Appendix B
Mouse Functions

On a one-, two-, or three- button mouse, the mouse buttons are assigned to various functions which are defined below.

Some two-button mice use chording as a way to simulate a third mouse button. If so, treat as a three-button mouse, where mouse button 3 is mouse button 1+mouse button 2 (chorded).

Motif supports two different mouse models:

The way the mouse buttons are assigned depends upon the number of mouse buttons available, as well as whether selection and transfer are integrated or are separate.

Regardless of the way that the buttons are assigned, a number of "virtual" mouse buttons are defined:

SELECT
Used for selection and activation. SELECT is always mouse button 1 (the leftmost button,for a right-handed person).

ADJUST
Used for adjusting and selection. ADJUST is always Shift+mouse button 1. In addition, on a three-button mouse, with integrated selection and transfer, ADJUST may optionally be assigned to mouse button 2.

TRANSFER
Used for data transfer and manipulation operations. With separate selection and transfer, TRANSFER is always assigned to mouse button 2. With integrated selection and transfer, TRANSFER is mouse button 1 (integrated with SELECT), and on a three-button mouse, may also optionally be assigned to mouse button 2.

MENU
Used to obtain pop-up menus. On a three-button mouse, MENU is always assigned to mouse button 3. On a two-button mouse with integrated selection and transfer, MENU is assigned to mouse button 2. Otherwise, MENU is assigned to Alt+mouse button 1.

That is, on a two- or three-button Mouse, with Separated SELECTION and TRANSFER, the virtual mouse buttons are assigned as follows:

SELECT
mouse button 1

ADJUST
Shift+mouse button 1

TRANSFER
mouse button 2

MENU
mouse button 3 on a three-button mouse, or Alt+mouse button 1 on a two-button mouse

On a one-, two-, or three-button mouse, with Integrated SELECTION and TRANSFER, the virtual mouse buttons are assigned as followed:

SELECT
mouse button 1 (integrated with TRANSFER)

ADJUST
Shift+mouse button 1. Optionally mouse button 2 on a three-button mouse

TRANSFER
mouse button 1 (integrated with SELECT) Optionally mouse button 2 on a three-button mouse.

MENU
mouse button 3 on a three-button mouse, or mouse button 2 on a two-button mouse, or Alt+mouse button 1 on a one-button mouse.


Note: On a three-button mouse, with integrated selection and transfer, if neither ADJUST nor TRANSFER are assigned to mouse button 2, mouse button 2 may be used for application-defined purposes.

Mouse Operations and Functions

Table B-1:  Mouse Operations and Functions

Operation Name Function
Activate Activates a control that doesn't have selections.
Default Activate Open Selects and performs default action on item Open.
Open Opens view corresponding to icon Open.
Manipulate Manipulates nonselectable aspects of the interface (for example, scroll).
Move Cursor Moves cursor to component or element.
Spring-Loaded Pull-down Menu Displays persistent pull-down menu from cascade button.
Persistent Pull-down Menu Displays persistent pull-down menu from cascade button.
Point Select Selects an item if over one, deselecting other items (browse and extended selection).
Browse Select Shows which items can be selected, selecting one over which pointer is released.
Group Click Select Selects a range or area of elements.
Group Swipe Select Selects a range or area of elements.
Point Toggle [select mode] Toggles selection state of an item (extended selection).
Group Click Toggle [select mode] Toggles elements in range or area (extended selection).
Group Swipe Toggle [select mode] Toggles elements in range or area (extended selection).
Point Toggle [toggle mode] Toggles selection state of an item (single and multiple selection).
Group Click Toggle [toggle mode] Toggles elements in range or area (multiple selection).
Adjust Click Adjusts current selection region.
Adjust Swipe Adjusts 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 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 selection to word boundary.
Adjust Swipe Word Adjusts selection in word increments.
Primary Copy Copies primary selection to pointer.
Primary Move Moves primary selection to pointer.
Primary Link Links primary selection to pointer.
Quick Copy Makes and copies secondary selection to destination.
Quick Move Makes and moves secondary selection to destination.
Quick Link Makes and links secondary selection to destination.
Drag Transfer Transfers dragged items to pointer (usually move).
Drag Copy Copies dragged items to pointer.
Drag Move Moves dragged items to pointer.
Drag Link Links dragged items to pointer.
Spring-Loaded Pop-up Menu Displays spring-loaded pop-up menu.
Persistent Pop-up Menu Displays persistent pop-up menu.

