You use the computer very often during your daily life and you happen to carry out the same operations several times, especially those related to the mouse: click on buttons, move elements on the screen and so on. A rather boring thing, since it would be enough to automate them to save a lot of time. You have therefore informed yourself about what can be done in this regard and have heard about the world of macro. However, you have not fully understood what it is and you have not been able to find a detailed guide that can give you a general understanding of the subject. Well, don't worry - you've come to just the right place!
In today's tutorial, in fact, I will explain you in detail how to put macros on the mouse. In case you were wondering, I will analyze both the simplest and the most advanced solutions, in order to allow you to fully explore this fascinating world, according to your needs. I will not fail to talk about the way in which the mouse buttons are managed and the solutions that can allow you to automate the most complex operations with a simple press of a button.
What do you say? Are you ready to let me take you to the magical world of macros? In my opinion, yes, since you have come this far and are reading this guide with particular interest. Come on then, all you have to do is take some time for yourself and follow the instructions below. I assure you that this is a fascinating subject and can save you a lot of time. Having said that, I would say to leave immediately. There is nothing left for me to do, except wish you good reading and have fun!
Index
Preliminary information
Prima di enter the dettaglio della procedura su how to put macros on the mouse, I think you might be interested in learning more about this possibility.
Well, macros are nothing more than one combination of keys or actions which can be saved for automatically and quickly take action which is done often or which in any case may not be very easy to remember by heart.
To give you a concrete example, let's consider the typing the letter "E". On Windows, the latter can be "written" by pressing the combination Alt + 0200 (the numbers must be those of the numeric keypad, while Alt must be held down).
A student may need to use the aforementioned letter often, but remembering the key combination is not always so simple. For this reason, have one macro of the mouse - or even the keyboard - which allows you to quickly perform this operation through the simple pressing a key can be particularly useful.
Obviously the one mentioned is one of the myriad examples that can be done, since macros are essentially applicable to any activity related to a computer, from writing to gaming. Only one thing: use macros responsibly, without going to take actions that could create problems for you or someone else. In short, if you plan to use macros in competitive gaming activities, analyze the rules of the game well and do not be unfair towards other players.
How to set up macros on the mouse
After explaining to you in detail what are macros, I'd say you're ready to take action. Below you will find all the information you are looking for.
Mouse manufacturer program
Many times, those who want to use macros have a gaming mouse. In this case, it is directly the produttore to provide the program that implements this functionality.
Obviously, I can't be precise with my directions, as there are myriads of gaming mice and each brand develops its own software. In any case, usually just opening the manufacturer program, find the option for macro, registrarne one and associate it with a key specific. You should therefore not have any particular problems in this regard.
To give you a concrete example, I will examine the procedure concerning the mouse Corsair Nightsword RGB in my possession and the appropriate program iCUE per Windows. If you also have a mouse of this type, to download the relative management program, connected to the Corsair official website, press the yellow button DOWNLOAD NOW and wait for the download for free is completed.
After that, start the file iCUESetup [version] .msi and press successively on Yes, OK e NEXT. Then check the box I accept the license agreement and click NEXT, Install e end. The program will start automatically. Then press onmouse icon you have connected to your computer, to access its settings. Next, press on the voice AZIONI present on the left and press the icon +, to start creating a new macro.
Now we are going to create a simple macro that allows you to automatically write the letter "E" by pressing a mouse button. To do this, open the Block notes, premi sull 'red dot icon (registration) present on iCUE, go back to the text editor window and use the combination Alt (held down) + 0200 to "generate" the letter "IS" . Then come back up iCUE and press again onred dot icon, to end the recording.
At this point, select the mouse button that you want to associate with this action among those present at the top (eg. Go back). Perfect, now you just have to keep iCUE open in the background (by default it should activate automatically), press the mouse button selected and you will see that the letter "IS".
Of course, you can delete this macro by selecting it and pressing ontrash can icon. Great, you have now correctly learned how to use Corsair's macro recording and playback system. Of course, you can also use this method for more sophisticated combinations than the one I've described.
