Remove the mouse cursor

Question

Level 1

4 points

Remove the mouse cursor

Hi to all,

I have to make a brief presentation of the show with a medley of the songs.

Since it is not possible the coexistence of a number of slides with a single song and other slides with other songs I had to create two projects, the first with credits and in the last slide a giant rectangle with the hyperlink for the second with the medley.

It all works fine (just remember to load the second project in Keynote before to click the hyperlink 😉), and in my old MB works very fast, but when I click on the rectangle it appears the mouse cursor and it is not very professional.

Is there a way to remove the display of the cursor? I can accept also a tiny dot or similar, the main thing is that at the moment of blank the audience don't see this "thing" shaped like a small hand moving in the background scene searching for the "nothing" to click.

The config is: Macbook mid/late 2009, 13", 4 Gb RAM, Mountain Lion 1.8.2 / Keynote 5.2.

Thanks and sorry for my bad english.

OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2)

Posted on Feb 14, 2013 1:12 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Gary Scotland

Level 7

25,856 points

Feb 14, 2013 8:12 AM in response to Flatinus

The cursor in Keynote can not be switched off, other applications have this function, but not in Keynote.

The cursor can be hidden using the c key, but as soon as the mouse is moved the cursor appears.

A workaround I use is to place an invisible button at the bottom right corner on slides that required a hyperlink.

In Keynote preferences slideshow > show pointer when mouse moves.

I use a trackball instead of a mouse so there is no mouse movement and the cursor will always be situated bottom right.

When I press the left button on the track ball, it activates the hyperlink without the cursor being visible.

A hidden button is created by drawing a shape with stroke and fill set to none.

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Answer 2

Flatinus Author

Level 1

4 points

Feb 14, 2013 9:02 AM in response to Gary Scotland

Hi Gary,

thanks for reply.

I've done the same thing as you wrote, the "giant rectangle" is a blank shape with stroke and fill setting to none...

Maybe it's because I'm working on one only monitor of the MB (or iMac), and I have yet thorough knowledge of KN with the projector, but if I put a shape in full screen (800x600) and point more or less in the center I can click on the hyperlink, if I create a small shape on one corner I have to do a treasure hunt to find it! 😉

Prefer not to select "show pointer when mouse moves" because in this case the mouse, if misplaced, it could be visible at all times, especially during the execution of the songs, while selecting the other item is visible only in the presence of a hyperlink or animation ... or am I wrong?

The trackball is expensive, but sooner or later I'll have to deal with this purchase, it is also useful for programs such as Sibelius, InDesign, and so on.

Strange to say Impress (Oper/Libre Office) has the opttion to remove the mouse cursor, nothing to compare with KN, but...

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Answer 3

Feb 14, 2013 3:50 PM in response to Flatinus

if I create a small shape on one corner I have to do a treasure hunt to find it!

you must not create a small button, you need a large button, no need to move the mouse at all as the button is always in the same place.

The trackball is expensive, but sooner or later I'll have to deal with this purchase,

buy a two button remote, same price as a cheap mouse

Prefer not to select "show pointer when mouse moves" because in this case the mouse, if misplaced, it could be visible at all times,

which ever show pointer preference you select the cursor is going to be visable because you are using hyperlinks. However, if you use the static cursor position extreme bottom right, the cursor wont be seen as it is so small and partially of screen - also use command c to hide it.

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Answer 4

Flatinus Author

Level 1

4 points

Feb 15, 2013 3:34 AM in response to Gary Scotland

you must not create a small button, you need a large button, no need to move the mouse at all as the button is always in the same place.

As I wrote: I'll have to try this when I'll have a projector (or an external monitor), at this time with the computer screen set to 1920x1200 while the project is 800x600 (as most 4:3 projectors) I can't click perfectly into the corner, there's too much scope.

buy a two button remote, same price as a cheap mouse

Wow! € 32.00! I know mouses that cost even € 9.00 (for example the Logitech that I usewith the MacBook) and when I'm on stage I prefer to use less laser / wi-fi / bluetooth possible. No, I have to put the money aside and buy a trackball, as I have written before is also useful for other applications.

which ever show pointer preference you select the cursor is going to be visable because you are using hyperlinks. However, if you use the static cursor position extreme bottom right, the cursor wont be seen as it is so small and partially of screen - also use command c to hide it.

