<div>
Essentially you would use the mouse_move event. 
 
The code below is a little more complex, but I found it elegant as it was global to the application rather then a form. 
 
Let know if you have questions: 
 

<pre><code class="code-10 nolinks" id="code-20-42087422-1">using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Data;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Text;
using System.Windows.Forms;

namespace GlobalMouseEvents
{
 public partial class Form1 : Form
 {
 //normal form init.
 public Form1()
 {
 //create a new global mouse handler
 GlobalMouseHandler gmh = new GlobalMouseHandler();
 
 //subscribe TheMouseMoved, handler is gmh_TheMouseMoved
 gmh.TheMouseMoved += new MouseMovedEvent(gmh_TheMouseMoved);
 
 //add the filter for housekeeping / windows processing.
 Application.AddMessageFilter(gmh);

 InitializeComponent();
 }
 
 // when the mouse is moved, this event will fire.
 void gmh_TheMouseMoved()
 {
 Point cur_pos = System.Windows.Forms.Cursor.Position;
 System.Console.WriteLine(cur_pos);
 }
 }

//here's how the capture is actually done:
 public delegate void MouseMovedEvent();

 public class GlobalMouseHandler : IMessageFilter
 {
 //windows defined.
 private const int WM_MOUSEMOVE = 0x0200;

 // this is a custom event that will be raised by the class.
 public event MouseMovedEvent TheMouseMoved;

 #region IMessageFilter Members

 // overriding IMessageFilter
 public bool PreFilterMessage(ref Message m)
 {
 if (m.Msg == WM_MOUSEMOVE)
 {
 // if I'm subscribed to something
 if (TheMouseMoved != null)
 {
 // fire that event.
 TheMouseMoved();
 }
 }
 // Always allow message to continue to the next filter control
 return false;
 }

 #endregion
 }
}
</code></pre>
</div>

<div>
Use the MouseMove() event as suggested and store the points in a List&lt;&gt;. &nbsp;Then add those points to a GraphicsPath() using AddLines().
</div>

<div>
Hi Thanks for your comments. Kyle I'm using Visual Studio 2015 Enterprise. I created a new project: a Windows Forms Application. There were two errors: The name &quot;InitializeComponent&quot; does not exist in the current context, which i think I fixed - see code below, and Program does not contain a static 'Main' method suitable for an entry point. (Not sure what to do here). Thanks! 
 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;using System; 
using System.Collections.Generic; 
using System.ComponentModel; 
using System.Data; 
using System.Drawing; 
using System.Text; 
using System.Windows.Forms; 
 
namespace GlobalMouseEvents 
{ 
&nbsp; &nbsp; public partial class Form1 : Form 
&nbsp; &nbsp; { 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; //normal form init. 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; public Form1() 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; { 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; //create a new global mouse handler 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; GlobalMouseHandler gmh = new GlobalMouseHandler(); 
 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; //subscribe TheMouseMoved, handler is gmh_TheMouseMoved 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; gmh.TheMouseMoved += new MouseMovedEvent(gmh_TheMouseMoved); 
 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; //add the filter for housekeeping / windows processing. 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Application.AddMessageFilter(gmh); 
 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; InitializeComponent(); 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; } 
 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; private void InitializeComponent() 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; { 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; throw new NotImplementedException(); 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; } 
 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; // when the mouse is moved, this event will fire. 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; void gmh_TheMouseMoved() 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; { 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Point cur_pos = System.Windows.Forms.Cursor.Position; 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; System.Console.WriteLine(cur_pos); 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; } 
&nbsp; &nbsp; } 
 
&nbsp; &nbsp; //here's how the capture is actually done: 
&nbsp; &nbsp; public delegate void MouseMovedEvent(); 
 
&nbsp; &nbsp; public class GlobalMouseHandler : IMessageFilter 
&nbsp; &nbsp; { 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; //windows defined. 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; private const int WM_MOUSEMOVE = 0x0200; 
 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; // this is a custom event that will be raised by the class. 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; public event MouseMovedEvent TheMouseMoved; 
 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; #region IMessageFilter Members 
 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; // overriding IMessageFilter 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; public bool PreFilterMessage(ref Message m) 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; { 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; if (m.Msg == WM_MOUSEMOVE) 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; { 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; // if I'm subscribed to something 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; if (TheMouseMoved != null) 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; { 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; // fire that event. 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; TheMouseMoved(); 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; } 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; } 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; // Always allow message to continue to the next filter control 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; return false; 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; } 
 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; #endregion 
&nbsp; &nbsp; }
</div>

<div>
There should be a program.CS which has the Main function in it. &nbsp;(Be sure you're viewing all files). 
 
