Disable secondary desktop input.

Ok i should have explained my self more clearly. The thing is, i made a c++ application which runs full screen on my secondary monitor and is always on top. This application is only used to show information regarding the system and my other application. Also the monitors can be far away from each other. And this is why i want to disable all user input on the secondary monitor.

3 solutions

Solution 2

There is not way to do it on system level, I think. So I agree with Olivier.

(His idea about special hardware is probably solvable, but… Theoretically speaking, it could be a standard second monitor used in a special way through software, but this looks a bit fantastic and would defeat the purpose, because you need a simple solution for using existing software.)

Now, let's think why you may need a solution. This is probably because you are trying to use available application on your secondary monitor for the purpose of monitoring only, but this software is not designed for this purpose; it accepts user input; and you worry about accidental input to this application. In other words, you use wrong application for your purposes. So, instead of attempting a system-level trick on top of this situation, you can only replace this application with something that satisfy your requirements (for example, blocks the input). The ugly truth of your situation is probably that you cannot have easier solution; the easiest it to give up and tolerate the risk of input, the second easiest is to replace the application.

—SA

Posted 2-Mar-11 5:18am

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov

Comments

Olivier Levrey 2-Mar-11 11:23am

Your analysis makes sense. My 5.

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 2-Mar-11 18:09pm

Thank you.
--SA

Solution 3

From your description you application is full screen and on top always. Is that right? Now if that is the case you need to think a little bit differently. The only way an input can be entered in the secondary monitor is through your application. Don't you think? Of course your application can be minimized and other application can have a focus. But it is my understanding that would not be an issue.

So, the problem is very easy. Forget about secondary monitor and Windows API. Since your application has the focus you will be notified of all the inputs. Right? Now all you need to do is have your application to act into two different modes.

1. Regular mode
2. View Only Mode.

In regular mode you will continue business as usual. in View Only mode you intercept all inputs and "eat them". You ignore it and do nothing with it. Problem Solved.

Posted 2-Mar-11 5:32am

Yusuf

Comments

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 2-Mar-11 18:11pm

Yusuf, if you read my Answer you will see this is exactly the same as what I say; in addition, you add the idea of two modes. Well, that would be... my 5.
--SA

Yusuf 2-Mar-11 19:20pm

Thanks

Bart Poirters 4-Mar-11 6:21am

Hi thanks for replying. The thing is i did catch things like mouse movement and such. However The problem is that i still can drag a windows from the primary monitor to my secondary one. Which is quit problematic when a user does this on the primary monitor.

In other words my problem could be resolved when i could disable dragging of other windows over my full screen application. I dont know if its possible tho.

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Olivier Levrey · Accepted Answer · 2011-03-02T04:53:00

In my opinion, there is no clean way to do that.

If you extended your windows desktop to use 2 monitors, then nothing can prevent the user to move the mouse to the secondary monitor. You can hide the mouse, catch all clicks if you want, but the user will not understand where the mouse has gone...

Although extending the desktop is an easy solution, it is probably not a good idea in your case.

You may try to search a VGA device (connected from the controlling PC in USB for example). With such a device, you could send an image to your secondary monitor without using desktop extension.

I am not sure if such a device exists though...