T42P: Scroll wheel emulation... in Windows?

[Marc_G]

Hi group, me again...

I have a proprietary application that uses the mouse scroll wheel to zoom in and out. No setting of the T42P Ultranav system has allowed me to properly emulate the mouse scroll wheel.

I've googled my heart out, but have not found a utility to emulate the scroll wheel, at least not in windows. Found one for OSX, one for linux, but none for XP. Sigh.

My goal would be to remap the IE forward/back keys to "scroll up/down" which would give me zoom in and zoom out.

Does anyone have a solution?

Marc

[Marc_G]

As a followup to this, I've been searching the web and posting to some XP newsgroups. It seems that I'm unique, or at least nearly so, in needing this. That's a surprise.

I got a few responses about using the middle ultranav button for scrolling, but that doesn't work within the application I'm using; whatever IBM does with the middle button function isn't exactly a replica of a real live scroll wheel.

If anyone thinks of anything helpful, I'd appreciate the info.

Marc

[dvorak]

I haven't tried the program myself, but maybe KeyTweak has that ability.

By using Google, I found the following links that point to a series of keyboard customizing applications:
http://lists.gpick.com/pages/Mouse~Keyboard_Tools.htm
http://directory.google.com/Top/Compute ... _Keyboard/

If you try and find something helpful, please be so kind to notify us also.

[Marc_G]

Hi Dvorak-

Thanks for the links. Keytweak is something I checked into earlier; it is just for keys unfortunately. The other links had interesting stuff but nothing that did what I need.

I revised my google search a bit and did eventually find one utility (Mouse Emulator) that provides the needed command sequence. However, the keys to call the scroll function aren't user-assignable, and the amount of keystrokes needed to accomplish it are such that I might as well use the Menu functions anyway. Sigh. Maybe I could capture the scroll function and assign it to some other key. Something to consider.

If anyone knows of an easier way, or a different utility, I'd appreciate hearing about it.

Marc

[csioucs]

No, you are not alone, on this. I wish more apps could be made aware of this scroll emulator, the middle mouse button.

But I do zoom in and out in word and some other applications (read Opera) while pressing CTRL.

[jhonyl]

I have become the promoter of AutoHotKey.com , I think. You can map all keys there to other keys including the 'wheel up' 'wheel down' keys. I am not sure which key your up needs. Give it a go.


Also note that the middle button may be a bit difficult, so you can use any other key instead of it, if it turns out this way. That is because the middle button triggers "auto scroll" of windows when it is in neither position, and Synaptic programs when it is set to them. I still didn't find how to make 'auto scroll' not be triggered by the middle button, so if anyone knows how to do that, I would be very happy to read about it.

For example this code in the AutoHotKey.ini file will make page scroll up, and down as you press right alt plus u and h respectively:

Code: Select all

LAlt & h::
Send, {WheelDown}
return


LAlt & u::
Send, {WheelUp}
return

[GomJabbar]

.....the amount of keystrokes needed to accomplish it are such that I might as well use the Menu functions anyway......

You can use the Ultranav Wizard to record keystroke macros. You set up the macro to run when you touch a specified corner of the touchpad.

[jhonyl]

You can use the Ultranav Wizard to record keystroke macros. You set up the macro to run when you touch a specified corner of the touchpad.

With AutoHotKey you can record macros, and run them from any key you choose on the keyboard

[gauthier]

Another question of the same kind: is there a way to use the thinkpad's middle button as a classic third button?

I feel this behavior will be more natural for those of us that use the wheel button click and mouse move to scroll: this way you are not forced to scroll the wheel the hell over if you document/panel have many pages, just middle click and move your pointer in the direction/speed you want.

Thanks!

[dvorak]

Another question of the same kind: is there a way to use the thinkpad's middle button as a classic third button?

I feel this behavior will be more natural for those of us that use the wheel button click and mouse move to scroll: this way you are not forced to scroll the wheel the hell over if you document/panel have many pages, just middle click and move your pointer in the direction/speed you want.

Thanks!

Code: Select all

Right click on your UltraNav icon in your traybar -> Trackpoint Settings -> Scrolling -> Smooth

Or navigate to your mouse options (Control Panel) and the option should be somewhere there as well.

[davidspalding]

FWIW, in some apps CTRL + MIDDLE TRACKPOINT BUTTON + TRACKPOINT UP/DOWN acts as the CTRL + SCROLLWHEEL UP/DOWN. Which, again in *some* apps, zooms in and out. E.g., in Firefox shrinks or enlarges the fonts (same in IE, but many web designers break that with infantile CSS skills; Firefox overrides CSS stupidity).

[joewang]

Changing the scroll button to the middle button in the Ultranav is rather easy.

In Control Panel -> Mouse -> UltraNav -> [Trackpoint] Settings ->
under Choose Scrolling or Magnifying option, select Neither.

Although you may think it doesn't do anything, it actually sets the button as the middle button, which I find very useful.

Plus, many apps already have the default scrolling button as the middle button, making scrolling convenient as well.

[w0qj]

With AutoHotKey you can record macros, and run them from any key you choose on the keyboard

Thanks for your update--I'm glad Autohotkey has finally added a macro (keyboard) recording feature.

When I checked it out 18 mths ago, users were forced to write complicated (to me) scripts to get even basic things done.

Guess it's much improved since then... will give it another try!

[davidspalding]

FYI, if you enable the "show TrackPoint icon on task bar" you have a clickable controller which enables you to switch among point/point+pad/pad and also configure the middle button. The icon indicates which is control device is enabled, too; handy, that.