Microsoft IntelliPoint (Windows/macOS)
How do you say? Your mouse manufacturer is Microsoft? Well, then you should check out the program Microsoft IntelliPoint.
If you have a computer Windows, just connect to the official Microsoft website (only for systems a 64 bit), choose the language e premere sul pulsating Download. Officially the supported OS versions are Windows XP (32 bit), Windows Vista e Windows 7, but I actually managed to get everything working fine on too Windows 10.
At this point, start the file IP [version] .exe obtained, press on Yes, check the box I accept the contract e pigia his NEXT. After that, choose whether to allow the program to periodically check for updates and whether to allow Microsoft to gather information to improve the software. Once this is done, all you have to do is press successively on NEXT e end, but will conclude the setup.
For MacOS, you must instead connect to the IntelliPoint official website, select the item Mac OS 10.4.x-10.7 (32-bit and 64-bit) from the drop-down menu linked to operating system, choose the language and press on the link IntelliPoint 8.2, present below. Next, you need to open the file Microsoft-Mouse- [version] .dmg got and move theprogram icon in the folder Applications.
Now, all you have to do is start the program Microsoft Mouse, register a macro and associate it with one of the various keys mouse. In case the mouse is not detected, I advise you to click on the item How to enable features and read what is reported in manual.
You can also proceed from Microsoft Mouse and Keyboard Management Center, which should have been installed automatically the first time you have mouse connected Redmond company officer on the computer. In this case, just click on Macro> Create a new macro, type the name, press on Editor and enter the macro. For all the details of the case, I recommend that you consult Microsoft's official guidelines.
Sweater's Macro Creator (Windows)
If you want to create particularly complex macros using any type of mouse, my advice is to go through the program Pulover's Macro Creator. We are talking about software for experts, so I advise you to keep in mind the fact that you may find several difficulties, since the programs mentioned above are much easier to use.
To download the program, just connect to the Pulover official website, press the icon Download and possibly on the button I accept. At this point, open the file MacroCreator-setup.exe obtained and presses on in succession Yes, OK e NEXT. After that, check the box I accept the terms of the license agreement I awarded her NEXT three consecutive times.
Then choose whether to install version a 64 bit or that a 32 bit of the program and presses in succession on NEXT, Install e end. Pulover's Macro Creator will then automatically start and ask you to choose the layout more suitable, the language and press the key Good.
A will then appear on the screen tutorial which will guide you step by step in using the program: just follow the instructions and click on Next. When you have learned everything correctly, you can safely close the window.
At the end of the tutorial, you will find yourself in front of the main screen of the program, which at first glance could be a bit distracting. In any case, I recommend that you press the blue icon ▶ ︎ present at the top left. This will start a short demo which will show you to what extent the program can automate actions.
Don't worry if you see screenshots of the Block notes and if the computer performs operations by itself: the one you saw running is just one macro. Once finished, you can safely close all windows that the program has opened.
As you have probably already guessed, we are talking about advanced software, capable of doing much more than what the average user usually needs. Therefore, this is not the right place to explain the operation of the program in detail, but I will still give you a practical example as simple as possible to help you become familiar with Pulover's Macro Creator (the "usual" example of the letter "E").
To proceed, return to the main program screen and go to the menu File> New, to create a new macro. Then press onred dot icon present at the top left and click on the item Good. After that, open the Block notes and presses the button F9 on the keyboard, to start the registration.
Now, use the key combination Alt (held down) + 0200 (the one to write the letter "È") and presses the key F9, to finish recording the macro. For more information on the combination linked to the aforementioned letter, I suggest you consult my tutorial on how to capitalize "E" in Word.
Perfect, now all you have to do is press the button F3 of the keyboard to make the computer automatically execute the key sequence that "generates" the letter "IS". So try to keep the Block notes and press F3: you will see that another will appear "IS" next to the one you typed earlier.
Of course, this macro can also be used in other programs. Then close Notepad and try to open any other text editor e pigiare sul pulsating F3: also in this case you will see the appear on the screen letter "IS". In short, you have achieved your goal and now you can write this letter without always having to remember its key combination.
