Mice and
Joysticks
A mouse is the primary input device for modern computers that
feature operating systems with a graphical user interface, such as
Windows 3.11 or Windows 95. While keyboards obviously excel at
entering text, numbers, and symbols, your mouse is the tool you'll
use to tell your computer what t o do with all the data you've
entered.
Joysticks are almost exclusively used with game
software and help the user more effectively control the actions of
computer-simulated airplanes or arcade-style games.
Defining Mice
All modern PC operating systems (Windows 3.11,
Windows 95, and the Macintosh) rely on an on-screen pointer to
select and execute commands. A mouse is simply an input device built
to help the user control this on-screen pointer in as natural and
efficient a manner as possible.
The pointer on the screen mimics the movements of
your mouse. As you move your mouse, a ball encased in the bottom of
your mouse rolls on the desk and in turn sends signals to the
computer as to which direction to move the pointer on the screen.
Move the mouse side to side, or up and down, and the on-screen
pointer moves in a similar manner.
Once you have the mouse positioned to select the
command or data you want to act on, you use the mouse buttons to
execute the command.The mouse controls the on-screen pointer and
lets you select program icons, manipulate property sheets, and
access data.
Connecting a Mouse
Your mouse connects to your PC either through a
dedicated mouse port or a standard 9-pin serial port. Once you're
familiar with what the mouse connectors look like you can go ahead
and connect your mouse using the following steps:
- 1.
Save any open documents, and then close all active
applications.
2. Identify which type of mouse connector you have and
its corresponding connector on the back of your computer.
3. Carefully position the connector so that it matches
the connector on the back of your PC, and gently press it into
place.
4. In most cases, you'll have to restart your computer in
order for the operating system to recognize your mouse.
NOTE: For computers running
Windows 3.11, the process is a little more involved and requires
installing MS-DOS mouse drivers (mouse.com and mouse.sys in most
cases). If you have Windows 3.11, you'll need to refer to the
manual that came with your mouse for complete installation
instructions.
Using the Mouse Buttons
Most mice have two buttons. In Windows 95, the
left button selects text and data, executes commands, and
manipulates data, while the right mouse button accesses context
menus.
Pressing a mouse button and then releasing it is
known as clicking your mouse. You can click both left and
right mouse buttons. Pressing the button and releasing it twice in
quick succession is called double-clicking.
The Left Mouse Button
It seems simple, but there are a lot of things
you can do by combining various types of mouse clicks with mouse
movements. Table 13.1 gives you some examples.
Table 13.1 Left
Mouse Button Operations
Task |
Mouse Button |
Select items |
Press and hold down the
left mouse button. Move the mouse to select desired text,
numbers, or objects. Release mouse button. The selected text
is highlighted. |
Move selected items (also
called click and drag) |
Position mouse over
highlighted text. Press and hold left mouse button down.
While holding down left mouse button, move mouse (and the
selected items) to their new location and release mouse
button. |
Access a menu or command |
Position pointer over menu
or property box button; press and release left mouse button
quickly. |
Start a program |
Quickly press and release
the left mouse button twice (double-click). |
NOTE: Windows 95 lets you
customize what each of the buttons does
through the Mouse
Properties dialog box. This can be a help if you have a
three-button mouse. See the section "Adjusting Mouse
Properties" later in the chapter for examples.
The Right Mouse Button
The right mouse button is generally reserved for
special uses. In Windows 95, the right mouse button accesses a
context menu that lists the available options for the item you've
just clicked.
The right mouse button does different things,
depending on which type of item you click. See below table for some
examples.
Right Mouse Button Operations
Action |
Menu Options |
Right-clicking a file |
This pulls up a menu that
asks you if you want to open, print, delete, or send the
file somewhere. |
Right-clicking a program |
Presents you with a menu
that lets you open, create a shortcut, or access that
program's property sheet. |
Click and drag a file
(press and hold the mouse key while moving it) |
Presents you with a menu
that lets you choose to move or copy the file to its new
location. |
Using the IntelliMouse
Wheel
Microsoft's newest mouse features a small wheel
in between the two mouse buttons. The wheel directly controls an
application's scroll bar (see Chapter 6, "Working with
Applications") letting you move up and down in a document
without having to move the pointer off to the right of the screen.
You can also use the IntelliMouse to pan in documents by clicking
the wheel and moving the mouse in the direction you'd like to pan.
When you're ready to stop panning, click the wheel again.
Three-Button Mice
Some mice have three buttons. Usually the mouse
comes with software that lets you customize what that third button
does. Windows 95 also supports many of the more popular three-button
mice and may have built-in support for that third button. If you
have a three-button mouse, see the following section for tips on how
to use the third button.
