Capturing mouse events outside wx.Frame in Python

Question

In Python using wxPython, how can I set the transparency and size of a window based on the proximity of the mouse relative to the application's window, or frame?

Eg. similar to a hyperbolic zoom, or The Dock in MAC OS X? I am trying to achieve this effect with a png with transparency and a shaped window.

Any libraries or code snippets that do this would be great too. Thanks.

Answer 1

Here's code to do it. Basically uses the approach mentioned by Infinity77. Tested on Windows. Works nicely!

import wx

MIN_ALPHA = 64
MAX_ALPHA = 255

class Frame(wx.Frame):
    def __init__(self):
        super(Frame, self).__init__(None)
        self.alpha = MAX_ALPHA
        self.SetTitle('Mouse Alpha')
        self.on_timer()
    def on_timer(self):
        x, y, w, h = self.GetRect()
        mx, my = wx.GetMousePosition()
        d1 = max(x - mx, mx - (x + w))
        d2 = max(y - my, my - (y + h))
        alpha = MAX_ALPHA - max(d1, d2)
        alpha = max(alpha, MIN_ALPHA)
        alpha = min(alpha, MAX_ALPHA)
        if alpha != self.alpha:
            self.SetTransparent(alpha)
            self.alpha = alpha
        wx.CallLater(20, self.on_timer)

if __name__ == '__main__':
    app = wx.App(None)
    frame = Frame()
    frame.Show()
    app.MainLoop()