10.5: Open menus via track pad only on some laptops

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Mon, Nov 19 2007 at 1:30PM PST • Contributed by: chaos215bar2

I accidentally discovered a rather odd way to open menus using only the trackpad in Leopard -- even if you haven't enabled trackpad tapping. If you position the pointer over a menu entry on the left side of the menu bar (not a menu extra), then quickly do a two-finger scroll and tap on the trackpad, the menu under the pointer should open as if you had trackpad clicking enabled.

[robg adds: A comment on the queue review site notes he had to "two-finger scroll, then tap with two fingers, and then slide my finger down normally. Feels like a bug." I haven't tested it myself.]

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Bug? Maybe a 'gesture' for future laptop
Authored by: TF on Mon, Nov 19 2007 at 2:35PM PST

This might be a bug, but to me this seems like it could be a feature for an upcoming machine. If newer laptops include more of a 'touch' interface, having gestures like these would make sense.

TF

10.5: Open menus via track pad only on some laptops
Authored by: mistersquid on Mon, Nov 19 2007 at 5:05PM PST

Man, it's like a video game combination but, yeah, the hint . . . er, works.

Not so video game combo-ey
Authored by: mistersquid on Tue, Nov 20 2007 at 2:32PM PST

In my tests (since the previous post) you don't need to tap with two fingers. Just

1. hover over a menu item
2. scroll with two fingers
3. lift two fingers
4. drag/slide with one finger

It seems any amount of time can pass between steps 3 and 4, too.

10.5: Open menus via track pad only on some laptops
Authored by: MartiNZ on Mon, Nov 19 2007 at 6:06PM PST

Heh, I can totally see a new game system arising based on touch and gestures ... the ability to hide commands, cheats, etc. would be unparalleled.

10.5: Open menus via track pad only on some laptops
Authored by: Peachie on Wed, Nov 21 2007 at 2:35PM PST

Trying this on Firefox, i notice 2 things...

1- it doesnt seem so much to me to be scroll - tap, but rather a 2 finger scroll makes the next mouse movement open the menu. Try it by hovering over a menu item, using a quick 2 finger scroll gesture, and then just move the cursor just a bit with one finger - any direction will do.

2- my bookmarks menu is full enough that I cant see the whole thing at once, and it has scroll controls on it when opened. To activate this menu without clicking, all you have to do is move the mouse over the bookmarks menu, and 2 finger scrolling immediately opens it up and scrolls through it. no tapping or second movement necessary. just scroll it!

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