Detecting Direction of Mouse Movement

programming classic bestof
1

Hey everyone,
I came up with two simple functions for determining the direction the mouse is moving, and I’m wondering if you all have an easier way of doing this:

vertical_check = function () {
 j = 0;
 v = [];
 this.createEmptyMovieClip("tempy", this.getNextHighestDepth());
 tempy.onMouseMove = function() {
  j++;
  v[j] = this._ymouse;
  if (j>1) {
   if (v[j]>v[j-1]) {
    trace("moving down");
    j = 0;
    v = [];
   } else {
    trace("moving up");
    j = 0;
    v = [];
   }
  }
 };
};
horizontal_check = function () {
 i = 0;
 h = [];
 this.createEmptyMovieClip("tempx", this.getNextHighestDepth());
 tempx.onMouseMove = function() {
  i++;
  h* = this._xmouse;
  if (i>1) {
   if (h*>h[i-1]) {
    trace("moving right");
    i = 0;
    h = [];
   } else {
    trace("moving left");
    i = 0;
    h = [];
   }
  }
 };
};
horizontal_check();
vertical_check();

This isn’t necessarily a bug fix, for my above code works. It just seems too complicated for something so simple. I’m planning on making this into a quick tutorial, so be warned that I may use your suggestions (with credit) in my writeup :slight_smile:

Thanks!
Kirupa :beam:

2

anyone know how to more accuratly determine mouse movement

like moving directly verticle would be 0
moving dead right would be 90
moving directly toward bottom would be 180
moving dead left would be 270

or some way to get the exact trajectory?

3

Try messing with the trigonometry. Most of these methods form a right triangle between the old and new positions, and then use a trigonometric function to find the angle. :slight_smile:

4

heheh…ummm yeh i took a trig class in H.S. like 10 years ago…

5

Are you guys trying to just get something to point at the mouse???
If so…it’s really easy, use trig! Here, I’ll make it easy for you.
Now look at this:

var distx:Number = _root._xmouse-_x;//finds the x distance between the mouse and your movie clip
var disty:Number = _root._ymouse-_y;//finds the y distance between the mouse and your movie clip
var rad:Number = Math.atan2(disty,distx);//finds radians
_rotation = rad/(Math.PI/180);//Makes your movie clip rotate towards its target, the mouse

Hope I helped!

6

Then you should be good at it. :stuck_out_tongue:

[whisper]Just play with the functions until it works…[/whisper]

7

Hello there Is there way th check left and right movement in a specific region?

Thanks