Tip #2892 - MouseImp
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MouseImp
I never really had
any problems with the functionality of my mouse; that is, until I found
out what I was missing. For instance, I was happy with my wired, two-button
roller ball mouse until I got my big bad two-button scroll mouse. Wow,
what a difference! And the story goes on. After the scroll-wheel came
the optical and of course, I now have a wireless mouse with 75 buttons
that will get up and make me coffee in the morning. Now, that’s
a mouse!
I’m joking of
course, but I really do love getting more from a mouse and with this week's
download, I get just that. MouseImp
is an application from the Open Source community that adds a few capabilities
to your typical humdrum mouse controls. MouseImp doesn’t offer a
slew of useless functions, but rather just a couple. But, after only a
few times using it, they will seem invaluable to you. Take a look for
yourself at some of the abilities MouseImp brings to the table.
Productivity
MouseImp features
save you time and extend useful workspace on your screen. You can evaluate
its usefulness by monitoring productivity data.
DirectScroll
To scroll a window,
you normally have to drag the scroll bar's thumb or click its arrows.
MouseImp offers a better solution. Just position the cursor over the window,
use the DirectScroll activation shortcut (right mouse button by default)
and move the mouse. You can also slow down the scrolling for better accuracy
by using the slow down activation shortcut that defaults to the left button
of your mouse.
AutoShrink
Many programs offer
fast access to basic functions by using toolbars or small windows floating
above a program's workspace. AutoShrink removes toolbars from the screen
for your convenience. Only caption bars remain. To access a toolbar, just
hover the cursor over its caption and it will be restored immediately.
Three parameters are
required to let AutoShrink know what windows to control. These parameters
form so called window patterns. They are:
1. Application
name. The name an application executable module from a selected
window belongs to. For example, msdev.exe for Microsoft Developer Studio
or fireworks.exe for Macromedia Fireworks.
2. Class
name. This is a so called window class name used internally
by Windows. Each window is based on a set of properties known to an
operating system as a window class. Windows based on the same class
usually behave similarly.
3. Window
title. This usually contains text visible in the caption area
of a window.
You don't have to
enter window patterns manually. Instead, you use a Finder to locate windows
and "read" their patterns. If more than one window is based
on the same pattern, MouseImp PRO will apply AutoShrink to all of them.
There is also the
possibility of using "masks" to specify window patterns. Any
flag can replace any of the three parameters listed above. This allows
you to skip checking some (or all) of the parameters when MouseImp PRO
is looking for windows to be shrunk and thus, to group windows of different
kinds.
To really enjoy and
appreciate MouseImp, you're going to have to use it. Give it a chance
to show you how it can speed up some of your more routine tasks throughout
the day. If you find that you don’t quite get what the application
does or maybe you need a push in the right direction, you can always use
the Quick Tour. Right from the main interface, there is a quick tour,
so if you don’t know what to do with MouseImp after you install
it, you have a reference to walk you through all of the settings.
Well, I hope you enjoy MouseImp. I think it’s pretty neat and it
adds some much needed functions to your standard mouse set up. Just yet
another step in the evolution of the beloved mouse.
You can download MouseImp
here.
~ Chad
Stelnicki
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