Tilt win10 desktop change - Virtualbox "mouse integration" workaround

[dembala]

XMBC Version: 2-17
Windows Version: Windows 10 16299
Mouse Information (brand/model): Logitech M500
Computer Information: HP Probook 650 G1
Did the problem occur after an upgrade of XMBC or Windows?: N/A
How long have you used XMBC?: just started
What language and keyboard layout do you use in Windows?: US

Clear description of the problem: I'm using Virtualbox, i have one Windows 7 VM running on the Windows 10 host. I configured XBMC to have the tilt wheel change desktops by tilting the wheel right or left. Works fine. However when i select the VM and it is in focus, tilting does not change desktops any more on the host.
I assume that because the VM captures the mouse, XBMC doesn't have access to it any more. If i click on the hosts' taksbar, desktop change via tilt works again, so it's definetly a mouse capture issue. Mouse integration feaure is enabled in Virtualbox. If i disable, i need to get out from the VM via the host key, and that's not that comfortable...
Is there any workaround for this? I would love to have my VM on the second desktop and the tiltwheel just changing between the desktops, hence the VM and the host.
Thanks for ideas. Obviously i'm new to this software, i might have overlooked some setting that is needed for this.

[phil]

Hi,

The problem is not so much the mouse capture, as XMBC on the host still sees the tilt messages when inside the virtualbox guest, the problem is that the keyboard hotkeys (CTRL+WIN+LEFT/CTRL+WIN+RIGHT) are sent to the guest not the host (as the guest window has keyboard focus).

So unless there is another way to switch desktops (without using the keyboard hotkeys) that I don't know about, I cant do much to change it.

Having said that, there is one possible workaround, but it will only work when the mouse pointer is outside of the vm guest window (that may be acceptable)...

Use simulated keystrokes and try
{ACTIVATE}{LWIN}{LCTRL}{LEFT}
{ACTIVATE}{LWIN}{LCTRL}{RIGHT}

The {ACTIVATE} before the keys will activate the window under the cursor (and thus return keyboard focus to the host), taking focus back to the host (assuming the mouse is not over the guest). It seems to work here but let me know if it works for you.

Thanks,
Phil

[dembala]

Fine !
When being in windowed mode, now i only have to navigate the mouse pointer down to the task bar of the host and then i can already switch desktops.

In case of fullscreen mode in virtualbox, when i go down with the mouse pointer to the bottom of the screen, there's a menu bar popping up. It is enough to point at that, and the tilt works immediately for changing the desktop.

I fully understand your point. I guess that Windows 10, being in very early stage of virtual desktop management, doesn't have a global shortcut implementation yet somehow. On a Macintosh, this isn't an issue, even if you are fullscreen with virtualbox on the second desktop, swipe gestures on the touchpad change virtual desktops on the host like a dream

For Windows, i see that every iteration brings refinements for virtual desktops, too bad my company computer will remain on the 1709 update for quite some time as being the LTS release. Later windows update brought quite some refinements in virtual desktops domain, i saw in 1803 for instance.

Thanks for the tip, have a good day !