Change Browser Behavior Using ClientSettings

ClientSettings is an additional interface available in the Thinfinity VirtualUI Library that allows developers to remotely and programmatically configure particular browser settings. These settings are related to the cursor visibility and some specific touch action behaviors.

There is also a Javascript Clientsettings object version. Learn how to use it.

The table below shows a detailed reference of the ClientSettings interface current properties:

Property	Use
CursorVisible	Used to set the mouse pointer to 'show' or 'hide'. Type: Boolean Default value: True Available in all Library Versions.
MouseMoveGestureStyle	Defines whether the mouse movement is read as relative or absolute in touch devices. Type: Enum Values: MM_STYLE_RELATIVE = 0 MM_STYLE_ABSOLUTE = 1 Default value: MM_STYLE_RELATIVE Available in all Library Versions.
MouseMoveGestureAction	Indicates if the dragging should be interpreted as scrolling or turning of the mouse wheel, affecting only the component on which the action is triggered. Type: Enum Values: MM_ACTION_MOVE = 0, MM_ACTION_WHEEL = 1 Default value: MM_ACTION_MOVE Available in all Library Versions.
UseViewportSize	Indicates which measure values will be used to define the application's screen size. Type: Boolean Values: True: use the viewport size False: use a window screen based size. Default value: False Available only in Javascript.
DockMenu	Manages the visibility of the bottom menu and its options. Available only in Javascript
	Enabled	Boolean. Enables/disables the complete Dock Menu. Type: Boolean Default value: True
	Pinned	Indicates when the DockMenu is pinned (visible, fixed) or unpinned (with autohide) Type: Boolean Default value: False
	Items	Name/value pairs item collection.
		WindowList	Enables/disables the "Windows list" option. Type: Boolean Default value: True
		ErrorReporting	Enables/disables the "Error Reporting" option. Type: Boolean Default value: True
		Keyboard	Enables/disables the "Keyboard" option (mobile only). Type: Boolean Default value: True
		FullScreen	Enables/disables the "Full Screen" option (mobile only, if supported). Type: Boolean Default value: True

As mentioned previously, these properties were created to provide a better end-user experience when using touch devices.

When using a touch device, it is unusual for a mouse pointer to be displayed. Instead, finger gestures are interpreted by the device as different commands, acting on the element or elements that are located where the gesture is made.

But this is not always the best way, especially when the applications were not designed for these gestures. Most of the times, the best solution to this issue is to show the pointer and simulate the mouse actions using the captured gestures.

The properties that we have presented above will help us define the ideal settings to enjoy the best possible and intuitive user experience for our application.

The following example shows how to recognize a touch or mobile device, and to change the pointer behavior when it's detected. Warning: The detection list is not complete:

vui = new VirtualUI();

userAgent = vui.BrowserInfo.UserAgent.ToLower();

if ((userAgent.IndexOf("touch") != -1) || (userAgent.IndexOf("mobile") != -1) ||

(userAgent.IndexOf("iphone") != -1) || (userAgent.IndexOf("ipod") != -1) ||

(userAgent.IndexOf("ipad") != -1) || (userAgent.IndexOf("android") != -1) ||

(userAgent.IndexOf(" cros ") != -1)) {

vui.ClientSettings.MouseMoveGestureStyle = MouseMoveGestureStyle.MM_STYLE_ABSOLUTE;

vui.ClientSettings.MouseMoveGestureAction = MouseMoveGestureAction.MM_ACTION_WHEEL;

}

Read more about using ClientSettings from Javascript.