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More Buttons = More Power
Tip# 3221 By Brad Rose On 21-Jun-2009
2.5
 Rated By 2 users
Categories : Tips & Tools Weekly Archive Tips, Misc. User Tools
Software type : AutoCAD 2010
Rename File To : No Files to download.
Using a five-button mouse to increase CAD efficiency.

Brad Rose sent us a tip on using a five-button mouse to increase his efficiency in CAD.

"This is a tip that I thought users might not know about. After setting it up, I would be lost without it.

"I have a five-button mouse with programmable buttons. I left the normal right and left buttons alone, but I programmed the other three buttons to the function keys I use most in AutoCAD. I programmed the scroll wheel button to F8 (ortho on/off), then the other two are F3 (Osnap on/off) and F10 (polar on/off)."

Notes from Cadalyst Tip Patrol: Using a programmable mouse for AutoCAD is a suggestion that pops up in the tips from time to time, but it's such a great suggestion that it's worth repeating for newer readers. Most Windows-based, five-button mice can be programmed very easily. Most are programmed outside AutoCAD, so you don’t have to use the CUI. Often times you can program the mouse to run routines or to use certain function keys. They can help save time and effort.
 

Average Rating:
2.5


User comments
Comment by Hand,Jane
Posted on 2009-06-22 15:20:07
Coming from a Microstation background I hated reaching for the Escape key. When I got my 5 button mouse the first thing I did was program the thumb button as the Escape key.
Comment by bailey,john
Posted on 2009-06-23 06:45:25
Brad is right about being lost without having it once you've set it up and used it for a while. My mouse went up a week ago and I have gone back to a 3 button mouse until the replacement comes in and you don't realize how much you used it until it gone. I've had my five button mouse set up for delete and match properties with a little modification to the CUI.
Comment by Niles,Kevin
Posted on 2009-06-23 07:13:18
I have been using a 16 button mouse/digitizer ever since I started using AutoCAD. I don't use the digitizer, but the mouse is where the speed is; add the shift key + the ctrl key + the alt key and you have 64 comands at your fingertips. I assign everything through a lisp routine. signed Old School.
Comment by Kuenning,Chris
Posted on 2009-07-31 10:51:23
Great idea! But how about including in your tip the step-by-step proceedure on how to actually program the mouse? So I don't have too spend time researching that.