vbox4 Auto capture keyboard

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tot-to
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vbox4 Auto capture keyboard

Post by tot-to »

Recently I updated VirtualBox from 3.2.10 to 4.0.0
In older version with uncheked "Auto capture keyboard" hotkeys of my window manager always worked and arrow in right-bottom was black. Now when I switch workspace (aka virtual desktop) to workspace with Virtual Machine window, the arrow becomes green and hotkeys of window manager don't works.
What shall I do to get back old behavior?
Sasquatch
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Re: vbox4 Auto capture keyboard

Post by Sasquatch »

Check File > Preferences > Input in the main GUI. That's still there since they started VB years ago.
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tot-to
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Re: vbox4 Auto capture keyboard

Post by tot-to »

Of course, it still there. But... it don't works. When I uncheck it, keyboard keeps capturing.
Sasquatch
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Re: vbox4 Auto capture keyboard

Post by Sasquatch »

Works as advertised for me.
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tot-to
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Re: vbox4 Auto capture keyboard

Post by tot-to »

Whew I activate window with virtual machine, keyboard is capturing in vb4, but not in vb3.
tot-to
Posts: 5
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Re: vbox4 Auto capture keyboard

Post by tot-to »

with unmarked "Auth capture keyboard" in both cases.
Sasquatch
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Re: vbox4 Auto capture keyboard

Post by Sasquatch »

You mean that the icon turns green (as in captured) with VB4? I know that even though the keyboard isn't grabbed for focus, as long as the VM window has focus, some keys are sent to the VM (you can type a document without having the keyboard grabbed for example).
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tot-to
Posts: 5
Joined: 18. Jan 2011, 14:45
Primary OS: Other
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Guest OSses: Windows 7 Pro x64

Re: vbox4 Auto capture keyboard

Post by tot-to »

>You mean that the icon turns green (as in captured) with VB4?
Yes, it is. After that, hotkeys of my window manager (i.e. for change workspace or active window) don't works. In VB3 it happens only after pressing host key.
Sasquatch
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Re: vbox4 Auto capture keyboard

Post by Sasquatch »

Check the VirtualBox.xml file, you should have the following on line 7 (it's there in my config, you might have a different line number, but it's at the top at least).

Code: Select all

<ExtraDataItem name="GUI/Input/AutoCapture" value="false"/>
If it doesn't say "false", then the option is never saved. If it does say "false", then I really wonder what is different on your system compared to mine that makes VB grab the keyboard despite the option.
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Villain
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Re: vbox4 Auto capture keyboard

Post by Villain »

Bump.

Have the same problem here, with a freshly installed VBox 4.0.4. Occurs when I switch to the running VM window, only under the condition that the cursor is over the desktop area of the VM (i.e. doesn't happen when the cursor is over a VBox toolbar). In fullscreen mode, it doesn't happen when switching between virtual desktops on my host, but does happen when switching between windows on the same virtual desktop.
Auto-capture checkbox is, of course, unchecked, and the GUI/Input/AutoCapture option in VirtualBox.xml is accordingly set to false.

Host is Slackware 13.1, x86. DE is Xfce.

This is very irritating - I'd be grateful for any help.
Sasquatch
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Re: vbox4 Auto capture keyboard

Post by Sasquatch »

Exactly what is happening when you're doing what, and what are you expecting to happen instead? You're quite vague about your issue.
Read the Forum Posting Guide before opening a topic.
VirtualBox FAQ: Check this before asking questions.
Online User Manual: A must read if you want to know what we're talking about.
Howto: Install Linux Guest Additions
Howto: Use Shared Folders on Linux Guest
See the Tutorials and FAQ section at the top of the Forum for more guides.
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E.g. install guest additions site:forums.virtualbox.org

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excel12
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Joined: 28. Feb 2011, 17:14
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Re: vbox4 Auto capture keyboard

Post by excel12 »

I have the same problems as the users above. For this reason I just abandoned version 4.0.4 and returned to 3.2.
The problem is the following: whatever you do, whether you have the Auto Capture option disabled in the "Preferences" or you do it manually in the configuration file mentioned before, VirtualBox just ignores it. The symptoms are following:
1. My VirtualBox works in full-screen mode (guest OS Windows XP).
2. Using Ctrl-Tab (kde) I switch from e.g. xterm windows to VirtualBox (Windows XP) window.
3. I write something or move a mouse cursor. From now on Ctr-Tab switched between windows inside Windows XP. With auto capture disabled it should still switch between kde windows (this was happening with ver. 3.2).

Shall I report a bug?
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