How to use the Press and Hold Settings?

Here's what it does, from what I can work out (seeing as Microsoft support uselessly repeated the unclear text in the options window):

'Speed' - the first slider - is how quickly right-clicking activates when you hold the pen down.

'Duration' is how long you can hold the pen down before right-clicking is cancelled. ie, a short duration will mean that once the right-click has 'activated', you must lift the pen quickly to properly right-click. Otherwise nothing will happen. A long duration will give you more time to lift the pen, and still right click.

A short duration is useful if you find yourself changing your mind - if you accidentally right-click, you can hold the pen down for a bit longer, then release it and there will be no right-click.

A long duration is useful if you're a bit slower with the pen - you hold it down to right click, then you have plenty of time to lift it again without cancelling the right click.

I hope that makes more sense.

Do you know if Microsoft gives access to set speed slider programmatically to minimize duration for press and hold event to occur?

Hi,

Thank you for posting your question in the Microsoft Community Forums.

Based on the information, it seems you are trying to find out the difference between the amount of time set when “you must press and hold before you can perform a right-click equivalent" and during press and hold to perform a right click action".

It would be helpful if you could reply to the question to assist you better.

What is the make and model of your tablet?

When you set the first option, the Speed slider lets you change the amount of time that you must press and hold your finger over an object before a right-click action is performed.

When you set the time for the second option, the duration slider allows you to change the amount of time during press and hold to perform a right-click action, an action similar to dragging your mouse with the right button pressed and releasing it to get a menu for the selected files.

For further information, refer to the article:

Touch and pen settings: Frequently asked questions

If you are using a Surface RT, then refer to the articles:

The Surface pen: FAQ

Using the Surface Pen

Hope the information helps.

Let us know if you need further assistance with Windows related issues. We will be happy to help.

Thanks for your quick reply and ideas.  I have a Microsoft Surface with Windows RT.

Since the "Surface pen" works only on the Windows Pro version of the Surface, not on the RT version, those articles did not have my answer.   My question begins right as the "Touch and Pen Settings" FAQ ends -- the screenshot shows a windows titled "Pen and Touch".  If you highlight the "Press and hold" line in the box, and then press the "Settings..." button, you come to the "Press and Hold Settings" window.  Here, it is fairly easy to see the effect of the "Speed" adjustment -- it seems to help identify the distinction between a long tap and a short press-and-hold.  However, it is hard to see the effect of the "Duration" adjustment, and it is hard to figure out what the words are trying to say.  Perhaps a restatement of the concept in other words would be helpful.

I am mostly using Press and Hold now to bring up a menu of actions that I can take (such as to open a link in a new tab) without moving my finger.