Annoying Mouse Behavior (esp. in Outlook and Quicken)
February 11, 2006 4:33 PM Subscribe
I have sub-screens and sub-windows (as opposed the main window of a program itself) that are no longer persistent, i.e., they close or minimize whenever I roll the mouse pointer off a button that was used to open that sub-window. The problem is most annoying in Outlook and in Quicken. For example, if I try to create a new appointment in Outlook, I can open the New Appointment screen, and it remains visible, but then to select a Start Time or End Time, I click on the down arrow next to date or time box, a calendar or list of times appears, but the moment the mouse pointer moves off of the box with the down arrow, the menu of choices closes.
Similarly, in Quicken, if I want to create a Report, i can use the drop down menu to select a type of report, I can open the tabs to customize the Report, but the moment i select Show Report, the report minimizes into a small bar on the bottom of the screen. If I click on that bar, the report appears, but if I move the pointer off that bar, the report instantly closes. I installed a new version of both Quicken and Outlook, yet the behavior persists. I have reinstalled new mouse drivers to no avail. SUGGESTIONS PLEASE!!
Similarly, in Quicken, if I want to create a Report, i can use the drop down menu to select a type of report, I can open the tabs to customize the Report, but the moment i select Show Report, the report minimizes into a small bar on the bottom of the screen. If I click on that bar, the report appears, but if I move the pointer off that bar, the report instantly closes. I installed a new version of both Quicken and Outlook, yet the behavior persists. I have reinstalled new mouse drivers to no avail. SUGGESTIONS PLEASE!!
Best answer: Have you been playing with TweakUI? Sounds like you might have the X-Mouse option on.
I guess it's possible that some drivers have other ways to turn this setting on and off. If you can't find one in yours, get the TweakUI powertoy here.
posted by tiamat at 4:54 PM on February 11, 2006
The "Activation follows mouse" check-box enables X-Mouse style window activation. When X-Mouse style window activation is enabled, you need only move the mouse into a window in order to give it focus. Normally, you must click on a window in order to give it focus. This is a per-user setting.When I turn these options on using TweakUI I get the same stupid behaviour that you get.
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If you check the "Autoraise when activating" check-box, then moving the mouse into a window will not only give it focus, but also raise it to the top as if you had clicked n it.
I guess it's possible that some drivers have other ways to turn this setting on and off. If you can't find one in yours, get the TweakUI powertoy here.
posted by tiamat at 4:54 PM on February 11, 2006
Response by poster: wow, thanks for the quick help and correct solution.
posted by Carsey at 9:23 PM on February 11, 2006
posted by Carsey at 9:23 PM on February 11, 2006
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 4:50 PM on February 11, 2006