Middle mouse button problem

watching a blender beginner basics tutorial for 2.8. Does the middle mouse button work for dragging the model over all axises?

I cant seem to get it to work. it just moves the entire layout, but not the cube itself

I’m not sure what you mean here. Are you talking about the special widget you get when you press the middle mouse button while the move command is active?:

This works, but it only works when you use the grab command (the shortcut is G). There is no way to active this using the new toolbar tools in 2.8. These two tool systems are just too different from each other to work the same way.

omg omg thank you!!! i feel so dumb. you nailed it:) i needed to hit the (G) button and press the middle mouse button.