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How to specify device capabilities for HID

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Note  For Windows 10, see What's different in Windows 10.

 

The package manifest is an XML document that contains the info the system needs to deploy, display, or update a Windows Runtime app. This info includes package identity, package dependencies, required capabilities, visual elements, and extensibility points. Every app package must include one package manifest.

A Windows Runtime app that accesses a HID device must include specific DeviceCapability data in the Capabilities node of its manifest. This data identifies the device and its purpose (or function). Note that some devices may have multiple functions.

The Device Id element corresponds to the device identifier. This element may specify a combination Vendor Id (vid) and Product Id (pid); or, it may specify a generic string ("any"). In addition, the Device ID may contain an optional provider string of "usb" or "bluetooth".

The Function Type element specifies the device function. This element contains one or more HID usage values. These values consist of a Usage Page and an optional Usage Id, each of which are 16-bit hexadecimal values.

Example DeviceCapabilities

This section contains example DeviceCapabilities entries for three HID devices. The first two correspond to a vendor-defined usage on a HID device, the third to gaming device (in the Game Controls page), and the fourth to a joystick and a game pad.

In the following vendor-defined usage data, the device is identified by the Vendor Id and Product Id combination.

<!-- HID Device -->
<DeviceCapability Name="humaninterfacedevice">
    <Device Id="vidpid:0A81 0701">
      <Function Type="usage:ffa0 0001"/>
    </Device>
</DeviceCapability>

The following is identical to the first with the exception of the additional provider string ("usb") in the Device Id element.

<!-- HID Device -->
<DeviceCapability Name="humaninterfacedevice">
    <Device Id="vidpid:0A81 0701 usb">
      <Function Type="usage:ffa0 0001"/>
    </Device>
</DeviceCapability>

In the following gaming-device data there is no Vendor Id and Product Id.

<!-- Any gamepad device  -->
<DeviceCapability Name="humaninterfacedevice">
    <Device Id="any">
      <Function Type="usage:0005 *"/>
    </Device>
</DeviceCapability>

In the following joystick and game pad data there is no Vendor Id and Product Id

<!-- Any generic gaming device  -->
<DeviceCapability Name="humaninterfacedevice">
    <Device Id="any">
      <Function Type="usage:0004 *"/>
      <Function Type="usage:0005 *"/>
    </Device>
</DeviceCapability>

Requirements for Windows 8.x Phone apps

Windows 8.x Phone apps can access the Windows.Devices.HumanInterfaceDevice API if the manufacturer supported the HID protocol for specific devices and provided corresponding device-data to app developers. Refer to your manufacturer’s documentation for a list of supported HID devices as well as the data that you’ll need to implement device discovery.

Windows.Devices.HumanInterfaceDevice