Cursor jumps back and forward on switching

[SirIntellegence]

Operating Systems

Server: Windows 10 ver 1703
Client: OS X 10.10.5

Synergy Version

1.8.8-stable-c30301e (win)
1.8.8 (that is all I could get for the mac)

Steps to reproduce bug

I try to move my mouse from my windows server to my Mac client and my mouse jumps back to the windows server several times before I can get it to the Mac. I think it is related to the clipboard, but it happens even if I have a small amount of text on the clipboard.

Other info

• When did the problem start to occur? Don't know...
• Is there a way to work around it? Not that I know of.
• Does this bug prevent you from using Synergy entirely? No

Server Log: https://pastebin.com/ytwGe4gm
The Client log is a bunch of:
[2017-04-11T11:13:24] WARNING: cursor may not be visible
[2017-04-11T11:13:24] INFO: entering screen
[2017-04-11T11:13:24] DEBUG: showing cursor
[2017-04-11T11:13:24] WARNING: cursor may not be visible
[2017-04-11T11:13:25] INFO: leaving screen
[2017-04-11T11:13:25] DEBUG: hiding cursor
[2017-04-11T11:13:25] WARNING: cursor may not be visible

[xhou-wavefin]

@SirIntellegence
Thank you for all the details.

The server log doesn't seem to cover the time that issue happens. Is this correct?

[SirIntellegence]

No. It does cover the the time the issue happened. If it helps, I can make a video with the issue happening with the log visible. I think it is related to the bogus Delta motion.

…

On Apr 12, 2017 10:20, "Jerry (Xinyu Hou)" ***@***.***> wrote: @SirIntellegence <https://github.com/SirIntellegence> Thank you for all the details. The server log doesn't seem to cover the time that issue happens. Is this correct? — You are receiving this because you were mentioned. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <https://github.com/symless/synergy/issues/5992#issuecomment-293631291>, or mute the thread <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ADPl3nrVFx7bk1wN9kIXF8MwrudBDdj4ks5rvPm4gaJpZM4M6ZWO> .

[xhou-wavefin]

@SirIntellegence
Sorry my bad. Do you have multiple monitors on your server side?

[SirIntellegence]

Yes, I do. Would that break it? I also have multiple monitors on the client as well.

[xhou-wavefin]

@SirIntellegence
Could try to experiment to set the primary monitor on the left most or any other positions to see that makes any difference? Thanks.

[SirIntellegence]

Changing my primary monitor from the bottom left to the bottom right (of a square of 4) is much better, but it sill does it, Just not as bad.

[xhou-wavefin]

Changing my primary monitor from the bottom left to the bottom right (of a square of 4)

Could you give us a bit more information on this? Thanks.

[SirIntellegence]

Config: https://pastebin.com/GHAEfjwy
Does that Help?

[SirIntellegence]

The wide ones are 1440x900, the others are 1280x1024

[SirIntellegence]

If it helps, "my-slave" is a Linux computer, and "my-laptop" hasn't been connected for a while. The mac has 2 screens of 1440x900, and the Linux computer has 1 screen of 1440X900

[xhou-wavefin]

@SirIntellegence
The 4 screens you showed, are they from one machine?

Based on your configuration file, does the setup looks like this?

[SirIntellegence]

Yes. That is correct.

[SirIntellegence]

Have you made any progress on this? Sometimes, it takes more then 10 tries to get to the other computer.

[xhou-wavefin]

@SirIntellegence

I try to move my mouse from my windows server to my Mac client and my mouse jumps back to the windows server several times before I can get it to the Mac.on issue.

Does the cursor jump back to the center of the server or where you enter the client?

[SirIntellegence]

It usually jumps to the center of the bottom left or the center in between the two bottom screens (or further to the right). I have noticed that the return to the main computer sometimes occurs after the cursor is on the client (but just barely). I think it also happens less often if I am moving the cursor across the boundary more slowly.

[xhou-wavefin]

Please try to enable relative mouse movement, which is in server configure->advanced settings

[SirIntellegence]

It still breaks, probably even more reliably. Here is a debug2 log. I typed "test" after the cursor went to and stayed on the client computer. This happened twice in that log file.

[SirIntellegence]

What is the status of this? It still happens for me.

[Dixeran]

Maybe you can try this:

I was facing the same problem with you, the cursor just jumped back when I moved it to the border, but after I try the same way in image, the problem gone away.

