Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!wuarchive!uunet!stanford.edu!agate!dana From: dana@are.berkeley.edu (Dana E. Keil) Newsgroups: comp.text Subject: Re: What do writers want from a word processor? Message-ID: Date: 24 Apr 91 17:47:18 GMT References: <1991Apr17.175001.8402@sjuphil.uucp> <_FTARF9@xds13.ferranti.com> <1991Apr21.051427.14547@agate.berkeley.edu> Sender: root@agate.berkeley.edu (Charlie Root) Organization: University of California, Berkeley Lines: 52 djheydt@garnet.berkeley.edu (Dorothy J. Heydt) writes: >At work, however, I have to use Word on a Macintosh. Yuchh. > *I HATE MICE* >Does anybody know about a program I've heard of called Easy Access-- >designed, so I'm told, for people with mobility problems in their >hands--which completely eliminates the use of the Mouse on the >Macintosh? All the Mac-related groups, stores, etc. I've called >to inquire about the subject have been profoundly unable to >believe > (a) that such a package exists; > (b) that anybody could possibly *want* > not to use a mouse. Easy Access, as several others have pointed out, is part of the Mac system software. In the system 6.0 manual I have titled "Macintosh System Software User's Guide" it's on p. 166. As long as the Easy Access file is in your system folder you will have use of the "sticky keys" feature and the "mouse keys" feature. (Sticky keys makes it possible to type key sequences without having to press two keys simultaneously.) Mouse keys is what you're thinking of. Pressing command-shift-clear (on the keypad) makes the number keys on the keypad move the cursor, 8, 2, 4 and 6 move the mouse up, down, left and right. The 5 key acts as the button for clicking and the 0 key locks the mouse button for dragging. I don't know why knowledgeable Mac people would claim to have never heard of it, unless you were asking the question in a way that threw them off. Whether mouse keys would really make it easier not to use the mouse is another thing, personally I find it a little too cumbersome. And besides, if you're using Word on the Macintosh there's absolutely no reason to ever touch the mouse if you don't want to (and I agree that for word processing the mouse is often, but _not always_, a slower way to do things). There are so many keyboard features built into Word that it would make this already lengthy posting too long to go into detail (email or phone me if you need more info) -- menus can be accessed by letter of title, position number or arrow keys after hitting period on the keypad, dialog box choices can be selected by the first letter of the command name, arrow keys and tab key can be used to move to and select check boxes and radio buttons, the keypad numbers can be used to move the cursor and make selections (with the shift key) etc, etc. Have a look at the Word manual and/or the online help for keyboard commands and throw away your wretched mouse if you want to. As for me, I don't hate the mouse, I see a good use for it in some situations and a good use for the keyboard in others -- wouldn't want to throw away either one. -- Dana E. Keil Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics University of California, Berkeley dana@are.berkeley.edu