Feature Request: NoMachine client should be able to control input (mouse and keys)

[amachine]

I’ve Server (MacBookPro 15 with macOS Monterey)  and a Client (iMac with macOS Monterey).  Server has its built-in display and a virtual extended display (using BetterDisplay) and everything works as expected –  NoMachine Client detects that server has two displays and it allows to share both displays.

Client and Server are connected over a Thunderbolt cable and I use this setup to add a second display to my Server in a KVM like fashion. Client has show remote cursor pointer and grab the keyboard/mouse input checked.

Using Server mouse, I can move pointer from Server main display to Server extended display which is shared by Client – I can interact with Client display and bring the mouse back to Server again. This flow works great.

Using Client mouse, I can interact with the Server shared display but I cannot move pointer to Server main display which is not shared. To control Server mouse on main display, I have to share both Display from the Server to the Client, then client can scroll into the Server main display and control the pointer as usual.

Is it possible to make Client control Server input on a display which is not shared? Client does know the display orientation of the server and if Client mouse pointer goes off the edge where the second display would be it should  grab the Server input on a display which is not shared.  Not sure if input reentry from server to client would be an issue.

And, thanks for keeping NoMachine free for personal use.

[fra81]

Hi,

what you want to achieve is not currently possible and, to be honest, I think it could be unexpected and difficult to understand for most users in the most common setups. Thank you for your interest in NoMachine 🙂

 

[amachine]

Thanks for replying. I found a work around and now my specific setup with NoMachine is usable.

It seems that NoMachine Player controls Server mouse and keyboard only when its window currently have focus. If I make the Player window lose focus of a Server shared screen, e.g by clicking on another window and then moving my mouse to the Server (using Barrier) than everything works as expected.

I want to propose a small feature/option to have a Setting in Keyboard and Mouse section called something like  “Lose Focus on Mouse Out”. When its checked, Player window should automatically lose focus when mouse leaves the window and on mouse enter, it’ll be focus as it is now.

Best.

[fra81]

When its checked, Player window should automatically lose focus when mouse leaves the window and on mouse enter, it’ll be focus as it is now.

This is a feature some Operating Systems have, generally called ‘focus follows mouse’. I do believe that the Player window should not interfere with the normal rules imposed by the OS about how the focus is moved, even if it would be possible to do so.

However, in case you don’t know already, there is a key combination to release the mouse when it is grabbed by the Player window: Ctrl+Alt+Left mouse button. Would this help you?

[amachine]

Thanks for replying. I agree that it is an OS level feature and I’ve since found an app MacOs that will do this. I didn’t know about the Player windows shortcut Ctrl+Alt+Left (I’m guessing it would Ctrl+Option+Left on mac) and will give it a try.

[Author]

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