lsr@apple.UUCP (Larry Rosenstein) (06/27/87)
I had a problem where my mouse froze, and was about to reboot when I
discovered something interesting.
If you have the new Easy Access feature installed, you can drive the mouse
with the numeric keypad, even though the mouse might be stuck.
Consequently, you can get back to the Finder and restart your machine to
cure the problem.
This is not very surprising, since the main cause of mouse freezing is a
random hit to some hardware register. Easy Access is a totally software
driven thing, so it has a better chance of working.
--
Larry Rosenstein
Object Specialist
Apple Computer
AppleLink: Rosenstein1
UUCP: {sun, voder, nsc, mtxinu, dual}!apple!lsr
CSNET: lsr@Apple.comcccack@ucdavis.UUCP (David Ackerman) (06/29/87)
> This is not very surprising, since the main cause of mouse freezing is a > random hit to some hardware register. Easy Access is a totally software > driven thing, so it has a better chance of working. Exactly what IS Easy Access, anyway? I recently got the new system software, and there are a few files I can't figure out. It is obvious that there are some files that comprise the new control panel, so the control panel is now configurable. I looked at all the files with ResEdit, and Easy Access is an INIT. But what does it do? By the way, I really like the new stuff. The alert icons make more sense, and the shutdown feature is great. > -- > Larry Rosenstein > | | ----- +--- David Ackerman | | / | | University of California, Davis | | | | | \ / \ | | ucdavis!deneb!cccack@ucbvax.berkeley.edu (ARPA) --- ----- +--- ...!{ucbvax,lll-crg}!ucdavis!deneb!cccack (UUCP) drackerman@ucdavis (BITNET) Papa Smurf says, "Pass thru, spin the top, and crossfire!"
lsr@apple.UUCP (Larry Rosenstein) (06/30/87)
In article <602@ucdavis.UUCP> cccack@ucdavis.UUCP (David Ackerman) writes: > >Exactly what IS Easy Access, anyway? I recently got the new system software, >and there are a few files I can't figure out. It is obvious that there are The complete system release contains a README file that describes Easy Access. Easy Access provides two features: (1) Sticky keys which allow you to use the modifier keys (Shift, Command, Option, Control) without having to press two keys at once. You activate this feature by pressing the Shift key 5 times in a row without moving the mouse. You should see a little icon in the menu bar. Then, pressing a modifier key makes it stick until the next non-modifier key is pressed. So, for example, pressing Shift, then A will result in a capital A. If you press a modifier twice in a row, then it will lock. The little icon changes to reflect the different states. You can turn this off by pressing Shift 5 times in a row, or pressing 2 modifier keyus at once. (2) Mouse movements via the numeric keypad. Typing Command-Shift-Clear toggles this feature. When turned on, you can control the mouse pointer with the numeric keypad: 5 is the mouse button and the other numbers are direction controls. 0 on the keypad locks the mouse button down and period releases the lock. It was this feature that I was referring to. Since the pointer is moved in software, you should be able to drive your machine even if the mouse is frozen. In general, people should try to get the README files that come with new software release. These will be in TeachText format (which also comes on the release), so you will need that program as well. These files will describe the new features that are not in the documentation. -- Larry Rosenstein Object Specialist Apple Computer AppleLink: Rosenstein1 UUCP: {sun, voder, nsc, mtxinu, dual}!apple!lsr CSNET: lsr@Apple.com