[SirIntellegence]

Sadly, that does not fix the issue. All of my screens are at 100% dpi

[SirIntellegence]

Here is a zip with DEBUG2 logs from the client and the server along with my new config (I added two screens to the mac, so its monitor arrangement is the same as the server). "test" was typed after a successful switch. I eventually decided to add one '!' after "test" to indicate one try, so "test!!" indicates that the switch succeeded on the second attempt. If there is anything else I can do to help you figure this out, please let me know.
SynergyLogs.zip

[SirIntellegence]

Note: the entries for the imac and laptop are commented out, so you can ignore them

[SirIntellegence]

It appears I didn't comment out the entries for the laptop... I just did on my computer and it still has issues. The laptop hasn't been connected to the Synergy server for months.

[SirIntellegence]

Note: I have posted a bounty on this bug (https://www.bountysource.com/issues/44030981-cursor-jumps-back-and-forward-several-times-on-switching)

[frostyfrog]

I just wanted to state that I'm running into this issue as well, however, I only see it when I move my mouse to the left of my main monitor. I've tried it when the client has been either linux or windows. I've also tried it with an older synergy client (back from the days when synergy was asking for donations and wasn't a paid solution) and the latest synergy client. Seeing as the issue occurs in all scenarios (with the server being the latest stable release), I'd hazard a guess that it's a server issue.

Below is my modest config file. Frostyfrog is the server here and Think is the client. Both have 2 monitors of unique proportions, however, the right Think and left Frostyfrog displays are the same at 1920x1080. Both computers have their DPI settings set to 100%. Switching it from relative to absolute makes the issue less noticeable, but it is still there. An idea of how noticeable it is when relative mouse movement is on? I once tried for 5 seconds to get my mouse to the other screen. I had to crank up the DPI on my mouse in the end to "blow past the invisible wall", so to speak.

section: screens
	Frostyfrog:
		switchCorners = all
		switchCornerSize = 20
	Think:
		switchCorners = all
		switchCornerSize = 20
end
section: links
	Frostyfrog:
		left = Think
		right = Think
	Think:
		left = Frostyfrog
		right = Frostyfrog
end
section: aliases
	Frostyfrog:
		Frostyfrog-pc
		London
		DESKTOP-I5IQT3Q
	Think:
		Colton-THINK
		Ogre
end
section: options
	relativeMouseMoves = true
	screenSaverSync = false
	win32KeepForeground = true
end

[frostyfrog]

Oh, since logs were provided earlier, here is part of my server logs when I tried moving my mouse cursor between monitors (with absolute mouse movement):

[2017-07-02T19:50:23] INFO: switch from "Think" to "Frostyfrog" at 1,601
[2017-07-02T19:50:23] INFO: entering screen
[2017-07-02T19:50:23] INFO: switch from "Frostyfrog" to "Think" at 3519,525
[2017-07-02T19:50:23] INFO: leaving screen
[2017-07-02T19:50:23] INFO: switch from "Think" to "Frostyfrog" at 3,601
[2017-07-02T19:50:23] INFO: entering screen
[2017-07-02T19:50:23] INFO: switch from "Frostyfrog" to "Think" at 3519,524
[2017-07-02T19:50:23] INFO: leaving screen
[2017-07-02T19:50:23] INFO: switch from "Think" to "Frostyfrog" at 1,601
[2017-07-02T19:50:23] INFO: entering screen
[2017-07-02T19:50:23] INFO: switch from "Frostyfrog" to "Think" at 3519,523
[2017-07-02T19:50:23] INFO: leaving screen

[SirIntellegence]

It might help them more if you get them a level of Debug logging. Then they can see things like "dropped bogus delta motion" and such. A debug2 log might help the most, just remember that it logs keystrokes on that level. That way, they can walk through the logic and see what is going on.

[renoir789]

Have the same problem on Windows 10 server and Ubuntu Client. Moving across the boundary slowly works. Trying to move across normally doesn't. Changing the polling rate on the mouse directly doesn't seem to fix it for me.

[kimpurcell]

I gave up on this and just extended the monitor to my PC. No longer doing the mac crossover thing, too much of a struggle with Synergy. Doing a Teamviewer full-screen session is easier than working through these bugs. Used a LAN cable though, latency is mad low. Works for my use case.

[jbratu]

I have two windows 10 systems with 4k monitors and had the same issue - crossing the boundary slowly works but moving quickly causes the mouse to bounce back and force near the edge of the screen before going into the next screen. I couldn't adjust the mouse polling rate, the relative position setting didn't work, and all DPI scaling is at 100%. I'm going to try another program other than symless for a while to see if it works better.

[Wavesonics]

Ya I have the exact same issue @jbratu describes, same setup, same symptoms.

