using the mouse buttons more

[ctdrafting]

I don't know if this issue has been addressed. But since I started out as a production draftsman I am always looking to improve productivity. I think using the mouse buttons
more would be more productive. You should never have to take your hand off the mouse. Your left hand should be on the left side of the keyboard with all the shortcuts defined with the left side letters. such as (cc-copy), (x-undo). I would like to see the right button repeat the previous command when out of a command mode. However, in a command such as an edit command, I would like to see the right command close the command or close the edit such as finish the line in a roof. I think also that being able to click the left mouse button to signify inches and the right to signify feet would help avoid having to find either the parentheses or having to type 0 space (a number). For example, when you click on a dimension to edit it. Say you enter 3, if you click on the left button it becomes 3 inches, the right mouse button becomes 3 feet. Make it quick and easy.

[iru69]

My wrist started to ache just reading your post! ;)

Well, of course you can assign the shortcuts to just about whatever keys you want. Keep in mind that not all of us use the right hand for the mouse and the left hand for the keyboard, so I appreciate that they're flexible in this way. There are some interesting threads around here about setting up custom numeric keypads for very quick shortcut access with one hand. Lot's of people have suggested having more commands accessible by shortcuts.

Your other comments on using the mouse to finish an edit have been suggested many times before.

I've never seen the idea about the left/right clicks to determine inches/feet before. Interesting. I still long for the days (in AutoCAD) of entering everything in inches (yes, I now use the "0" trick, but it's still two more keystrokes than needed a hundred times a day).

[Max Lloyd]

get metric guys and you'll never have that problem again! :wink:

[patricks]

Ah you're just too stuck in AutoCAD hehehe :p I don't mind entering 0-7 or whatever for inches. What I don't like is having to hit space after the inches for a fraction. I try to do it in decimals whenever I can.

There is a little add-on called Revit Inchworm that allows for unit entry in inches. I tried it once but didn't like it, but some of you more used to AutoCAD may like it better. I think I deleted it off my machine, I'm sure a little searching on here would turn it up.

[Matt Brennan]

Another quick mouse productivity tool that I found is my TILT Microsoft explorer mouse. When I dimension a floor plan, I tilt the scroll button to the way I will be dimension and acts as a straight pan. I do not know how many others are using this but I find it saves that little bit of time that adds up at the end of the day.

[patricks]

I have one of those tilt-wheel/4-way scrolling mice that I tried with Revit once, and I didn't like it at all. It was quite difficult to press down on the wheel to do normal panning without accidentally tilting the wheel one way or the other and getting all kinds of crazy behavoir.

[Matt Brennan]

I have one of those tilt-wheel/4-way scrolling mice that I tried with Revit once, and I didn't like it at all. It was quite difficult to press down on the wheel to do normal panning without accidentally tilting the wheel one way or the other and getting all kinds of crazy behavoir.

Really? I love it. At first I too found it very frustrating but after time I got used to it. I just wish it worked the same in Autocad as in Revit.

[Mike Hardy-Brown]

.............You should never have to take your hand off the mouse. Your left hand should be on the left side of the keyboard with all the shortcuts defined with the left side letters. such as (cc-copy), (x-undo).............Have a look at BEEGEE's blog (http://revit-alize.blogspot.com/)

[patricks]

^^^ link no workie

[beegee]

Link fixed :)

[Wes Macaulay]

I hate MS mice -- they feel cheap! But the side-scroll function is interesting. One of the CAD jockies I work with has one, but he doesn't use the side-scroll feature in Revit (or anything else!) It does take less effort to tile the wheel than to depress the mid button and drag; I suppose from a repetitive motion injury viewpoint anything you can do to minimise your extertions in the hand/wrist area is a benefit.

[neb1998]

Logitech mice are pretty nice, 7 actual extra assignable buttons on the mx1000 mouse. You can assign a different task to the right and left scrolling features, also has 3 buttons that are easily accessible for thumb use as well as 2 more additional buttons above and below the scroll wheel.

All of these can be assignable to keystrokes etc, the only draw back was pushing down on the scroll button on side scrolling mice is more difficult - i have fixed this by assisnging the left scroll button as the middle button which allows you to pay just like pressing down the middle button.

Just ensure you download the lastest software from logitech, most of the boxed software does not allow for button assigments.

[Wes Macaulay]

I've got the MX518, and you can download a third-party app called UberOptions which allows greater customisation of the mouse for app-specific button programming.