How do I change the context menu to activate on mouse down rather up?

[Lasrevinu]

I've been looking, but I can't seem to find how to change the mouse behavior to allow for pressing the right-mouse button down to open the context menu. I would like to be able to press down the right-mouse button to have the menu open, then drag the cursor to a selection and left up on the right-mouse button, opening the selection. Is that possible...?

Thank you

 

[TwoCables]

I've been looking, but I can't seem to find how to change the mouse behavior to allow for pressing the right-mouse button down to open the context menu. I would like to be able to press down the right-mouse button to have the menu open, then drag the cursor to a selection and left up on the right-mouse button, opening the selection. Is that possible...?

Thank you

I kind of doubt it. I've never heard of a way to enable a way where all you have to do is right-click, drag, and then lift your mouse button in order to "click" your selection.

 

[Lasrevinu]

It's looking that way, unfortunately.... All I'm finding in my searches are things such as how to do it in jquery or inside of whatever programs, but not actually modifying a Window's setting. I took a look at X-Mouse in hopes of a "MouseUp" binding for right-click, but nothing. Any other software that may work? I briefly looked into AutoHotKey, but, from my limited knowledge, it looked like only holding down the left-mouse button is a command, not the right.
Funny enough, I've come across some bug reports in Ubuntu or inside Chrome or Firefox stating that pop-up menus were opening the way I described and were trying to figure out how to revert back to normal.

A "solution" is to hold the right-mouse button, then click and hold the left button before releasing the right. Then I can drag to the selection and release the left button to open it. Unfortunately again, though, that still isn't as efficient, plus the timing, if not right, can cause a left-click on where the cursor is pointing.

 

[LMiller7]

I very much doubt that this is possible, at least not without some heavy duty programming. I have seen a number of programs that do this but it is done with internal non-standard message handling. It is of no relevance to making a system wide change. The current behavior has been a part of Windows for many years and if this were somehow changed it would likely cause problems for some programs.

 

[TwoCables]

I dunno, it seems to me that the way it is right now is much easier than it would be if the context menu only stayed open while the right mouse button is held down.

 

[Lasrevinu]

I crave efficiency, though!

Sure there are times when I'll accidentally click where I don't mean to do so, but overall it would feel more smooth and flowing to me to simply use one click instance total. I'm wanting this for speedier browsing in Firefox. Not sure if there was a Windows setting or not. I haven't hit up the Mozilla forums yet but will now.

 

[TwoCables]

I crave efficiency, though!

It's less ergonomic though. I mean, do that 100 times per day vs. the way it is now, and I bet that you would notice a difference after a while.

Sure there are times when I'll accidentally click where I don't mean to do so, but overall it would feel more smooth and flowing to me to simply use one click instance total. I'm wanting this for speedier browsing in Firefox. Not sure if there was a Windows setting or not. I haven't hit up the Mozilla forums yet but will now.

Speedier browsing? I'm curious: which context menu items are you using? I mean, there are keyboard letter shortcuts. There's also the extension called Menu Editor so that you don't have duplicate letters for different functions. For example: I have my main context menu edited so that for Reloading as an example, I just right-click and press 'R'. Or for going back, I would right-click and press 'B'. Except, I use the side button on the left side of my mouse for that.

If your context menu doesn't have an underlined letter for each option, then I can show you how to enable underlined letters so that you can get to know which letters do what. It's a setting in Windows.

 

[Lasrevinu]

Mostly Back and Forward. I'm looking into gestures now. Seems to be a simpler approach and still appeals to my laziness. Still would've been nice to have been able to figure out a way, though, plus I dislike having more than a few add-ons. Was hoping there is a way to modify configs directly to do this, but it looks like there's not.
I have extra buttons on my other mouse, but, still, holding right-click and opening the selection upon release seems much more satisfying to me. Darn.

 

[TwoCables]

Mostly Back and Forward. I'm looking into gestures now. Seems to be a simpler approach and still appeals to my laziness. Still would've been nice to have been able to figure out a way, though, plus I dislike having more than a few add-ons. Was hoping there is a way to modify configs directly to do this, but it looks like there's not.
I have extra buttons on my other mouse, but, still, holding right-click and opening the selection upon release seems much more satisfying to me. Darn.

What about right-clicking and pressing B for Back, and F for Forward?

If that doesn't work and if there are other items in the context menu that conflict, then you can use Menu Editor to get rid of them.

 

[UsernameIssues]

Mostly Back and Forward....

Have you tried Backspace and Shift+Backspace?

 

[TwoCables]

Mostly Back and Forward....

Have you tried Backspace and Shift+Backspace?

But Shift+Backspace requires letting go of the mouse. Backspace does too unless you use your left hand for it.

 

[Lasrevinu]

What about right-clicking and pressing B for Back, and F for Forward?

Too much work too much work.

Mostly Back and Forward....

Have you tried Backspace and Shift+Backspace?

That would be a conflict if my cursor's focus was in a text field, in which case it would be trying to delete characters instead of going back or fowards. ALT+ left or right arrow keys work, though, however my hand isn't always on the keyboard while my other hand always is on the mouse.

 

[UsernameIssues]

Mostly Back and Forward....

Have you tried Backspace and Shift+Backspace?

But Shift+Backspace requires letting go of the mouse. Backspace does too unless you use your left hand for it.

Then there maybe the back/forward buttons - but one might have to move the mouse to reach them :-(

 

[TwoCables]

What about right-clicking and pressing B for Back, and F for Forward?

Too much work too much work.

Mostly Back and Forward....

Have you tried Backspace and Shift+Backspace?

That would be a conflict if my cursor's focus was in a text field, in which case it would be trying to delete characters instead of going back or fowards. ALT+ left or right arrow keys work, though, however my hand isn't always on the keyboard while my other hand always is on the mouse.

How is that more work than clicking and dragging? Isn't your left hand already on your keyboard and therefore always ready to instantly tap F or B at a moment's notice?

 

[Lasrevinu]

Then there maybe the back/forward buttons - but one might have to move the mouse to reach them :-(

I try to keep my web browser UI as simplistic as possible. Have the navigation buttons hidden.

How is that more work than clicking and dragging? Isn't your left hand already on your keyboard and therefore always ready to instantly tap F or B at a moment's notice?

Nah, mate. I like to use my other hand to pat my head or karate chop some air. It's too wild to stay on the keyboard.

 

[UsernameIssues]

Are you using a mouse or a laptop glide pad?

 

[Lasrevinu]

Mouse.

 

[UsernameIssues]

I've tried gestures on a mouse pad - just never on a mouse. You (or someone) mentioned gestures. Does your mouse driver support those?

 

[Lasrevinu]

I'm unaware if the driver has support for gestures in the software itself, however I will be using an add-on in Firefox for the gestures.

 

[lehnerus2000]

Alt + Arrows

I realise that you have to swap from the mouse to the keyboard (or use your left hand) but in Firefox you can use:
"Alt + Left" Arrow = Back
"Alt + Right" Arrow = Forward