The initialize component is usually part of the Form Constructor.
</div>

<div>
Hello again. 
I'm still trying to understand the basics of c#. 
However I'm one error away from testing your script! 
Line 31: &nbsp;Point cur_pos = System.Windows.Forms.Cursor.Position; 
This was simplified to: Point cur_pos = Cursor.Position; &nbsp; 
For this line there is an error: 
Severity &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Code &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Description &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Project &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;File &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Line &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Suppression State 
Error &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;CS0029 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Cannot implicitly convert type 'System.Drawing.Point' to 'GlobalMouseEvents.Form1.Point' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Experts Mouse Move &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;C:\Users\User\Documents\Visual Studio 2015\Projects\Experts Mouse Move\Experts Mouse Move\Program.cs &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;44 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Active 
What can I do to solve this? Thank you..
</div>

<div>
try: 
 

<pre><code class="code-1 nolinks" id="code-20-42095217-1">System.Drawing.Point cur_pos = Cursor.Position;
</code></pre>
</div>

<div>
Hello again! 
This code works and compiles etc, but when I run the executable all I see is a brief flash of a window? Do I need a delay or a pause? 
 
using System; 
using System.Collections.Generic; 
using System.ComponentModel; 
using System.Data; 
using System.Drawing; 
using System.Text; 
using System.Windows.Forms; 
 
namespace GlobalMouseEvents 
{ 
&nbsp; &nbsp; public partial class Form1 : Form 
&nbsp; &nbsp; { 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; //normal form init. 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; static void Main(string[] args) 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; { } 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; public Form1() 
 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; { 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; InitializeComponent(); 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; { 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; } 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; //create a new global mouse handler 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; GlobalMouseHandler gmh = new GlobalMouseHandler(); 
 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; //subscribe TheMouseMoved, handler is gmh_TheMouseMoved 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; gmh.TheMouseMoved += new MouseMovedEvent(gmh_TheMouseMoved); 
 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; //add the filter for housekeeping / windows processing. 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Application.AddMessageFilter(gmh); 
 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; } 
 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; private void InitializeComponent() 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; { 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; this.SuspendLayout(); 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; // 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; // Form1 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; // 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; this.ClientSize = new System.Drawing.Size(932, 465); 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; this.Name = &quot;Form1&quot;; 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; this.ResumeLayout(false); 
 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; } 
 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; // when the mouse is moved, this event will fire. 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; void gmh_TheMouseMoved() 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; { 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; System.Drawing.Point cur_pos = Cursor.Position; 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; System.Console.WriteLine(cur_pos); 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; } 
 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; private class Point 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; { 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; } 
&nbsp; &nbsp; } 
 
&nbsp; &nbsp; //here's how the capture is actually done: 
&nbsp; &nbsp; public delegate void MouseMovedEvent(); 
 
&nbsp; &nbsp; public class GlobalMouseHandler : IMessageFilter 
&nbsp; &nbsp; { 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; //windows defined. 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; private const int WM_MOUSEMOVE = 0x0200; 
 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; // this is a custom event that will be raised by the class. 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; public event MouseMovedEvent TheMouseMoved; 
 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; #region IMessageFilter Members 
 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; // overriding IMessageFilter 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; public bool PreFilterMessage(ref Message m) 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; { 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; if (m.Msg == WM_MOUSEMOVE) 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; { 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; // if I'm subscribed to something 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; if (TheMouseMoved != null) 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; { 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; // fire that event. 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; TheMouseMoved(); 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; } 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; } 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; // Always allow message to continue to the next filter control 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; return false; 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; } 
&nbsp; &nbsp; 
 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; #endregion 
&nbsp; &nbsp; } 
}
</div>

<div>
It should display a blank form, and you should be able to see the output &nbsp;in the console in visual studio. 
 
Note that you can also use Debug.WriteLine and that will show up in the debug window's output. &nbsp;(Note you'll have to build it in debug instead of release for that to appear). 
 
I believe you're getting a brief flash because the main is blank. 
 
 
This is just a windows Form Application correct? &nbsp;Your main should be in a program.CS file with something like: 
 
&nbsp; &nbsp; [STAThread] 
&nbsp; &nbsp; static void Main() 
&nbsp; &nbsp; { 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Application.EnableVisualStyles(); 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Application.SetCompatibleTextRenderingDefault(false); 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Application.Run(new Form1()); 
&nbsp; &nbsp; }
</div>

<div>
Hi Kyle 
I have my window being displayed successfully now, but mouse move events do not result in any changes? 
<a href="https://filedb.experts-exchange.com/incoming/2017/04_w17/1158656/MouseMove-Windows-Forms-App.sln" target="_blank" class="file-inline" title="C# Program to sample mouse movements (1 KB)"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M67.508 468.467c-58.005-58.013-58.016-151.92 0-209.943l225.011-225.04c44.643-44.645 117.279-44.645 161.92 0 44.743 44.749 44.753 117.186 0 161.944l-189.465 189.49c-31.41 31.413-82.518 31.412-113.926.001-31.479-31.482-31.49-82.453 0-113.944L311.51 110.491c4.687-4.687 12.286-4.687 16.972 0l16.967 16.971c4.685 4.686 4.685 12.283 0 16.969L184.983 304.917c-12.724 12.724-12.73 33.328 0 46.058 12.696 12.697 33.356 12.699 46.054-.001l189.465-189.489c25.987-25.989 25.994-68.06.001-94.056-25.931-25.934-68.119-25.932-94.049 0l-225.01 225.039c-39.249 39.252-39.258 102.795-.001 142.057 39.285 39.29 102.885 39.287 142.162-.028A739446.174 739446.174 0 0 1 439.497 238.49c4.686-4.687 12.282-4.684 16.969.004l16.967 16.971c4.685 4.686 4.689 12.279.004 16.965a755654.128 755654.128 0 0 0-195.881 195.996c-58.034 58.092-152.004 58.093-210.048.041z"/></svg>MouseMove-Windows-Forms-App.sln</a>
</div>

MouseMove-Windows-Forms-App.sln

<div>
You only sent the solution file. &nbsp;You need to zip up the whole folder.
</div>

<div>
If I zip the entire folder ExpertsExchange prompts that exe files are not on the list of allowed extensions. Do I simply exclude all the exes?
</div>

<div>
File attached 
<a href="https://filedb.experts-exchange.com/incoming/2017/04_w17/1158889/MouseMove-Windows-Forms-App.zip" target="_blank" class="file-inline" title="MouseMove [Test] (20 KB)"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M67.508 468.467c-58.005-58.013-58.016-151.92 0-209.943l225.011-225.04c44.643-44.645 117.279-44.645 161.92 0 44.743 44.749 44.753 117.186 0 161.944l-189.465 189.49c-31.41 31.413-82.518 31.412-113.926.001-31.479-31.482-31.49-82.453 0-113.944L311.51 110.491c4.687-4.687 12.286-4.687 16.972 0l16.967 16.971c4.685 4.686 4.685 12.283 0 16.969L184.983 304.917c-12.724 12.724-12.73 33.328 0 46.058 12.696 12.697 33.356 12.699 46.054-.001l189.465-189.489c25.987-25.989 25.994-68.06.001-94.056-25.931-25.934-68.119-25.932-94.049 0l-225.01 225.039c-39.249 39.252-39.258 102.795-.001 142.057 39.285 39.29 102.885 39.287 142.162-.028A739446.174 739446.174 0 0 1 439.497 238.49c4.686-4.687 12.282-4.684 16.969.004l16.967 16.971c4.685 4.686 4.689 12.279.004 16.965a755654.128 755654.128 0 0 0-195.881 195.996c-58.034 58.092-152.004 58.093-210.048.041z"/></svg>MouseMove-Windows-Forms-App.zip</a>
</div>

MouseMove-Windows-Forms-App.zip

<div>
This just popped up for auto close. &nbsp;I haven't had a chance to review and will be away until Tuesday. &nbsp;Will take a look at it when I get back.
</div>

EE_MouseMove-Windows-Forms-App.zip

<div>
Thanks Kyle. Kudos you took the time to do this..
</div>

<div>
<div class="content wysiwyg-content">
The title is a bit of an over-simplification! What i would like to do is to create a full screen window and manually move my mouse around this window. I would like to have my program sample the mouse coordinates relative to the screen at short intervals to enable me to record a series of points which describe the object I have just drawn. I'm new to c# and to programming so you may need to be gentle!! Thanks. Ian
</div>
</div>

The title is a bit of an over-simplification! What i would like to do is to create a full screen window and manually move my mouse around this window. I would like to have my program sample the mouse coordinates relative to the screen at short intervals to enable me to record a series of points which describe the object I have just drawn. I'm new to c# and to programming so you may need to be gentle!! Thanks. Ian

Using C# How can I sample the current mouse position in a window

Programming includes both the specifics of the language you’re using, like Visual Basic, .NET, Java and others, but also the best practices in user experience and interfaces and the management of projects, version control and development. Other programming topics are related to web and cloud development and system and hardware programming.

Programming

C# is an object-oriented programming language created in conjunction with Microsoft’s .NET framework. Compilation is usually done into the Microsoft Intermediate Language (MSIL), which is then JIT-compiled to native code (and cached) during execution in the Common Language Runtime (CLR).