System Requirements

A Windows 2000, Windows XP or Windows Vista system.

Installation

After downloading, double-click the mc icon and follow the instructions. Upon installation you will find two new icons on your desktop: 'MouseCage Go!' to start the software, and 'MouseCage Settings' to change your preferences.

Really Quick Start

Use the ESC key to cage the mouse and F12 to quit MouseCage!

Quick Start

To start MouseCage double-click the MouseCage Go! icon. The trial version will work for seven days before you need to purchase and enter a registration number, so for the time being click the No button when prompted to enter a registration number. (To quit MouseCage press the F12 key.)

When MouseCage starts you will see two cursors on screen: the standard Windows cursor (normally an arrow) and a green Guide cursor. The guide cursor displays your actual hand movements.

Simply move over the location you want to click. You don't have to be perfectly accurate, because when you are over the target you can press the Cage key. (By default this is the Esc key on your keyboard, but you can change this in Settings to a mouse button or another key.)

You are now in 'Caged' mode and the cursor will turn red. This greatly reduces cursor movement. If you are slightly off target you can move around a little in this mode. When on target, many users simply click in Caged mode, but if you prefer, you can press the Cage key again to enter 'Locked' mode. In this mode the cursor turns black and there is no movement at all. (Locked mode is probably best if you need to perform a double-click.)

Whenever you click or double-click in Caged or Locked mode this frees the mouse and the cursor turns green again. You can easily cycle through the modes by repeatedly pressing the Cage key; the order always goes like this: Free (green cursor), Caged (red cursor), Locked (black cursor), Free, Caged, Locked and so on.

To close a program or window when using MouseCage just press F4. Don't forget that to quit MouseCage you press the F12 key! You can add, remove or assign more of your own shortcuts in Settings.

Tremor detection

MouseCage automatically detects when you are tremoring. By default, MouseCage's functions only start to work when your hand shakes 3 or more times a second. If you have a slower tremor than this, simply open MouseCage Settings, go to the Control tab, and move the 'Detect end of tremor' slider down until it works for you.

Prevent accidental clicks

You can filter out accidental mouse clicks and key presses in MouseCage. See the Control section in MouseCage Settings.

How to Click & Drag

In MouseCage you can 'click and drag' in both Free or Caged mode. It is rather slow in Caged mode. To click and drag in Free mode you can first go into Locked mode over your target and then hold down the mouse button. After a short delay the cursor will turn green and you can then drag the item.

This is really all you need to know to use MouseCage. However, please read through the MouseCage Settings section and tips below - there are several changes you can make to get the most out of Mouse-Cage.

MouseCage Settings

Click the MouseCage Settings icon to review or change your settings (you can delete this desktop shortcut if you wish because Settings can also be found in the Start Menu.)

Control

Mouse speed in Free mode: This changes the overall amount of cursor movement. Tip: The default setting is 8, but you are encouraged to try higher or lower values to get the amount of movement that is right for you.

Mouse speed in Caged mode: This affects the amount of movement there is in Caged mode. Tip: If you have a large amplitude tremor, you may want to try moving the slider to 'slow.'

Reject false clicks: Move the slider down to reject false clicks. As you move the slider down you will need to press and hold the mouse button or keyboard key for a longer time for it to be accepted as valid.

Use the check boxes to choose whether to apply this feature to all your mouse buttons and/or to all the keyboard keys (including the Cage key) that control MouseCage. You can also choose whether to hear an audible 'beep' when a valid click is accepted.

Detect end of tremor: MouseCage can automatically detect the beginning and end of a tremor. Tip: If you have a very slow tremor, tremor detection may not work properly at the default setting, so move the slider down, or disable this feature altogether by moving the slider to Never. If you have a very rapid tremor, you can set this to Fast if you wish - but this is not essential.

Mouse-Cage double-click speed: The amount of time MouseCage allows for a double-click before uncaging the mouse and returning to Free mode. Tip: If you need more time for a double-click, move the slider down.

Search in Locked mode: An interesting feature. If you check this box, a short time after entering Locked mode the Windows cursor will start to search around the position of the Guide cursor.

Keys and Buttons

Cage Key: Probably the most important key in MouseCage. Tip: By default it is the Esc key, but many users prefer to use a mouse button. If you select the right mouse button you can then choose a keyboard key to simulate right clicks for you - the default is F11. Alternatively, you can use the Context Menu key that is now found on many computer keyboards. It is located just to the left of the right-hand Ctrl key.

Quit Mousecage: This is F12 by default, but you can choose another key if you use F12 for something else.

Shortcuts: These keyboard shortcuts have been provided to speed up your computer use. You are free to assign them to various keys or disable them. Note that there is no shortcut listed for 'back in browser' because this can generally be done by pressing the Backspace key on your keyboard. Tip: The Close Window shortcut is F4 and is enabled by default. This shortcut is particularly useful because the small Close Window X in screen corners can be difficult to click.

Appearance

These settings affect the size and appearance of the Guide cursor

Options

Run MouseCage at start up: Check this box so that MouseCage runs by default. Tip: Recommended

Activate single-click mode: By default Windows operating systems use a combination of double-clicks (to open files and folders) and single-clicks (e.g. to browse the internet.) It is possible to always use single clicks. Check this box and MouseCage will activate this option for you. A reboot may be required. Tip: activating single click mode is recommended.

Activate MouseKeys: MouseKeys is a Microsoft accessibility option built into Windows (see Windows Help for details.) Checking this box helps you turn it on.

Final Remarks

When MouseCage is installed, it disables a mouse driver setting called "Enhance Pointer Precision" (EPP). EPP makes mouse control more efficient for many users, but it can cause problems for those with tremor. If you would like to re-enable EPP go into Control Panel, find 'Mouse' and on the Pointer Options tab, tick the 'Enhance Pointer Precision' check box.