Basic mouse actions

Figure 1 shows the mouse button orientation for a left-handed and a right-handed 3-button mouse.

Figure 1. Mouse buttons.

The following terms describe actions you perform using the mouse:

Click

Press and quickly release the mouse button. Unless otherwise specified, the instruction click means that you should click mouse button 1.

Drag

Press and hold down mouse button 1 while moving the mouse.

Point

Move the mouse until the cursor is over the desired item.

Select

Point to an item and then click mouse button 1.

ShiftClick

Press and hold the Shift key, click mouse button 1, and then release the Shift key.

CtrlClick

Press and hold the Ctrl key, click mouse button 1, and then release the Ctrl key.

Abaqus/CAE is designed for use with a 3-button mouse. Accordingly, this guide refers to mouse buttons 1, 2, and 3 as shown in Figure 1. However, you can use Abaqus/CAE with a 2-button mouse as follows:

  • The two mouse buttons are equivalent to mouse buttons 1 and 3 on a 3-button mouse.

  • Pressing both mouse buttons simultaneously is equivalent to pressing mouse button 2 on a 3-button mouse.

Tip: You are instructed to click mouse button 2 in procedures throughout this guide. Make sure that you configure mouse button 2 (or the wheel button) to act as a middle button click.