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Identify input devices

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Identify the input devices connected to a Windows app device and identify their capabilities and attributes.

Important APIs: Windows.Devices.Input, Windows.UI.Input, Windows.UI.Xaml.Input

Retrieve mouse properties

The Windows.Devices.Input namespace contains the MouseCapabilities class used to retrieve the properties exposed by one or more connected mice. Just create a new MouseCapabilities object and get the properties you're interested in.

Note  The values returned by the properties discussed here are based on all detected mice: Boolean properties return non-zero if at least one mouse supports a specific capability, and numeric properties return the maximum value exposed by any one mouse.

 

The following code uses a series of TextBlock elements to display the individual mouse properties and values.

private void GetMouseProperties()
{
    MouseCapabilities mouseCapabilities = new Windows.Devices.Input.MouseCapabilities();
    MousePresent.Text = mouseCapabilities.MousePresent != 0 ? "Yes" : "No";
    VertWheel.Text = mouseCapabilities.VerticalWheelPresent != 0 ? "Yes" : "No";
    HorzWheel.Text = mouseCapabilities.HorizontalWheelPresent != 0 ? "Yes" : "No";
    SwappedButtons.Text = mouseCapabilities.SwapButtons != 0 ? "Yes" : "No";
    NumButtons.Text = mouseCapabilities.NumberOfButtons.ToString();
}

Retrieve keyboard properties

The Windows.Devices.Input namespace contains the KeyboardCapabilities class used to retrieve whether a keyboard is connected. Just create a new KeyboardCapabilities object and get the KeyboardPresent property.

The following code uses a TextBlock element to display the keyboard property and value.

private void GetKeyboardProperties()
{
    KeyboardCapabilities keyboardCapabilities = new Windows.Devices.Input.KeyboardCapabilities();
    KeyboardPresent.Text = keyboardCapabilities.KeyboardPresent != 0 ? "Yes" : "No";
}

Retrieve touch properties

The Windows.Devices.Input namespace contains the TouchCapabilities class used to retrieve whether any touch digitizers are connected. Just create a new TouchCapabilities object and get the properties you're interested in.

Note  The values returned by the properties discussed here are based on all detected touch digitizers: Boolean properties return non-zero if at least one digitizer supports a specific capability, and numeric properties return the maximum value exposed by any one digitizer.

 

The following code uses a series of TextBlock elements to display the touch properties and values.

private void GetTouchProperties()
{
    TouchCapabilities touchCapabilities = new Windows.Devices.Input.TouchCapabilities();
    TouchPresent.Text = touchCapabilities.TouchPresent != 0 ? "Yes" : "No";
    Contacts.Text = touchCapabilities.Contacts.ToString();
}

Retrieve pointer properties

The Windows.Devices.Input namespace contains the PointerDevice class used to retrieve whether any detected devices support pointer input (touch, touchpad, mouse, or pen). Just create a new PointerDevice object and get the properties you're interested in.

Note  The values returned by the properties discussed here are based on all detected pointer devices: Boolean properties return non-zero if at least one device supports a specific capability, and numeric properties return the maximum value exposed by any one pointer device.

The following code uses a table to display the properties and values for each pointer device.

private void GetPointerDevices()
{
    IReadOnlyList<PointerDevice> pointerDevices = Windows.Devices.Input.PointerDevice.GetPointerDevices();
    int gridRow = 0;
    int gridColumn = 0;

    for (int i = 0; i < pointerDevices.Count; i++)
    {
        // Pointer device type.
        TextBlock textBlock1 = new TextBlock();
        Grid_PointerProps.Children.Add(textBlock1);
        textBlock1.Text = (i + 1).ToString() + " Pointer Device Type:";
        Grid.SetRow(textBlock1, gridRow);
        Grid.SetColumn(textBlock1, gridColumn);

        TextBlock textBlock2 = new TextBlock();
        textBlock2.Text = pointerDevices[i].PointerDeviceType.ToString();
        Grid_PointerProps.Children.Add(textBlock2);
        Grid.SetRow(textBlock2, gridRow++);
        Grid.SetColumn(textBlock2, gridColumn + 1);

        // Is external?
        TextBlock textBlock3 = new TextBlock();
        Grid_PointerProps.Children.Add(textBlock3);
        textBlock3.Text = (i + 1).ToString() + " Is External?";
        Grid.SetRow(textBlock3, gridRow);
        Grid.SetColumn(textBlock3, gridColumn);

        TextBlock textBlock4 = new TextBlock();
        Grid_PointerProps.Children.Add(textBlock4);
        textBlock4.Text = pointerDevices[i].IsIntegrated.ToString();
        Grid.SetRow(textBlock4, gridRow++);
        Grid.SetColumn(textBlock4, gridColumn + 1);

        // Maximum contacts.
        TextBlock textBlock5 = new TextBlock();
        Grid_PointerProps.Children.Add(textBlock5);
        textBlock5.Text = (i + 1).ToString() + " Max Contacts:";
        Grid.SetRow(textBlock5, gridRow);
        Grid.SetColumn(textBlock5, gridColumn);

        TextBlock textBlock6 = new TextBlock();
        Grid_PointerProps.Children.Add(textBlock6);
        textBlock6.Text = pointerDevices[i].MaxContacts.ToString();
        Grid.SetRow(textBlock6, gridRow++);
        Grid.SetColumn(textBlock6, gridColumn + 1);

        // Physical device rectangle.
        TextBlock textBlock7 = new TextBlock();
        Grid_PointerProps.Children.Add(textBlock7);
        textBlock7.Text = (i + 1).ToString() + " Physical Device Rect:";
        Grid.SetRow(textBlock7, gridRow);
        Grid.SetColumn(textBlock7, gridColumn);

        TextBlock textBlock8 = new TextBlock();
        Grid_PointerProps.Children.Add(textBlock8);
        textBlock8.Text = pointerDevices[i].PhysicalDeviceRect.X.ToString() + "," +
            pointerDevices[i].PhysicalDeviceRect.Y.ToString() + "," +
            pointerDevices[i].PhysicalDeviceRect.Width.ToString() + "," +
            pointerDevices[i].PhysicalDeviceRect.Height.ToString();
        Grid.SetRow(textBlock8, gridRow++);
        Grid.SetColumn(textBlock8, gridColumn + 1);

        // Screen rectangle.
        TextBlock textBlock9 = new TextBlock();
        Grid_PointerProps.Children.Add(textBlock9);
        textBlock9.Text = (i + 1).ToString() + " Screen Rect:";
        Grid.SetRow(textBlock9, gridRow);
        Grid.SetColumn(textBlock9, gridColumn);

        TextBlock textBlock10 = new TextBlock();
        Grid_PointerProps.Children.Add(textBlock10);
        textBlock10.Text = pointerDevices[i].ScreenRect.X.ToString() + "," +
            pointerDevices[i].ScreenRect.Y.ToString() + "," +
            pointerDevices[i].ScreenRect.Width.ToString() + "," +
            pointerDevices[i].ScreenRect.Height.ToString();
        Grid.SetRow(textBlock10, gridRow++);
        Grid.SetColumn(textBlock10, gridColumn + 1);

        gridColumn += 2;
        gridRow = 0;
    }

Samples

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