[JungleM0nkey]

Same issue. Switching my logitech mouse to 125 polling rate fixes the problem but I hate using my mouse like this

[MrWedge18]

I had the same issue, but after a restart (that triggered a windows update and a ghub update) the issue seems to have gone away.

[Erid]

Is there anything we can do to help in getting this issue resolved?, it's very annoying.

[jbratu]

Since January I've been using Multiplicity from Stardock and it's worked solidly since switching. I've been a paid Synergy/Symless user for a long time and I like the tool but for my daily use this alternative has been better. :-S

[Kage-Yami]

While still not perfect, I've found that on my server (Windows 11 Insiders), enabling "Don't take foreground window on Windows servers" improves things a bit (coupled with an Arch Linux client to the left of the primary monitor).

[kimpurcell]

While still not perfect, I've found that on my server (Windows 11 Insiders), enabling "Don't take foreground window on Windows servers" improves things a bit (coupled with an Arch Linux client to the left of the primary monitor).

I gave up and started using TeamViewer instead, with a LAN cable connection. It's free, really snappy and much more flexible than Synergy. No mouse issues or anything.

[nickfmc]

I think this issue should be broken up into two separate issue, but those of us with the poling rate issues, I'd be interested to know what mouse you have because it sure sounds like most are using logitech mice. mine are below

G602 - work in endurance mode, stutters in performance mode
G604 - basically can't get it across unless I reduce the poling rate.

[kimpurcell]

Logitech MX Master 2 here.

[viktordd]

Recently started using Synergy again, and I'm having the same issue here between 2 windows machines.
When I try to move from server to client mouse jumps back from the edge if I try to flick it fast. if I move the mouse slow it goes trough most of the time with no or minimal bouncing even with 1000 polling rate.
I have G604.
I can't believe this issue is so old. 🤯

[livtanong]

I have a similar setup with most of the folks here. Windows server, mac client. I'm on a 120Hz monitor, 125 Hz polling mouse polling rate.

Strangely, the issue seems much worse for me. Even if I move my mouse slowly to "cross over" to the client, the mouse gets rebuffed a few times before being "allowed" in.

[VanixLH]

Shocked that this is still an issue on a paid product with no developer response for years, I am now really questioning my support for this software. I have this issue on my Logitech G502 mouse when I use Synergy between my Windows 11 desktop and my Macbook Pro on Monterey, I basically cannot move the mouse over unless I stop at the border and move it over slowly. Works fine on a random Dell bluetooth mouse my work gave me, as others mentioned many times it seems like it's a polling issue.

This is like, the one thing you are advertising your software can do. What is the point if it only works with specific mouse settings under specific circumstances?

[nickfmc]

Shocked that this is still an issue on a paid product with no developer response for years, I am now really questioning my support for this software. I have this issue on my Logitech G502 mouse when I use Synergy between my Windows 11 desktop and my Macbook Pro on Monterey, I basically cannot move the mouse over unless I stop at the border and move it over slowly. Works fine on a random Dell bluetooth mouse my work gave me, as others mentioned many times it seems like it's a polling issue.

This is like, the one thing you are advertising your software can do. What is the point if it only works with specific mouse settings under specific circumstances?

does it work if you lower your Poling rate on your G502? it should. Unless you are an FPS gamer you won't notice a difference going down to a lower polling rate.

There is another option, is to also use the Hotkey function in synergy to switch to device, basically set it up so that one button on your mouse takes you to the left screen and one takes you to the right screen, it jumps your cursor to the middle of the other screen and works quite well. I did this on my G604

[leifcr]

Same issue here with two Windows machines. Happens quite often when the 'slave' requests to elevate, or when logging in from a lock screen

[milesturin]

Wow, this is actually causing me to regret this purchase. This needs a fix ASAP.

[nickfmc]

Wow, this is actually causing me to regret this purchase. This needs a fix ASAP.

after seeing your message I was wondering how often they actually update the software, as my version was OLD, went to my login and realized the software doesn't update itself! now I'm actually seeing HUGE improvements with the G602 in the latest release, but Synergy never checks itself for updates, so make sure to manually check for updates every so often! and get version 1.14.3 I'd be interested if anyone else has seen improvements with this version.

[Wavesonics]

same, I just updated thanks to your message and it all seems fixed now!

[nickfmc]

Can we get an admin to link all of these issues together??
#6042
#4911

I did a bunch of testing with 3 mice and poling rates and wired vs. wifi connection. What I have found is that with version 1.14.3 of Synergy, on a wired connection up to 500hz is almost undetectable now so thats good, however on wifi I have to go down to 125 for a clean transition. I also wonder how much of this issue if any has to do with the polling rate matching on the 2 devices you are moving between. I''m using windows and Ubuntu and am going to do more testing on matching poling rates to see if that is a factor.

