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Motif and CDE 2.1 Style Guide

Mouse Model and Buttons

On a 1-, 2-, or 3-button mouse, the mouse buttons are assigned to various functions, which are defined in tables later in this appendix. Often a 2-button mouse can use chording as a way to simulate a 3-button mouse, where MB1+MB2 (chorded) would be equal to MB3. Motif supports two different mouse models:

  1. Separate selection and transfer operations, where:

    1. MB1 is used only for selection and activation

    2. MB2 is used only for data transfer and direct manipulation

    3. Integrated select and transfer operations, where MB1 is used both for selection and activation and for data transfer and direct manipulation

      The actual way that the mouse buttons are assigned depends on the number of mouse buttons available, as well as whether or not selection and transfer operations are integrated or separate. Regardless of the way that the buttons are actually assigned, a number of "virtual" mouse buttons are defined as follows:

      SELECT
      A virtual mouse button used for selection and activation. SELECT is always MB1 (the leftmost mouse button for a right-handed person).

      ADJUST
      A virtual mouse button used for adjusting a selection. ADJUST is always Shift MB1. In addition, on a 3-button mouse, with integrated selection and transfer, ADJUST may optionally be assigned to MB2.

      TRANSFER
      A virtual mouse button that may be used for data transfer and manipulation operations. With separate selection and transfer, TRANSFER is always assigned to MB2. With integrated selection and transfer, TRANSFER is MB1 (integrated with SELECT), and on a 3-button mouse may also optionally be assigned to MB2.

      MENU
      A virtual mouse button used to select pop-up menus:

      1. On a 3-button mouse, MENU is always assigned to MB3.

      2. On a 2-button mouse with integrated selection and transfer, MENU is assigned to MB2.

      3. If neither of the previous applies, MENU is assigned to Alt MB1.

        Table 24 lists the virtual mouse buttons assigned to a 2- or 3-button mouse with separated selection and transfer.

        Table 24. Assignments for 2- or 3-Button Mouse with Separated Selection and Transfer

        Operation Name Binding
        SELECT MB1
        ADJUST Shift MB1
        TRANSFER MB2
        MENU MB3 on a 3-button mouse, or Alt MB1 on a 2-button mouse.

        Table 25 lists the virtual mouse buttons assigned to a 1-, 2-, or 3-button mouse with integrated selection and transfer.

        Table 25. Assignments for 1-, 2-, or 3-Button Mouse with Integrated Selection and Transfer

        Operation Name Binding
        SELECT MB1 (integrated with TRANSFER)
        ADJUST Shift MB1. This may also optionally be MB2 on a 3-button mouse.
        TRANSFER MB1 (integrated with SELECT). This may also optionally be MB2 on a 3-button mouse.
        MENU

        This may be one of the following:

        1. MB3 on a 3-button mouse

        2. MB2 on a 2-button mouse

        3. Alt MB1 on a 1-button mouse

          Note: Note

          On a 3-button mouse with integrated selection and transfer, if neither ADJUST nor TRANSFER are assigned to MB2, MB2 may be used for application-defined purposes.

          Table 26 lists the mouse operations and the functions they actually perform.

          Table 26. Mouse Operations and Functions

          Operation Name Function
          Activate Activates a control that does not have selections.
          Default Activate Selects and performs a default action on an item.
          Open Opens a view that corresponds to an icon.
          Manipulate Manipulates nonselectable aspects of the interface (such as scroll).
          Focus-Only Navigation Moves the cursor to a component or element.
          Point Select Selects an item if the pointer is on one, deselecting other items.
          Browse Select Shows which items can be selected, selecting the one on which the pointer is released.
          Group Click Select Selects a group of elements.
          Group Swipe Select Selects a group of elements.
          Point Toggle Toggles the selection state of an item.
          Group Click Toggle Toggles the selection state of a group of elements.
          Group Swipe Toggle Toggles the selection state of a group of elements.
          Adjust Click Adjusts the current selection region.
          Adjust Swipe Adjusts the current selection region.
          Select Word Selects a word in text.
          Range Click Select Word Selects a range of words.
          Range Swipe Select Word Selects a range of words.
          Toggle Word Toggles the selection of a word.
          Range Click Toggle Word Toggles a range of words.
          Range Swipe Toggle Word Toggles a range of words.
          Adjust Click Word Adjusts the selection to a word boundary.
          Adjust Swipe Word Adjusts the selection in word increments.
          Primary Copy Copies a primary selection to the pointer location.
          Primary Move Moves a primary selection to the pointer location.
          Primary Link Links a primary selection to the pointer lacation.
          Quick Copy Makes and copies a secondary selection to a destination.
          Quick Move Makes and moves a secondary selection to a destination.
          Quick Link Makes and links a secondary selection to a destination.
          Drag Transfer Transfers dragged item(s) to the pointer location (usually a move).
          Drag Copy Copies dragged item(s) to the pointer location.
          Drag Move Moves dragged item(s) to the pointer location.
          Drag Link Links dragged item(s) to the pointer location.
          Click Drag Transfer Transfers dragged item(s) to the pointer location.
          Click Drag Copy Copies dragged item(s) to the pointer location.
          Click Drag Move Moves dragged item(s) to the pointer location.
          Click Drag Link Links dragged item(s) to the pointer location.
          Pop-Up Menu Display Displays a pop-up menu.
          Pop-Up Menu Choose Swipe Displays and makes choices in a pop-up menu.
          Pop-Up Menu Choose Click Displays and then chooses from a pop-up menu.
          Cascaded Menu Display Displays a cascaded menu.
          Cascaded Menu Choose Swipe Displays and makes a choice in a cascaded menu.
          Cascaded Menu Choose Click Displays and then chooses from a cascaded menu.
          Cascaded List Display Displays a cascaded list.
          Cascaded List Choose Swipe Displays and makes a choice in a cascaded list.
          Cascaded List Choose Click Displays and then chooses from a cascaded list.

