How to make an overlay that overlays over other program

Processing Coding Questions
1

Hello, I was wondering if there was any way to make it so I could have a program, that if you switch to another program, it would still be on your screen and you could interact with the other program normally?
For example, a line that points from the middle of your screen to your mouse cursor.
Or maybe even effects

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2

Do you mean that you want to detect if your sketch is the “active” window?

3

No I want it to go ontop of other programs without affecting the programs in any way, for example if you clicked on the program it wouldnt switch between them

4

So you mean that the program only puts a graphic on the screen and doesn’t interfere with any of inputs “meant” for another program?

5

image
image1920Ă—1028 64.1 KB

For example, Im playing a game, and I have a white line pointing from the middle of my screen to my mouse

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6

I understand… There maybe is some trickery to be done with plain Java but processing graphics aren’t intended for that purpose.

7

Okay, I’m sorry for wasting your time.

8

I just did some research on that and you can create overlays using Java (and therefore processing) take a look at this code:

import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.MouseEvent;
JFrame drawingFrame=new JFrame("CustomWindow");
drawingFrame.setUndecorated(true);
drawingFrame.setBackground(new Color(0,0,0,0));
drawingFrame.setSize(640,640);
drawingFrame.getContentPane().setLayout(new BorderLayout());
drawingFrame.getContentPane().add(new JTextField(10),"North");
drawingFrame.setAlwaysOnTop(true);
drawingFrame.setVisible(true);
drawingFrame.getRootPane().putClientProperty("apply.awt.draggableWindowBackground",false);
drawingFrame.pack();

I could try if I can manage to force the normal processing window in such a state.

9

@5x9x7x2x7x9
Here is the program you described! I hope thats what you need!

import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
Canvas canv=new ResultOutput();
JFrame drawingFrame=new JFrame("CustomWindow");
void setup() {
  size(50, 50);
  //creates an empty window
  drawingFrame.setUndecorated(true);
  drawingFrame.setBackground(new Color(0, 0, 0, 0));
  drawingFrame.add(canv);
  canv.setBackground(new Color(0, 0, 0, 0));
  drawingFrame.setSize(displayWidth, displayHeight);
  drawingFrame.setAlwaysOnTop(true);
  
  drawingFrame.setVisible(true);
  drawingFrame.getRootPane().putClientProperty("apply.awt.draggableWindowBackground", false);
  drawingFrame.pack();
  //hides the Processing window
  getSurface().setVisible(false);
}
Point p=MouseInfo.getPointerInfo().getLocation();
void draw() {
  //get the mousePosition
  p=MouseInfo.getPointerInfo().getLocation();
  canv.revalidate();
  //refresh the canvas
  SwingUtilities.updateComponentTreeUI(drawingFrame);
}
void mousePressed() {
}
public class ResultOutput extends Canvas {
  public void paint(Graphics g) {
    int strokeWidth=5;
    Graphics2D g2=(Graphics2D) g;
    //here you can paint the screen
    g2.setColor(Color.BLACK);
    g2.setStroke(new BasicStroke(strokeWidth,BasicStroke.CAP_ROUND,BasicStroke.JOIN_ROUND));
    g2.drawLine(displayWidth/2,displayHeight/2,p.x,p.y);
    //g2.drawOval(p.x,p.y,strokeWidth/2,strokeWidth/2);
    
    //This allows you to always click
    g2.clearRect(p.x,p.y,1,1);
  }
}

Edit: added a way to set a custom strokeWeight

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