Select and Adjust Binding

SELECT
This is the virtual mouse button used for selection and activation. SELECT is always mouse button 1 (the leftmost button, for a right-handed person).

ADJUST
This is the virtual mouse button used for adjusting a selection. ADJUST is always Shift+mouse button 1. In addition, on a three-button mouse, with integrated selection and transfer, ADJUST may optionally be assigned to mouse button 2.

Table B-2:  Select and Adjust Key Bindings

Operation Name Key Bindings
Activate SELECT Click
Default Activate SELECT Double-Click
Open SELECT Double-Click
Manipulate SELECT Press, Move, Release
Move Cursor Control+SELECT Click
Spring-Loaded pull-down Menu SELECT Press
Persistent pull-down Menu SELECT Click
Point Select SELECT Click
Browse Select SELECT Press, Move, Release
Group Click Select SELECT Click, Move, ADJUST Click
Group Swipe Select SELECT Press, Move, Release
Point Toggle [select mode] Control+SELECT Click
Group Click Toggle [select mode] Control+SELECT Click, Move, ADJUST Click
Group Swipe Toggle [select mode] Control+SELECT Press, Move, Release
Point Toggle [toggle mode] SELECT Click
Group Click Toggle [toggle mode] SELECT Click, Move, ADJUST Click
Group Swipe Toggle [toggle mode] SELECT Press, Move, Release
Adjust Clock ADJUST Click
Adjust Swipe ADJUST Press, Move, Release
Adjust Click Control+ADJUST Click
Adjust Swipe Control+ADJUST Press, Move, Release
Select Word SELECT Double-Click
Range Click Select Word SELECT Double-Click, Move, Adjust Click
Range Swipe Select Word SELECT Double Press, Move, Release
Toggle Word Control+SELECT Double-Click
Range Click Toggle Word Control+SELECT Double-Click, Move, ADJUST Click
Range Swipe Toggle Word Control+SELECT Double-Click, Move, Release
Adjust Click Word ADJUST Double-Click
Adjust Swipe Word ADJUST Double Press, Move, Release
Adjust Click Word Control+ADJUST Double-Click
Adjust Swipe Word Control+ADJUST Double Press, Move, Release

Transfer Bindings

TRANSFER
This is the virtual mouse button which may be used for data transfer and manipulation operations. On a two- or three-button Mouse, with separate Selection and Transfer, TRANSFER is always assigned to mouse button 2. On a one-, two-, or three-button Mouse, with Integrated Selection and Transfer, TRANSFER is always assigned to mouse button 1 (integrated with SELECT). In addition, on a three-button Mouse, with Integrated Selection and Transfer, TRANSFER may optionally be assigned to mouse button 2.

Table B-3:  Key Bindings When TRANSFER is Assigned Mouse Button 2

Operation Name Key Bindings
Manipulate TRANSFER Press, Move, Release
Primary Copy TRANSFER Click
Primary Copy Control+TRANSFER Click
Primary Move Shift+TRANSFER Click
Primary Link Control+Shift+TRANSFER Click
Quick Copy Alt+TRANSFER Press, Move, Control+Release
Quick Move Alt+TRANSFER Press, Move, Shift+Release
Quick Link Alt+TRANSFER Press, Move, Control+Shift+Release

The set of bindings in Table B-4 are always defined. When selection and transfer are integrated, Style Guide rules indicate when these bindings are used for transfer vs. selection.

Table B-4:  Key Bindings

Operation Name Key Bindings
Drag Transfer TRANSFER Press, Move, Release
Drag Copy TRANSFER Press, Move, Control+Release
Drag Move TRANSFER Press, Move, Shift+Release
Drag Link TRANSFER Press, Move, Control+Shift+Release

Menu Bindings

MENU is the virtual mouse button used to obtain popup menus. On a two-or three-button mouse, with separate SELECTION and TRANSFER:

MENU
mouse button 3 on a three- button mouse, or Alt+mouse button 1 on atwo-button mouse.

On a one-, two-, or three-button mouse, with integrated selection and transfer:

MENU
mouse button 3 on a three-button mouse, or mouse button 2 on a two-button mouse, or Alt+mouse button 1 on a one-button mouse.

Table B-5:  Menu Bindings

Operation Name Key Bindings
Spring-Loaded Popup Menu MENU Press
Persistent Popup Menu MENU Click
Spring-Loaded pull-down Menu MENU Press
Persistent pull-down Menu MENU Click