Assign keyboard shortcut to a button on Mighty Mouse?

Question

Assign keyboard shortcut to a button on Mighty Mouse?

Hi all,

I'm thinking about switching from my Logitech MX400 to Mighty Mouse (I'm starting not to like the shape of the logitech, too big. MM is a breeze to work with...) and I have a question.

The Logitech essentially has one button more (it has two side buttons, each separately programmable) and I use it for executing Cmd+H on the active app -- and I've grown pretty addicted to it. Hiding an app with a mouse is a lovely feat... And the second one is for Expose.

So, I have to decide which of the two feats I assign to the MM side buttons. And here goes my Q: If I decide on the hiding feat, is it possible to assign app hiding to the MM side buttons?

I was thinking maybe I could create an AppleScript that executes Cmd+H on an active app (is this possible at all with AS?) and assign the Apple script to those sides...

Or do you guys have any other ideas? The Logitech really has fantastic button binding possibilities, but the MM is really nice to work with...

Thanks in advance.

Black MacBook 2.2 GHz, Mac OS X (10.5.7)

Posted on Jun 6, 2009 11:54 AM

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Answer 1

Kappy

Level 10

362,007 points

Jun 6, 2009 1:58 PM in response to daniel kvasnicka jr.

Download and install SteerMouse - VersionTracker or MacUpdate - to use with the MM. You will be able to set up keyboard macros and bind them to a mouse button.

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Answer 2

Jun 6, 2009 2:05 PM in response to Kappy

I know of this thing. Not that I refuse paying for SW, but this seems to me like a thing that I'd like to solve without having to buy SW... if it's possible.

Thanks for the hint anyways.

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Answer 3

Kappy

Level 10

362,007 points

Jun 6, 2009 2:19 PM in response to daniel kvasnicka jr.

You can't because there is no built-in mechanism for programming any mouse even the MM without using third-party software. SteerMouse is only a $20 shareware fee and worth it. It works with most all Logitech mice. I use it with Logitech's MX and VX Revolution mice. It's even more flexible than Logitech's own software. More importantly it works well with the MM. But of course the decision is yours. Spend $20 or spend hours only to discover there's no better or other solution.

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Answer 4

Jun 6, 2009 2:44 PM in response to Kappy

I think I've found what I need: http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=200833
I can save that as an app and map it to a MM button. That should work.

Thanks for your hints anyway 🙂

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Answer 5

Kappy

Level 10

362,007 points

Jun 6, 2009 2:52 PM in response to daniel kvasnicka jr.

The trick is mapping it to a mouse button. Even the discussion you linked suggested that wasn't possible.

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Answer 6

Jun 6, 2009 2:59 PM in response to Kappy

You can map any app to a MM mouse button. That's a feature included with the default drivers, AFAIK.
And saving an AppleScript as an .app bundle is a standard feature included in Script editor (at least when talking Leopard)

So I think I'm set. Well, it's possible that the "frontmost command" will take the script app itself... we'll see.

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Answer 7

Jun 6, 2009 3:12 PM in response to daniel kvasnicka jr.

Looks like that's the case... but this should do the trick when put before the tell command, which hides the app:

tell application "System Events"
keystroke tab using (command down)
end tell

This actually switches to the app used before the script app, which actually is the frontmost in my view. Looks like it works when I run it. We'll see how it's gonna work with the MM.

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Answer 8

sdschramm

Level 3

525 points

Jun 6, 2009 10:39 PM in response to daniel kvasnicka jr.

STAY AWAY FROM "SteerMouse"!!!

I installed the trial, and it made me reboot the computer after the install. I do so and after to boots up, I loose my "left" click! All I could do was move the cursor and RIGHT click, but no left click! The trackpad button was the same way.

Thankfully I keyboarded my way around the menus and got it uninstalled.

That was the end of that for me!!!

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Answer 9

Jun 7, 2009 12:17 AM in response to sdschramm

To be honest, I tend not to put my money on software whose lastest version was released like year ago or so... I mean SW that doesn't show activity. And the web that looks like it's been teleported back from the 90s...? I don't know. It may be a good SW for me or it may suck as you say... but I don't feel like paying for this.

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