Simulating a mouse click

Sheridan · 10-25-2007, 01:22 PM

Hi Guys

I need to write a very simple, very little application that I will be able to insert into a crontab and it will move the mouse pointer to a give coordinate and simulate a left mouse button click (press and release once) at that very point.

Ive got so far the "moving" part straightened out. This little script moves the pointer where I want it to.

Code:

#include "Xlib.h"
int main() {
    int delta_x = 500, delta_y = 160;
    Display *display = XOpenDisplay(0);
    Window root = DefaultRootWindow(display);
    XWarpPointer(display, None, root, 0, 0, 0, 0, delta_x, delta_y);
    XCloseDisplay(display);
    return 0;
}

However... I have little experience with X programming and my C++ is rusty also. Can you help me complete this code, clean and possibly most "simple", to send a mouse "click" event to where the cursor has been moved as described above?

Believe it or not, this is very important for me, but I have little clue.

So... Any help is appreciated...

By,

Sheridan · 10-25-2007, 01:59 PM

Just for the benefit of woever is having the same problem in the future. I found this fine code on another webpage. It works just fine.

Code:

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <string.h>

#include <unistd.h>

#include <X11/Xlib.h>
#include <X11/Xutil.h>

void mouseClick(int button)
{
	Display *display = XOpenDisplay(NULL);

	XEvent event;
	
	if(display == NULL)
	{
		fprintf(stderr, "Errore nell'apertura del Display !!!\n");
		exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
	}
	
	memset(&event, 0x00, sizeof(event));
	
	event.type = ButtonPress;
	event.xbutton.button = button;
	event.xbutton.same_screen = True;
	
	XQueryPointer(display, RootWindow(display, DefaultScreen(display)), &event.xbutton.root, &event.xbutton.window, &event.xbutton.x_root, &event.xbutton.y_root, &event.xbutton.x, &event.xbutton.y, &event.xbutton.state);
	
	event.xbutton.subwindow = event.xbutton.window;
	
	while(event.xbutton.subwindow)
	{
		event.xbutton.window = event.xbutton.subwindow;
		
		XQueryPointer(display, event.xbutton.window, &event.xbutton.root, &event.xbutton.subwindow, &event.xbutton.x_root, &event.xbutton.y_root, &event.xbutton.x, &event.xbutton.y, &event.xbutton.state);
	}
	
	if(XSendEvent(display, PointerWindow, True, 0xfff, &event) == 0) fprintf(stderr, "Errore nell'invio dell'evento !!!\n");
	
	XFlush(display);
	
	usleep(100000);
	
	event.type = ButtonRelease;
	event.xbutton.state = 0x100;
	
	if(XSendEvent(display, PointerWindow, True, 0xfff, &event) == 0) fprintf(stderr, "Errore nell'invio dell'evento !!!\n");
	
	XFlush(display);
	
	XCloseDisplay(display);
}

mustafamadni · 03-19-2009, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sheridan

Just for the benefit of woever is having the same problem in the future. I found this fine code on another webpage. It works just fine.

Code:

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <string.h>

#include <unistd.h>

#include <X11/Xlib.h>
#include <X11/Xutil.h>

void mouseClick(int button)
{
	Display *display = XOpenDisplay(NULL);

	XEvent event;
	
	if(display == NULL)
	{
		fprintf(stderr, "Errore nell'apertura del Display !!!\n");
		exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
	}
	
	memset(&event, 0x00, sizeof(event));
	
	event.type = ButtonPress;
	event.xbutton.button = button;
	event.xbutton.same_screen = True;
	
	XQueryPointer(display, RootWindow(display, DefaultScreen(display)), &event.xbutton.root, &event.xbutton.window, &event.xbutton.x_root, &event.xbutton.y_root, &event.xbutton.x, &event.xbutton.y, &event.xbutton.state);
	
	event.xbutton.subwindow = event.xbutton.window;
	
	while(event.xbutton.subwindow)
	{
		event.xbutton.window = event.xbutton.subwindow;
		
		XQueryPointer(display, event.xbutton.window, &event.xbutton.root, &event.xbutton.subwindow, &event.xbutton.x_root, &event.xbutton.y_root, &event.xbutton.x, &event.xbutton.y, &event.xbutton.state);
	}
	
	if(XSendEvent(display, PointerWindow, True, 0xfff, &event) == 0) fprintf(stderr, "Errore nell'invio dell'evento !!!\n");
	
	XFlush(display);
	
	usleep(100000);
	
	event.type = ButtonRelease;
	event.xbutton.state = 0x100;
	
	if(XSendEvent(display, PointerWindow, True, 0xfff, &event) == 0) fprintf(stderr, "Errore nell'invio dell'evento !!!\n");
	
	XFlush(display);
	
	XCloseDisplay(display);
}

Hi,

Will you please guide me how to use the above script.

Thanks

Regards

Mmad

theYinYeti · 03-19-2009, 10:35 AM

This is an old post and I'm not sure the original poster will see your question. So just in case, here's a link you might find useful:
http://www.semicomplete.com/projects/xdotool/

This tool lets you control mouse and keyboard.

Yves.

Pioz · 02-07-2011, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sheridan

Hi Guys

I need to write a very simple, very little application that I will be able to insert into a crontab and it will move the mouse pointer to a give coordinate and simulate a left mouse button click (press and release once) at that very point.