          Table 27 lists the mouse operations for the SELECT and ADJUST button bindings.


          Table 27. SELECT and ADJUST Bindings

          Operation Name Key Bindings
          Activate Click SELECT
          Default Activate Double-click SELECT
          Open Double-click SELECT
          Manipulate Press SELECT, move mouse, release SELECT
          Focus-Only Navigation Click Ctrl SELECT
          Point Select Click SELECT
          Browse Select Press SELECT, move mouse, release SELECT
          Group Click Select Click SELECT, move mouse, click ADJUST
          Group Swipe Select Press SELECT, move mouse, release SELECT
          Point Toggle [In select mode] Click Ctrl SELECT
          Group Click Toggle [In select mode] Click Ctrl SELECT, move mouse, click ADJUST
          Group Swipe Toggle [In select mode] Press Ctrl SELECT, move mouse, release SELECT
          Point Toggle [In toggle mode] Click SELECT
          Group Click Toggle [In toggle mode] Click SELECT, move mouse, click ADJUST
          Group Swipe Toggle [In toggle mode] Press SELECT, move mouse, release SELECT
          Adjust Click Click ADJUST (or Ctrl ADJUST)
          Adjust Swipe Press ADJUST (or Ctrl ADJUST), move mouse, release ADJUST
          Select Word Double-click SELECT
          Range Click Select Word Double click SELECT, move mouse, click ADJUST
          Range Swipe Select Word Double-press SELECT, move mouse, release SELECT
          Toggle Word Double-click Ctrl SELECT
          Range Click Toggle Word Double-click Ctrl SELECT, move mouse, click ADJUST
          Range Swipe Toggle Word Double-press Ctrl SELECT, move mouse, release SELECT
          Adjust Click Word Double-click ADJUST (or Ctrl ADJUST)
          Adjust Swipe Word Double-press ADJUST (or Ctrl ADJUST), move mouse, release ADJUST
          Cascaded Menu Display Click SELECT
          Cascaded Menu Choose Swipe Press SELECT, move mouse, release SELECT
          Cascaded Menu Choose Click Click SELECT, move mouse, click SELECT
          Cascaded List Display Click SELECT
          Cascaded List Choose Swipe Press SELECT, move mouse, release SELECT
          Cascaded List Choose Click Click SELECT, move mouse, click SELECT

          Table 28 lists the TRANSFER button bindings. The TRANSFER button is the virtual mouse button that may be used for data transfer and manipulation operations.

          Table 28. TRANSFER Bindings

          Operation Name Key Bindings
          The following set of bindings are defined only when TRANSFER is assigned to MB2:
          Manipulate Press TRANSFER, move mouse, release TRANSFER
          Primary Copy Click TRANSFER (or Ctrl TRANSFER)
          Primary Move Click Shift TRANSFER
          Primary Link Click Ctrl Shift TRANSFER
          Quick Copy Press Alt TRANSFER, move mouse, release TRANSFER
          Quick Copy Press Alt TRANSFER, move mouse, press Ctrl and release TRANSFER
          Quick Move Press Alt TRANSFER, move mouse, press Shift and release TRANSFER
          Quick Link Press Alt TRANSFER, move mouse, press Ctrl Shift and release TRANSFER
          The following set of bindings are always defined. When selection and transfer are integrated, the bindings are used for transfer versus selection:
          Drag Transfer Press TRANSFER, move mouse, release TRANSFER
          Drag Copy Press TRANSFER, move mouse, press Ctrl and release TRANSFER
          Drag Move Press TRANSFER, move mouse, press Shift and release TRANSFER
          Drag Link Press TRANSFER, move mouse, press Ctrl Shift and release TRANSFER
          The following set of bindings are not available on a 1-button mouse:
          Click Drag Transfer Click Alt TRANSFER, move mouse, click TRANSFER
          Click Drag Copy Click Alt TRANSFER, move mouse, click Ctrl TRANSFER
          Click Drag Move Click Alt TRANSFER, move mouse, click Shift TRANSFER
          Click Drag Link Click Alt TRANSFER, move mouse, click Shift Ctrl TRANSFER

          Table 29 lists the mouse operations and the MENU button bindings. The MENU button is the virtual mouse button used to display pop-up menus.


          Table 29. MENU Bindings

          Operation Name Key Bindings
          Pop-Up Menu Display Click MENU
          Pop-Up Menu Choose Swipe Press MENU, move mouse, release MENU
          Pop-Up Menu Choose Click Click MENU, move mouse, click MENU (or SELECT)
          Cascaded Menu Display Click MENU
          Cascaded Menu Choose Swipe Press MENU, move mouse, release menu
          Cascaded Menu Choose Click Click MENU, move mouse, click MENU (or SELECT)

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