Chapter 2 Configuring the Mouse and Keyboard
This chapter describes how to configure the mouse and keyboard to make
these devices accessible to more users.
2.1 Configuring the Mouse
Use the Mouse preference tool to configure the
mouse to suit your needs. To open the Mouse preference
tool, click Launch, then choose Preferences -> Desktop Preferences -> Mouse.
The Mouse Preferences dialog is displayed.
2.1.1 To Configure the Behavior of the Mouse
The following sections describe how to modify the behavior of the mouse
to suit your needs.
2.1.1.1 To Configure the Mouse for Left-Handed Use
To configure the mouse for left-handed use, click on the Buttons tab in the Mouse Preferences dialog,
then select the Left-handed mouse option. When you select
this option, the system swaps the functions of the left mouse button and the
right mouse button immediately.
2.1.1.2 To Configure the Double-Click Behavior
If you have difficulty double-clicking, you can increase
the period of time that the system allows to elapse between the first click
and the second click of a double-click. For example, if the double-click timeout
setting is 0.4 seconds, you must perform the second click of a double-click
within 0.4 seconds of the first click. If the second click occurs more than
0.4 seconds after the first click, the system interprets the two clicks as
two single clicks.
To configure the double-click timeout setting, perform the following
steps:
-
Click on the Buttons tab in the Mouse Preferences dialog.
-
Use the Timeout slider to specify the
timeout in seconds that the system allows between the two clicks of a double-click.
-
Double-click on the light bulb to the right of the slider
to test the setting. If you perform the two clicks of the double-click within
the timeout specified, the light bulb lights up fully to display a yellow
glow around the bulb. If you do not double-click within the timeout specified,
the light bulb does not light fully. You should increase the timeout setting
and try again. When the light bulb lights, the timeout setting is suitable
for your needs.
2.1.1.3 To Change the Size of the Cursor and Pointer
To change the size of the cursor and pointer that is displayed
on the desktop, perform the following steps:
-
Click on the Cursors tab in the Mouse Preferences dialog.
-
Select one of the following Cursor Size
options:
-
To complete this change, you must log out of your session
and log in again.
2.1.1.4 To Locate the Mouse Pointer
If you have difficulty locating the mouse pointer on the
screen, you can enable an option to highlight the pointer when you press the Control key. To enable this option, click on the Cursors tab in the Mouse Preferences dialog, then
select the Highlight the pointer when you press Ctrl
option. When you press Control, the system displays an animation
around the pointer to highlight the pointer.
Note –
On some platforms, you must log out and log in again before this
setting takes effect.
2.1.1.5 To Configure the Speed and Sensitivity of the Mouse
To configure the speed and sensitivity of the mouse, perform
the following steps:
-
Click on the Motion tab in the Mouse Preferences dialog.
-
Configure the following options:
- Acceleration
-
Use the slider to specify
the speed at which the mouse pointer moves around the screen when you move
your mouse.
If you select a low setting, the mouse pointer moves at a speed similar
to the speed at which you are physically moving the mouse. This means that
you need to physically move the mouse larger distances to cover the screen
area. If you select a high setting, the mouse pointer moves at a faster speed
than the speed at which you physically move the mouse. This means that you
need to physically move the mouse small distances to cover the screen area.
- Sensitivity
-
Use the slider to specify
how sensitive the mouse pointer is to movements of your mouse.
- Threshold
-
Use the slider to specify
the distance that you must move an item before the system interprets the move
action as a drag-and-drop action.
2.1.2 To Configure the Cursor
The following section describes how to modify the display characteristics
of the cursor.
2.1.2.1 To Stop the Cursor Blinking
To stop the cursor blinking in text boxes and fields, perform the following
steps:
-
Click Launch, then choose Preferences -> Desktop Preferences -> Keyboard -> Behavior
to start the Keyboard Behavior
preference tool.
-
In the Keyboard tabbed section, deselect
the Cursor blinks in text boxes and fields option.
2.1.3 To Use the Keyboard to Emulate the Mouse
If you have difficulty using a mouse, you can use the keyboard to emulate
the mouse functions. See 2.2.3 To Enable the Keyboard to Emulate the Mouse of this guide for more
information.
2.2 Configuring the Keyboard
Use the Keyboard Accessibility preference
tool, also known as AccessX, to configure the keyboard
accessibility options. To start AccessX, click Launch, then choose Preferences -> Accessibility -> Keyboard.
The Keyboard Accessibility Preferences (AccessX)
dialog enables you to customize your keyboard in the following ways:
2.2.1 Before You Can Use AccessX on Solaris Systems
If you are using the desktop
for the Solaris 8 or Solaris 9 operating system, you must enable XKB on your
system before you can use the AccessX preference
tool.
Note –
XKB is not currently supported on Sun
RayTM systems.
To enable XKB on a non-Sun Ray Solaris system, perform the following
steps:
-
Log in as root.
