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Assign Command-Tab to a device's buttons System
I've wanted to assign an application switcher button to my Contour ShuttlePro for some time, and hoped that the functionality might be included someday in a new driver, the way it is for Logitech mice. Well, I finally got tired of waiting and decided to try to fix it myself.

I found that the only thing preventing me from assigning command-tab in Contour's setup utility was the system-wide application switcher itself. So using information from hints (here and here), I came up with a step-by-step guide that should allow you to set these commands without having to restart your computer.

You could also follow this procedure to enter command-tab in any utility that depends on "sensing" your keystrokes to set its shortcuts.
  1. Launch Contour Shuttle Utility

  2. Launch Activity Monitor

  3. Launch Terminal

  4. Copy these lines to Terminal (don't copy the $):
    $ cd /System/Library/CoreServices/
    $ sudo mv Dock.app Dock.app.deactivated
  5. Hit return, type your system admin password, hit return again

  6. Select "Dock" in Activity Monitor

  7. Click "Quit Process" and confirm quit

  8. Switch to Contour Shuttle Utility

  9. Set all of your preferred buttons for command-tab, command-shift-tab, etc.

  10. Switch back to Terminal and copy this line:
    sudo mv Dock.app.deactivated Dock.app
  11. Restart the dock (by clicking on its application icon or by logging out)
[robg adds: I haven't tested this one...]
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Assign Command-Tab to a device's buttons
Authored by: reidjazz on May 28, '05 10:28:03AM

I recently bought a Logitech MX-Laser 1000 and was delighted to see that this functionality *is builit into the mouse!*...there is a button on the side that is, by default, set to "Switch Application". Cool!

---
"When you're finished learning, you're finished."



[ Reply to This | # ]
Assign Command-Tab to a device's buttons
Authored by: cougar718 on May 31, '05 06:53:13PM

Problem is this feature sucks because it doesn't work correctly, or I should say how it works is buggy. What I would like Logitech to do is only do the key command once. Then I could do Command Tabulation and move my mouse to the application I want to make active. Right now, the Switch Application feature repeats it every second and you need to hold the button down. It's annoying! And if I use Command Tabulation, the key repeats very fast!

Damn!

---
Rick alias cougar



[ Reply to This | # ]
Use USB Overdrive instead
Authored by: scotty321 on May 28, '05 01:17:16PM

Folks, there's a MUCH easier way!

Simply download & install the outstanding shareware utility USB Overdrive. This is one of the best utilities on the market, and it works with ALL USB devices.

You can download it here:
http://www.usboverdrive.com

From the website:
It reads all kinds of wheels, buttons, switches and controls and supports scrolling, keyboard emulation, launching and all the usual stuff like clicking, control-clicking and so forth. The USB Overdrive can easily handle several USB devices at once.



[ Reply to This | # ]
Use USB Overdrive instead
Authored by: _merlin on May 29, '05 09:59:19AM

Every time I read something like this, I feel compelled to reply. USB Overdrive breaks all applications that want to access HID input devices. Games are the biggest victims! It's not worth the trouble.



[ Reply to This | # ]
USB Overdrive Doesn't Break Anything
Authored by: nickv2002 on Jun 01, '05 03:11:35AM

To clarify here USB Overdrive doesn't break HID at all. I have an MX 1000 that I use extensively for games and since Logitech Driver's blow chunks I use USB Overdrive. The reason it appears to "break" HID is because, by default, when in any application it still uses the action that you set in USB Overdrive which the HID isn't going to recognize. The great part about USB Overdrive is that it is application aware so you can set it up to change settings based on what app or game you are in (a feature lacking from Logitech's drivers). So to get HID working you just have to set up a application profile in USB Overdrive that transmits "raw" clicks to the game you're using ("Mouse Button 3" for example) rather than whatever you have the third button set for. Then, after you have it set up for one game you can easily duplicate the profile to be used in other games.



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