_DEVICE$ - mkilgore/QB64pe GitHub Wiki

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

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.
• 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.

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.

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

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