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.
| 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 |
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| Drag |
Move the mouse while holding down the mouse button. |
Select a group of items |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |