Programming tablet buttons

Several programs out there that use Ctrl-click, Alt-click, and shift-click and/or shift-drag combinations. Nice if you are using a mouse with your keyboard handy. Not so nice if you are using your pen in a slate configuration.


I want to be able to execute a Ctrl, Alt, or Space command with one hand while I am executing a click with the pen in my other hand.

I see the menu where I can program thearrows on the nav wheel, and tried to reprogram them to Cntl, Alt, and shift. Got the first two reprogrammed, but haven't yet tried to make them work within an application. Shift, however, does not appear to be programmable.

Any advance reprogrammers of the Nav wheel out there that can give suggestions on how to successfully reprogram to the 3 functions I need?

Alternatively, does anybody know of some USB widget that has a handful of user programmable buttons on it?

TIA

[KenHinckley]

There are indeed programmable USB gadgets out there. When I wrote about my goofy "IntelliScroller" mouse solution to this type of problem, Sumocat left a comment suggesting a gaming pad to do this kind of thing. (See the update at the end of the article for his comment).

http://community.research.microsoft.com/blogs/alpineinker/archive/2008/02/07/a-30-second-hardware-hack-to-make-you-ultra-productive-on-your-tablet.aspx

There were some other comments on the GottaBeMobile story about this too.
http://www.gottabemobile.com/Comment...6-a93b771d4934

Ken,

I think your "intelliscroller", with the buttons reprogrammed, might just do the trick. Thanks. I hadn't put your article and my needs together that way. The gaming controller is a bit much to carry around, but there is a mini-cordless mouse around here somewhere that needs the dust blown off of it. I just have to hope that it is no so old that its buttons are not programmable!

[bmhome1]

Wouldn't the venerable miniscroller freeware floatingtab just as easily provide the alt/shift toggledfor clicking (works in Vista)?

bmhome1,
Everything old is new again! Found that puppy in the Ink show from October 2006. An Ink show I had never viewed. THAT is going to be the solution for me, I do believe.

I'll be working with it in Bluebeam PDF Revu, and as a new user of Google Sketch Up. I'll post back here after a time to let everybody know how it works out.

Thank you!!!

[bmhome1]

Great! Also, check out Quickbuttons freeware version for another aproach to add toggle clicks. It's highly customizable and can even have thin bar at bottom for per application custom buttons. Also Vista friendly. In slate modes, I find keeping everything under stylus control more efficient than external buttons.Edited by: bmhome1

[KenHinckley]

I'd be curious what you think of the MiniScroller app, if you can get it working on your tablet. I'd forgotten about that InkShow too!

So far, miniscroller is a "Maybe" in Vista

I find I will have to retrain myself to UN-stick the Ctrl, Alt, and Shift keys. I could accomplish that, but right now, I find myself making errors.

Also, the Home and End functions run afoul of some Vista security protocol, causing the miniscroller application to be killed. I can apparently reset some security stuff to avoid that, but have not yet done so.

On the other hand, I tried the mousie Intelliscroller, hoping to be able to set up a mouse 1 - mouse 2 deal to keep the wireless mouse with reprogrammed keys saved. Software doesn't want to let me do that. If that IS the case, then I'd have to reset the mouse buttons for each drawing session.

Neither option is quite perfect yet. Still experimenting

[bmhome1]

Try setting miniscroller.exe properties for compatibility mode XP SP2. And/or run as administrator in right click dropdown menu.

MiniScroller feedback:
Even running as Administrator, the Home and End buttons evoke a Security Protocol boo-boo.

I find I need to reposition the MiniScroller transparency with each new window I open, otherwise it overlays controls I need for the application. Elevator sliders, tool buttons, etc.

After a few hours, I am still not used to UN-shifting, or UN-Controling an action

HOWEVER, a separate post today reminded me of Vista Pen Flicks - a feature I haven't made use of. I've reprogrammed one flick to be "Toggle-Shift". I had imagined the action would be Flick to hold down a Shift, take action, flick again to release the Shift. At least in Bluebeam PDF Revu, the Shift is only toggled on for thesubsequent action, then it automatically toggles to the un-shifted state. There is also a floating "Shift" icon to let one know that the flick has worked. Cool.

Reprogrammed Pen Flicks could be the answer.

More experimentation to follow