[SOLVED] alps touchpad, disabling touchpad clicks

[dimebag]

I was wondering if there is a way to disable touchpad clicks? There is no option available in mouse settings that lets me do this. I have an HP Pavilion dv4 laptop with an ALPS touchpad. Having touchpad clicks enabled all the time can be very irritating, as I'm sure you can all imagine why. Please provide assistance!

[gapan]

You can use synclient to enable/disable the touchpad. man synclient for more. I have added syndaemon -i .5 -d in my autostarted applications to disable the touchpad while typing.

[dimebag]

Well, actually, i was just wondering how to disable mouse CLICKS on the touchpad. Every time I tap the touchpad, even slightly, it performs a mouse click. So that's what I really want to disable, the mouse clicks with the touchpad. If I disable the touchpad, wouldn't that disable it entirely? I apologize for being a noob.

[pwatk]

I use a script that I've linked to the Super_L key (Windows key) to turn the touchpad on and off:

Code: Select all

#!/bin/sh

# /usr/local/bin/touchpadoff

curval=`synclient -l | grep 'TouchpadOff' | sed 's/.*\(.\)$/\1/'`

if [ "$curval" = "0" ]; then
  synclient touchpadoff=1
else
  synclient touchpadoff=0
fi

[gapan]

Well, actually, i was just wondering how to disable mouse CLICKS on the touchpad. Every time I tap the touchpad, even slightly, it performs a mouse click. So that's what I really want to disable, the mouse clicks with the touchpad. If I disable the touchpad, wouldn't that disable it entirely? I apologize for being a noob.

You can still use synclient for that. Probably with playing with the MaxTapTime variable. Run synclient -l to see a list of all variables.

[pwatk]

Here is a new script for you to just turn off the tap function:

Code: Select all

#!/bin/sh

# /usr/local/bin/tapbutton1

curval=`synclient -l | grep 'TapButton1' | sed 's/.*\(.\)$/\1/'`

if [ "$curval" = "0" ]; then
  synclient tapbutton1=1
else
  synclient tapbutton1=0
fi

gapan is probably right though, the MaxTapMove or MaxTapTime options could probably make your life easier.

Here is the /etc/hal/fdi/policy/11-x11-synaptics.fdi file I created for my ALPS touchpad:

Code: Select all

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?>
<deviceinfo version="0.2">
  <device>
    <match key="info.capabilities" contains="input.touchpad">
      <merge key="input.x11_driver" type="string">synaptics</merge>
      <merge key="input.x11_options.SHMConfig" type="string">true</merge>

      <merge key="input.x11_options.TapButton1" type="string">1</merge>

      <merge key="input.x11_options.Device" type="string">"/dev/input/mice"</merge>
      <merge key="input.x11_options.Protocol" type="string">"alps"</merge>
      <merge key="input.x11_options.LeftEdge" type="string">130</merge>
      <merge key="input.x11_options.RightEdge" type="string">840</merge>
      <merge key="input.x11_options.TopEdge" type="string">130</merge>
      <merge key="input.x11_options.BottomEdge" type="string">640</merge>
      <merge key="input.x11_options.FingerLow" type="string">7</merge>
      <merge key="input.x11_options.FingerHigh" type="string">8</merge>
      <merge key="input.x11_options.MaxTapTime" type="string">180</merge>
      <merge key="input.x11_options.MaxTapMove" type="string">110</merge>
      <merge key="input.x11_options.EmulateMidButtonTime" type="string">75</merge>
      <merge key="input.x11_options.VertScrollDelta" type="string">20</merge>
      <merge key="input.x11_options.HorizScrollDelta" type="string">20</merge>
      <merge key="input.x11_options.MinSpeed" type="string">0.50</merge>
      <merge key="input.x11_options.MaxSpeed" type="string">0.90</merge>
      <merge key="input.x11_options.AccelFactor" type="string">0.010</merge>
      <merge key="input.x11_options.EdgeMotionMinSpeed" type="string">200</merge>
      <merge key="input.x11_options.EdgeMotionMaxSpeed" type="string">200</merge>
      <merge key="input.x11_options.UpDownScrolling" type="string">1</merge>
      <merge key="input.x11_options.CircularScrolling" type="string">1</merge>
      <merge key="input.x11_options.CircScrollDelta" type="string">0.1</merge>
      <merge key="input.x11_options.CircScrollTrigger" type="string">1</merge>
      <merge key="input.x11_options.Emulate3Buttons" type="string">on</merge>

      <merge key="input.x11_options.VertEdgeScroll" type="string">1</merge>
      <merge key="input.x11_options.HorizEdgeScroll" type="string">1</merge>
    </match>
  </device>
</deviceinfo>

I started by copying the sample file from /usr/share/hal/fdi and then reading this page on the Arch Linux wiki.

Hopefully this can help you.

[dimebag]

Thanks for the help guys! I ended up using the solution provided by gapan, using MaxTapTime and setting the value to "0," and it worked! Goodbye touchpad clicks! In case anyone was wondering exactly what I did to solve the problem (for noobs like myself), simply open a terminal and type the following:

synclient MaxTapTime=0

To verify that the value was changed, simply type this within the terminal:

synclient -l

Voila! Thanks again for the assistance.

[dimebag]

Okay, now I have a new issue. I was wondering if there is a way to save the value change for MaxTapTime so I don't have to keep entering it in the terminal every reboot. Every time I reboot, the touchpad clicks are enabled again, and I have to repeat the process of accessing the terminal and typing "synclient MaxTapTime=0." If there is a solution, can someone please provide the steps that I must go through in the terminal? I am essentially looking for a permanent fix.

[gapan]

You can add the command in your autostarted appications in xfce, using the "Session andstartup" tool from the Settings menu.

[dimebag]

Gapan, you sir, are the man! I added the command to the autostarted applications, rebooted, and now the touchpad clicks are disabled for good! Thanks for solving my problem.