Spotlight captures middle mouse click

Question

Level 1

54 points

Spotlight captures middle mouse click

OS X 10.9.3, Macbook air late 2010.

I need to use some X11 software on a remote computer which requires middle and right mouse clicks.

I have tried producing the required mouse clicks in two ways: using an ancient Kensington blue tooth 3-button mouse OR using MagicPrefs to set multi-finger trackpad clicks to middle or right clicks. Either way works BUT either way the middle click is captured by OS X and instead of being sent to the remote program, it toggles the Spotlight search window instead.

How can I disable this unwanted OS X feature?

MacBook Air, OS X Mavericks (10.9.3)

Posted on Aug 19, 2014 12:23 PM

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Answer 1

Kappy

Level 10

362,007 points

Aug 19, 2014 12:42 PM in response to fredgoodman

You need to re-program what the middle click sends. You can try using third-party mouse control software such as SteerMouse 4.1.9 or USB Overdrive.

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Answer 2

fredgoodman Author

Level 1

54 points

Aug 19, 2014 2:55 PM in response to Kappy

Thanks for the suggestion, Kappy, but what would I reprogram middle click to send? The problem is that the device (trackpad or mouse) already is sending "middle click" or "mouse button 2 depressed" to the OS X device handler, and OS X is not sending this on the the remote program but rather grabbing the signal and interpreting it as "toggle Spotlight search window".

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Answer 3

Kappy

Level 10

362,007 points

Aug 19, 2014 3:40 PM in response to fredgoodman

You need to find out what, if any, code X11 recognizes as a middle button click. Or at the very least the software can be used to send nothing.

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