Navigate with the Mouse | Feedback E-mail this topic Print this topic

To begin exploring with your mouse, move it so you see the cursor in the middle of the map display. Click the left or the right mouse button and see what happens. As you'll see in the listing below, if your device has a middle button or depressible scroll wheel, it can be used to enhance the navigation experience.

Here's what you can do by navigating with the mouse:

- Drag the map in any direction.
- Zoom in to or out from the map.
- Tilt the map away from, or toward, you.
- Rotate the map.
- Set your view of the map into motion as if you were flying.
- Fly, following the path of the mouse.

In order to |  | Use the mouse like this
Move or pan the map |  | Click the left mouse button and drag the map in the direction you want to move it.
Center the map at a specific position |  | Double-click the left mouse button on the point you want at the center of the map.
Spin the globe continuously or fly continuously |  | Click and hold the down left mouse button. Then move the mouse briefly in the direction that you want to move the map — as if you were pushing or throwing the mouse — and release the mouse button. To enable this functionality, you must check Mouse Gesture Enabled on the Mouse > Gesture panel of the Options dialog box.
Start flying as if you were following a target in front of you |  | Hold down the right mouse button and move the mouse in the direction you want to travel. This is the equivalent of pressing the F key on the keyboard.
Zoom in on the map at the location of the cursor |  | Roll the mouse wheel forward or away from you to zoom in on the map at the location of the mouse cursor. Each click will zoom in approximately 75% of the current map scale.
Zoom in on the map in smaller, more precise increments |  | Hold down the Ctrl key and then roll the mouse wheel forward or away from you to zoom in on the map more precisely.
Zoom out from the map in smaller, more precise increments |  | Hold down the Ctrl key and then roll the mouse wheel backward or toward you to zoom out from the map.
Zoom down vertically toward the center of the map without moving the center point |  | Hold down the Shift key and then roll the mouse wheel forward or away from you.
Zoom up vertically from the center of the map without moving the center point |  | Hold down the Shift key and then roll the mouse wheel backward or toward you.
Zoom in continuously toward the center of the map |  | Hold down the Tab key and then press and hold down the mouse wheel as you move the mouse up or forward.
Zoom out continuously from the center of the map |  | Hold down the Tab key and then press and hold down the mouse wheel as you move the mouse down or backward.
Tilt and Rotate around target |  | Hold down the mouse wheel, then move the mouse to rotate and tilt around the target.
Look around your current position |  | Hold down the Ctrl key then press and hold the mouse wheel and move the mouse around to look around your current position.
Zoom in by dragging a box |  | Hold down the Shift key and click down the left mouse button to drag a rectangle that defines the zoom extent.

For all zoom in and zoom out actions you can change the direction in which to scroll the wheel by specifying your preference in the Map Navigation section of the Common page of the ArcGIS Explorer Options dialog. In addition, all actions that involve the mouse wheel respond to the Navigation Speed setting on the Navigation page of the same dialog.