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System-Supplied User-Mode Components for Input Devices

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This section describes the main system-supplied user-mode components that support input devices.

Microsoft DirectInput 5.0 and later versions communicate directly with the HID class driver. Vendor-supplied function drivers are not required to support DirectInput applications that access HIDClass devices. In addition, DirectInput applications do not have to interface directly with a HIDClass device to benefit from the full functionality of the device.

DirectInput 7.0 and later versions support physical input devices (PIDs), as defined by the USB HID Standard.

Applications that use only the Microsoft Windows multimedia DLL (winmm.dll) can indirectly access HID joysticks because winmm.dll accesses joysticks through DirectInput COM interfaces. The physical attachment of a joystick is transparent to a Windows multimedia application.

The Microsoft Win32 subsystem DLLs (user32.dll in Windows 2000 and later versions, and user.dll in Windows Me) access keyboard and mouse class devices through the drivers for non-HIDClass keyboard and mouse devices.

 

 

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Build date: 4/28/2012