How to configure the TrackPoint
| The kernel trackpoint driver is controlled by echoing values to special files. Common configuration options are outlined below.
NOTE!
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General Configuration
The configuration options are reflected by the files you can find in /sys/devices/platform/i8042/serio0/serio2. See the TrackPoint driver page for a complete list. Configuration is done by echoing the appropriate values into these special files.
Most common Features
The most common settings are Press to Select, sensitivity, speed and scrolling.
Press to Select
Press to Select allows you to tap the control stick which will simulate a left click. You can enable this feature by typing the following in to a terminal (you may need to be root):
# echo -n 1 > /sys/devices/platform/i8042/serio0/serio2/press_to_select
Press to Select should now be enabled. You can disable it in a similar manner:
# echo -n 0 > /sys/devices/platform/i8042/serio0/serio2/press_to_select
Sensitivity & Speed
Adjusting the speed and sensitivity of the TrackPoint requires echoing a value between 0 and 255 into the appropriate file. For example, for a speed of 120 and a sensitivity of 250, type the following into a terminal:
# echo -n 120 > /sys/devices/platform/i8042/serio0/serio2/speed# echo -n 250 > /sys/devices/platform/i8042/serio0/serio2/sensitivity
Feel free to experiment with your settings until you find a combination that is comfortable.
Scrolling
Using a kernel prior to 2.6.11
The scrolling action is essentially the same as is used in the TrackPoint Windows drivers. To enable this feature, type the following in to a terminal (you may need to be root):
# echo -n 1 > /proc/trackpoint/scroll
Then press the middle button and push the stick up and down to scroll. Similarly, to disable scrolling:
# echo -n 0 > /proc/trackpoint/scroll
Using the X server (kernel 2.6.11+)
The scroll setting has been removed from the trackpoint driver in kernel versions 2.6.11 and above. Scroll emulation should now be handled in the X server.
The necessary functionality, allowing to use button 2 for a middle click, wasn't implemented in Xorg prior to 6.9/7.0. However, there is a patch included in most distributions packages of Xorg, which was announced here. You can find an updated version of the package in the experimental branch of Debian or try to build the mouse driver yourself with the information in the announcement. This has successfully been tried with FC3's 6.8.2 packages.
Once you have applied the patch or updated to Xorg 6.9/7.0, add these lines to your TrackPoint configuration section in /etc/X11/xorg.conf:
Option "EmulateWheel" "on"
Option "EmulateWheelButton" "2"
Now restart X and hold down button 2 and move the mouse to scroll, or just press and release button 2 for a middle click.
For older versions of Xorg or for Xfree86 (/etc/X11/XF86Config) try this:
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "true"
Option "EmulateWheel" "true"
Option "EmulateWheelButton" "2"
Now restart X and hold down button two and move the mouse for scrolling. To get a middle click, press buttons 1 and 3 simultaneously.
Soft Transparent Mode
If you wish to connect a special device to the external PS/2 port, you should consider using "Soft Transparent Mode" so that the TrackPoint controller does not interpret any commands sent to the external PS/2 port. You can enable soft transparent mode by typing the following in to a terminal:
# echo -n 1 > /sys/devices/platform/i8042/serio0/serio2/transparent
Disabling soft transparent mode is similar:
# echo -n 0 > /sys/devices/platform/i8042/serio0/serio2/transparent
Modify trackpoint parameter permanently in trackpoint.h
If you do not want to run a script to reconfigure the trackpoint you can change the default settings in the trackpoint header file that is located in
/usr/src/<KERNEL_VERSION>/drivers/input/mouse/trackpoint.h.
First you must convert the values (decimal numbers) you normaly echo to /sys/[...] to hex:
echo -e 'obase=16;<DECIMAL_NUMBER>' | bc
Then simply replace the default hex values in trackpoint.h, run 'make && make modules_install' to recompile and install psmouse.ko (should be compiled as module)
Example patch (speed=100, sensitivity=190, press_to_select=1):
--- trackpoint.h.orig 2006-01-17 16:18:30.000000000 +0100 +++ trackpoint.h 2006-01-17 16:25:47.000000000 +0100 @@ -108,9 +108,9 @@ /* * Default power on values */ -#define TP_DEF_SENS 0x80 +#define TP_DEF_SENS 0xBE #define TP_DEF_INERTIA 0x06 -#define TP_DEF_SPEED 0x61 +#define TP_DEF_SPEED 0x64 #define TP_DEF_REACH 0x0A #define TP_DEF_DRAGHYS 0xFF @@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ /* Toggles */ #define TP_DEF_MB 0x00 -#define TP_DEF_PTSON 0x00 +#define TP_DEF_PTSON 0x01 #define TP_DEF_SKIPBACK 0x00 #define TP_DEF_EXT_DEV 0x01
Configure firefox for using trackpoint
Vertical Scrolling seems to work out of the box in firefox if you followed the steps above. Anyway, there is a problem when you doesnt scroll exactly vertical, because horizontal scrolling turns into browser BACK/FORWARD commands. You can avoid this by typing about:config + ENTER in the address bar of firefox. You have to adjust the following options:
mousewheel.horizscroll.withcontrolkey.action = 3; mousewheel.horizscroll.withcontrolkey.numlines = 1; mousewheel.horizscroll.withcontrolkey.sysnumlines = true; mousewheel.horizscroll.withnokey.action = 0; mousewheel.horizscroll.withnokey.numlines = 1; mousewheel.horizscroll.withnokey.sysnumlines = true; mousewheel.horizscroll.withshiftkey.action = 1; mousewheel.horizscroll.withshiftkey.numlines = 1; mousewheel.horizscroll.withshiftkey.sysnumlines = true;
