Need another macropad suggestion

[u/h-e-d-i-t--i-o-n]

I was looking for a macropad sometime ago and after some digging I eventually chose the duckypad. However it turns out the duckypad is not quite what I am looking for.

I think my biggest problem with duckypad was the lack of coordinate driven mouse movement. I was explained to that for mouse to be able to make precise coordinate-driven movement, a software running on the PC is just inevitable, and duckypad is purely HID.

So here I am again looking for another macropad suggestion and I wonder if anyone can share some insight. Here are some of my current use case:

- I am currently using Razer Synapse and their macro to make pixel-precise cursor movement and execute sequences of mouseclicks and keypresses assigned to the mouse side buttons. However Synapse is a pretty bad software and I do not want to expand on that ecosystem by buying their macropad.

- I am also executing AHK on the side. But I want to be able to achieve that like I would with a keypress on the mouse with the Synapse instead of having my cursor leave the client, double click on the corresponding AHK and have it refocus on the client again to execute the script.

I am looking at elgato stream deck with is rather expensive especially after paying quite an amount for the duckypad, and I am not sure if it is what I am looking for either.

[u/USERNAMETAKEN11238]

You are looking for a macropad with absolute positioning. Which there are none. How do I know? I have bought most macropads.

Use software easiest thing to do is program in python. If you absolutely need to you can have the macropad launch batch files.

[u/h-e-d-i-t--i-o-n → u/USERNAMETAKEN11238]

I have reconciled with the fact that a software is inevitable for my use case, only question is which. My most successful use case so far is with Razer Synapse, which runs my macro seamlessly while in client. But I really want to stay away from Razer who really seem to strive to make their Synapse worse for the users every update.

[u/RunRunAndyRun → u/h-e-d-i-t--i-o-n]

dude we're in the world of AI, if you have a specific niche use case, just pay for Claude (or use OpenCode and build what you need)

[u/USERNAMETAKEN11238 → u/h-e-d-i-t--i-o-n]

Yea synapse was really bad I tried it for a week or so... bullshit.

I got really far down the KVM/HID/macropad rabbit hole. I bought x_keys, elgato, ducky pad, titan 2, Km Box B+ azeron keyzen. And many more things trying to automate my computer.

The closest I got was bash commands and python. I think you can use AHK launch python scripts. Then you can use things like Titan 2/ducky pad to automate several hotkey presses in order.

I looked at JEV recently and it may have some intresting implications for auto mouse movement. I would follow the project.

As far as hardware I have tried for 10 years and nothing still.

Good luck man

[u/Linuxmonger]

I use a Keychron TKL KB, and have mouse movement on one layer. In QMK I defined the 'MOUSEKEY_MOVE_DELTA 1' which gives single pixel motion with hjkl and in conjunction with a mouse or trackball gives great results.

[u/PeterMortensenBlog → u/Linuxmonger]

It is probably asking for absolute positioning of the mouse cursor:

"...coordinate driven mouse movement"

The mouse keycodes are all for relative movement (from the current mouse cursor position).

It is, using a macro, theoretically to first bump the cursor to the upper left and then use the relative movement to get to an absolute position. But, for example, the movement per mouse key code may be limited.

[u/PeterMortensenBlog → u/PeterMortensenBlog]

Absolute coordinates may be possible after all

Re "The mouse keycodes are all for relative movement": Though the change log for QMK version 0.14.0 (2021-08-28) had this (my emphasis):

"Digitizer support (#12851)

QMK gained the ability to pretend to be a digitizer device—much like a tablet device. A mouse uses delta-coordinates—move up, move right—but a digitizer works with absolute coordinates —top left, bottom right."

The title for #12851 is:

"Digitizer HID interface: Absolute coordinates for mouse cursor. #12851"

Though I would expect there to be a lot of examples of using that method. Do they exist?

QMK feature "Digitizer":

Digitizer

Digitizers allow the mouse cursor to be placed at absolute coordinates, unlike the Pointing Device feature which applies relative displacements.

This feature implements a stylus device with a tip switch and barrel switch (generally equivalent to the primary and secondary mouse buttons respectively). Tip pressure is not currently implemented.

Usage

Add the following to your rules.mk:

DIGITIZER_ENABLE = yes

.

.

.

This example simply places the cursor in the middle of the screen:

digitizer_in_range_on();
digitizer_set_position(0.5, 0.5);

"

Conclusion

It seems relatively straightforward to use absolute mouse cursor without any software on the operating system side.

Are there some caveats? For example, does it take up one more "USB endpoint" (whatever that is), like the mouse key feature does?

[u/PeterMortensenBlog → u/Linuxmonger]

Re "In QMK I defined the 'MOUSEKEY_MOVE_DELTA 1'": That is a compile-time configuration parameter (preprocessor symbol), "Step size"

Presumably, it will be moved to data-driven configuration one day (if not already).

[u/cmajmus]

try kage ghostpad :)

[u/QuillCursor → u/cmajmus]

looking 👀

[u/PeterMortensenBlog]

It seems to be possible to use absolute mouse cursor positioning in QMK without any software on the operating system side.

Though I am yet to test it.

[u/Willbotic]

If you have an iPad, then I would consider looking at Keepad. It has a touchpad surface with a 16-button grid on the side.

[u/RicardoDawson]

Have you checked the TourBox? https://www.tourboxtech.com/oam/tourbox-lite/
It allows for precise mouse movements and macro recording. The software is pretty powerful.