◊ This control panel is distributed as shareware: if you like it please honor the shareware system by sending $3 to the author at the address above. Since cashing international cheques is very expensive, please send cash only (U.S. dollars are best, but any other currency is fine).
◊ If you work on the Macintosh, there are many things you can send me instead of the money. Here are some suggestions: original software (but don't send any shareware/freeware unless you're the author), books or computer-related magazines (any free issue or subscription is welcome), CD-ROMs, any piece of new or used hardware, or anything else you've created.
◊ There's still another thing you could do: I'll finish my physics studies sometime in 1996 and I'm looking for a one-year job as a programmer (or maybe a scientist?) outside of Italy. Let me know if you have anything to offer.
◊ If you can't afford any of the above an e-mail, a postcard or a letter is welcome. I speak English, French and Italian. Please forgive me if I don't answer to all of your letters - I am often overloaded with my school work.
• Introduction
◊ PowerClicks is a useful Control Panel that does the following things:
- it can make a key combination act just like the mouse button;
- it can make another key combination toggle the mouse button on and off;
- it can disable the real mouse button (in case it's broken);
- it can assign graphical effects to mouse clicks.
◊ The mouse button key is useful if you have to use your PowerBook in a very silent environment, where even a trackball click is too loud; since the keyboard is a lot more quiet than the trackball button, you'll be able to use your trackball while other people are reading or even sleeping. You may also use this option to temporarily replace a broken mouse button on any Macintosh.
◊ The button-toggle key is useful if you want to use your PowerBook trackball with only one hand. I find it hard to move the ball while keeping the button down, and I often release the trackball button before the dragging is over. This can be very annoying when you are selecting a command from a menu (releasing the button makes your fingers move so the cursor slips away). Using the button-toggle key should make your life a lot easier: strike the key once and move the cursor where it should be, then take your whole hand away from the trackball and strike the key again.
◊ There are other situations where the button-toggle key can be useful:
- drawing with the freehand tool in graphical applications;
- walking through hierarchical menus;
- making precise or large selections (icons, text or graphics);
- moving icons and other objects on the desktop;
- any other complex mouse drag you can think of.
◊ The graphical effects lets you see where both real and virtual mouse clicks occur. Many extensions and control panels create virtual mouse clicks to gain control over the environment - take a look at Now Utilities' Super Boomerang for a good example.
• Version history
◊ 1.1.1 - Added pictures and a contents menu to the online documentation.
◊ 1.1 - Changed a lot of code to bring PowerClicks up to date.
◊ 1.02 - Minor fixes.
◊ 1.01 - Added Control Panel and "Disable Mouse Button" option for broken mice.
◊ 1.0 - First cut as a non-configurable system extension.
• Thanks to…
◊ Valentina Pavia, who tried to sleep while I played with my PowerBook (this is why I had to write PowerClicks in the first place).
◊ Fabrizio Oddone and Alberto Ricci, who did the beta-testing and gave lots of useful suggestions.
◊ You may find the latest version of all my shareware programs by anonymous ftp to ftp.alpcom.it, inside the /software/mac/LMontalcini directory. The complete ShareDisk package, which contains all my stuff and can be registered at a very low price, is also available there.
◊ All online services and bulletin boards may make it available to their users at no charge other than the normal connection fees.
◊ All non-profit user groups may distribute it at no charge.
◊ All magazines may publish it on floppy disk without asking me first, as long as I get a copy of the issue containing my software.
◊ All CD-ROM shareware collections and CD-ROM magazines may include it without my prior consent, as long as I get either a copy of the CD-ROM or an offer to buy the CD-ROM at a discounted price.
◊ All redistribution companies such as Educorp may distribute it, as long as I get a copy of each media containing my software and a catalog of the company’s offerings (where applicable).
• Disclaimer
◊ PowerClicks shouldn’t cause any damage, but you’re using it at your own risk. As an independent software developer, I can make no warranties whatsoever on it.
• Have fun!
◊ And don't forget to $$$ send your contribution $$$ so that more cool utilities will see the light in the near future, at the low-low-low costs of shareware.
