Programmable Wireless Mouse for Work

Windburn

My PACS (radiology) workstation mouse interface has a lot of functional limitations. For example, the right-click is the default drop-down menu. I almost never use this menu. What I do use constantly, is drag/pan. This is bound to middle-click, which is cumbersome and also prone to trigger the scroll-wheel. I would like to rebind those functions, but the PACS software won't allow it. So I am left with trying to find a mouse that will allow me to rebind those functions.

Hence my request for help.

I need a mouse that is:
1) Wireless
2) Programmable
3) Remembers this programming without having to install software on other computers (important!)
4) Will allow reprogramming of all the buttons, including left and right clicks.

I currently have a Logitech MX Master. It is a no-go for this purpose, because it won't allow me to rebind the left and right click. I am limited to rebinding the thumb buttons, which are not great on this mouse.

Any ideas?

Iruka

You can rebind the right click on razer mice, but if you cant install synapse, I dont think Its going to work. Are the logitech settings stored in the unifyer?

TNTrooper

Give Roccat mice a look. Pretty sure you can rebind left and right click, the software is super nice, and they have internal memory to save profiles.

Windburn

Thank you for the suggestions. I looked into the Roccat mice and they have only one wireless model (Leadr). It would be great, except the receiver is huge. It's not feasible for moving around between various workstations. The tiny Logitech USB dongle is better suited to my needs.

As such, I went with the Logitech G903. For some reason, Logitech uses a different software suite between their gaming and non-gaming mice. The Logitech MX Master is considered a non-gaming mouse and thus cannot rebind the primary mouse buttons. All of their gaming mice can, apparently. So I went with the their highest number of customizable buttons, wireless, gaming mouse. It's definitely overkill, but it seems that in order to get the features I want, I also get a bunch that I don't need. I'll report back with how it works for me.

Thanks again.

Windburn

Well, the Logitech G903 was a bust. 2 of their 11 programmable buttons can only be switched with each other, Left to Right. Since the Right mouse button is the one I care most about being able to fully rebind, this is being returned.

I took a second pass at the Roccat Leadr, but it looks like it isn’t able to store profiles on-board. According to their tech support, the Leadr’s internal memory is used for lag-free wireless response time.

So I’m back to square one.

It looks like Razer is starting to offer internal memory profile storage via its Synapse 3 Beta, but only a handful of devices are supported. One is wireless: Lancehead. Anyone have personal experience with this model?

Any other suggestions?

Smrtnik

Is it ok for you to bring in outside equipment without being HIPAA rules? I have no idea, but it seems like they would be relevant.

Windburn

For the sake of staying on topic, let's assume that I have done my due diligence in all matters.

Aioua

So, assuming windows workstations, you could use a bit of software known as AutoHotKey to accomplish this. It can remap the buttons for you. I tested it on my machine and it seems to work as expected.

It's a stand-alone executable, so it doesn't need to be installed, nor does it need admin rights (for the mouse thing anyway).
You just need to get the files onto the computer, and launch it before you begin.

Potential cons:
If you don't log into these computers with your account (use a shared login instead) then if you forget to turn the script off when you leave the next person is going to be mightily confused.
Depending on how locked-down the computers are you might not even have a way of dropping the files on them.
Depending on how your IT is they might not be so happy. (I'm an IT myself and I'd file it under 'what I don't know about doesn't hurt me' but your team may vary )

If you want to go this route here are the steps to get it set up:

1. download the AHK zip file here
2. extract all the files out of the zip you should have a folder with some exes and other config files and a compiler folder, keep all these together, this is the tool
3. get that folder placed somewhere on the target computer. If you're using your own login the the desktop should be fine
4. open up notepad, then select file->open
5. in the bottom right, change the file type from "Text Documents (*.txt)" to "All files (*.*)"
6. navigate to the AHK folder on the computer, and select "Template.ahk"
7. add these lines to the end of the script:

   MButton::RButton
   RButton::MButton
   #z::ExitApp
   

8. select file->save as
9. change the "save as type" to "All files (*.*)" again, and name it something like "MouseRebind.ahk", and save in your ahk folder
10. exit notepad and double click the MouseRebind.ahk file
11. it'll ask you which program to use for that file, go through the prompts (you'll probably have to select "use another program..." and navigate to the ahk folder) and select AutoHotkeyU64.exe
12. boom, it's running. You can see it down in the system tray (the icons by the clock). Doubleclick it to see the status.
13. You can exit by either selecting file->exit from that status window or pressing the Windows Key+Z (that's the #z::ExitApp line)
14. You can relaunch the script now by double-clicking the MouseRebind.ahk file, it should remember the program to use
15. You can also launch the script by clicking and dragging it onto AutoHotKeyU64.exe

Tofystedeth

Iruka wrote: »

You can rebind the right click on razer mice, but if you cant install synapse, I dont think Its going to work. Are the logitech settings stored in the unifyer?

This post was initially very confusing as Synapse is also the name of the PACS software the place i work at uses.

Windburn

Quick update:

First, @Aioua thank you for the suggestion. I spoke to one of our IT ladies and she was not a fan of this solution on our system. It might have worked, but I switch computers at least every 2-3 weeks, and sometimes as frequently as daily. The potential headache it could cause for my colleagues overrules the increased productivity for me.

What I did do was based on the suggestion of a former at overclock.net: I rewired the Logitech G903 and swapped the connection between the Right-Mouse Button and the Back Right Side Button. The back button is now locked as a "Right-Click", but I can now remap the Right-Mouse Button to more useful functions.

Thank you all for the suggestions and support.

If anyone is interested in a similar mod, let me know and I'll crack it back open and take some pictures.

Shadowfire

I wouldn't want to modify my mouse, but I'm always interested in seeing what modifications people make to the guts of their electronics.

Windburn

Sorry for the long delay. Since I didn't have pictures from my first project, I was waiting until I had an excuse to open it back up. Turns out the carrying case I have been using was compressing the L-click button, which damaged the microswitch. So I have my excuse and now I have pictures of my mod. Without further ado:

External shots of the G903.

Innards.

Battery removal.

Palm rest removal.

Site of modification. Notice the board is printed with the words Right, Back, Forw, GND. Right is the R-click. Back and Forw(ard) are the two side buttons, and their relative positions. GND is the electrical ground. I desoldered the Right and Back connections, split the insulation ribbon between them, crossed the wiring, and resoldered the connections. Thus, making the mouse think the R-click is the Back side button (which I can rebind) and the Back button is the R-click (which I can't really use effectively anyway as a right-handed mouse).

Last picture showing the L-click microswitch that I ultimately replaced. I also have a new carrying case, so hopefully this won't happen again.

evilmrhenry

If this comes up in the future, I actually researched this a while back, and found the G600
http://support.logitech.com/en_sg/article/31745?product=a0qi00000069vEiAAI#onboard
It has onboard memory, and can rebind all buttons. (Also, it has more buttons than you'll ever need, so that's nice.)