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Catch global mouse events

I want to be able to catch global mouse events from an application that would basically be window-less (at least in its normal functionning). I would like the application to catch all mouse events, regardless of which program has the focus and do some handling while allowing the message to go through the application that has the focus. The app I have to build will need to respond to specific combinations of mouse input in order to pop the user dialog.

Is that possible under .NET? I have checked and cannot find anything useful for that goal. Something similar was available in Win32, if I remember correctly, and I would doubt it would not be possible.

Just to reassure, it's not spyware or something like that :) Just a neat idea I had and my boss likes enough to add to our main application.

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iboutchkine

Try this

Imports System.Runtime.InteropServices

Public Class Form1
Inherits System.Windows.Forms.Form

#Region " Windows Form Designer generated code "
#End Region

<StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential)> _
Private Structure POINTAPI
Dim x As Int32
Dim y As Int32
End Structure

Private Declare Function GetCursor Lib "user32" () As Int32
Private Declare Function GetCursorPos Lib "user32" Alias "GetCursorPos" (ByRef lpPoint As POINTAPI) As Int32
Private Declare Function WindowFromPoint Lib "user32" (ByVal xPoint As Int32, ByVal yPoint As Int32) As Int32
Private Declare Function GetWindowThreadProcessId Lib "user32" (ByVal hwnd As Int32, ByRef lpdwProcessId As Int32) As Int32
Private Declare Function AttachThreadInput Lib "user32" Alias "AttachThreadInput" (ByVal idAttach As Int32, ByVal idAttachTo As Int32, ByVal fAttach As Int32) As Int32
Private Declare Function GetAsyncKeyState Lib "user32" Alias "GetAsyncKeyState" (ByVal vKey As Int32) As Int16

Private Sub Timer1_Tick(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Timer1.Tick

Dim pt As POINTAPI
Call GetCursorPos(pt)
Me.Label1.Text = "X: " + pt.x.ToString + " Y: " + pt.y.ToString

Dim currentThread = GetWindowThreadProcessId(WindowFromPoint(pt.x, pt.y), vbNull)
Dim meThread = GetWindowThreadProcessId(Me.Handle.ToInt32, vbNull)
Dim hCursor As Int32
If meThread <> currentThread Then
AttachThreadInput(meThread, currentThread, True)
hCursor = GetCursor()
AttachThreadInput(meThread, currentThread, False)
Me.Label2.Text = "Mouse outside form"
Else
hCursor = GetCursor()
Me.Label2.Text = "Mouse inside form"
End If

Static currentCursor As Int32 = 0
If currentCursor <> hCursor Then
' only change image when cursorimage changed
Dim ico As Icon = Icon.FromHandle(New IntPtr(hCursor))
Me.PictureBox1.Image = ico.ToBitmap
currentCursor = hCursor
End If

Static sleeper As Long = 0
If GetAsyncKeyState(1) = -32767 Then
sleeper = 0
Me.Label3.Text = "Left Mouse Down"
ElseIf GetAsyncKeyState(2) = -32767 Then
sleeper = 0
Me.Label3.Text = "Right Mouse Down"
ElseIf GetAsyncKeyState(4) = -32767 Then
sleeper = 0
Me.Label3.Text = "Middle Mouse Down"
Else
sleeper += 1
If sleeper >= 50 Then
Me.Label3.Text = ""
End If
End If

End Sub

End Class