-
Check if the path and file /etc/dt/config/Xservers exists on your system.
-
If the /etc/dt/config directory does
not exist, enter the following command:
-
If the Xservers file is not present,
enter the following command:
cp /usr/dt/config/Xservers /etc/dt/config/Xservers
|
-
Open the Xservers file in a text editor
and scroll to the end of the file.
-
Append the following to the command line at the end of the
file:
-
Save and close the file.
-
Enter the following command at a command line:
-
Log out of your session and log in again.
-
To verify if XKB is running, execute the following command:
xdpyinfo
then search for XKEYBOARD in the extensions list.
2.2.2 To Activate the Keyboard Accessibility Options
To activate the keyboard accessibility options, perform the following steps:
-
Select the Enable keyboard accessibility features option.
-
Click on the Basic tab.
-
Select the Beep when features turned on or off from
keyboard option to receive an audible notification each time a
user enables or disables a keyboard accessibility option using the following
keyboard shortcuts:
-
To automatically disable the keyboard accessibility options
if the options are not used for a specified number of seconds, select the Disable if unused for X seconds option. Use the slider to specify
the number of seconds of keyboard idle time required before the system disables
the keyboard accessibility options.
This option is intended for computers that are shared by a number of
different users, some of whom require the keyboard accessibility options.
2.2.3 To Enable the Keyboard to Emulate the Mouse
The mouse keys feature
enables you to use the numeric keypad on the keyboard to emulate mouse actions.
This feature benefits users who have difficulty using a mouse or other pointing
device. To enable and configure the mouse keys feature, perform the following
steps:
-
Click on the Mouse Keys tab.
-
Select the Enable Mouse Keys option.
-
Configure the following options to determine the behavior
of the mouse pointer when you control the pointer from the numeric keypad:
- Maximum pointer speed
-
Use this spin box to specify the maximum speed, in pixels per second,
at which the pointer moves around the screen.
- Time to accelerate to maximum speed
-
Use this spin box to specify the duration, in milliseconds,
before the pointer accelerates to the maximum pointer speed.
- Delay between keypress and pointer movement
-
Use this spin box to specify the interval,
in milliseconds, between a keypress and the time when the pointer starts to
move.
When you enable mouse keys, the keys on the numeric keypad have the
following functions:
Table 2–1 Numeric Keypad to Mouse Functions Mapping on Solaris Systems
|
Numeric Keypad Keys
|
Function
|
|
1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9
|
Move the mouse pointer around the screen
|
|
5
|
Mouse button click
|
|
0
|
Mouse button double-click
|
|
.
|
Mouse button press
|
|
/
|
Mouse button 1
|
|
*
|
Mouse button 2
|
|
-
|
Mouse button 3
|
Some Solaris systems also use the function keys to emulate
the mouse buttons. The common function key to mouse button mappings are described
in the following table.
Table 2–2 Function Keys to Mouse Functions Mapping on Solaris Systems
|
Function Key
|
Function
|
|
F2
|
Mouse button 1
|
|
F3
|
Mouse button 2
|
|
F4
|
Mouse button 3
|
2.2.4 To Enable the Slow Keys Feature
The slow keys feature
enables you to customize how the keyboard handles user input in the following
ways:
-
Specify the duration for which you must press-and-hold a key
before the system accepts the keypress. This aspect of the feature benefits
users who frequently press keys that they do not intend to press.
-
Enable audible indications of keyboard input and acceptance.
This aspect of the feature benefits users who cannot see the result of a keypress.
To enable and configure the slow keys feature, perform the following
steps:
-
Click on the Filters tab.
-
Select the Enable Slow Keys option.
Tip –
To select or deselect this feature from the keyboard, press-and-hold Shift for eight seconds. This keyboard shortcut automatically selects
all of the slow keys options. If you selected the Beep when features
turned on or off from the keyboard option, after four seconds the
system beeps three times to indicate that the system is about to select or
deselect the feature. If you enable this feature from the keyboard, you must
press-and-hold Shift for eight seconds again to disable the
feature.
-
Use the Only accept keys held for slider
or spin box to specify the duration, in milliseconds, for which you must press-and-hold
a key before the system accepts the keypress. Use the Type to test
settings text box to test the slow keys setting and modify the
setting as required.
-
To enable audible indications of keyboard input and acceptance,
select the following options:
- Beep when key is pressed
-
Select this option to hear a beep when you press a key.
- Beep when key is accepted
-
Select this option to hear a beep when the system accepts
a keypress.
- Beep when key is rejected
-
Select this option to hear a beep when the system rejects
a keypress. The system rejects a keypress if you do not press-and-hold the
key for the duration that is specified in the Only accept keys held
for spin box.
