From: Jeff Weeks <pweeks AT execulink DOT com>
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.djgpp
Subject: Writting a mouse driver... looking for help (this isn't a FAQ)
Date: Mon, 05 Jan 1998 20:39:37 -0500
Organization: Code X Software
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To: djgpp AT delorie DOT com
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Okay, so I'm porting my Linux GUI (a windowing system I wrote) to
DOS (don't see that everyday... Linux to Dos, not the other way
around... anyway... ;)  Everything worked fine.  I was quite pleased to
have gotten a Vesa 2 driver written and ported the whole thing is less
than an hour.  HOWEVER, I still don't have a mouse driver.

What I'm wondering, though, is what my best (ie: fastest, and/or
easiest) method would be.  I have a fair bit of mouse programming docs
around here and I seem to remember that the mouse can be accessed from
port 3F8.  Can anybody confirm that?  If so, can I read from ports
without switching to real mode (never did figure that out... my guess is
yes, but I need confirmation).

Now, the function I have is simply int get_pointer(int *x, int *y) (it
returns the button status).  My guess is that I can just have this
function read from the above port and return what information it finds.
I don't even need to mess around in interrupts do I?  Personally, I'd
rather leave interrupts out of this.  Does anybody see any problems with
that?  get_pointer is polled fairly often, so it acts almost like an
interrupt anyway.

So, basically in the process of writting this message I've carved out a
simple solution, but it's based on stuff that I need confirmation on.
If any body can confirm, please do.  If anybody spots some gaping holes
in my solution, please speak up.

Lastly, it would be appreciated if a quick reply is possible.  Quite
frankly, this is an ISP that's due rather soon ;)  It's finished under
Linux, but I need to port to DOS to give it to my teacher.

Thanks in advance,
Jeff

PS: Please respond via email when possible.  I can't afford to miss this
stuff.

--------------------------------------------
            - Code X Software -
       Programming to a Higher Power

  email: mailto:pweeks AT execulink DOT com
  web:   http://www.execulink.com/~pweeks/
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