Check this code: https://gist.github.com/726474

aman_madaan · 01-09-2012, 10:04 AM

Code:

//sg
#include <X11/Xlib.h>
#include<stdio.h>
#include<unistd.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <string.h>

#include <unistd.h>

#include <X11/Xlib.h>
#include <X11/Xutil.h>

void mouseClick(int button)
{
	Display *display = XOpenDisplay(NULL);

	XEvent event;
	
	if(display == NULL)
	{
		fprintf(stderr, "Errore nell'apertura del Display !!!\n");
		exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
	}
	
	memset(&event, 0x00, sizeof(event));
	
	event.type = ButtonPress;
	event.xbutton.button = button;
	event.xbutton.same_screen = True;
	
	XQueryPointer(display, RootWindow(display, DefaultScreen(display)), &event.xbutton.root, &event.xbutton.window, &event.xbutton.x_root, &event.xbutton.y_root, &event.xbutton.x, &event.xbutton.y, &event.xbutton.state);
	
	event.xbutton.subwindow = event.xbutton.window;
	
	while(event.xbutton.subwindow)
	{
		event.xbutton.window = event.xbutton.subwindow;
		
		XQueryPointer(display, event.xbutton.window, &event.xbutton.root, &event.xbutton.subwindow, &event.xbutton.x_root, &event.xbutton.y_root, &event.xbutton.x, &event.xbutton.y, &event.xbutton.state);
	}
	
	if(XSendEvent(display, PointerWindow, True, 0xfff, &event) == 0) fprintf(stderr, "Error\n");
	
	XFlush(display);
	
	usleep(100000);
	
	event.type = ButtonRelease;
	event.xbutton.state = 0x100;
	
	if(XSendEvent(display, PointerWindow, True, 0xfff, &event) == 0) fprintf(stderr, "Error\n");
	
	XFlush(display);
	
	XCloseDisplay(display);
}
int main(int argc,char * argv[]) {
int i=0;
    int x , y;
x=atoi(argv[1]);
y=atoi(argv[2]);
    Display *display = XOpenDisplay(0);
 Window root = DefaultRootWindow(display);

    XWarpPointer(display, None, root, 0, 0, 0, 0, x, y);

mouseClick(Button1);
XFlush(display);


    XCloseDisplay(display);
    return 0;
}

coordinates where click is to be generated are passed as command line args.

AlMeu · 11-03-2019, 04:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sheridan

Just for the benefit of woever is having the same problem in the future. I found this fine code on another webpage. It works just fine.

Code:

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <string.h>

#include <unistd.h>

#include <X11/Xlib.h>
#include <X11/Xutil.h>

void mouseClick(int button)
{
	Display *display = XOpenDisplay(NULL);

	XEvent event;
	
	if(display == NULL)
	{
		fprintf(stderr, "Errore nell'apertura del Display !!!\n");
		exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
	}
	
	memset(&event, 0x00, sizeof(event));
	
	event.type = ButtonPress;
	event.xbutton.button = button;
	event.xbutton.same_screen = True;
	
	XQueryPointer(display, RootWindow(display, DefaultScreen(display)), &event.xbutton.root, &event.xbutton.window, &event.xbutton.x_root, &event.xbutton.y_root, &event.xbutton.x, &event.xbutton.y, &event.xbutton.state);
	
	event.xbutton.subwindow = event.xbutton.window;
	
	while(event.xbutton.subwindow)
	{
		event.xbutton.window = event.xbutton.subwindow;
		
		XQueryPointer(display, event.xbutton.window, &event.xbutton.root, &event.xbutton.subwindow, &event.xbutton.x_root, &event.xbutton.y_root, &event.xbutton.x, &event.xbutton.y, &event.xbutton.state);
	}
	
	if(XSendEvent(display, PointerWindow, True, 0xfff, &event) == 0) fprintf(stderr, "Errore nell'invio dell'evento !!!\n");
	
	XFlush(display);
	
	usleep(100000);
	
	event.type = ButtonRelease;
	event.xbutton.state = 0x100;
	
	if(XSendEvent(display, PointerWindow, True, 0xfff, &event) == 0) fprintf(stderr, "Errore nell'invio dell'evento !!!\n");
	
	XFlush(display);
	
	XCloseDisplay(display);
}

I am pretty new working with Linux, but I try learn as much I can.
I want a script in Linux to move mouse and make a click (or double click if necessary) in specific locations without use additional Linux tools installed.
I found this script and looks good for what I want, I compiled but I don't know how to use it because seams is giving output that is starting but is not doing anything.
Somebody can explain me how to use?

Many thanks in advance.

pan64 · 11-03-2019, 04:25 AM

would be nice to:
1. open a new thread instead of posting in a very old one
2. explain how did you compile it
3. explain how did you test it (how did you try it, what output did you get ...)

astrogeek · 11-03-2019, 08:50 PM

Welcome to LQ and the Programming forum!

As noted by pan64, please consider opening your own thread and provide the details specific to your use including any relevant compile time or runtime messages you receive. Posting to an old thread without details of your own use case often leads to confusion and wastes time of those attempting to provide help while they try to understand the problem.

Please review the Site FAQ for guidance in posting your questions and general forum usage. Especially, read the link in that page, How To Ask Questions The Smart Way. The more effort you put into understanding your problem and framing your questions, the better others can help!

Good luck!

AlMeu · 12-02-2019, 12:03 PM

Hi
I compiled the code in Ubuntu with:

gcc -o mouseclick mouseclick.c -lX11

In Ubuntu after compilation the command mouseclick generated works well.
But I want use it in other distribution Poky (Yocto) and here seams doesn't react at all. Here I don't see the terminal and I lunch it trough a bash script but I don't see any reaction!!!!

astrogeek · 12-02-2019, 03:11 PM

@AlMeu: Please post to a single thread. Posting to a single thread in the most relevant forum will make it easier for members to help you and will keep the discussion in one place.

Please continue your discussion in your other thread here.