Mouse keys

A keyboard mouse is an input using a computer keyboard that is used among other things in Microsoft Windows to emulate the numeric keypad a computer mouse. By means of a special key combination, the keyboard mouse are switched on and off. In this case, the cursor is controlled with the arrow keys on the numeric keypad. Other buttons will replace the clicks with the different mouse buttons.

On Windows and Linux (KDE, Gnome) the keyboard mouse is activated or deactivated with the key combination Alt Left Shift Num. ( Exception: GNOME 3.0 includes this option under a constantly visible on the desktop icon for " barrier-free". )

Mouse button emulation

On Windows XP and Linux (KDE, Gnome) are deducted clicks on the 5 key on the numeric keypad. Pressing the 0 button is held a mouse button is emulated, which is canceled by pressing the button again. Which mouse button is emulated as clicked or held, is determined following keys ( and Windows XP - if configured - displayed via an icon in the notification area ):

  • /: Left mouse button
  • *: Middle mouse buttons
  • -: Press right mouse button

Areas of application

Graphical user interfaces are even using the keyboard to operate to a large extent, but similar in principle to the use of a mouse (Trackball, touchpad ) designed.

Reasons for using the keyboard of mice on the part of the system:

  • There is no mouse available, the mouse may be defective, or the battery of a wireless mouse empty.
  • The mouse is not detected. This is especially useful for older systems (Windows 9x/ME ) and newer input devices occasionally during the installation phase, do so before the appropriate drivers can be loaded.
  • The mouse was not connected properly at boot ( startup ). With the aforementioned older systems it could happen that by the reboot, no mouse could be used, even if it was connected later.
  • Accuracy: With a mouse it is very difficult to determine exactly just draw lines. When drawing on screens with simple programs such as Microsoft Paint, this is an easy way to perform accurate drawings.
  • Emergency exit: The mouse will work during meetings occasionally their function ( pointer "freezes solid" ), despite reinstalling the latest driver. A keyboard mouse allows a completion of unfinished operations and securing the work of applications whose functions can be controlled only partly regular keyboard shortcuts.

Reasons at the user:

  • Because of a hand or other injury ( such as a fracture) manipulating a mouse is restricted or even impossible.

Problems

  • Enter numbers using the keypad requires disabling the keyboard mouse Under Windows XP, it is possible to switch over between Num keyboard mouse and either block number or block cursor (depending on the configuration). Concomitant use is not possible.
  • Inadvertent activation of the keyboard mouse interferes with the user
  • Message displayed when activated, interrupts full-screen applications ( games)
  • Inaccuracy of the length of a movement
  • Difficulty to control a position on the screen exactly
  • Mouse ( computer )
Computer icon Booting Electronic visual display Paint (software) Fraktur (disambiguation)
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