• Registered: 2009-05-04
  • Posts: 250

Topic: IBM Trackpoint Scrolling under Statler (Debian Squeeze)

Had a bit of trouble getting the trackpoints middle-button scrolling working under Debian Squeeze on an x31 IBM. Followed the hal-policy directions suggested at http://wiki.debian.org/InstallingDebian … Trackpoint unsuccessfully.  I'm unclear as to whether this might be due to the supposed upcoming deprecation of hal (at least in ubuntu.... http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/How_to_co … TrackPoint.)

Turns out a edit of /etc/X11/xorg.conf (you may have to create this file) and a restart of X got it working with the following code:

Section "InputClass"
Identifier "Trackpoint Wheel Emulation"
MatchProduct "TPPS/2 IBM TrackPoint|DualPoint Stick|Synaptics Inc. Composite TouchPad / TrackPoint"
MatchDevicePath "/dev/input/event*"
Option "EmulateWheel" "true"
Option "EmulateWheelButton" "2"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "false"
Option "XAxisMapping" "6 7"
Option "YAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection
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  • olembe
  • #! CrunchBanger
  • Offline
  • From: Salisbury, England
  • Registered: 2009-04-29
  • Posts: 247

Re: IBM Trackpoint Scrolling under Statler (Debian Squeeze)

On my Thinkpad X200s, I've found the best way is not to use xorg at all, but to install gpointing-device-settings from the repos. This lets you get middle-button trackpoint scrolling working. There is a *slight* fiddle involved. Obviously, when you set it up, you'll turn on the "Use wheel emulation" option and select button 2. However, if you restart your computer then you need to do the following:

- start gpointing-device-settings
- uncheck, then immediately recheck, the "Use wheel emulation" option
- Change the button from 2 to any other number, and then immediately change it back to 2
- Press the OK button

It's a minor a hassle to do this each time I restart the computer, and one day I'll look into automating it, but to be honest it's only 5 seconds and it's not that bad to get the trackpoint scrolling working.

  • Registered: 2010-06-23
  • Posts: 13

Re: IBM Trackpoint Scrolling under Statler (Debian Squeeze)

jmbarnes wrote:

Turns out a edit of /etc/X11/xorg.conf (you may have to create this file) and a restart of X got it working with the following code:

Section "InputClass"
Identifier "Trackpoint Wheel Emulation"
MatchProduct "TPPS/2 IBM TrackPoint|DualPoint Stick|Synaptics Inc. Composite TouchPad / TrackPoint"
MatchDevicePath "/dev/input/event*"
Option "EmulateWheel" "true"
Option "EmulateWheelButton" "2"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "false"
Option "XAxisMapping" "6 7"
Option "YAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection

It works! Both horizontally and vertically. And it doesn't conflict with Firefox' autoscrolling feature. Thanks! (Thinkpad X32 Statler Alpha2)

  • From: Sweden
  • Registered: 2010-07-08
  • Posts: 3

Re: IBM Trackpoint Scrolling under Statler (Debian Squeeze)

Works very well!
Many thanks, I cant live with out my scroll button big_smile

  • Registered: 2010-06-23
  • Posts: 13

Re: IBM Trackpoint Scrolling under Statler (Debian Squeeze)

how to adjust scroll speed?

  • Registered: 2009-05-04
  • Posts: 250

Re: IBM Trackpoint Scrolling under Statler (Debian Squeeze)

Glad to here its been helpful to people.

Not sure about the scroll speed...perhaps www.thinkwiki.org has ideas? If you figure it out please let us know.

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  • Registered: 2009-09-19
  • Posts: 108

Re: IBM Trackpoint Scrolling under Statler (Debian Squeeze)

Thank you very much, this is what i was looking for.

Cheers.

  • Registered: 2010-06-23
  • Posts: 13

Re: IBM Trackpoint Scrolling under Statler (Debian Squeeze)

jmbarnes wrote:

Not sure about the scroll speed...perhaps www.thinkwiki.org has ideas? If you figure it out please let us know.


I just got used to default speed wink