Mouse Gestures for Windows

A Windows application that provides mouse gesture functionality for quick navigation between windows, virtual desktops, and more.

README.mp4

Features

• Mouse gesture support using Mouse Button 5 (XButton2)
• System tray icon with settings and about menu
• Automatic startup support as a windows service
• Gesture actions:
  • Horizontal movement: Switch virtual desktops
  • Vertical movement up: Windows Tab view
  • Vertical movement down: Show desktop/Windows Tab
  • Mouse wheel while holding action button: Alt+Tab switching

Installation

Using the Installer (Recommended)

1. Download the latest MouseGestures_Installer.exe from the releases page
2. Run the installer as Administrator
3. Choose your installation options:
   • Install as Windows Service (runs at startup)
   • Install as normal application
   • Create desktop shortcut
   • Create Quick Launch icon
4. Follow the installation wizard
5. The application will start automatically after installation

Manual Installation

If you prefer not to use the installer:

1. Download the exe file from the releases page
2. Extract to your preferred location
3. Run BetterMouse.exe directly

Usage

1. Hold Mouse Button 5 (XButton2) to activate gesture mode
2. While holding:
   • Move mouse left/right to switch virtual desktops
   • Move mouse up to open Windows Tab view
   • Move mouse down to show desktop or Windows Tab
   • Use mouse wheel to Alt+Tab between windows
3. Release Mouse Button 5 to complete the gesture

Reference below to locate Mouse Button 5

System Requirements

• Windows 10 or later
• Administrator privileges (for installation)
• Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable 2022 (included in installer)

Building from Source

1. Ensure you have Visual Studio 2022 with C++ desktop development tools installed
2. Install Inno Setup 6 or later (for building the installer)
3. Open the solution in Visual Studio
4. Build the solution in Release mode
5. Run iscc installer.iss to create the installer

Building the Installer

1. Install Inno Setup 6 or later
2. Open installer.iss in Inno Setup
3. Click Build > Compile
4. The installer will be created in the installer_output directory

Troubleshooting

If the application fails to start:

1. Check Windows Event Viewer for error messages
2. Ensure you have administrator privileges
3. Verify Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable 2022 is installed
4. Try running as a normal application first to verify functionality

For service installation issues:

1. Open Services (services.msc)
2. Check if "Mouse Gestures Service" exists and its status
3. Try stopping and starting the service manually
4. Check service logs in Event Viewer

Uninstallation

1. Use Windows Settings > Apps > Apps & features
2. Find "Mouse Gestures" and click Uninstall
3. Follow the uninstallation wizard

Or:

1. Run the uninstaller directly from the installation directory
2. The uninstaller will automatically stop and remove the service if installed

License

This software is open-source and free to use.