[NTLK] Using a Newton for Mouse Navigation (for PC)

From: mkow1234_at_aol.com
Date: Tue Apr 19 2005 - 05:16:21 PDT


 
April 19, 2005
 
 
To Adam and and other programmers interested in developing a Newton serial mouse for navigation on a PC, this just might be your lucky day!
 
There is a Newton serial mouse app, though I believe it only works in Windows 95. It probably would not take too much effort by a good programmer to add functionality and compatibility with Windows 98-XP.
I also believe that this software could help lead to the development of a program that would allow the Newton to become a digitized drawing pad for the PC!
 
The original developer is involved in other platforms and projects now, and he no longer works on Newton projects. He is a pretty nice guy, and he will allow further refinement and development of this software, provided that such improvements are made freely available to the Newton Community (Translation: It will be considered, to some degree, to be open source software; You can't charge money for the app, if you used some of his source code).
 
I just checked my computer, and I believe I have the source files that go with the application. If anybody is SERIOUS about pursuing this objective, please contact me.
 
Warmest regards,
 
Matt the K.
 
 
=======================================================
 
I have started work on a preliminary mouse driver, kinda, but development is currently stalled until I understand how the serial communications on the newt work (i have the section from the
programmers reference printed out, but it's all greek to me (I'm used to BASIC)). I have all the specs for the serial mouse, I made an adaptor lead up and hooked a switch into the mouse to test the
different protocols. I've worked out just about everything i need to to get it going. I just need to find out how to open the serial port and read from it. Then I can make a small window move round the newton
screen (to be replaced with a directly drawn on the LCD pointer), after that, the next stage will be clicking, apparantly there is a pendown() or somthing event that triggers a pen push, so I could rig that up to a button. I will also need someone to tell me how to make an Extension which has options settable in Prefs so it can have tracking speed, protocol etc. Until then it'll be an app.
For now It's a matter of sorting out a few minor things (in order of importance):

    Serial communications (more a major thing than a minor one)
    Clicking
    Real Pointer

cheers

Adam

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