Void's Forums

Posted: 14 Mar 2004 11:46 pm

I currently have a Compaq Armada E500 laptop and a couple of Dell Latitude laptops all with Synaptics Touchpads. I used to use the tpconfig utility to turn off the tap mode (I can't stand tap mode). Since that utility can't be run while X is running (and while GPM is running) I had a service script that would execute tpconfig prior to starting X. It used to work very well but with FC1 it seems to only work sometimes.

I notice the driver/utility hasn't been updated in a couple of years so I decided to look for an alternative. Low and behold there is an X module specifically for this, designed for XFree v4.x. It works very well and actually allows you to control all of the options of the Synaptics touchpad. Another bonus is that the options can be manipulated while X is running, as well as have the defaults set in your /etc/X11/XF86Config file.

I have created an RPM for it and added it to my Fedora Repository. See the synaptics* RPMs. I could just let you read the included INSTALL file but it's pretty easy to set up so I'll just give you the basics. I installed the RPM ("apt-get install synaptics", not to be confused with "synaptic"). Then I modified my /etc/X11/XF86Config (always make a backup copy of this file before modifying). I commented out the first "InputDevice" mouse section containing (Mouse0) and added the Synaptics replacement:

Code:

Section "InputDevice"
Driver "synaptics"
Identifier "Mouse0"
Option "Device" "/dev/psaux"
Option "Protocol" "auto-dev"
Option "LeftEdge" "1700"
Option "RightEdge" "5300"
Option "TopEdge" "1700"
Option "BottomEdge" "4200"
Option "FingerLow" "25"
Option "FingerHigh" "30"
# Turn this sucker off!!!
# Option "MaxTapTime" "180"
Option "MaxTapTime" "0"
Option "MaxTapMove" "220"
Option "VertScrollDelta" "100"
Option "MinSpeed" "0.06"
Option "MaxSpeed" "0.12"
Option "AccelFactor" "0.0010"
Option "SHMConfig" "on"
# Option "Repeater" "/dev/ps2mouse"
EndSection

Notice I changed "MaxTapTime" default from 180 to 0 which in effect shuts off the "tap mode" (at least it seems to work for me). I got tired of accidentally selecting text by touching the pad. I prefer to have to press the buttons to select text. Refer to the /usr/share/doc/synaptics-0.12.5/INSTALL document if this doesn't work for you.

In addition to these defaults you can change the settings interactively with the included "synclient" command:

Code:

$ synclient
Usage: synclient [-m interval] [-h] [-l] [-?] [var1=value1 [var2=value2] ...]
-m monitor changes to the touchpad state.
interval specifies how often (in M$) to poll the touchpad state
-h Show detected hardware properties
-l List current user settings
-? Show this help message
var=value Set user parameter 'var' to 'value'.

Code:

$ synclient -h
Hardware properties:
Model Id = 00165eb1
Capabilities = 00804713
Identity = 00064715

Code:

$ synclient -l
Parameter settings:
LeftEdge = 1700
RightEdge = 5300
TopEdge = 1700
BottomEdge = 4200
FingerLow = 25
FingerHigh = 30
MaxTapTime = 0
MaxTapMove = 220
EmulateMidButtonTime = 75
VertScrollDelta = 100
HorizScrollDelta = 100
MinSpeed = 0.06
MaxSpeed = 0.12
AccelFactor = 0.001
EdgeMotionMinZ = 30
EdgeMotionMaxZ = 160
EdgeMotionMinSpeed = 1
EdgeMotionMaxSpeed = 200
EdgeMotionUseAlways = 0
UpDownScrolling = 1
TouchpadOff = 0
LockedDrags = 0
RTCornerButton = 2
RBCornerButton = 3
LTCornerButton = 0
LBCornerButton = 0
TapButton1 = 1
TapButton2 = 2
TapButton3 = 3
CircularScrolling = 0
CircScrollDelta = 0.1
CircScrollTrigger = 0

Code:

$ synclient MaxTapTime=180
$ synclient -l
Parameter settings:
LeftEdge = 1700
RightEdge = 5300
TopEdge = 1700
BottomEdge = 4200
FingerLow = 25
FingerHigh = 30
MaxTapTime = 180
MaxTapMove = 220
EmulateMidButtonTime = 75
VertScrollDelta = 100
HorizScrollDelta = 100
MinSpeed = 0.06
MaxSpeed = 0.12
AccelFactor = 0.001
EdgeMotionMinZ = 30
EdgeMotionMaxZ = 160
EdgeMotionMinSpeed = 1
EdgeMotionMaxSpeed = 200
EdgeMotionUseAlways = 0
UpDownScrolling = 1
TouchpadOff = 0
LockedDrags = 0
RTCornerButton = 2
RBCornerButton = 3
LTCornerButton = 0
LBCornerButton = 0
TapButton1 = 1
TapButton2 = 2
TapButton3 = 3
CircularScrolling = 0
CircScrollDelta = 0.1
CircScrollTrigger = 0

Have Fun!