Re: extending selection in list and tree without use of keyboard

[Vlad Harchev <hvv hippo ru>]

On 22 Nov 2002, Bill Haneman wrote:

> Vlad said:
> 
>  
> >  Hello,
> > 
> >  Currently it's possible to extend selection to the non-continuous set of
> > rows in list and tree by holding keyboard modifiers.
> >  It seems to me that it would be handy to provide ability to extend selection
> > to the non-continuous set of rows in list and tree without using keyboard. I
> > propose to use middle mouse button for this - i.e. if one clicks with middle
> > button and drags a pointer over rows, the subject rows are added to the
> > selection even if the selection becomes non-continuos.
> > 
> >  Seems to be easy to implement.
> > 
> >  What do you guys think about this?
> 
> Hmm, it might be better not to use middle mouse for anything too
> significant, since many users may have 2-button mice.

 On most wheel mice the wheel acts like a middle button.

 On XFree at least middle mouse button press can be emulated by pressing left
and right mouse buttons.

 Using right mouse button for this is too much - this mouse button is too
important since used for context menus.

 And IMHO it would be better to provide means that *some* will be able to use,
rather than provide nothing at all. 

 For example, a person who can't involve both hands for interaction with the
program (from whatever reasons) or a person who have no keyboard installed
(this is my case - my users don't have keyboard installed since they can do
everything with mouse only, except selecting non-continuous ranges of rows)
would be able to select non-continuous ranges of rows - isn't this good? 

 Does anybody sees any reasons for not implementing this (beside "it's boring"
or "not everybody will use this")?

 Best regards,
  -Vlad