Discussion:
Is it possible to use laptop's touchpad to do signature as on PDA?
(too old to reply)
Nicky
2004-11-17 18:44:03 UTC
Permalink
hi, all
Our program (VC++) on PDA supports signature. And I am moving the code to
laptop. But it seems impossible to support signature without other hardware
device like "Writing Pad". Does anyone know if it is possible to do signature
with the laptop's touchpad?
Joseph M. Newcomer
2004-11-21 06:18:55 UTC
Permalink
It's just a pointing device. So all you have to do is track the mouse.

Now the downside: the actual mouse position is apparently not read until your program asks
for the value, something you can see if you simply handle each OnMouseMove and write the
x,y coordinates into an array. You will not see smooth motion. It is not clear the system
will give you all the positions you need to do a decent reading of something as finely
detailed as a signature.
joe
Post by Nicky
hi, all
Our program (VC++) on PDA supports signature. And I am moving the code to
laptop. But it seems impossible to support signature without other hardware
device like "Writing Pad". Does anyone know if it is possible to do signature
with the laptop's touchpad?
Joseph M. Newcomer [MVP]
email: ***@flounder.com
Web: http://www.flounder.com
MVP Tips: http://www.flounder.com/mvp_tips.htm
Nicky
2004-11-22 21:05:04 UTC
Permalink
Hi, Joe, thank you for your reply!
Smooth motion is a problem. And the biggest problem I hit is I don't know
the starting point and ending point of each move by touch pad.
In mspaint, the start point is the point when you press your left mouse key.
But by touch pad, if you touch the left-down corner, and then touch the
right-up corner, the mouse does not move at all. It thinks they are the same
places.
So, what I will get is a continual line. I am afraid they ask me "Are you
sure this is their signature?" hehe!
Post by Joseph M. Newcomer
It's just a pointing device. So all you have to do is track the mouse.
Now the downside: the actual mouse position is apparently not read until your program asks
for the value, something you can see if you simply handle each OnMouseMove and write the
x,y coordinates into an array. You will not see smooth motion. It is not clear the system
will give you all the positions you need to do a decent reading of something as finely
detailed as a signature.
joe
Post by Nicky
hi, all
Our program (VC++) on PDA supports signature. And I am moving the code to
laptop. But it seems impossible to support signature without other hardware
device like "Writing Pad". Does anyone know if it is possible to do signature
with the laptop's touchpad?
Joseph M. Newcomer [MVP]
Web: http://www.flounder.com
MVP Tips: http://www.flounder.com/mvp_tips.htm
Random User
2004-11-23 03:34:07 UTC
Permalink
In our app, we do the following:
- on mouse down, we start a separate thread, saving GetCursorPos into an
array;
- we handle n gathered positions on each wm_timer;
- on mouse up, we kill the timer and the thread.

The above algorithm is used to provide smooth results [on not so busy
systems] in opposite to mouse move events and it should solve the "start vs.
end" problem.

Also, there are settings [on some touch pads] to control if it's relative
(as you described) or absolute device. And AFAIK, there are similar settings
even for tablets. In relative coordinates _touching_ left-down and then
right-up corners obviously will not move the cursor.

IMHO, using touch pads for something as complex as signatures may be a tough
task, because of their sizes. But there must be something in Win Tablet
Edition.

Good luck!
Post by Nicky
Hi, Joe, thank you for your reply!
Smooth motion is a problem. And the biggest problem I hit is I don't know
the starting point and ending point of each move by touch pad.
In mspaint, the start point is the point when you press your left mouse key.
But by touch pad, if you touch the left-down corner, and then touch the
right-up corner, the mouse does not move at all. It thinks they are the same
places.
So, what I will get is a continual line. I am afraid they ask me "Are you
sure this is their signature?" hehe!
Post by Joseph M. Newcomer
It's just a pointing device. So all you have to do is track the mouse.
Now the downside: the actual mouse position is apparently not read until
your program asks for the value, something you can see if you simply
handle each OnMouseMove and write the x,y coordinates into an array. You
will not see smooth motion.
On Wed, 17 Nov 2004 10:44:03 -0800, "Nicky"
Post by Nicky
Our program (VC++) on PDA supports signature. And I am moving the code to
laptop. But it seems impossible to support signature without other hardware
device like "Writing Pad". Does anyone know if it is possible to do signature
with the laptop's touchpad?
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