At this point, all you have to do is assign this macro to a mouse button instead of the key F3. It then returns to the main screen of Pulover's Macro Creatorgo to the menu File> Save, type a name (eg "accented-capital letter"), select the percorso where to place the file and press on Save. Great, now you can close the program.
Next, go to the path where you saved the file .pmc previously, press with the right mouse button on it and go to the menu Open with> Notepad. Now you can get to grips with the "instructions" of the macro. You will notice that, at some point, there is the written "F3". Perfect, your goal is to go and change this button, setting that of the mouse.
Usually, Pulover's Macro Creator would only allow setting keyboard keys through graphic interface, but I actually found that you can safely assign macro also al mouse following the directions found on the official AutoHotkey website, which indicate the right mouse button like RButton, That left like LButton, That central / wheel like MButton, fourth key (the one usually placed in a lateral position and used to go back in the browser) like XButton1 and fifth fret (the one to go ahead in the browser) like XButton2.
So you just have to do that replace the word "F3" with that relating to chosen key (for example, XButton1) is save changes. At this point, start the file .pmc and the main screen of Pulover's Macro Creator. Don't worry if the text field To play present at the top right is empty: as I said earlier, this is normal, as it is not possible to assign the macro to the mouse via the graphical interface. I therefore advise you not to touch that setting.
Now, click on the icon ▶ ︎, select the voice Good and you will have successfully enabled the macro. To test it, you just have to open any one text editor and press the key associated (eg. XButton1, that is the side button that usually is used to go back in the browser). If everything is set correctly, you will see the appear on the screen letter "IS". Perfect, now you just need to keep the program open in the background to be able to activate the macro in this way.
In short, I realize that the procedure I have illustrated in this chapter is not exactly within everyone's reach, but I can assure you that this is one of the best ways to start create complex macros with any mouse.
Furthermore, this method is based on a procedure that does not require particular skills in terms of script (since everything is done in a guided way through the program and then you simply go to act on a writing), therefore, in my view, it's also a good way to get started with the world of advanced macros.
Of course, in this tutorial I have only scratched the surface of what macros can be done for the mouse and made a basic example. If this world is particularly intriguing to you, I suggest you, after having learned to master the possibilities offered by Pulover's Macro Creator, to go directly to the creation of macros via script.
To do this, you should inform yourself about file .ahk and take a look at the official documentation for AutoHotkey, another advanced program used by experts to create particularly complex macros.
Keep in mind, however, that the latter does not have a real graphical interface, but it is very complete and allows you to do essentially everything that the world of macros has to offer.
Other solutions for macros
They obviously exist too other solutions to create macros. Below, therefore, you will find the list of programs that I think you should try in this regard.
- Mini Mouse Macro (Windows): If you don't want to install anything on your computer, you should check out this program. It has quite limited functionality and does not allow you to assign macros to a mouse button (the supported hotkeys are keyboard ones only), but it is still very interesting to create and start macros with a few clicks. It can be used for free, but you can unlock advanced features by activating a PRO subscription for $ 9,50.
- BetterTouchTool (macOS): a program that has become famous for allowing you to use macros via mouse, trackpad and Touch Bar. It allows you to set custom gestures on Apple's Magic Mouse and Trackpad and to assign customized functions to the keys of any mouse. I recommend that you also take a look at the official documentation (in English), to understand how powerful it is. One is available free trial of 45 days, but then you will need to buy one standard license (updates for 2 years, $ 7,50) or one lifetime license (21 dollars).
- Keyboard Maestro (macOS): an extremely powerful and advanced program that allows you to automate practically any type of work on the Mac, using macros that can be triggered by pressing keys on the keyboard, mouse, combinations of the two and gestures (as well as starting programs, connections to certain networks, insertion / removal of USB devices, and so on). As far as mouse customization goes, it's not as advanced as BetterTouchTool, but it's definitely worth checking out. One is available 30-day free trial version, then it costs just over 40 €.
Perfect, now you have all the information you need to be able to create macros. Have fun!
