Middle Mouse Button Functions

Three-Button Mouse

Use the middle button for these view commands:
Command Procedure
Rotate View (parts and assemblies only)

To rotate the model view:

Drag with the middle mouse button.

To rotate about a vertex, edge, or face:

Middle-click a vertex, edge, or face; then middle-drag the pointer.
Pan Hold down Ctrl and drag with the middle mouse button. In an active drawing, you do not need to hold down Ctrl.
Zoom In/Out Hold down Shift and drag with the middle mouse button.

Wheel-Type Mouse

Use the wheel for these view commands:
Command Procedure
Rotate View (parts and assemblies only) To rotate the model view:

Hold down the wheel and move it to rotate.

To rotate about a vertex, edge, or face:

Wheel-click a vertex, edge, or face; then hold down the wheel and drag.
Zoom In/Out

To zoom to the position of the pointer:

Spin the wheel forward and back. While spinning the wheel, keep the pointer on the area where you want to zoom. If the pointer is outside of the graphics area, the center of the model zooms into view.

To zoom to the center of the screen:

Click View > Modify > Zoom About Screen Center, then spin the wheel forward and back.

To use accelerated zoom:

  1. Close all documents.
  2. Click System Options > Display.
  3. Clear Display scrollbars in graphics view for parts and assemblies.
  4. In an open document, press Shift + mouse wheel and zoom in or out.
To change the direction of the mouse wheel for zooming in and out, click Tools > Options > System Options > View and click Reverse mouse wheel zoom direction.

You can zoom in the window beneath the pointer with the wheel without selecting the window. For example, with multiple viewports or with a PropertyManager open.

Often the settings for the wheel override the SOLIDWORKS software settings. When using SOLIDWORKS, you can turn off the wheel in the Windows Control Panel for the mouse. If this change fails, check with the manufacturer for a new driver or for issues concerning the current mouse drivers.