Re: Activate Scroll Key

[Tim Moore <tmoore tembel org>]

On 20 Aug 1998, Stephan Pfab wrote:

> Tim Moore <tmoore@tembel.org> writes:
> 
> > On 19 Aug 1998, Stephan Pfab wrote:
> > 
> > > 
> > > [about thinkpad third mouse buttom scrolling]
> > > 
> > > This is exactly the same as the 8way scrolling with middle button 
> > > drag.
> > > 
> > > I am still very much in favour of it.
> > > Remember that it has to be an additional feature and
> > > we can keep middle button click for paste (a X standard for a change).
> > > Keep the scrollbars, add the middlebutton-drag scrolling.
> > 
> > So mouse-2 click is paste and mouse-2 drag is scroll? These two functions
> > have absolutely nothing to do with each other! Putting them on the same
> > mouse button is a recipe for confusion, IMO.
> > 
> 
> Really ? But on the left mouse button clicking and dragging is ok ?
> (DND versus clicking).

Those aren't really different *operations* though. I would call them
different gestures. Gestures trigger operations. With the primary button,
the operation triggered is context-dependent.

> Second question:
>   Why is shift button-2 better than button-2 drag ?
>   Both actions are also on the same button.
>   Actually coordinating mouse and keyboard together is difficult
>   and thus only good for rarly used actions.

Actually, IMO it isn't!

> My argument boils down to the question whether you can clearly
> differentiate click and drag. 
> But if you can do this with the first mouse button, why is it 
> so difficult with the second mouse button.
> And remeber click is not push down.

The problem isn't the program differentiating. The problem is user
confusion and just plain inelegant design, IMO. Two totally different
functions shouldn't be grouped into the same access point. The only reason
it's OK for the primary button to have multiple functions is because its
function is also dependent on the location of the gesture. I would
similarly argue that you shouldn't put paste and scrolling on the same GUI
widget.

Tim