[alexander-cato]

I found that enabling "Switch after waiting" to any degree, even down to the lowest settable value of 10ms has fixed this issue for me reliably.

It seems that the client and server need a few microseconds to communicate with one another while switching. Synergy is just failing the connection and jumping the cursor back to the server display after an unreasonably short period if that communication takes too long.

Perhaps this short switch after waiting setting should be enabled by default if Synergy cannot figure out how to make it work with it disabled by extending the timeout duration slightly.

[eXo0ne]

I found that enabling "Switch after waiting" to any degree, even down to the lowest settable value of 10ms has fixed this issue for me reliably.

Yup, for me too! I set it down to 10ms and it's perfect. I might go 25ms just to give it a little bit extra time, it's completely unnoticeable.

[scottgreenup]

Just adding another user to the pool.

My issue more exactly.

• I have two MacBook M1s on two seperate 4K screens at the same DPI and the same refresh rate.
• One MacBook is plugged in via HDMI; it's the client.
• One MacBook is plugged in via USB-C/DisplayPort; it's the server.
• If I move from server to client, flawless everytime.
• If I move from client to server, my mouse sometimes be flawless, sometimes it will start in the center of the screen.
• I never see any stuttering or flashing.

I will note that there seems to be some network lag, I am over WiFi and sometimes the input to my client will stutter. I'm wondering if the tolerance for that is what is causing the jump.

I've tried what @alexander-cato mentioned (#5992 (comment)) but that didn't help. I tried it from 10ms, to 100ms, and even 1000ms; it would still happen randomly.

Both computers are running 1.14.5-stable-1b7140f2.

If I managed to find two dongles to try using cat-5 instead of WiFi, I'll report back.

[thallada]

I have switched to https://www.sharemouse.com/ and it is working much better for me. It does not have this mouse report rate issue (and the mouse speed can even be configured easily with a slider).

[mijagourlay]

I'm having the same issue between a Win10 machines with 3 monitors side-by-side (which is the server), and a MacBook Pro 16 (client), and a Logitech G 700s.

Edit/update: I added another Win10 machine to the configuration and it also has the same issue. So the issue is going between the server and any client, whether it is Win or Mac.

Ironically, this issue does NOT occur between the 2 clients (one Win, one Mac). When I move the mouse off the screen from one client to an adjacent one, the cursor goes where I expect it to.

When moving the mouse from server (Win) to client (Mac), the cursor usually ends up near the opposite of the client screen from where it should be. If I move the mouse very slowly across the screen boundary, then sometimes the cursor does not jump so far.

Moving from client (Mac) to server (Win) does NOT lead to unexpected jumps.

Synergy version 1.14.6-snapshot-88fdd263

I tried changing the mouse report rate (I tried all settings, including 125, 200, 250, 500, 1000) and various DPI settings.

I also tried changing "Switch after waiting" to various settings and that seemed to make it worse, maybe.

Aside: When I had only Windows machines, I used Mouse Without Borders. I used it for years and I love it. But it does not support MacOS so it no longer suffices for this use case.

[nickfmc]

@mijagourlay are all of your devices on wired connection, if not which ones are on wifi? wifi is a big variable with this issue, so its helpful to include that info.

[desymless]

@mijagourlay are all of your devices on wired connection, if not which ones are on wifi? wifi is a big variable with this issue, so its helpful to include that info.

Are you thinking that perhaps the latency of a wifi connection is causing the bouncy transition issue?

[nickfmc]

@mijagourlay are all of your devices on wired connection, if not which ones are on wifi? wifi is a big variable with this issue, so its helpful to include that info.

Are you thinking that perhaps the latency of a wifi connection is causing the bouncy transition issue?

I did a LOT of testing with 4 mice, 3 computers , win/ubuntu/mac and wired/wireless connections. and I found that with a mouse with adjustable polling rate set to it's minimum and a wired connection I could make the issue completely go away. on wifi I could not 100% stop the issue with adjusting the poling rate no matter what I did, and mice without adjustable poling rates on wifi were the worst condition by far! however the connection method was 100% a factor in my testing so I think it's important to know how peoples devices are connected to the network so we can see trends in people having issues.

[desymless]

Thank you for the clarification, and yes, the connection is the most important factor. I'm a little surprised this particular issue is fully resolved with a better network connection (as one customer reported it had a 1GB ethernet connection). I expect it might be a number of factors with the network connection being the strongest contributor.

Have you tried Synergy 3 Alpha?