I'm definitely getting older (will be 48 in April... poor me!), but I can't understand: if the projects are 99% composed of slides with images, audio, transitions, etc.. and only the last slide has an hyperlink that is used to connect the following, why should I risk to let see the mouse cursor at the slightest movement, error, earthquake ... and everything that could happen in a location of a theater director?
The "C" key is used to display / remove the cursor, but only if the mouse is completely still, while the other setting (the one I use) the mouse is never! I could get close to the lower right to the end of the project and then click the hyperlink ... or not?

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Answer 5

Flatinus Author

Level 1

4 points

Feb 15, 2013 5:21 AM in response to Flatinus

Or alternatively: is there a way to give a time delay?
For example when it comes to the last slide, after "N" seconds loads the other project without the need to click anything ...

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Answer 6

Feb 16, 2013 5:44 AM in response to Flatinus

I can't click perfectly into the corner, there's too much scope.

there is no need for an exact cursor placement - creating a large box in the corner with the cursor can sit there all day without moving, again as I suggested at the start; use the c keyboard key to hide the cursor.

Wow! € 32.00! I know mouses that cost even € 9.00

No they are £17.00 for the 2 button WiFi version, its the 8 button Blutooth version thats expensive.

why should I risk to let see the mouse cursor at the slightest movement, error, earthquake ... and everything that could happen in a location of a theater director?

There will be no movement if you use a two button presenter, trackball or a heavy weight mouse. If theres an earthquake no one will be looking at the screen.

Flatinus wrote:

Or alternatively: is there a way to give a time delay?
For example when it comes to the last slide, after "N" seconds loads the other project without the need to click anything ...

This is called auto-action and its not possible to do that in Keynote.

Keynote is a fairly simple presentation display application, advanced features are built into interactive authoring applications like Flash and Director but are used by professional designers.

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Answer 7

Flatinus Author

Level 1

4 points

Feb 16, 2013 9:31 AM in response to Gary Scotland

No they are £17.00 for the 2 button WiFi version, its the 8 button Blutooth version thats expensive.

£17.00 = € 19.74? Is more than the price of a "cheap mouse", at this price you can buy a good mouse!

If theres an earthquake no one will be looking at the screen.

It depends on how we are good at acting and singing. 😉

This is called auto-action and its not possible to do that in Keynote.

Keynote is a fairly simple presentation display application,

Of course, you're right, but the function appear / disappear of mouse could also be implemented. Repeat it, has it even Impress that in comparison to Keynote is really a duffer!

advanced features are built into interactive authoring applications like Flash and Director but are used by professional designers.

I know Flash very well, but it's a completely different thing from Keynote and then is "closed", less manageable than Keynote.
Director? You means Macromedia Director? But it still produced? I used it many years ago to create some multimedia CD presentations for some shows!

Thanks Gary for your patience and professionalism, as soon as I find a projector that I can use for a few hours of tests I'll inform you about the results.

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Answer 8

Feb 16, 2013 9:54 AM in response to Flatinus

Adobe Director is now at version 12, if you have usedboth that and flash your problem is solved?

You shouldnt need a projector to perform tests in Keynote, a Macbook is more than adequate for Keynote design.

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Answer 9

Flatinus Author

Level 1

4 points

Feb 17, 2013 11:06 PM in response to Gary Scotland

Adobe Director is now at version 12, if you have usedboth that and flash your problem is solved?

I'm sorry but I can't understand, for a setting that has any, stupid program far less than Keynote, I have to spend all that money for something that isn't equal to Keynote, but was born for a total different function?

You shouldnt need a projector to perform tests in Keynote, a Macbook is more than adequate for Keynote design.

Sorry, but already answered this question.

Thanks, have a nice day.

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