Logitech laser mouse: middle click switches applications

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Level 1

8 points

Logitech laser mouse: middle click switches applications

I use a Logitech MX laser mouse, and for reasons I can't quite figure out, the middle click function is bound to the CMD+Tab hotkey, which switches applications. The Logitech Control Center application couldn't fix the problem, so I uninstalled it and replaced it with SteerMouse, but the issue doesn't seem to be with the mouse or its software. The middle button is assigned to "middle click," which is correct. Middle clicking just fires the "switch applications" shortcut.

The Mouse system preference doesn't have any options for a middle mouse button, and my Expose and Spaces preferences don't seem to control the hotkey. Is there anything else I can do to either unbind or override this command?

I've had this mouse for a couple years, but it only became an issue when I started to use Maya on a regular basis. It requires frequent middle clicks, which unfortunately switches me out of the program. There are workarounds, but I'd rather just use my mouse as intended.

iMac 2.8 GHz Core2 Duo, Mac OS X (10.6)

Posted on Oct 17, 2009 8:36 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Kenichi Watanabe

Level 8

41,584 points

Oct 17, 2009 1:23 PM in response to Sternum

If you have the Mighty Mouse that came with your iMac, try connecting it to your iMac. Disconnect the other mouse. Open System Preferences Mouse pane. You should now see the special pane for Mighty Mouse. If the center click setting is +Application Switcher+, change it to OFF. Then disconnect the mouse and reconnect your third-party mouse. See if it now works properly.

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Answer 2

Oct 18, 2009 11:22 AM in response to Sternum

That may not be the solution, but I noticed that on my system, whatever I set the center button setting to with a Mighty Mouse sticks when I disconnect it and connect a generic USB mouse; normally, you can't set center click to do anything using the built-in generic mouse preference pane. So for me, it is a good thing, but I thought it might be related to your issue.

As a test, you can try creating a new admin user account in System Preferences Accounts pane

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.5/en/8235.html

Log out and log in to the new account. In the new account, you will be using the default user setting. Set up your Logitech mouse there and see if you have this same issue, or not.

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Answer 3

Oct 24, 2009 9:17 AM in response to Sternum

if you still want the switch applications function for the middle (third) button then when you go into system preferences and expose you'll have the pull down menus for the keyboard and mouse. If you press the control button and then click the menu you will see next to the second button the symbol for the control key. You could choose between the the control key, Option key or  Command key. Using the control or Option key is best as to avoid mixing up with another shortcut. Then to use expose press ^ and the middle button to open all windows. Simple but effective!!!

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Answer 4

Sternum Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 18, 2009 10:29 AM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

Nuts. I gave it away. Perhaps I can find an extra one laying around at work.

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Answer 5

Oct 22, 2009 12:46 AM in response to Sternum

So that special "feature" was good for me, but bad for you. 🙂 Glad it was a simple fix, and thanks for reporting back with the outcome.

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Answer 6

Sternum Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 21, 2009 3:38 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

I borrowed a Mighty Mouse from work. Plugging it into the iMac opened up the extended Mouse menu, which let me switch the middle mouse button from "Application Switch" to "Button 3." I switched back to the Logitech MX laser mouse and fired up Maya, and now I can pan across my screen properly.

Thanks for the help!

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