How to get the trackpad to work? (the scroll button)

[crushedumblr]

im on the x41, have no idea how to use terminal or commands in linux.

[dcast]

I'll assume you mean TrackPoint, since the X41 doesn't have a track pad. What distribution are you using?

Have a look here:

http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/How_to_co ... TrackPoint

if you need help post back here. But a quick run through on the HAL method:

1. Open a terminal window> Applications -> Accessories -> Terminal
2. Type: 'su' and enter your password
3. type 'gedit' to open a text editor.
4. paste in this:

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<match key="info.product" string="TPPS/2 IBM TrackPoint">
 <merge key="input.x11_options.EmulateWheel" type="string">true</merge>
 <merge key="input.x11_options.EmulateWheelButton" type="string">2</merge>
 <merge key="input.x11_options.YAxisMapping" type="string">4 5</merge>
 <merge key="input.x11_options.Emulate3Buttons" type="string">true</merge>
 <merge key="input.x11_options.EmulateWheelTimeout" type="string">200</merge>
</match>

5. save this file to '/etc/hal/fdi/policy/mouse-wheel.fdi'
6. reboot.

[t140568]

This works perfectly on my T500 running Ubuntu 9.10. Wow, why didn't I do this on my other TPs running linux ~3years ago?

[GomJabbar]

This works perfectly on my T500 running Ubuntu 9.10. Wow, why didn't I do this on my other TPs running linux ~3years ago?

I believe 3 years ago the method was different.
The previous method was to edit xorg.conf. This year or next I suspect the method to be different again since HAL is being done away with.

[t140568]

I believe 3 years ago the method was different.
The previous method was to edit xorg.conf. This year or next I suspect the method to be different again since HAL is being done away with.

Well, at least I can use it for the time being. Good info to know, though.

[Zedicus]

is this preferable to just adding the blurb in the xorg.conf file? and why?

[frankausmtank]

is this preferable to just adding the blurb in the xorg.conf file? and why?

As long as it works, the result will be the same, but configuration via xorg.conf is becoming obsolete and may no longer be supported in future versions of xorg. I just checked and don't even have a xorg.conf file at all (stock fedora 12 install, iirc it's the same on recent versions of ubuntu).

[Zedicus]

correct, but if you add a xorg.conf it works fine. how are all of thouse settings controlled now with out the xorg.conf anyways?

[t140568]

Have a look here:

http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/How_to_co ... TrackPoint

I did and tried the DevKit method via GPointingDeviceSettings, but to no avail. The program installed fine through apt-get and runs, but won't effectively make with the scrolling action. Hmmm...

[untitled_no4]

correct, but if you add a xorg.conf it works fine. how are all of thouse settings controlled now with out the xorg.conf anyways?

In Ubuntu 10.04 (and probably in other distributions to be released at around the same time) HAL is not is deprecated so the mouse-wheel.fdi method will not work anymore. There seem to be a couple of new methods like the gpointing-device settings but my experience with wasn't good and according to thinkwiki not all new methods will work in the future. The one that is working for me and seems to be future-proof (at least for a while) is the xinput method:

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xinput set-prop '"TPPS/2 IBM TrackPoint"' "Evdev Wheel Emulation" 1
xinput set-prop '"TPPS/2 IBM TrackPoint"' "Evdev Wheel Emulation Button" 2
xinput set-prop '"TPPS/2 IBM TrackPoint"' "Evdev Wheel Emulation Timeout" 200

and for horizontal scrolling add:

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xinput set-prop '"TPPS/2 IBM TrackPoint"' "Evdev Wheel Emulation Axes" 6 7 4 5

You can run it every time you log on, but if you want it automated create a /usr/bin/trackpoing.sh file and put the command there, then set the file to executable by running:

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sudo chmod +x /usr/bin/trackpoint.sh

and run it on startup. I'm a KDE user so I'm don't know how to do it on Gnome, but on KDE just create a link to this file in ~/.kde/Autostart

[NorrisCell]

I did and tried the DevKit method via GPointingDeviceSettings, but to no avail. The program installed fine through apt-get and runs, but won't effectively make with the scrolling action. Hmmm...

It took a few tries to get GPointing running on my X31, but it did work. It numbers the buttons left to right, so the center is button #2. What settings did you try?

[t140568]

It numbers the buttons left to right, so the center is button #2. What settings did you try?

Didn't even think to change this. Changed to #2 on mine and it worked like a charm.