Re: Patching the menu manager

[nagendra@csa.bu.edu (nagendra mishr)]

>
>   Okay. I want to write some sort of accessory (either an Init or an NDA) so
>   menus can be accessed without using the mouse, in a manner similar to
>   MicroSoft's (on the IBM) or ProTerm (but on the desktop).
>
>   The options I considered are:
>
>   1. Completely fake mouse movements so that the entire system thinks the user
>      is actually using the mouse.
>
>      Drawbacks: The mouse pointer would jump around as the user presses keys.
>		 It's hard and long.
>
	......
>
>   Suggestions?

What's wrong with option 1?  Just do a hide-cursor so that your cursor
is not visible.  Move it around all you want...  select things.  ShowCursor

Besides, I think that having the cursor visible may cause problems
with the menu code: (I think it's safe to assume that the menu manager
is assuming that the cursor will be what is causing the picking to
happen and so it check's it location)

ex:
	Assume you're navigating with the arrow keys and the mouse
cursor is visible:

	let's say right under the menu, the menu somehow opens, the
cursor moves (accidently) --> takes a snapshot of screen under cursor,
the menu is closed, the cursormoves again --> the old snapshot is
placed on the screen ...  You're gonna have a ghost image of the menu
left on the desktop.  Sort of like how Showpic screws up the screen
while it is decoding pictures.


******* better yet  ********************

make a new device driver which responds to key events, and fakes the
mouse around the screen whenever you hit option or command or
whatever.

****************


Nagendra

Nagendra@csa.bu.edu