banner.jpg

Home

Mouse

Keyboard

Desktop

Windows

Site Map

General considerations:  The PC mouse has two buttons (or more), the Mac mouse has only one.  The PC mouse also offers an optional "wheel" located between the left and right buttons that can be used for easy scrolling and zooming.
PC wheel mouse
How to perform the following tasks:
 
Configure mouse settings
Point (identify)
Click (select)
Double-click (activate or open)
Click twice (rename)
Drag (move or copy)
Right-click (context-sensitive menu)
Right-drag (context-sensitive menu)
Zoom with a wheel mouse
Scroll with a wheel mouse
Auto-Scroll with a wheel mouse

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MOUSE

CONFIGURE:

PC MAC

Mouse settings are changed using the Mouse Properties dialog box.   This dialog box provides options for changing mouse pointer shapes, motion sensitivity, double-click speed and more.

To change mouse settings:

  • Open the Control Panel control panelby way of either My Computer or the Start / Settings menu.  Open the Mouse Properties Dialog Box by activating the mouse iconmousein the Control Panel window.

 
Mouse settings are changed using the Mouse Control Panel.  This control panel provides options for changing motion sensitivity (tracking) and double-click speed only.

To change mouse settings:

  • Open the Apple Menu apple menu located in the upper left-hand corner of the desktop.  Select Control Panels from the menu and select Mouse from the submenu.

 
back to Mouse menu

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MOUSE

POINT:
(identify an object)
PC MAC

To point:
  • Roll the mouse across your physical desktop to move the corresponding mouse pointer across your virtual desktop.

NOTE: Resting the mouse pointer on an object generally results in producing a tool tip on the object.  A tool tip is a pop-up label that temporarily identifies an object.

 
This operation is the same as on a PC.

NOTE:   Results are the same as on a PC, however, "tool tips" are referred to as help balloons on the Mac and can be turned on or off through the Help menu.

 
back to Mouse menu

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MOUSE

CLICK:
(select an object)
PC MAC

To click on an object (such as a file or folder) results in selecting that object, as evidenced by the object changing color.

To click:

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

TIP:  To select multiple objects at one time, hold down the Control (Ctrl) key while clicking on the individual objects.

 
Results are the same as on a PC.

 

To click:

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

NOTE:  Clicking on the object's label, as opposed to its icon, allows you to rename the object.

TIP:  To select multiple objects at one time, hold down the shift key while clicking on the individual objects.

 
back to Mouse menu

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MOUSE

DOUBLE-CLICK:
(activate or open an object)
PC MAC

To double-click on an object (such as a file or folder) activates (or opens) the object.  Generally, this holds true throughout the operating system.

To double-click:

  • Quickly press and release the left mouse button twice in rapid succession without moving the mouse.

 
Results are the same as on a PC.

To double-click:

  • Quickly press and release the mouse button twice in rapid succession without moving the mouse.
back to Mouse menu

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MOUSE

CLICK TWICE:
(rename an object)
PC MAC

To click twice results in highlighting the object name (label) and places you in a position to rename the object.

To click twice:

  • Quickly press and release the left mouse button twice in slow succession on the object label.  Type the new name and press the Enter key to complete the task, or click anywhere outside the object being renamed.

NOTE:  Selecting an object first (see Click), then clicking on its label, will produce the same results (i.e. rename condition).

 
There is no such operation as "clicking twice" on a Mac, however...

Clicking once on an object's label will produce the same results as clicking twice on a PC, that is, it places you in a position to rename the object.

 
back to Mouse menu

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MOUSE

DRAG:
(move or copy an object)
PC MAC

To drag an object generally results in moving the object.

To drag:

  • Hold down the left mouse button and move the mouse, release the button to drop the object in its new location.

TIP:  To copy an object hold down one of the Control (Ctrl) keys on the keyboard during the drag 'n' drop operation.

 
Results are the same as on a PC.

To drag:

  • Hold down the mouse button and move the mouse, release the button to drop the object in its new location.

NOTE:  If the mouse pointer changes to include a plus sign (+) when dragging to the destination the object will be copied instead of moved.

TIP:  When dragging an object to a folder, holding the object over the folder icon for a brief moment will open that folder to display its contents.

 
back to Mouse menu

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MOUSE

RIGHT - Click:
(context-sensitive menu)
PC MAC

To right-click results in producing a menu based in context to the object you were pointing at when you right-clicked.

To right-click:

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

TIP:  When in doubt about how to do something with an object, simply right-click on the object in question, everything you can do with that object at that time will be listed on the menu that appears.

 
Although there is no "right" button on a Mac mouse, this operation can be simulated with comparable results:

To simulate a right-click:

  • Quickly press and release the mouse button while holding down the Control key on the keyboard.
back to Mouse menu

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MOUSE

RIGHT - Drag:
(context-sensitive menu)
PC MAC

To right-drag an object produces a menu based in context to the object being dragged.  A context-sensitive menu will open when the object is dropped.

To right-drag:

  • Hold down the right mouse button and move the mouse, release the button to drop the object.

TIP:  Always right-drag when in doubt as to whether the object will be moved or copied.   From the menu that appears you will have the option to choose the appropriate operation.

 
The right-drag operation cannot be duplicated or simulated on a Mac.

 
back to Mouse menu

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MOUSE

ZOOM with a wheel mouse:
PC Mac

This feature is great for zooming out to view multiple pages in a word processing document or to zoom in on graphic details.  This also works to change the general font size in a browser window when surfing the web.

To zoom with a wheel mouse:

  • Point to what you wish to zoom in or out on, hold down one of the Control keys on the keyboard and rotate the wheel up or down for the desired effect. 

 
Use the available zoom tool as provided by the specific application.

 
back to Mouse menu

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MOUSE

SCROLL with a wheel mouse:
PC Mac

This feature is great for scrolling through word processing documents, spreadsheet files, folder windows (scrolling through file/folder lists), etc.

To scroll with a wheel mouse:

  • Point to the area within the window that you wish to scroll.  Rotate the mouse wheel up or down to scroll in the desired direction.

 
Use standard scrolling techniques employing vertical and horizontal scroll bars as generally found at the right edge and bottom of every window.

NOTE:  To learn more about scrolling go to the Windows area of this site.

 
back to Mouse menu

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MOUSE

AUTO - SCROLL with a wheel mouse:
PC Mac

This feature is great for "hands-off" reading or previewing of file content.

To auto-scroll with a wheel mouse:

  • Point to the area within the window that you wish to scroll.  Press the mouse wheel once to produce the scroll marker.  Move the mouse pointer away from the scroll marker (above or below) to begin auto-scrolling.   The further you move the mouse pointer from the scroll marker the faster the auto-scrolling.

 
The auto-scroll feature cannot be duplicated or simulated with a Mac mouse.

 
back to Mouse menu