Using MouseAppearance one can change the cursor image when passing over an expression.
Is it possible to change the cursor image for the entire notebook front end (not just one expression within it)?
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2 Answers
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One can change the default cursor for all Output by setting up $Post with something like the following.
mouseApp[expr_] :=
MouseAppearance[expr, Graphics[{Red, Disk[]}, ImageSize -> 10]]
$Post = mouseApp;
I'm not sure this answers your question though since it doesn't change the appearance of the mouse cursor for Input.
answered Feb 11, 2012 at 20:41
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1$\begingroup$ I'm building an application where the interface has several buttons (on a docked cell). Pressing a button "activates an action" in the sense that the user will be able to perform something to the next element he clicks on the "front end". While this "action" is active, I wanted the cursor to have a specific image: a bomb, a green tick, a red cross, etc. Obviously, I could just have the cursor change over the actual elements of the front end to which the action actually can impact, but this means the cursor will be constantly changing, which is more confusing to the user than helpful. $\endgroup$ Commented Feb 11, 2012 at 21:07
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$\begingroup$ @Andy Sorry, I didn't notice that ... I'm deleting my comment. $\endgroup$– SzabolcsCommented Feb 11, 2012 at 23:30
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FrontEndExecute@FrontEnd`SetMouseAppearance[literally_anything] does it for you.
It seems to just rasterize the expression and then set it as the mouse cursor. Works until something tries to change the cursor (like a resize grip as you leave the window).
Clicking also makes it disappear, although I bet with more testing we can find an option that makes that not be the case.
Here's a way to make your cursor caffeine:
FrontEndExecute@FrontEnd`SetMouseAppearance[
ChemicalData["Caffeine", "SpaceFillingMoleculePlot"]]
Note that text doesn't make for great cursors due to something about the rasterization.
(Beware the twin packet FrontEnd`GetMouseAppearance. It crashes the system if you don't pass it an object. Seems as if it's used for getting icon images. Try: FrontEnd`Execute@FrontEnd`GetMouseAppearance@"Hand").
NoneandAutomatichowever. I haven't been able to make it acceptGraphicsfor example. $\endgroup$MouseAppearanceto busy expression while the file is being written and then change it back toAutomatic. $\endgroup$