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Our script we used to use to enable right click on our lab Macs is not working anymore. I've tried various solutions, but so far none are working.



Anyone have a simple way to configure right click on a wired Apple mouse that I could put into a policy or config profile?



Thanks!!

I use a configuration profile as I wasn't able to get things to stick with scripts. The profile has three custom payloads as follows:



Domain com.apple.driver.AppleHIDMouse with payload {ButtonDominance=1, Button1=1, Button2=2}



Domain com.apple.driver.AppleBluetoothMultitouch.mouse with payload {MouseButtonMode=TwoButton}



Domain com.apple.driver.AppleBluetoothMultitouch.trackpad with payload {TrackpadRightClick=true}



I tossed this in Self Service for install and this hits all the normal external input devices. The first payload specifically hits the wired mouse.


I tried configuring one of our Macs the way I wanted it and then created a custom configuration file using the com.apple.driver.AppleHIDMouse.plist, but while the profile is deploying to the machines, right click is not being enabled. Looks like a phone call to Jamf.




@dtmille2 Were you able to get the plist working for right click?


Sorry for the extreme delay in my response. I am not getting notifications of discussion forum replies.



I did call Jamf, and they told me that there was no known way of enabling right click on a Mac through management, and must be done manually.



If anyone knows otherwise, please feel free chime in.


@dtmille2, mouse behavior is a very personal choice for users. Rather than use a configuration profile, which overrides a user's choice, I suggest only setting the right-click behavior as a default, allowing the user to change it later.



I recently helped a customer with the same need. We put the following line into a policy under the Files and Processes payload > Execute Command field and set it to run Once Per User Per Computer at Login.



currentUser=$( /usr/bin/stat -f "%Su" /dev/console ) ; /usr/bin/su "$currentUser" -c ‘/usr/bin/defaults write com.apple.driver.AppleHIDMouse Button2 -int 2'


This is only for the Apple wired mouse (maybe all wired mice?). For wireless Apple mice and trackpads, you'd need to use the settings mentioned earlier.


Thanks @talkingmoose . I agree, I wouldn't want to enforce this via a config profile, although for our lab computers that might make sense.



I have tried using this command and it doesn't seem to be having any effect. Have you tested on a 10.14.4 Mac?





[STEP 1 of 4]
Executing Policy Enable Right Click - Wired Mouse
[STEP 2 of 4]
[STEP 3 of 4]
Running command currentUser=$( /usr/bin/stat -f "%Su" /dev/console ) ; /usr/bin/su "$currentUser" -c ‘/usr/bin/defaults write com.apple.driver.AppleHIDMouse Button2 -int 2'...
Result of command:
/bin/sh: -c: line 0: unexpected EOF while looking for matching `''
/bin/sh: -c: line 1: syntax error: unexpected end of file
/STEP 4 of 4]


I altered the command to below and it worked. Thank you!



currentUser=$( /usr/bin/stat -f "%Su" /dev/console ) ; /usr/bin/su "$currentUser" -c "/usr/bin/defaults write com.apple.driver.AppleHIDMouse Button2 -int 2"


@dtmille2 I'll give this a shot next week. I've been looking for a way to do this for our labs. Thanks!


The above solution appears to no longer be working.


I see that script is nice, but if it is not working, why not copy the whole .plist file?



Seb


This is the script I use to enable right click when a user logs on for the first time.



Set Apple Mouse button 1 to Primary click and button 2 to Secondary click.



defaults write "/System/Library/User Template/Non_localized/Library/Preferences/com.apple.driver.AppleHIDMouse" Button1 -integer 1
defaults write "/System/Library/User Template/Non_localized/Library/Preferences/com.apple.driver.AppleHIDMouse" Button2 -integer 2
defaults write "/System/Library/User Template/Non_localized/Library/Preferences/com.apple.driver.AppleHIDMouse" Button3 -integer 3
defaults write "/System/Library/User Template/Non_localized/Library/Preferences/com.apple.driver.AppleHIDMouse" ButtonDominance -integer 1


Thanks, I just have it configured in UT


I'm also seeing that this solution can no longer set the r-click preference under 10.14.6.


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