Mouse buttons

This section describes how to use mouse buttons.

This figure illustrates that a mouse can be configured for left handed or right handed use.



Your mouse can be configured for either right-hand or left-hand use. Throughout this information, the buttons are referred to as mouse button 1, mouse button 2, and mouse button 3. The positions of the three buttons on a left-handed and a right-handed mouse are shown here.

The following terms are also used in this information:

Press  
Hold down the mouse button.
Release
Stop holding down the mouse button.

Table 1 sets out the actions you can take with each button.

Table 1. Mouse actions

Action

Description

mouse button 1

mouse button 2

mouse button 3

Click

Quickly press and release the mouse button without moving the mouse.

Select

Paste

Display popup menu

Shift-click

Click while holding down the shift key.

Add a span of list items to a selection

   

Ctrl-click

Click while holding down the ctrl key.

Add a single list item to a selection

Add an icon to a selection

   

Double-click

Click twice in rapid succession.

Open

   

Drag

Move the mouse while holding down the mouse button.

Select a group of items

   

Drag and drop (editing state tables)

Drag an object to a new location and release the mouse button.

Move

Copy

 

Drag and drop (working with applications)

Drag an object to a new location and release the mouse button.

 

Move

 

Ctrl-drag and drop (working with applications)

Drag an object to a new location and release the mouse button while holding down the ctrl key.

 

Copy