Re: question about RMB

[Dan Mueth <d-mueth uchicago edu>]

On 15 Oct 2000 otaylor redhat com wrote:

> Well, I think most peopel in the discussion know this, but since it
> hasn't been brought up the problem with 1,2,3 is that for some reason,
> people seem to think the buttons are numbered, left to right, 1,3,2.
> 
> (Because, I assume, the middle button is "extra" compared to the
> windows standard)

Owen - thanks for pointing this out.

If I have a two button mouse, then I would say they are (left to right)
MB1 and MB2.  If I have a three button mouse, then I would say they are
(left to right) MB1, MB2, MB3.  Sounds reasonable, right?  This is what
your newbie user, as well as your average user would expect IMO.  
Left-handed users will have to remember to count backwards.

The problem is that our docs would say "To view the help manual for an
applet, click on the applet with MB2 (or MB3 if you are using a 3-button
mouse) and select 'Help'".  This is really unacceptable IMO.  

As Owen points out, in order to keep consistant mapping between button
number and button function, people will have to remember that if you have
a three button mouse, they are numbered 1,3,2.  Anybody who hasn't read
the "Mouse Manual" will certainly get this wrong, and anybody with a
3-button mouse who has read it will have to stop and think every time they
see MB2 in order to remember if MB2 is the second or third button. This
solution is basically transfering the confusion from left-handed users to
3-button mouse users.  I think this option is even less attractive than
explicitly explaining which button is which inline.

Dan