The AUXn section of the base menu file enables you to assign commands to mouse buttons. If you are using a pointing device other than the Windows system mouse the BUTTONSn section is be used.

If you are not familiar with menu files read the following tutorials first:

► AutoCAD Menus: The Base Menu
► AutoCAD Menus: Partial Menus
► Building a Menu Template, Part 1
► Building a Menu Template, Part 2
► Building a Menu Template, Part 3
► Building a Menu Template, Part 4
► Building a Menu Template, Part 5

Note: This tutorial is designed for AutoCAD 2004 though might be applicable for other releases.

Warning: During this tutorial you will lose all your partial menus including the Express Tools. To load Express Tools in command line enter EXPRESSTOOLS. For the rest of partial menus use MENULOAD to load them again.

1. Start AutoCAD 2004.

2. Invoke OPTIONS (Tools > Options). The Options dialog box appears.

3. Select the Files tab [Figure 1].

Figure 1 - Click on image to enlarge

4. Click the + sign next to Support File Search Path.

5. Select the long path that leads to Support folder [Figure 2].

Figure 2 - Click on image to enlarge

6. Press F2 to make the text editable.

7. Press Ctrl+C to copy the path to clipboard.

8. Close the Options dialog box.

9. In command line type Notepad and press Enter twice. The Notepad window appears.

10. From File menu select Open or press Ctrl+O.

11. Highlight the text in File name box.

12. Press Ctrl+V to replace the text with the path.

13. Click Open.

14. Replace the text in File name box with ACAD.MNS.

15. Click Open. The ACAD.MNS file will open in Notepad window [Figure 3].

Figure 3 - Click on image to enlarge

Note: Don't make changes to ACAD.MNU as you may loose your custom toolbars and/or toolbar buttons.

16. Scroll down to view AUX4 [Figure 4].

Figure 4 - Click on image to enlarge

Notes:

• AUX1 controls the behavior of mouse buttons when you click them. The pick button is controlled by AutoCAD and you cannot change its settings. So the first line defines the action assigned to second button (e.g. right button), the second line controls the third button (e.g. middle button), and so forth.
• AUX2 defines the actions when you Shift+click buttons. AUX3 is used for Ctrl+click and AUX4 for Ctrl+Shift+click.
• The SHORTCUTMENU and MBUTTONPAN system variables affect the behavior of AUXn options. For more information refer to AutoCAD help.

17. Replace the macro of AUX4 with the one shown in figure 5. The new macro erases the last object.

Figure 5 - Click on image to enlarge

18. Save the file.

19. In AutoCAD invoke MENU. The Select Menu File dialog box appears [Figure 6].

Figure 6 - Click on image to enlarge

20. Highlight the text in File name box.

21. Press Ctrl+V to replace the text with Support path.

22. Click Open.

23. In Files of type select Menu Files (*.mnc,*.mns).

24. Open ACAD.MNS. The base menu will be reloaded.

25. Draw some objects.

26. Press Ctrl+Shift and then right mouse button. The last object will be erased.
 

About the Author

Alireza Parsai is the founder of cadpanel.com. He is a mechanical engineer with more than 12 years experience with AutoCAD. Alireza is an Autodesk Authorized Author, the AutoCAD consultant for Al Khawarizmi Institute, a contributing editor for Augiworld magazine, a writer for CAD Digest, an instructor for AUGI Training Program, and an elected speaker for Autodesk University 2002. He has written 7 books in Farsi, 3 booklets in English, and more than 30 articles for different magazines and newsletters. You can reach him at alireza.parsai@cadpanel.com or visit his website www.cadpanel.com. 

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