Mice break like any other computer part, and in the case of wireless models, their batteries die at critical moments for any user. Emulating a mouse using the keyboard may not be an efficient solution, but it can definitely help us out of a jam. If the built-in Windows solution seems insufficient to you, MouseFighter is a good alternative.
So far I have avoided any major investment in a mouse for the simple reason that they have a worrying tendency to end up on the floor. We shouldn’t expect much more than basic functionality from an inexpensive mouse, but regardless of price, a breakdown can happen at any moment. The keyboard can bypass the vast majority of obstacles created by the absence of a mouse, however, there are times when we desperately need the cursor. If we obey the famous Murphy’s Law, it’s most likely the mouse breaks a Sunday at seven in the evening with most stores closed, or in the middle of a work session, which completely prevents you from leaving the computer. So… what do we do?
How to emulate a mouse with the keyboard
Through its accessibility tools, Windows offers Mouse Keys, which turns the numeric keypad into an alternative pointer control, or you can download external software like MouseFighter. All you have to do is install the program, run it, and press Caps Lock to activate the emulation.
The mouse pointer is controlled with the arrow keys, and both clicks are assigned to the A and S keys respectively. MouseFighter has options to adjust the pointer movement speed, and to activate an “ergonomic” mode, which moves the main keys to the center of the keyboard. Obviously, you can configure MouseFighter however you like, and thus get the best emulation experience. Finally, it includes the possibility of controlling the mouse by voice commands, ideal for people with different needs.
MouseFighter is a “donationware” program, so its functionality is complete as long as we are willing to tolerate the watermark it places on the screen while we use it. It requires .NET Framework, and its download is just over two megabytes. MouseFighter is a bit more convenient than Windows Mouse Keys on compact systems that don’t have a numeric keypad available, or that block the execution of accessibility tools by some administrator’s decision.
