Small mouse pointer on Windows 10

[Dogberry]

I've been using Audacity 2.1.1 on my fairly new Windows 10 machine, and most everything seems to be working just fine except for one issue: my mouse pointer shrinks to an incredible useless size whenever I'm over a track. It doesn't really affect functionality, except it's highly annoying. On the bars between tracks it pops back to the normal default size that it is in every other app on my computer. I can't see that this pointer size is anything I can control, and it's driving me nuts. I also can't see that anyone else is having this issue. Can someone point me to a solution?

[kozikowski]

You can get wacky pointer behavior if you have different tools selected. In general, you should be using the "I Beam" tool from the tools toolbar.

http://manual.audacityteam.org/o/man/tools_toolbar.html

Koz

[Gale Andrews]

I moved this to the Windows board as it (could be) Windows-specific.

Could you post an image of what you see when the pointer is over the waveform? Please see here for how to attach files: http://forum.audacityteam.org/viewtopic ... 49&t=64936.

Are you using a high-resolution display but without increasing DPI?


Gale

[Dogberry]

Thanks, folks. I was going to mention that I didn't include an image of the phenomenon because there's no easy way to do a screen grab that includes the cursor. So in the end I just took a picture of my screen. In the first, you can see the magnify icon (I chose it because it's easiest to distinguish from a hair on the screen). For comparison, I included a shot of the pointer hovering over the separator bar, with the larger (normal) pointer size.

The problem shouldn't be one of dpi, because the pointer is normal size in all the other apps I use and anywhere outside a track. And it isn't specific to one of the pointers over another. The beam, the magnifier, the slider -- all of them are small inside a track.

I'm sure I'm just doing/have done something stupid, but I would really be grateful if someone could tell me what it is and how to undo it.

[Edit: I had all this ready to load last night, but then in the middle of pulling in the images the forums went down and I couldn't post. Sorry for the resultant delay. I'm still very interested in everyone's opinions.]

[Gale Andrews]

The problem shouldn't be one of dpi, because the pointer is normal size in all the other apps I use and anywhere outside a track. And it isn't specific to one of the pointers over another. The beam, the magnifier, the slider -- all of them are small inside a track.

Yes but Audacity is not fully DPI-aware. Pieces of it are, but most isn't.

So, what is the screen resolution, and opening the Settings app, click System then Display, where the slider says "Change the size of text, apps and other items", what is the DPI?

Then right-click over the installed audacity.exe, choose Properties then the Compatibility tab. Is "Disable display scaling on high DPI settings" turned on (ticked)?


Gale

[Dogberry]

So, what is the screen resolution, and opening the Settings app, click System then Display, where the slider says "Change the size of text, apps and other items", what is the DPI?

I've had it at 150% and now it's at 250%. In both cases the pointers were miniscule. When I had it at 150%, the tracks were also very small -- closer to an appropriate size for the pointer. I would imagine that they would be actual size if I set it at 100%, because everything would be lilliputian.

Then right-click over the installed audacity.exe, choose Properties then the Compatibility tab. Is "Disable display scaling on high DPI settings" turned on (ticked)?

I tried this, and all it did was ensure the tracks were also small. It didn't affect the pointer. Nothing yet has. Thanks for the suggestions, though!

Nate

[Gale Andrews]

So, what is the screen resolution, and opening the Settings app, click System then Display, where the slider says "Change the size of text, apps and other items", what is the DPI?

I've had it at 150% and now it's at 250%. In both cases the pointers were miniscule. When I had it at 150%, the tracks were also very small -- closer to an appropriate size for the pointer. I would imagine that they would be actual size if I set it at 100%, because everything would be lilliputian.

OK, so as I asked, what is the screen resolution, also what is the screen size (inches)? To find out the screen resolution, go back to that slider in the Settings app, then scroll down and click the link "Advanced display settings". I guess you are using high resolution on a relatively small screen, is that so?

Then right-click over the installed audacity.exe, choose Properties then the Compatibility tab. Is "Disable display scaling on high DPI settings" turned on (ticked)?

I tried this, and all it did was ensure the tracks were also small.

I wondered if it was off, rather than suggesting you turned it on. Turning it on stops items that are capable of scaling being made larger or smaller when changing DPI.

It didn't affect the pointer. Nothing yet has.

The pointer over the tracks isn't capable of scaling - as I said, Audacity is not yet fully DPI aware.


Gale

[Dogberry]

So, what is the screen resolution, and opening the Settings app, click System then Display, where the slider says "Change the size of text, apps and other items", what is the DPI?

OK, so as I asked, what is the screen resolution, also what is the screen size (inches)?

Actually, you asked me to pull the DPI from where the slider says "Change the size of text apps and other items", as above. The DPI/Screen Resolution isn't there, but in the Advanced display settings submenu. So I gave you the information that was where you asked me to look: the text change percentage. Had you said originally to grab the dpi from the advanced display settings menu, I would have given it to you.

I wondered if it was off, rather than suggesting you turned it on.

So what? If I had asked you to look at checkbox Foo to see if it was set, are you telling me that you wouldn't at least try turning Foo on to see if it solved your problem? What in the world is the point of you writing that in that condescending way?

The pointer over the tracks isn't capable of scaling - as I said, Audacity is not yet fully DPI aware.

You probably did say that. Still no clue what it means.

Ok, I'm just going to live with the miniscule pointers and go back to not being on this forum now. Thanks for trying to help, in your way.

Nate

[Gale Andrews]

The DPI (for example 150% or 250%) is not the same as the screen resolution (for example 1920 * 1080). I did tell you last time where to find the screen resolution, when you did not give it to us.

I wondered if it was off, rather than suggesting you turned it on.

So what? If I had asked you to look at checkbox Foo to see if it was set, are you telling me that you wouldn't at least try turning Foo on to see if it solved your problem? What in the world is the point of you writing that in that condescending way?

The pointer over the tracks isn't capable of scaling - as I said, Audacity is not yet fully DPI aware.

You probably did say that. Still no clue what it means.

Please say if you don't know what something means, otherwise I will assume you do know. If you had said you didn't know, I would have given more initial explanation about what the checkbox does.

"Not fully DPI aware" means that not every part of Audacity will get larger when you increase the DPI. The tracks do get larger, because they respond to you changing the DPI. Pointers over the tracks do not get larger, because they do not respond to DPI changes.

On Windows XP there would be a way of getting round this. On later Windows there is not.

I'm just going to live with the miniscule pointers

There is no simple switch I can tell you to pull in Audacity that will solve it. It is a limitation in Audacity. I've already made a note that you want this situation improved.

If you were able to use a lower screen resolution, you would be able to see everything larger. If having done that you did not need to increase DPI, then all the screen elements would appear in the intended proportion.


Gale

[cgaupp]

I am using Windows 10, and Audacity 2.1.2 and used the .exe installer.

I also have this issue. After hunting around for something that could help it, the only thing I could find that would make it so I could see the pointer when it's over a track, is I had to reduce my screen resolution from 3840x2160 to 1920x1080.

I do love using Audacity, it's a fabulous tool, but it would be awesome if I could make full use of what is a very nice screen. Has there been any further consideration to addressing this issue?

thanks