Triple-click
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A triple-click is the action of clicking a computer mouse button three times quickly without moving the mouse. Along with clicking and double-clicking, triple-clicking allows three different actions to be associated with the same mouse button. Criticism of the double-click mechanism is even more valid for triple-clicks. However, few applications assign critical actions to a triple click.
Examples of usage
Microsoft Windows XP
A triple-click in the start menu to an item that has a folder associated with it will open that folder in an explorer window. This is especially useful in locked down environments when right-click is disabled. For example, a user may need to copy and paste a shortcut to the program section on start menu. Triple-click the program section and windows explorer opens allowing for pasting that shortcut in the program section.
On text
In most text processing programs and edit controls triple-clicking with left mouse button on the text selects entire line. If the edit control is not multiline, the entire text is selected.
Microsoft Word
A triple-click within a paragraph in the text area selects the entire paragraph. A triple-click in the left margin (when the mouse pointer is an up-and-to-the-right arrow) selects the entire document.
Microsoft Works Word Processor
A triple-click within a paragraph in the text area selects the line. A triple-click in the left margin (when the mouse pointer is an up-and-to-the-right arrow) selects the entire document.
Corel WordPerfect
A triple-click within a paragraph in the text area selects the sentence. A triple-click in the left margin (when the mouse pointer is an up-and-to-the-right arrow) selects the entire document.
Outlook and Outlook Express
A triple-click within a paragraph in the text area selects the entire paragraph.
Browsers
FireFox 3.0
In Firefox 3.0 a triple-click will highlight all text within any single HTML element on the page.
FireFox 3.5
In Firefox 3.5 a triple-click selects the entire paragraph.
Internet Explorer 7
In Internet Explorer 7 a triple-click will highlight all text within any single HTML element on the page. If there is an article with multiple paragraphs one can highlight an entire paragraph with a triple-click.
Opera
In Opera a triple-click will select all text within a sentence while automatically popping up a list of commands to apply to the selected text. A quadruple-click will select all text within a single paragraph while keeping the aforementioned popup open.
Safari 3.0
In Safari 3.0 a triple-click will highlight all text within any single HTML element on the page. If there is an article with multiple paragraphs one can highlight an entire paragraph with a triple-click.
Adjusting speed
Adjusting speed of triple-click depends on the operating system:
- On Windows XP and Mac OS X triple-clicking has the same time as double-click and changing the double-click setting affects triple-click behavior as well.