Change your Mouse Settings

To set the preferences of the mouse Select: Start/Control Panel/Double click the "Mouse" icon. This brings up the "Mouse Properties window" with five tabs across the top of the window. The window will usually default to the first tab labeled "Buttons". This window allows you set the mouse for left hand or right hand use by selecting the round (radio) button for left or right hand use. You can also set the left button for normal select or for double clicking and the right button for context menu or double click. They should be defaulted to "Normal select" and "Context Menu".

The lower portion of the window is for setting and testing the speed of your "double click" of the left button. On the right is a box with a picture of a mouse. Place your cursor in the box and double click your left button. You should see a folder appear on the screen of the little monitor. Double click again makes it go away. Put your cursor on the slider of the slow to fast control. Hold down the left mouse button and drag the slider to the right to the fast side. Now, go back to the box and try to double click to make the folder show up on the screen again. Note that it requires a very quick double click to make it work if you can even make it work. Slide the control over to the left toward the slow side and try the box again. Note the difference in how slow you can do the double click now. Move the slider to different positions and double click in the box until you are comfortable with the setting. Then select the "Apply" button at the bottom of the window.

Select the "Pointers" tab at the top of the window. This will bring up a window to edit your various pointers and cursors. The top bar-size window labeled "Scheme" is a list of schemes that are presently in you system. Select the arrow to the right in the window. This will allow you to view all the different schemes. Select one of the schemes. That scheme will display its components in the larger window. The scroll bar on the right side of the larger window will allow you to view the different cursors used in that scheme. Select each scheme and decide which scheme you like. When you decide which scheme you want, Select it then select the "Apply" button at the bottom. If, after using it for a while you decide you don't like it, you can go back and change it any time.

Note! You are not restricted to the schemes that came with Windows 98. Many programs come with alternative cursors and you can purchase some unique assortments. You can also change individual cursors to make up your own scheme and name that scheme so you can have it as an optional scheme. Making up you own schemes with individual cursors is not covered in this training class. It is covered in the "Advanced Training".

Select the next tab which is labeled "Motion". Here, you can set how the cursor responds to your movement of the mouse. At the top, the first settings are the speed and acceleration of the cursor. The best way to determine what settings are best for you is to try each extreme. Slide the Speed control to the "Fast" end and hit "Apply". Move your cursor around to note the movement and slide the control to the "Slow" end of the control and hit "Apply" then move the cursor around to note the movement. Try different settings until you find the setting you like. You can always come back and change it. You may find that when working in a paint, drawing or cad program you can do more detailed work if you slow down the cursor speed.

The next setting down in this window is "Pointer Trails". Check the box "Show Pointer Trails" if it is not already checked. Hit "Apply" and move your cursor around to note the trail of cursors. Adjust the slide control all the way to "long" and move your cursor around, then slide the control all the way to "short" and again move your cursor around to note the change. The pointer trail helps you locate you cursor. On some PCs especially laptops, it is difficult to quickly spot where your cursor is and this trail makes it a little easier. If you don't want or need the cursor trail just uncheck the box.

To the right is a box to enable "Snap To". If you check this one, your cursor will automatically be on the recommended or "default' button on the next window that comes up. I recommend this to be checked, mainly because I can't think of a good reason for it to have an option to turn it off in the first place.

"AccuScroll" allows you to use key strokes to scroll and to zoom when it is available. Ctrl + Alt to scroll and Ctrl + shift to zoom.

The next tab at the top of the window is "Orientation". This allows you to set up which direction of mouse movement represents up/down movement of the cursor. Under normal circumstances you should not need to alter this.

The next tab is "Devices" which is used when you change the type of mouse you are using.