy so the differences I'm not sure on. I will say Multibox is made for gamers, and synergy seems to be more of a multi-computer use program not targeted towards gamers. With multibox you can bind keys to toggle mouse or/and keyboard broadcasting(Sending said input to all or some of the computers). I've added support to remove sending input to specific computers while broadcasting is on by checkboxes. Also added options to only broadcast specific keys to computers. Also added hot key switching. You're able to bind a key to hop to that display and control it, as opposed to mousing over to it. You're able to tick a checkbox to enable "Never Broadcast" so when broadcasting that display will never receive input.

I'm sure there's more and I'll make this look better later, at work now and just wanted to get something up as Xzin noticed this was lacking a description. Just read through the other 18 pages of posts in the links above lol sorry...

[Ellay]

Awesome work Shock! Looks good to me.

[Buruan]

Thanks Shockbeta.
I really appreciate the effort you put into this.

[Xzin]

shock.... I don't want to downplay the work you have done because believe me - it is very well appreciated. Can you describe exactly what this does for people who either don't know Synergy or who are already using Synergy? What extra benefits does it have for them?

My impression is it is a specially tailored version of Synergy that fixes mouse issues and also allows mouse broadcasting? Is that accurate?

[shockbeta]

hehe, yeah I guess a description would be a good idea... I'll edit first post to include it.

[Xzin]

Ahh nice. I will definitely take a look at it and see what it can do.

In case it was not clear in shocks description - this software will theoretically take the place of the 2x Vetras as it will allow software sending of keystrokes. It goes further as it also broadcasts mice input - not sure yet personally if it can keep the mice in sync or not - there is certainly the potential to add it though.... which would be a welcome change, as hardware mice never really sync up 100% over time due to subtle changes in radio frequency, hardware latency, etc. Synergy was never 100% for me for keyboard or mouse use though and it seemed to lag after a while - so some real world testing will need to be done but it sounds like something that would be useful for those who only want to box a few computers at once or people who want a gaming oriented replacement to Synergy (for all games, not just WoW).

[shockbeta]

I've tested the broadcasted mouse cursor on different resolutions. It seems to work for the most part. There are somethings that are iffy on it. One big thing is using mosuelook in games. It doesn't work wiht the method I use to broadcast the mouse position. The way mouse positon is broadcasted is Absolute to clients, relative to server. So it should theoritcally never fall out of synch. I set the mouse position on the clients everytime the mouse is moved. So if you move to the lower right corner on the server setup. It will take in a speed/distance and apply it to the position not to exceed (65535,65535) I then Set the mouse position on the clients to the mouses position on the server...(65535,65535) So it's definetely in the same spot. The area that this starts to grey out on multi resolution setups is you have a ton more display space with 1600x1200 then with say 800x600. The center of the screen will always be the center, the corners always the corners.. but the area around the center... it could be off a bit. I hope this didn't confuse anyone...

[Xzin]

Hmm... do you think the fact that I have a 24576000 pixel display array make a difference? Theoretically it is only 16384000 (four 1600 x 2560 on the boxes) but hmm....

I would definitely need to use mouselook - did Synergy not "enable" that?

For the server, check the relative mouse checkbox under the options.

In the hot keys section, I added the following two hotkeys:

hotkey 1:
key: right mouse click ( mousebutton(3) )
function: Lock Cursor to screen: On
Toggle radio button "Hot key is pressed"

hotkey 2:
key: right mouse click ( mousebutton(3) )
function: Lock Cursor to screen: Off
Toggle radio button "Hot key is released"

In effect, when your mouse is on your secondary screen and you proceed to right click to move around, it will lock the mouse to that screen so you can move around. When you release the mouse like you would do when you stop looking around, it unlocks the mouse from that screen so you can go back to your other screens.

It works perfectly for me, except the fact that when you release the lock on the screen the cursor resets to the center. If anyone has a solution to that please let me know.

For now, it seems to be working great. I now have the ability to toggle keyboard broadcasting and mouse looking on each secondary screen.

UPDATE:
The cursor resetting after releasing the right mouse button is way more bearable if the secondary monitors are set to full screen mode and not windowed mode.

------------------------------

Only problem seems to be the mouse returns to the center, not the original spot?

Another problem is that I would not always want the mouse cursor of the server (Xzin) to be mirrored on the mages.... they have different spells.....

It would be nice for doing quests and what not but the main character is always going to have a different viewpoint than the others.... hence the desire to use the "mage mouse" to control the mages.... if that makes any sense. Easy to do in hardware.... possible to do in software?

[shockbeta]

Hmm... do you think the fact that I have a 24576000 pixel display array make a difference? Theoretically it is only 16384000 (four 1600 x 2560 on the boxes) but hmm....

This is the messed up part.. Microsoft maps all your pixels to 65535x65535 so it doesn't matter what res it has...

I would definitely need to use mouselook - did Synergy not "enable" that?

Never used Synergy...

For the server, check the relative mouse checkbox under the options.

In the hot keys section, I added the following two hotkeys:

hotkey 1:
key: right mouse click ( mousebutton(3) )
function: Lock Cursor to screen: On
Toggle radio button "Hot key is pressed"

hotkey 2:
key: right mouse click ( mousebutton(3) )
function: Lock Cursor to screen: Off
Toggle radio button "Hot key is released"

In effect, when your mouse is on your secondary screen and you proceed to right click to move around, it will lock the mouse to that screen so you can move around. When you release the mouse like you would do when you stop looking around, it unlocks the mouse from that screen so you can go back to your other screens.

It works perfectly for me, except the fact that when you release the lock on the screen the cursor resets to the center. If anyone has a solution to that please let me know.

I'm not sure I understand.... if I click and drag my mouse on any display, that character looks around and my mouse stays on that display. The problem I encountered is when broadcasting mouse to all displays.. Then mouse look doesn't behave on the connected clients, but does on the Server/client. This is only when broadcasting the mouse to all clients. Also I beleive Multibox doesn't reset the cursor to the middle of the screen. It should stay wherever you clicked at.

Another problem is that I would not always want the mouse cursor of the server (Xzin) to be mirrored on the mages.... they have different spells.....

It would be nice for doing quests and what not but the main character is always going to have a different viewpoint than the others.... hence the desire to use the "mage mouse" to control the mages.... if that makes any sense. Easy to do in hardware.... possible to do in software?

Minus mouselooking on connected clients, Thsi is possible with multibox, although it will have side effects of not allowing any input being sent to the Priest while broadcasting. This is to Tick the "Never Broadcast" option under the proper display. With this ticked when broadcasting mouse or keyboard, said display will not receive input. You could easily add in another variable to allow an different check per mouse or keyboard. Should be easy enough to add.

For my clarification... You're talking about Synergy in this post?

[Xzin]

For my clarification... You're talking about Synergy in this post?

Correct. I have not yet tested out Multibox but I will soon and see how it performs.