_DEVICE$

The _DEVICE$ function returns a STRING value holding the controller type, name and input types of the input devices on a computer.

Syntax

device$ = _DEVICE$(device_number)

• The _DEVICES function must be read first to get the number of devices and to enable _DEVICE$ and _DEVICEINPUT.
• The device_number parameter indicates the number of the controller device to be read.
• Returns the STRING control type, name of the device and input types each can use included in brackets:

• Control type:

[KEYBOARD] always listed as first device when keyboard(s) available. Only one keyboard will show.

[MOUSE]] always listed as second device when keyboard(s) and mouse(mice) are available. Only one mouse will show.

[CONTROLLER] subsequent devices are listed as controllers which include joysticks and game pads.

• When [CONTROLLER] is returned it may also give the STRING [[NAME] [device description]] of the controller.
• When [DISCONNECTED] is returned, then the device was unplugged after device init.
• Returns the type of input after the device name as one or more of the following types:

[[[BUTTON]]] indicates there are button types of input. _LASTBUTTON can return the number of buttons available.

[[[AXIS]]] indicates there are stick types of input. _LASTAXIS can return the number of axis available.

[[[WHEEL]]] indicates that a scrolling input can be read. _LASTWHEEL can return the number of wheels available.

• Device numbers above the number of devices found will return an OS error.
• Devices found include keyboard, mouse, joysticks, game pads and multiple stick game controllers.

Examples

Example 1: Checking for the system's input devices and the number of buttons available.

devices = _DEVICES 'MUST be read in order for other 2 device functions to work! PRINT "Number of input devices found ="; devices FOR i = 1 TO devices PRINT _DEVICE$(i) PRINT "Buttons:"; _LASTBUTTON(i); "Axis:"; _LASTAXIS(i); "Wheels:"; _LASTWHEEL(i) NEXT

Number of input devices found = 3 [KEYBOARD][BUTTON] Buttons: 512 Axis: 0 Wheels: 0 [MOUSE][BUTTON][AXIS][WHEEL] Buttons: 3 Axis: 2 Wheels: 3 [CONTROLLER][[NAME][Microsoft Sidewinder Precision Pro (USB)]][BUTTON][AXIS] Buttons: 9 Axis: 6 Wheels: 0

Note: The STRIG/STICK commands won't read from the keyboard or mouse device the above example lists. They will only work on controllers.

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Example 2: Finding the number of mouse buttons available in QB64. This could also be used for other devices.

FOR d = 1 TO _DEVICES 'number of input devices found dev$ = _DEVICE$(d) IF INSTR(dev$, "[MOUSE]") THEN buttons = _LASTBUTTON(d): EXIT FOR NEXT PRINT buttons; "mouse buttons available"

See also

• _DEVICES, _DEVICEINPUT
• _LASTBUTTON, _LASTAXIS, _LASTWHEEL
• _BUTTON, _BUTTONCHANGE
• _AXIS, _WHEEL
• _MOUSEBUTTON
• STRIG, STICK
• ON STRIG(n), STRIG(n)
• Controller Devices

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