Working with the StylusInput APIs
Working with the StylusInput APIs |
Implementation of the StylusInput application programming interfaces (APIs)
The RealTimeStylus class enables you to interact with the data stream from the tablet pen. To interact with the data stream, add a RealTimeStylus object to your application, and add plug-ins to the RealTimeStylus object.
The plug-ins can modify or cancel the data associated with in-air packets, stylus down, packets, and stylus up notification methods. The plug-ins can also add application data to the stream in the form of CustomStylusData objects. The following list offers ideas for common categories of plug-ins that you may want to use or create.
- Filter plug-in
An object that selectively removes or cancels data in the tablet pen data stream. - Modifier plug-in
An object that selectively modifies data in the tablet pen data stream. - Dynamic-renderer plug-in
An object that displays the tablet pen data in real-time as it is being handled by the RealTimeStylus object. Later, for events such as a form refresh, the dynamic renderer plug-in or an ink collection plug-in might redraw the ink. - Recognizer plug-in
An object that scans the movement of the tablet pen for gestures, handwriting, or other glyphs. - Ink-collector plug-in
An object that converts the tablet pen data stream to ink, and stores, manipulates, and statically renders the resulting ink. - Wrapper plug-in
A plug-in that acts as an interface between the RealTimeStylus object and another plug-in or object as a way of modifying the behavior of the wrapped object.
Both dynamic-render and ink-collection plug-ins can be created to render to various contexts—such as to a file, a stream, or to a device using Microsoft® Windows® GDI+ or Microsoft DirectX®. Ink can also be stored in various formats, such as ink, a fortified Graphics Interchange Format (GIF) file, or an Ink Serialized Format (ISF) file.
Two plug-ins are provided with the StylusInput APIs: the DynamicRenderer class and the GestureRecognizer class. The DynamicRenderer class provides basic rendering of the ink data in real time and is streamlined to have a minimal performance impact. The GestureRecognizer class provides gesture recognition for the RealTimeStylus class.