How can I hide the mouse pointer?


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Thread: How can I hide the mouse pointer?

  1. #1
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    How can I hide the mouse pointer?

    I am a newbie to Linux, so I apologize in advance for what may be an easy or ignorabt question.

    I am running "chbg" as a screensaver on my Mandrake Linux server and the mouse pointer is prominently displayed in the middle of my screensaver pictures.

    Does anyone know how to hide or kill the mouse pointer?

    Since this system has no keyboard or mouse so I don't mind killing the process supporting the mouse if that is a possible option.

    Thanks for your help.......

  2. #2
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    Re: How can I hide the mouse pointer?

    Originally posted by stowheliman

    Since this system has no keyboard or mouse so I don't mind killing the process supporting the mouse if that is a possible option.
    Is this running stickly as a server (apache, mail etc.)? If it is, you really do not need to have X/KDE/Gnome running.

    If not, you could try commenting out the InputDevice section for your mouse in /etc/X11/XF86Config or XF86Config-4, make sure you have

    Code:
    Section "ServerFlags"
         Option        "AllowMouseOpenFail"
    EndSection
    in the ServerFlags section and then restart X.

    Any options in the screensavers to hide the mouse pointer?
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  3. #3
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    Thanks for your reply mdwatts.

    This server requires KDE to be running. So its more than just a regular server that might be running Apache. Even though it has KDE running, it has no mouse or keyboard attached since it's physically hanging on the wall (or least the flat panel monitor is on the wall; the computer is hidden inside the wall) and therefore no mouse or keyboard should be attached. Its meant to look like a picture frame. The monitor is running a screensaver so the flat panel monitor is actually the "digital frame".

    As you probably know, when I comment out the lines you suggest, KDE does not load which means the KDE screensaver (chbg) will not start. Also, there are no options in "chbg" to hide the mouse pointer.

    Even if the mouse pointers position was changed to somewhere else on the screen (other than the middle) I'd be happy.

    Any more ideas on howto hide or kill the mouse pointer yet keep KDE up?

  4. #4
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    Just out of curiosity, what server is this that requires KDE?
    Scotty: Captain, we din' can reference it!
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    Spock: Captain, it doesn't appear in the symbol table.
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  5. #5
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    what on earth does it need KDE???

  6. #6
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    I guess I'm using the word "server" loosely. This linux server is serving up digital pictures. I am using "chbg" to display the digital images which requires a graphical environment such as KDE. But if there are other alternatives, I'm certainly open.

    The solution I'm working on right now works great with one minor problem. The fact that the mouse pinter is prominently displayed in the middle of the screen as the screensaver displays my digital pictures.

    So if there is anyway to remove or hide the mouse pointer from the display, or even move the pointer to a corner of the screen, I'd be a happy camper.

  7. #7
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    You could use a different window-manager to display your screensaver. IIRC IceWM didn't leave any mouse pointer hanging out when I used to use a screensaver.
    We'll get thisright yet!

  8. #8
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    Take a look at this article,

    xset
    and
    Using xloadimage
    You can cut out using KDE and use xscreensaver to cycle through the graphics.
    And you may be able to eliminate the cursor using, "# xsetroot -cursor_name (leave blank)"
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  9. #9
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    Hmmm.... I just wanted to say ratpoison, but I tested it and it does have a pointer in normal use (no guis open). Why can't you just momentarily stick a mouse in and move it? When configuring X in a graphical environment you can move the mouse with keybindings - maybe it remembers the position?
    I'd look for a different screensaver and see if that does remove the pointer. Maybe you could customize the pointer into something totally transparent? Never made my own pointers though - so can't really help ya with that.
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  10. #10
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    Thanks for the posts, you've given me something to try this evening. I'd really like to get chbg working instead of abandoning it in favor of another screensaver.

    While I can attach a mouse, I'd prefer not to have a mouse hanging from the wall since this is "digital frame" physically hanging on a wall.

    Thanks......

  11. #11
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    If you show Salvador Dali, or some of the other surrealists, a dead mouse hanging on the wall would probably blend in.
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  12. #12
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    oh, yes. just go to kde-look.org, get a pretty cursor and then edit the image to make it completely transparent.

  13. #13
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    Well I tried several options this evening including xsetroot and I had no luck. I still have a mouse pointer prominently displayed in the middle of the pictures.

    Perhaps I've found a problem Linux cannot resolve....

  14. #14
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    bah, linux is the kernel, it has no GUI. if anyone is to be blamed, its CFree86 for their real slowness. hopefully X.org will be more faster in dev.

    anyway, the solution to your problem is here, just make your own transparent cursor:
    http://www.kde-look.org/content/show.php?content=11428

  15. #15
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    Hey, it sounds to me like you're not using chbg as a screensaver, but as a background changer. Thus, the mouse pointer is SUPPOSED to be visible. By default, that's what chbg does, anyway. I haven't used it as a screensaver; I use it as a background changer in PekWM.

    KDE has its own funny screensaver wrapper which may be part of the problem. Maybe KDE is simply starting up chbg as a background changer (i.e. setting root display background), rather than as a screensaver.

    Anyway, I suggest deactivating KDE's screensaver, and possibly not using KDE at all. Then check chbg's documentation for how to use it as a screensaver rather than a background changer.

    Alternatively, you could use xscreensaver. It's designed more for doing lots of cool looking screensavers, but it could be used for just a slideshow if you play with it enough. There are a number of screensavers included which can take the source image from an image collection.
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