Software Conventions 1-5
Introduction
Figure 1-1. Mouse Buttons
For many mouse operations, this document assumes that the left (primary) mouse
button is to be used, and references to activating a menu or button will not
include instructions about which mouse button to use.
However, in instances in which right (secondary) mouse button functionality is
available, instructions will explicitly refer to right mouse button usage. Also, in
situations where you may be switching between mouse buttons in the same area
or window, instructions may also explicitly refer to both left and right mouse
buttons.
Instructions to perform a mouse operation include the following terms:
¥Pointing means to position the mouse cursor over an area without pressing
either mouse button.
¥Clicking means to position the mouse pointer over the indicated target, then
press and release the appropriate mouse button. This is most commonly used
to select or activate objects, such as menus or buttons.
¥Double-clicking means to position the mouse pointer over the indicated
target, then press and release the mouse button two times in rapid succession.
This is commonly used to activate an objectÕs default operation, such as
opening a window from an icon. Note that there is a distinction made between
Òclick twiceÓ and Òdouble-click,Ó since Òclick twiceÓ implies a slower motion.
¥Pressing means to position the mouse pointer over the indicated target, then
press and hold the mouse button until the described action is completed. It is
often a pre-cursor to Drag operations.
¥Dragging means to move the mouse pointer across the screen while holding
the mouse button down. It is often used for drag-and-drop operations to copy
information from one window of the screen into another, and to highlight
editable text.
Left Mouse ButtonRight Mouse Button