X-Mouse Controls

A tool to enable or disable active window tracking, raising and also the delay in milliseconds. This is known as x-mouse behavior.

What is x-mouse behavior?

When multiple programs are running on a Windows operating system, the default mode of operations is that you click one window after another to give them focus for keyboard inputs. With the x-mouse settings that click is not necessary - the only thing needed is to move your cursor over the window for it to become active.

This behavior has been possible, but disabled, in different versions of Windows for years. It is usually enabled through a wide variety of tools, most notably Tweak UI found in Microsoft PowerToys. However, Tweak UI does not run on Windows Vista.

Screenshots

Screenshot of the main window of X-Mouse Controls
The main window

Features

Active window tracking

Enable to give focus to windows by moving your cursor over them. Obeys the delay described below.

If disabled (default) a click is required to activate a window.

Active window raising

Enable to automatically make the active window the topmost window.

If automatic window raising is disabled (default) it allows the user to type text or give commands in one window without changing the order of the other windows.

Active tracking delay

The delay, in milliseconds, until the window focus changes. This program allows settings from 0 milliseconds (instant focus) to 5000 milliseconds (very long delay).

Save

Saves the settings and applies them to your system. While the settings should come in effect right away, some users have reported that logging off or rebooting is required.

Notes

Changes to the x-mouse behavior may not come in effect until logging off or rebooting.
Some applications, especially those with a Multiple Document Interface, may raise their own window even though the feature is disabled. See work-around below.
Some menus do not like the x-mouse behavior and close before you are able to reach or click any menu alternative. See work-around below.
One way to avoid window raising and menu problems is to click and hold your left mouse button on an empty (unresponsive) area, drag the cursor to where you want to focus and let go.
Requires at least .NET Framework 3.5 due to the fact that this was a small test to try out Windows Presentation Foundation.
Developed on Windows Vista Business 64 bit with Visual Studio 2008. Developed for Windows Vista, both 32 bit and 64 bit. If you use a version of Windows released prior to Windows Vista, it is recommended to use Tweak UI, found in Microsoft PowerToys.
Please link back to this page, http://deathrow1.se/Projects/X-Mouse_Controls/ if you like and use this program.

Source code

I've release the full sourcecode, including this webpage and original graphics. It is free to use and modify - if I'm notified of all public releases that stem from this work.

History and downloads

2007-12-27 14:04 1.0.0.0 Release Debug Source: First version, initial release.
2007-12-27 16:19 1.0.0.1 Release Debug Source: Disables the active window raising checkbox and delay slider when the active window tracking checkbox is not checked.

About the author

Joel Purra is a coder and webmaster, working mainly on webshops and sometimes on his hobby projects. His prefered programming languages are JScript for classic ASP and C# for .NET-development. He is available for consulting work, altough his contact information is not listed here.