2.2.5 To Enable the Bounce Keys Feature
The bounce keys
feature enables you to customize the keyboard to ignore rapid, repeated keypresses
of the same key. For example, users with impaired motor skills might press
the same key several times when they intend to press the key once. This feature
enables you to customize the keyboard to ignore repeated keypresses.
To enable and configure the bounce keys feature, perform the following
steps:
-
Click on the Filters tab.
-
Select the Enable Bounce Keys option.
-
Use the Ignore duplicate keypresses within
slider or spin box to specify the duration in milliseconds after the first
keypress for which the system ignores repeated keypresses of the same key.
For example, if you select a duration of 500 ms, the system ignores all repeated
keypresses of the same key that occur within 500 ms of the first keypress.
-
Select the Beep if key is rejected option
to hear an audible indication when the system ignores a key.
Note –
If you wish to enable the bounce keys feature, please ensure that
the Enable Slow Keys option is deselected. The slow keys
feature requires you to press a key for a specified duration before the system
accepts the keypress as a valid keypress. If you cannot press the key for
the duration that is specified by the slow keys setting, the system does not
accept your input unless you deselect the Enable Slow Keys
option.
2.2.6 To Enable the Sticky Keys Feature
The sticky keys
feature enables you to press the keys in a key combination in sequence rather
than simultaneously. This feature is designed for users who are unable to
press two or more keys simultaneously.
To enable and configure the sticky keys feature, perform the following
steps:
-
Click on the Basic tab.
-
Select the Enable Sticky Keys option.
Tip –
To enable the sticky keys feature from the keyboard, press Shift five times. This keyboard shortcut automatically selects all
of the sticky keys options. If you selected the Beep when features
turned on or off from the keyboard option, the system beeps to
indicate that the system is about to select or deselect the feature. If you
enable this feature from the keyboard, press Shift five times
again to disable the feature.
-
Select the Beep when modifier is pressed
option to receive an audible indication each time you press a modifier key
such as Ctrl, Alt, or Shift.
This option is useful to remind you whether a modifier key is active or inactive.
-
To automatically disable the sticky keys feature when a user
presses two keys simultaneously, select the Disable if two keys
pressed together option.
You can use the sticky keys feature in latch or lock mode. The following
table describes how to choose a mode and the difference between the two modes.
Table 2–3 Sticky Keys Latch or Lock Mode
|
To use the sticky keys feature in...
|
Press the modifier key...
|
The modifier key stays active
until...
|
|
Latch mode
|
Once.
|
You press
a non-modifier key.
|
|
Lock mode
|
Twice in quick succession.
|
You press the modifier key again.
|
For example, if you want to press Alt + F1, do the following:
-
Press Alt to latch the modifier key. The Alt key remains active.
-
Press F1. The key combination is now complete.
After you press F1, the Alt modifier key
is no longer active.
As another example, if you want to press Ctrl + Alt + Tab, do the following:
-
Press Ctrl twice to lock the modifier key.
The Ctrl key remains active.
-
Press Alt.
-
Press Tab. The key combination is now complete.
-
To unlock the modifier key, press Ctrl again.
2.2.7 To Enable Audible Notifications for Toggle Keys
A toggle key is any key on the keyboard that
can switch between two states. The Num Lock, Caps
Lock, and Scroll Lock keys are toggle keys. Most
toggle keys have an associated light emitting diode (LED) on the keyboard
that lights when the toggle key is active. To assist users with visual impairments,
you can customize the keyboard to emit an audible notification when a user
presses a toggle key. For example, when you press Num Lock,
you can determine whether the key is toggled or not toggled by the sound.
To enable accessible toggle keys, select the Enable Toggle
Keys option in the Filters tabbed section.
When you activate the Num Lock, Caps Lock,
or Scroll Lock keys, the system beeps once. When you deactivate
a toggle key, the system beeps twice.
2.2.8 To Enable the Repeat Keys Feature
The repeat keys
feature enables you to repeat a keystroke multiple times without pressing
the key more than once. This feature is designed for users who cannot release
keys quickly, for example users who operate a mouth stick. When you enable
repeat keys, you can specify the duration for which you must press a key before
the key starts to repeat.
To enable and configure the repeat keys feature, perform the following
steps:
-
Click on the Basic tab.
-
Select the Enable Repeat Keys option.
-
Use the Delay slider or spin box to specify
the duration for which you must press a key before the keyboard interprets
the action as a repeat key. If you have difficulty releasing keys, select
a long time delay.
-
Use the Speed slider or spin box to specify
the speed at which the keyboard repeats the keypress as input.
2.3 Using the Keyboard Accessibility Status Panel Application
The Keyboard Accessibility Status
panel application shows the status of the keyboard accessibility features.
The panel application displays icons to indicate which keyboard accessibility
features are enabled in the Keyboard Accessibility
preference tool.
To add the Keyboard Accessibility Status
panel application to a panel, right-click on the panel, then choose Add to Panel -> Accessories -> Keyboard Accessibility Status.