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Better Mouse Drivers For X11?
OvenMitt asks: "I've asked many people the same question and have yet to get an answer. I've RTFM over and over with no luck whatsoever. So I ask you guys: how can I get smooth mouse acceleration in XFree86 4.x?
I used to remedy the situation in XFree86 3.3.x by setting the SampleRate and Resolution modifiers in the XF86Config file to some ridiculous number, but this doesn't work at all in XFree86 4.x. I'd go back to XFree86 3.3.6, but I just got a Geforce2 and my thirst for Unreal Tournament forces me to bite the bullet. I use a Kensington Expert Mouse,which is actually a very large trackball, and sometimes I feel like I'm playing marble madness when trying to get my pointer from one side of the screen to the other. Are there any alternative mouse drivers for X in development? I'd give up my Kensington Expert Mouse, but it is the absolute greatest trackball I've ever used in my life and well worth the cash IMHO."
This does it fine for me with Xfree86 4.0.1 --
Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Mouse1"
Driver "mouse"
Option "Protocol" "IMPS/2"
Option "Device" "/dev/mouse"
Option "Resolution" "1200"
Option "Buttons" "5"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection
I've got one of those Microsoft Optical mice (the cheap one.) Very nice mouse at a good price ($20-$30.)
The keys are the correct protocol (not just PS/2), and adding the appropriate Buttons and ZAxisMapping lines.
Do be aware that the PS/2 extensions often don't work through KVM switchs (in mine, it works only if the KVM is switched to each computer as it boots up. If I do that, it works fine. If not, it only sees my mice as standard three button mice. It's not too hard to understand why.)
The mouse speed controls in XFree86 are very crude; but if all you want is to make the pointer move quickly, just look at xset(1). Note that the acceleration is interpreted very differently depending on whether you have a (non-zero) threshhold: with a threshhold, it is a simple multiplier; without, an exponent. Very different feels, so try both ways. Also note that the acceleration can be a fraction (not a decimal!).
The evaluation of an action as 'practical' . . . depends on what it is that one wishes to practice.
Wheel support is application specific. Mozilla uses it natively, but other applications often require some ~/.Xdefault changes, or mapping the wheel events to other events.
For a good bit of background on all of these changes, check out -
I tried to make that a link, but /. didn't like it. How do I do that anyways? /. also seems to be introducing a space that I can't remove. You'll have to remove it manually.
Download 4.0.2, a major bug was fixed and the mouse is now smooth.
See http://www.linuxgames.com/news/index.php3/3072
wolruf@gmail.com
I have a Kensington TurboMouse working under Debian's XFree4 (not sure if that's the same as the ExpertMouse or not -- the TurboMouse is a Mac trackball).
Caveats: My system is a Mac clone, using ADB for the keyboard and trackball/mouse.
I have (only) three mouse buttons working, and I run xmodmap when I start X to swap two of them around -- my ~/.Xmodmap file contains pointer = 1 3 2; the equivalent command line would be xmodmap -e 'pointer = 1 3 2'.
ie.
Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "ExpertMouse"
Driver "mouse"
Option "Protocol" "ThinkingMousePS/2"
Option "Device" "/dev/psm0"
Option "Buttons" "4"
EndSection
More details at XFree86
Cheers,
Toby Haynes
Anything I post is strictly my own thoughts and doesn't necessarily have anything to do with the opinions of IBM.
I'm partial to the Logitech Trackman FX. Logitech has a nasty habit of putting the trackball under thumb control while clicking with fingers, but the FX is the other way around: a nice BIG trackball, ergonomic shape, and four buttons (two fumb activated, two pinkie) for your clicking pleasure. it is a GREAT input device; well worth the $70 it cost me at compusa.
I got expert mouse to work properly with XFree86 3.3.6 on Debian potato, just this weekend. From my past setups, I completely understand the "Marble Madness" thing. I use vitual desktops and edge flipping. Try going 3 or 4 screens with one massive swipe of the mouse hand! :-D
/etc/X11/XF86Config:
But then, I used the debian server config program, and SHOCK!!!! I got the upper left button to be mouse button 2, AND high resolution movement. YEARS I worked on that. YEARS, do you hear me? YEARS!!!
Here is my working mouse config from
Section "Pointer"
Protocol "ThinkingMousePS/2"
Device "/dev/mouse"
Emulate3Timeout 50
Resolution 200
Buttons 3
Emulate3Buttons
EndSection
Apparently the ThinkingMousePS/2 thing works on my box. I'm sure I must have tried that in the past. But maybe not? I ran XFree86 4 for awhile but I didn't ever try this exact config with it. Maybe it will work.
Under this configuration the the lower mouse buttons are left and right, and the upper left is mouse button 2. I'm not sure about the upper right mouse button. Configured as a four button mouse, that button may or may not work as button 4. YMMV.
I left in Emulate3Buttons becuase I already have "chording" habits. No need to torture myself.
Also, FWIW, I'm using the "old" S3 Virge server. Yeah, I'm a real miser.