Using the mouse scroll button to bring up new tab in IE7

Question

When I click the scroll button whilst over a link in IE7, this should bring up that link in a new window.   At present, however, all that this is doing is producing a magnifying glass icon on the screen   I can link O.K. using the key with the left button, but can anyvody tell me how to get the scroll button to work correctly ?

tomron · Answer

Not sure about the ' magnifying glass icon'   Regarding a 'link in a new window',   'Internet Explorer 7 supports middle mouse button navigation. By using your middle mouse button (or scroll wheel) to click on a hyperlink button you will open the hyperlink in a new Tab. If you want to open a hyperlink in a new window, hold down the shift key then use the middle mousebutton to click on the hyperlink.'     http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/community/columns/tabbedbrowsing.mspx   Tom

Ray Burnley · Answer

Tom - many thanks, but I know all that (I am a user of some years !) - no, don't think I'm ungrateful, but I think I should make that clear.   Now, as is it says in that note, when you click the scroll wheel over a link, it should open that link in a new tab, shouldn't it ?   Well, on my PC it doesn't. It merely displays an icon shaped like a magnifying glass - two concentric circles with a small black bar at bottom right, about 45 degrees, something like an upper-case 'Q', so the figure looks like a traditional Sherlock Holmes type circular magnifying glass with handle ; I don't know how better to describe it.   The point is, that icon just stays there until I click again, when it disappears - but it does NOT bring up the linked page ! In fact it does nothing !   Incidentally I've just tried it with holding the key down - same result !

tomron · Answer

The thing  is I have no way of knowing the members level of experience.   I don't use IE but I found this link which may help.   Note the screenshot 'reset zoom level to 100 % for new windows and tabs'   I figured it might be a featured thats was enabled,   http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2006/06/12/628499.aspx   Tom

Ray Burnley · Answer

Many thanks for that link Tom - it looks very interesting.   No, of course you didn't know my experience - just put that comment in my post down to exasperation with trying to get this sorted out and the fact it had been a long day, please ! I didn't mean it to sound rude, but in the cold light of dawn ... ... ...   Actually it's often me who advises others around me on these little problems, giving rather than seeking advice, but this is my first exposure to Vista and whilst i like it, it's the small things like this that get you !   In fact I've just found that when I've clicked the scroll button I can adjust the size of the screen by turning it - useful in some cases but not what I want it to do - so now I'll go read that article and take it in and with a bit of luck get it back to how I want it !   If it works I'll come back with fuller details in case others have the same problem in future.   Ray

JRosenfeld · Answer

Have you thought of opening the mouse applet in control panel and checking what the action for the scroll (wheel) button click is set at? With Intellipoint software, one option is indeed to open the magnifying glass. Try Middle click instead.

Ray Burnley · Answer

Thanks for the suggestion, but yes, I'd already checked all those settings. the only problem is within IE7 so the setting, I would imagine, must be in there.   A silly but very annoying problem !

devinpanchal · Answer

hi ray,   i've got the same problem. have you sorted it out?   thanks   devin

Ray Burnley · Answer

Hi devinpanchal

You know, I'd forgotten I'd posted this ! (well, it was a year ago !)

In fact, yes, the problem has been solved - but I'm not certain how or when !!

With no-one apparently having a solution, I decided to just put up with it ; at some time over the past year it's resolved itself (didn't notice it happen) - I can only assume that it's happened during one of the automatic Microsoft updates. Strange one.

If it's any help, I'm currently working on IE7 version 7.0.6001.18000, which I believe id the latest update (should be - I apply all the current updates automatically) ; if you're on an earlier version perhaps bringing it up to date may solve the problem.

devinpanchal · Answer

hi,

i've recently bought a new dell (vostro), and ive got that same problem. i've tried changing the setting in the 'mouse suite' programs, and its not making any difference.

im using that same version of ie7. but i still get the magnifying glass. :(

r there any drivers for the mouse? so no1 knows how to fix this?

thanks

devin

Ray Burnley · Answer

Thanks, Larry.

Doesn't apply to myself now, although in a way it's nice to see I'm not the only person who's experienced this problem.

I must say that I tried just about every trick I could think of last year when this problem hit me ; in fact I'd got used to not having the facility and it wasn't until today when I re-tried clicking on a link that I realised that my PC now brought up a new tab again - hence I don't know when the change took place.

Good luck with sorting out our problem devinpachal

Ray

Larry R · Answer

Checking through the various posts, the thought that comes to mind is: What is button 3 (the middle mouse button) configured for in the mouse properties window in the Control Panel?

The browser is looking for a Mouse 3 button click to tell it to open in a new tab. Perhaps the configuration on your mouse is different, thus giving you a different result ...

Just a guess, however, as I've never run into the problem and use middle click for new tabs all the time.

Windows General

Using the mouse scroll button to bring up new tab in IE7

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