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TICKET ARCHIVE -> How to Replicate the Right Click On the Keyboard?

charles1 - Nov 15, 2005 - 11:44 pm

In Windows there's a key that replicates the right click of the mouse. Is there such a thing (maybe Application....whatever that is) in OS X?

TangentIdea - Nov 16, 2005 - 12:15 am

Hold down the "Control" key and click. That performs the same function as right-clicking on a Mac.

-Ryan

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http://ryanmast.com/
Videographer, Web & Print Designer, and a student that probably should be doing something more important right now

charles1 - Nov 16, 2005 - 12:26 am

I guess I wasn't clear. I want to use a keyboard shortcut. If I want to use the mouse I can just right click it. When working with hundreds of files, its far more efficient to use the keyboard for repetitive tasks. Unless you LIKE carpel tunnel syndrome of course.......and slower working speed. I realize Apple software seems to have some bizarre affection for the mouse (even more bizarre as the Apple mice are about 10 years behind in features!) so I'm oddly not so hopeful there is a solution to this. Prove me wrong......please.

TangentIdea - Nov 16, 2005 - 12:38 am

You can go buy any USB mouse at Circuit City or Staples to work with your Mac. I'm using a very snazzy Logitech MediaPlay mouse with my computer.

I don't know of any utilities to perform mouse functions with the keyboard. I'm sending this ticket to the question queue again; maybe another tech can help you.

-Ryan

--------
http://ryanmast.com/
Videographer, Web & Print Designer, and a student that probably should be doing something more important right now

skapp - Nov 16, 2005 - 10:31 am

Charles,

There are several utilities that enable you to program keyboard shortcuts or macros such as iKey, FunKey, QuicKeys, Menu Master, and others. Go to www.versiontracker.com or www.macupdate.com and search on "shortcut" as a start. Most are shareware products.

charles1 - Nov 16, 2005 - 1:52 pm

I've got a wonderful trackball with 5 programmable buttons. One is the right click. But the less I use the mouse for repetitive tasks, the faster and less cts prone I'll be. Plus its just more efficient to use the keyboard for repetitive tasks.

Your last suggestion was ironic........I already have a couple of those programs - but I haven't tried them yet!! lol

Thanks. Now I'll have to get off my digital duff and try them!

But it would be great if there was something in OSX that did it. We'll see if anyone else has some suggestions.

ishan - Nov 16, 2005 - 11:18 pm

You raise an interesting question, but I don't agree on one part (I'm a physician/neurologist). CTS can be equally prevalene amoung mouse or keyboard users. In fact, keyboard users are much more susceptible to CTS if they use the appropriate wrist supports, etc. In any event, as some of the previous respondents said, there's a plethora of shareware/freeware programs that would allow you to be pretty much independent of ever having to use a mouse, as long as you are comfortable with macros (Quickkeys) or Applescript or Automator. The last two are Apple software programs and you may want to play with them a bit to see if you can do more with your keyboard than your mouse.

charles1 - Nov 16, 2005 - 11:27 pm

You're a physician and you volunteer for this site? Wow - that is a generous gift of your time.

As the mouse requires only so many types of physical movements (how many different ways can you hit left or right click?) I would think the less one uses it the better. I had pain in the wrists within a few days of going from my PC ergonomic PS2 keyboard which wouldn't work in the Mac to the Apple Pro keyboard. It should be called the Apple Keyboard Model CTS. Within a day of me getting an ergonomic OSX compatible USB keyboard (because Apple refuses to supply a simple PS2 port on their machines that would allow 80% of Windows users to try it more easily) my pain vanished. I use a Trackball and I think that helps too. There just seems to be more variety in movement than a traditional mouse.

I wonder......do pianists ever get CTS? That entail a huge variety of muscular/physiological tasks.

I guess keyboard users can have repetitive tasks too. Especially secretaries that are typing voluminous amounts of material. Luckily I never have to type for long.

ishan - Nov 16, 2005 - 11:46 pm

Oh yes, pianists certainly get CTS, as do many other musicians. In any case, hope things work out for you.

charles1 - Nov 17, 2005 - 2:31 am

Thanks...once again.