Windows example to read the SpaceNavigator

[WIREDduns]

Hi

is there a Windows example to read the Space Navigator
without a need for a reference to a WINDOW, that is, I want
to run some loop to read the device and forward events to a different
program.

I managed on MacOS X using the CFRunLoop call which does not
actually create a window or GUI. Is there such an example for
Microsoft Windows?

Regards
Mark

[jwick]

Hi WIREDduns,

I think you can use the new 3Dx COM SDK to get events w/o a window handle. You can also use DirectInput or HID.

Jim
3Dx Software Development

[WIREDduns]

Hi Jim,

I did look at the COM SDK and its examples but both are done using
a WINDOWS handle.

I have no experience programming DirectInput or HID. An example
would be appreciated to read out part of the device to get me started.

Regards
Mark

[ngomes]

Hi WIREDduns,

I did look at the COM SDK and its examples but both are done using a WINDOWS handle.

The handles are necessary since the demo is a standard Windows app but they are not necessary to connect to and receive data from the 3Dconnexion devices.

[ngraf]

Hello Jim, Nuno,
I, too, am interested in using the SpaceNavigator in my own application. I would like to read the device and make the events from the device available to a different program. I do not want to create a Window, need a reference to a Window, or run any Windows related loop. Mark mentions that he was able to do this on MacOS X. I suppose on Windows it should be possible using calls to read USB, but I have no idea how to do this. A simple, plain vanilla C or C++ example with code to poll the device would be great. Even better would be an example of how to do this from a Java application, but given the former I can handle the latter.
Thanks,
Norman

[ngomes]

Hi ngraf,

Currently, we have no sample that exemplifies how to connect through HID.

You can use our SDK (old and current) from a Java app. There are some examples using JNI lying around and have been referred to elsewhere on this Forum.

[Brammel]

If you just don't want to see the window you can do this in JAVA:

Code: Select all

MainFrame m = new MainFrame(new HelloUniverse(), 256,256);
m.setVisible(false);

Then the window is completely invisible and removed from the taskbar.

[jwick]

Hi Brammel,

There is a HID example referenced in this post.

Jim
3Dx Software Development