Help - Mouse button config

I used autocad many years ago as a student and at the time one could
simply start a line by clicking your left mouse button. Although it is
not very accurate it is quite useful to operate like that.

In my current version of autocad the left mouse button does not
initiate "line".

I would really appreciate any help or comments that will help me to set
my system to opearte like that.

Thanks

 

what kind of mouse and what version of AutoCAD? Btw, the left mouse
button is normally used for selection in Acad and mapping it to the LINE
command would be very unusual IMO
Dave
DDP

 

Thanks ddpcad

It does sound a bit odd doesn't it? I will try to give you a reason
why. Here goes...

We are refining a set of tools that provide different way of using the
mouse/keyboard combination. It is the idea of my friend (a retired
architect) that has been using cad systems since these became
available. He has been working with this for many years, but as the cad
systems improved over the years, they changed as well. In the original
DOS based systems you would have used the left button to initiate a
line (I believe). In the new windows based versions this has obviously
changed - as you correctly pointed out. He is thus forced to use his
DOS system and these are becoming more "obsolete" as one has to get
very creative by running multiple boot options (DOS & Windows under
Linux) and it is just not elegant + makes it harder when using many
different applications.

We believe that we can apply these "tools" to generate drawings
for buildings far quicker than the typical user. I hate to generalise
so please accept my apologies if anyone is offended by this statement.


To answer your question: I am using a MS mouse and ACAD 2004. But, I
would not like to find solution that is specific to a kind of mouse or
version of CAD as we would like to provide these tools for all users,
regardless of version or hardware.

Once again thanks for your response

 

It would help if you told the group what version you want to customize.

In older versions the behavior of buttons on a pointing device is controlled
in the BUTTONS and AUX sections loaded menu file. I don't see any problems
in getting any button you want to initiate the LINE command. (Try the F1 key
and read up on menus, or even the whole Customization section, if you are
running a Windows version of acad. In older versions I used the printed
manual for this sort of thing.)

Having said that, as applications change, it is likely that the most
efficient way of doing anything is likely to change somewhat. I appreciate
that a guy might have a set way of working and that he might want to stay
comfortable towards the end of his career, or not feed anymore money to
software designers who seem to spend a lot of time shuffling menu options
and redesigning the look of button graphics, but I'd like to see the
routines that would make drawing buildings in a DOS environment faster than
in a GUI environment....and I'm no big button-clicker.

Now, where's my 12" throw brace....?

 

well, have you tried remapping the left mouse button function using the
mouse software? I don't use a MS mouse but my Logitech MX1000 has
multiple buttons that can have their function changed to whatever you
would like. And, if your mouse does have multiple buttons, IMO it would
be better to map a double button click to LINE, like say Ctrl-Left button
Dave
DDP
ps: oops, just checked my config options in my mouse software and it
seems that only 8 of the 10 buttons can be changed. The two that can't
are the left and right mouse buttons. So, with my mouse anyway you'd
have to do what you want with another button or combination of buttons.

 

Hi Michael

Thanks for your response and guidance. I will definitely use it.

I think you got it in one go (end of career, not wanting to change...)
but I think there might be a little bit of truth in it. I say that not
being fully informed, but I can imagine that drawing mainly rectangular
shapes and repeatedly needing the same functions like surface area etc.
means that you can set up your environment to function specific to your
way of working and in doing so improving the general or standard way.

Also there are other architects who is using his system and swear by it
- but they fit thesame profile so perhaps it does not consitute proof

 

Like I said, I'd like to see it. I draw buildings for a living, and the
faster I can do that the more time I can spend guilt-free at the rink. I'd
like to think that I'm open to smarter ways of doing things.

 

I think run the risk of running out of bandwidth on the specific
advantages of using this proposed system. My friend keeps on promoting
this is a potential business opportunity, but I remain sceptically
optimistic. So it would be very useful to obtain the opinion(s) of
other unbiased party(s). So what I will do is I will send the toolset
to the first 30 persons who submit their requests via this forum -
once we have completed the conversion from DOS to Win format. Your
feedback will serve as yardstick for my commitment going forward.

Michael,
I will share the respective contact details between you and Dr. Gordon
on your personal email if OK with you. I am sure he will be keen to,
and capable to, engage in a meaningful conversation on the topic.

 

Go to my website and click the banner to email.

 

I never heard from you or Dr. Gordon...