...then again, there is the thing with the cursor

ruppert

Hi there

So I ran into a little issue, that seems like the kind of thing that everyone here should have a remedy for, unlike me who just can't figure out a cure.

For a friend I did a very simple patch in Isadora for a permanent Installation using the capture to disk function to make consecutive recordings every time someone hits a button (via midi).

During the recording a little video is projected onto the wall surrounding the button that starts the recording and at the end it x-fades again to a simple light beam projected onto the button itself.

It really is very simple. The whole thing runs by itself for a year in the entrance hall of a public building.

To avoid all recorded files to be deleted by accident (since Isadora will ask upon quitting whether the files recorded during the session should be deleted or not) I followed Mark's suggestion and used applescript to automatically place the recorded files into a different folder.

That works like a charm, but...

...here is the hitch: the script executing the move of the recorded files is putting the finder in the foreground (or something of that nature) and as a consequence the cursor appears in the projected image.

Since this installation is running without an operator the cursor will just stay there until somebody moves the mouse, at which point the cursor disappears.

So my question is how can I avoid that the cursor pops up, or if that can't be avoided is there a way to force Isadora to hide the cursor again with regular intervals (something like every two seconds at least) to minimize the effect of the floating cursor.

Of course the "hide cursor on full screen" option in the Isadora preferences is disabled.

I am using the latest beta of Isadora on an mac mini from 2007 running 10.6.8.

Any suggestions are truly appreciated.

Thanks

Best

Ruppert

nick

Adding a line in the AppleScript to make isadora the front most application at the end of the applescript will rehide the cursor once the script has executed. tell application Isadora activate end tell Or something like that should do it. To minimise the effect while it runs put the cursor in one of the bottom corners is my only thought.

ruppert

hi nick,

I did call upon Isadora to activate again, but the cursor remains visible until I move the mouse.

The thing is that the whole installation runs without an operator, so there is nobody to move the mouse, there isn't even a mouse attached to the computer, at least that was the plan.

thanks for your help though

best

ruppert

Skulpture

If I get time later I will look into this. Maybe hide the house altogether and use a sprite to replicate the mouse cursor. Then I think you could make this fade out. I will look into this for you. These are the types aof problems I like to solve. Leave it with me.

ruppert

...now you're talking, that sounds very intriguing, I am ashamed to say that the last time I dealt with sprites attached to cursors was at a time when there was a company called Macromedia that made an application called Director.

I am happy you like to solve this kind of problem because I wouldn't even know where to begin. What type of problems don't you like to solve so I might get a chance to make it up to you?

best

ruppert

ruppert

...just bought you a pint to get you started

cheers

r

Skulpture

Thanks Ruppert! There are only a few small areas I get stuck with. I am not very clued up on DMX lifting and ArtMwt stuff yet. But I hope to solve this over the summer. I will will try and get something sorted this afternoon. I will contact you via email. The pint means a lot honestly! Thanks! Graham

ruppert

Hi Graham

Following your hint I found a little freeware online called Cursorcerer that does just that: hide the cursor.

It is not the most elegant solution, but it sure is effective.

If you come up with something more elegant, I'd be curious, but otherwise save your efforts for something more challenging.

Thanks...

ruppert

p.s. bought you another pint

Skulpture

Cool,

[http://doomlaser.com/cursorcerer-hide-your-cursor-at-will/](http://doomlaser.com/cursorcerer-hide-your-cursor-at-will/) looks cool.

I created something anyway... just for fun!

Email sent.

Cheers again, Graham

mark

Dear Ruppert,

You could use the AppleScript to simulate a cursor move.

http://www.andrewparnell.com/blog/2010/01/moving-the-mouse-with-applescript/

Best Wishes,

Mark

ruppert

Thanks Mark,

Between this, and the freeware to make the cursor disappear I ought to be able to solve my problem.

Best

Ruppert

mark

But also, please submit a bug report on this. Isadora should hide the cursor whenever it is over a full-screen stage. I want to ensure that gets fixed.

http://troikatronix.com/support/isadora/ -> Topic = Bug Report

Best Wishes,

Mark

nick

Please make it a user selectable option - sometimes you want the cursor visible, often when setting things up. For example I have a quartz composer actor in isadora that you can enable so the corners of it can be dragged around the stage using the Mouse. This makes setting up a multi projection system really quick, and something I can pass on to someone who isn't a izzy programmer on a tour. The option to then make the mouse not visible on stages would be great, but please dont hard code it into izzy, have a setting in the stages contro, panel, alongside the floating windows option.

mark

Well, the main thing is this: if you switch into Isadora (e.g., via command-tab) and don't move the mouse, and the "Hide Cursor When Full Screen" option is enabled, then the cursor should be invisible. I think this is what's happening to Ruppert -- he's activating Isadora via AppleScript, but the cursor doesn't move; thus it's visibility is not properly updated. That's what I intend to fix.

nick

Ah ok - misunderstood, sorry.