mouse button for CP???

[cammada]

I am more than happy to have trackball on my control panel design but a big question mark hang above my head about the mouse buttons. I don't know how important is mouse for the mame as I am more than happy to have wireless mouse in my drawer for configuration and using windows. I am planning to have two buttons above the track ball, is it best to assign to iPAC 2 interface or use it as mouse button?

are they any games that require use of mouse button?

[bkenobi]

MAME can use any input for anything.  If you want to use them as mouse buttons in windows, you either need to use an actual mouse, an encoder that can emulate them as mouse buttons, or use some kind of joystick2mouse/key2mouse software.  If it were me, I'd opt for the second or 3rd option.  I believe that most trackballs have mouse button headers, so you can do it that way if you go with option 1.

I have no trackball, so don't take my words as the best advice!   

[Blanka]

Just use a minipac-opti. It allows you to use mouse buttons. Only thing you need to do, is pull two wires from the button/joystick harness, say button 7 and 8, and then add them to the trackball harness, as the mouse pins are not wired on them. it is easy to lift them out with a small pin or little screwdriver.

[Green Giant]

If your trackball can support 2 mouse buttons, use them.

[CheffoJeffo]

Interesting how the advice changes over the years as folks leave ... where is Paige/TBBK when you need him ?

FWIW, the OP said that he was happy to use an actual mouse as a mouse.

No need for mouse buttons on the CP and you may want to rethink your button placement ... would be pretty tough to play Centipede or Missile Command with your planned set up.

Unless you have a compelling reason to put buttons just above the TB, don't -- it limits gameplay.

Use the P1 and/or P2 buttons and configure the individual games appropriately.

Problem solved.

PS -- if you are looking beyond MAME, then there are additional considerations.

[DaveMMR]

What Cheffo said. Keep these points in mind:

1) MAME doesn't ever need mouse buttons to play the games or start (unless it's MAME32 - but that's not cab friendly, see below.)
2) Putting mouse buttons for Windows applications (i.e. setup/maintenance) is unnecessary. That falls under "admin buttons", which really do not belong on a CP.
3) If another PC game or emulator requires mouse buttons, it's a fairly good chance it's not a candidate for an arcade cabinet anyhow.
4) If you really do need that mouse button, you can use programs like Joy2Key to register a left/right click when necessary (even using unseen "shifted" buttons some encoders have.)
5) Keeping a cheap mouse/keyboard inside the cab, or tucked away somewhere, or having a wireless set up is loads easier than drilling, buying and wiring extra buttons.
6) Etc. Etc.

Basically, if you had to ask, you're better off without them. They take up space unnecessarily when the main buttons work just fine.

As an aside, once you get used to it, you can pretty much maneuver around Windows without a mouse anyways for those quick little fixes.

[Green Giant]

I took it as him wanting trackball buttons.  I use two buttons on each corner of my trackball.  Love them there for games like golden tee, and I think it is much more useful having them as mousebuttons. 

[05SRT4]

I'm using my trackball as my mouse with L/R buttons. (tankstick) and I like it. I also use the right click as my MAME exit.

[madmatt]

I'm using my trackball as my mouse with L/R buttons. (tankstick) and I like it. I also use the right click as my MAME exit.

+1. I agree with 055RT4.  I love my tankstick with the buttons on the side.  But I would not add them to the cp at all!  Just
use a wireless mouse and save yourself the time and headache.

MM

out 

[ark_ader]

Has anyone used a track pad instead of a mouse?

[05SRT4]

Has anyone used a track pad instead of a mouse?

A track pad would be interesting, but I could see myself getting irritated after awhile, I can only use my laptop for a small time before I plug in the mouse.

It would be cool to blend one in with the CP so its like is not even there.

[bkenobi]

I was thinking of installing a very small track pad on my driving cab via double sided tape.  It doesn't have any surface large enough for a mouse, so when I use the wireless one, I have to put a note pad in my lap and then move the keyboard out of the way (if both are required...which they are for maintenance).  I decided that I didn't want to deal with it, so I opted not to install any Windows games (NFS series was an initial requirement that I ended up dropping due to unfriendly cab design).

EDIT:  This is one that would be a good candidate since it's wireless and all black:
http://www.logitech.com/en-us/mice-pointers/mice/devices/8417

[cammada]

So I have decided to leave the mouse button out but will have spare wires just in case I might change my mind in future. wireless mouse would be enough for now as I can't find any games that need mouse unless you use PC based games which I won't do.

[paigeoliver]

I am right here. Wire the mouse buttons to your player 1 and player 2 start buttons. Mame supports this perfectly, and it allows you easier mouse access if you decide you need it later.

Interesting how the advice changes over the years as folks leave ... where is Paige/TBBK when you need him ?

FWIW, the OP said that he was happy to use an actual mouse as a mouse.

No need for mouse buttons on the CP and you may want to rethink your button placement ... would be pretty tough to play Centipede or Missile Command with your planned set up.

Unless you have a compelling reason to put buttons just above the TB, don't -- it limits gameplay.

Use the P1 and/or P2 buttons and configure the individual games appropriately.

Problem solved.

PS -- if you are looking beyond MAME, then there are additional considerations.