  VMware Toolbox Help

Capture input focus when mouse enters VM

Release input focus when mouse leaves VM

Scroll when mouse nears edge of VM

Allow Copy and Paste to and from VM

Hide Cursor when VM loses input focus

Bring VM to top when it gets input focus

Removable Devices


Auto Grab
Capture input focus when mouse enters VM

When checked, the cursor and keyboard focus are automatically given to the Virtual Machine (VM) whenever  the cursor enters the VM’s window.

DEFAULT: Enabled


Auto Release
Release input focus when mouse leaves VM

 When checked, the cursor and keyboard focus are automatically released when the cursor hits the edge of the VM’s window. This interacts with Auto Scroll as explained below.

DEFAULT: Enabled


Auto Scroll
Scroll when mouse nears edge of VM

 When checked and there are no scroll bars for the VM window, then this option has no effect.

If there are scrollbars then when the cursor hits the edge of the current view, the VM window will automatically scroll in the direction that the cursor is moving. Once the cursor hits the physical edge of the VM window, then scrolling will stop.  If Auto Release is enabled, then the cursor and keyboard focus will be released if the cursor hits the real edge of the window.

DEFAULT: Disabled


Copy & Paste
Allow Copy and Paste to and from VM

 When checked, the selection can be copied and pasted between the VM and the host and between VMs.  This has the side effect that the host’s selection is changed to that of the VM, whenever the VM releases the cursor and keyboard focus.  Similarly, the VM’s selection is changed to that of the host when the VM is given the cursor and keyboard focus.

DEFAULT: Enabled.


Hide Cursor
Hide Cursor when VM loses input focus

 When checked, the cursor is hidden when the cursor and keyboard focus are released from the VM window.  Since the cursor cannot actually be made to disappear it is warped to the lower right corner of the VM’s window so that it can’t be seen.

DEFAULT: Enabled


Auto Raise
Bring VM to top when it gets input focus

 When checked, the VM window will be automatically raised to the top of the window stack whenever the cursor and keyboard focus are given to the VM.  If Auto Grab is enabled, then the VM window will be automatically raised when the cursor enters the VM window. This option is not available on Windows NT and Windows 2000 hosts.

DEFAULT: Disabled


Removable Devices

The Device menu lists the removable devices by name. If a check appears to the left of the device, the VM currently has access to that device. If no check appears, the device is defined for the VM but the VM does not currently have access to it.

To attach a removable device, click on the device’s menu entry. If it is available, a check appears and the VM can use the device. If the device is not available, (for example, if another VM has the device attached) a popup message will inform you that the device is not available and the menu item will remain unchecked. Selecting a device that is already attached will detach it and release it to other VMs or the host operating system.