VMware mouse protocol support

[rderooy]

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Have you checked that no other similar feature request(s) already exists?

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Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe.

No response

What you want

This is based on a feature request with patch I saw on the dosbox-staging issue page:
dosbox-staging/dosbox-staging#1580

This would allow vmware mouse drivers, like those for Win9x to work, or the Win 3.1 driver from here: https://github.com/NattyNarwhal/vmwmouse

With this vmware mouse driver you would be able to seamlessly integrate with the host system, and enter and exit the dosbox-x window without having to capture/release the mouse.

Qemu apparently also implements the vmware mouse protocol.

Describe alternatives you've considered

No response

Additional context

No response

[FeralChild64]

Just to let you know - the patch I submitted won't be integrated in the current form. I'm preparing a more serious mouse overhaul (https://github.com/FeralChild64/dosbox-staging/tree/fc/mouse-updates-2 branch) - I think you might also be interested in updated serialmouse.cpp, as it emulates more mice (Mouse Systems 3 button mouse, Logitech 3 button mouse, wheel mouse), has some autodetection capability and can boost sampling rate to more pleasant levels. Just be aware that Staging does not use Mouse_AutoLock.

BTW, there is also a VirtualBox mouse driver for Windows 3.1 in development (https://git.javispedro.com/cgit/vbmouse.git - here), I plan to look at this protocol once I finish with rework and register-level PS/2 mouse emulation (DOSBox Staging does not have it as of yet).

[Wengier]

I think the CuteMouse wheel mouse API runs on real systems, so it should be something worth having for DOSBox-X. Implemented this as part of PR #3351, and tested on DOS programs like DOS Navigator and appears to work when disabling mouse wheel movement conversion.

[Wengier]

I think at least basic support for VMware mouse protocol is worth having for the project too, especially useful for Windows 3.x and 9x/Me emulation. Implemented as part of PR #3357.

[rderooy]

I just want to add that while the VMware mouse support works for Windows 3.1x, it does not for Windows 9x/ME. The later seems to require that the VMware device is PnP.