SuperLinux Encyclopedia - Pointing Devices

General Subject & Misc:

• Misc tools:
  • xset: Has an "m" (mouse) option for configuring the pointer.
  • xsetmode: Sets the mode (relative or absolute) for an X Input device.
  • xsetpointer: Sets an X Input device as the main pointer or lists the candidate devices.
• Multiple pointer usage (assuming /dev/cua0 & /dev/cua1 for example):
  • Low tech: Get a 9- or 25-pin serial AB box from a e-parts store and plug into whatever /dev/modem is using.
  • Manual: Relink /dev/modem to /dev/cua0 and /dev/cua1 (ln -sf src dst) as needed.
  • XInput mechanism of recent X servers: Recent xf86config-generated "XF86Config" files have an XInput (XInout?) section with fields for a second mouse, graphics tablet, etc. See man pages of XF86Config, xsetpointer, xsetmode, etc.
  • With GPM & X: A section of /etc/rc.d/rc.local for two mice:

    #
    # Use GPM to mux the Logitech mouse on ttyS0 and the Glidepoint mouse on
    # psaux into a single Mouse Systems clone on /dev/gpmdata.
    #
    if [ -x /usr/bin/gpm ]; then
    /usr/bin/gpm -m /dev/ttyS0 -t logi -M -m /dev/psaux -t ps2 -R 
    fi

    That'll take care of the console portion of the problem. To get this working under X, you'll have to set up the pointer section of your X configuration file appropriately. Under the Xfree86 server, adding the following lines to the XF86Config file should do the trick.

    Section "Pointer"
    Protocol    "MouseSystems"
    Device      "/dev/gpmdata"
            

• Xinput:
  • Xinput setup HOWTO 

Joysticks:

• The Linux Joystick Driver   (with much other info)
• Mirror of above  With some extras like a test program.
• joy2key   "a utility to allow you to use a joystick for X and console programs that otherwise lack native joystick support"
• /usr/src/linux/Documentation/joystick.txt  From recent kernels.

Mice or Mouses:

• Busmouse HOWTO   Information on bus mouse compatibility with Linux.
• 3 Button Mouse mini-HOWTO   (How to configure your mouse to use 3 buttons) (sunsite copy)
• Colas Nahaboo X mouse wheel scroll page
• imwheel   (SW for wheel- and 4-button-mice and Alps Glidepad "taps")
• Adjusting mouse behaviour: For X, see the "m" option in the "xset" manual page. For GPM, see the "gpm" manual page.
• PS/2:
  • Mconv2 Utility  Allows multiple apps to use it, even if they don't "know" PS/2. Oct'96 LG
• Ask Slashdot: Expert Mouse and XFree86
• Ask Slashdot: Getting Remote IR Mice Support Under Linux

Pens & Tablets:

• Linux Compaq Concerto Pen Driver   (also see this Concerto page)
• Wacom:
  • Wacom drawing tablets Some have some Linux support.
  • Wacom Intuos driver page 
  • From Usenet: I got my Wacom PenPartner to work by enabling the XInput driver in XFree86. look here for more details. I had to get the Gimp sources and recompile to enable the stylus, but I now have pressure support working.

Touch Pads:

• imwheel   (SW for Alps Glidepad "taps", other)
• Synaptics TouchPad Linux Driver
• tpconfig  "driver for the Synaptics touchpad found on many laptops (Acer, Dell, Olivetti, TI, Winbook and others)"
• Touchpad Cures Inflammation  Review of Elite 800 dpi EZ-Pointe serial touchpad by PC Concepts, but many general comments.

Touch Screens:

• Trident Systems, Inc.  Unix-friendly.
• Magic Touch  Linux-friendly.
• Not known to be Linux-friendly:
  • ViewTouch, Inc. (much involved in networking application SW not just for touch screens)
  • MicroTouch

End of page.