Adjusting Mouse Properties
Windows 95 allows you to customize your mouse to
best suit your style. You can adjust the speed at which the mouse
moves the pointer across the screen, the amount of time allowed
between the clicks of a double-click, and how the pointer appears on
the screen. Left-handed computer users can configure the mouse to
work best with the left hand.
These adjustments are made through the Mouse
Properties dialog box. The Mouse Properties program is in Windows
95's Control Panel. You can get to it by clicking Start, Settings,
Control Panel. You should then see the Mouse icon. Double-click the
Mouse icon to start the Mouse Properties program.
Configuring Mouse
Double-Click Speed
To configure mouse speed when double-clicking:
- 1. Click Start, Settings, Control Panel and then
double-click the Mouse icon.
2. Click the Buttons tab.
3. To adjust the amount of time needed between
double-clicks, slide the bar in the bottom half of the Buttons
tab of the Mouse Properties dialog box either left or right.
(Hold the left mouse button down while moving the mouse, then
release after you've moved the slider.)
4. You can test your setting by double-clicking the
jack-in-the-box--if he pops up, you've clicked fast enough (see
Figure 13.3).
Configuring Right- or
Left-Hand Mouse Preferences
To change your mouse for right or left-handers:
- 1. Click Start, Settings, Control Panel and then
double-click the Mouse icon.
2. To switch between right- and left-handed mouse
configurations, click either the Right-handed or Left-handed
option buttons in the top of the Buttons tab of the Mouse
Properties dialog box (see Figure 13.3).
Adjusting Pointer Speed
You can control how fast the pointer moves on the
screen in relation to your mouse movements on your desk. You can
have the pointer move completely from one side of the screen to the
other with only the slightest mouse movement, or you can slow the
pointer down for greater control.
The pointer speed is set in the same Mouse
Properties dialog box as mentioned earlier:
- 1. Click Start, Settings, Control Panel, then
double-click the Mouse icon.
2. Once the dialog box is open, click the Motion tab
Cleaning a Mouse
If your pointer starts moving erratically, or
your mouse isn't moving smoothly, it's probably time to clean your
mouse. This is a simple process:
- 1. Carefully remove the mouse ball. On the bottom of
your mouse there will be a cover plate that usually just twists
off. If you have trouble getting the cover off, refer to your
mouse manual.
2. Once the ball is out, roll it between your fingers to
remove any dirt.
3. Inspect the inside of the mouse and carefully remove
any dirt you find in there, especially any dirt that has
collected on the little rollers that come in contact with the
mouse ball.
4. Reassemble your mouse and give it try.
A thorough cleaning usually does the trick. If no
amount of cleaning helps, you may be in need of a new mouse.
Defining Joysticks
Joysticks are basically sticks attached to a base
unit that measures the distance the stick is moved left, right, up,
down, or diagonally. Electronic sensors in the base unit translate
those motions into motions that are understood by the computer and
software.
Joysticks are almost exclusively used with game
software; they are not designed to replace a mouse.
Types of Joysticks
Joysticks come in various shapes and sizes. Some
are built to mimic the flight controls of an airplane, complete with
buttons to fire guns and missiles. Others aren't sticks at all, but
may be steering wheels designed to help the user more effectively
play driving simulation games. In general, computer input devices
used to help users play computer games are called joysticks.
Connecting a Joystick
Joysticks all connect with a 15-pin D-shaped
connector. See Figure 13.5 for an example of a joystick connector.
Connecting a joystick is simple. To connect
yours, follow these steps:
- 1. Save any open documents, and then close all active
applications.
2. Identify the joystick connector on the back of your
computer.
3. Carefully position the connector so that it matches
the connector on the back of your PC, and gently press it into
place.
4. In most cases, you'll have to restart your computer in
order for the operating system to recognize your joystick.
If the computer doesn't initially see your
joystick, you'll need to run Windows 95's Add Hardware Wizard. You
can access the Add Hardware Wizard by clicking Start, Settings,
Control Panel. The Add Hardware Wizard will be one of the icons in
the Control Panel folder.
Calibrating Your Joystick
Calibrating your joystick lets you
"center" your joystick so that when released it returns to
a neutral position. It also makes certain that movements from side
to side, or front to back result in smooth and predictable movement
on the screen.
There are two ways to calibrate your joystick.
One is through the Joystick Properties dialog box, and the other is
through calibration sliders on the joystick itself.
Calibrating Your Joystick
with Software
To calibrate your joystick through the Joystick
Properties dialog click Start, Settings, Control Panel and
double-click the Joystick icon. There, you'll see sliders that let
you set the default X and Y axis positions of the joystick. You
calibrate your mouse by adjusting these sliders.
Calibrating Your Joystick
with Hardware
You can also calibrate most joysticks via slider
bars, or wheels, that are on the joystick itself. Inspect your
joystick to see if it has built-in calibration adjusters.
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