My dear friends
„Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.“
(Tim Robbins as Andrew Dufrense in 'The Shawshank Redemption')
There has been a lot of changes in 'xorg' and 'evdev' with Ubuntu Hardy. As a result the 'gutsy' configuration for our beloved Logibaby S510 is not working anymore.
Here are the changes:
- The famous 'Quirks'-Patch that some of you may have activated in /etc/modprobe.d/options is integrated in the 2.6.24.** Ubuntu Kernel. So you can delete this.
- This means that our Logitech S510 is basically supported by Ubuntu Hardy including the missing Zoom +/-, 100%, Rotate and Shuffle!!! (handled by the keyTouch software)
- The 'evdev' Driver is not needed anymore to configure your keyboard and mouse. You can use 'kbd' and 'mouse' as your keyboard and mouse driver.
- The Logitech S510 is 100% supported by keyTouch 2.4.0.beta.
Here is the announcement (http://keytouch.sourceforge.net)
You can now use all your extra function keys on a USB keyboard too. All required kernel patches are included since Linux kernel 2.6.24. Use this kernel (or a later version) in combination with keyTouch-editor 3.2.0 beta to create keyboard files for your USB keyboard. The created keyboard file can then be imported in the latest beta verion of keyTouch (version 2.4.0 beta). KeyTouch-editor 3.2.0 beta allows you to create one keyboard file for both a PS/2 and USB connection. So after you have added all the keys to the keyboard file while the keyboard was connected via USB, you can then connect the keyboard via PS/2 and set the PS/2 scancode of the key too. If discover any bugs in keyTouch-editor or keyTouch please report them.
Installation keyTouch 2.4.0 beta
In our case that means, that we have to compile the new keyTouch Software (version 2.4.0 beta). I also compiled the KeyTouch-editor 3.2.0 beta, as I had to create the keyboard files for me and specially for you ... ;)
You can get the Software here:
keyTouch 2.4.0 beta: http://sourceforge.net/project/downloading.php?groupname=keytouch&filename=keytouch-2.4.0.tar.gz&use_mirror=dfn
keyTouch-editor: http://sourceforge.net/project/downloading.php?groupname=keytouch&filename=keytouch-editor-3.2.0-beta.tar.gz&use_mirror=heanet
The compilation is rather simple:
- sudo apt-get install libasound2-dev <--- This is the only dependency you need to compile keyTouch 2.4.0. beta.
- Follow the instructions of the IMPORTANT-INSTALLATION file of keyTouch. The compilation is basically './configure', 'make', 'sudo make install'. The compilation is very easy!
- After you compiled and installed keyTouch you will have the keyTouch-Daemon running after the next boot.
- The compilation of keyTouch-editor is even simpler, but I guess you don't need the editor.
- You won't have any menu entries for the keyTouch software. Use 'alacarte' to create one or start the software with <Alt><F2>keytouch.
The configuration of keyTouch
To use keyTouch with your S510 Logibaby you have to import a keyfile for the keyboard. Working on this file I realized, that depending the use of your special keys, you may want a different key file. Example: Let's take the 'a-b-c-d' buttons. Until now, I was able to use them in almost any way I wanted with the quiet powerful shortcut tool of my WM Enlightenment e17. If I would mention them in the keyTouch keyboard file, I would loose this flexibility, as the keyTouch Software would handle them, and I would be limited to the different plugin functions of keyTouch. Same thing with the 'audio buttons'. As the Gnome shortcut tool handles them pretty well as multimedia buttons, there is no reason to change that, because I can use them with more than just one music player. I can use them with Rhythmbox or Exaile for example. If I added these 'audio keys' to the keyTouch file, I would be limited to the plugin architecture of keyTouch, or I would have to use command line options like 'exaile --next' or 'exaile --stop' to make use of the buttons in combination with Exaile.
In the end I created 3 files:
(As you can always change the keyboard with keyTouch, you may want to import them all)
S510-minimal-alpha.Logitech / S510-minimal-remote-alpha.Logitech
(Zoom +/-, 100%, Rotate, Shuffle)
S510-minimec-alpha.Logitech / S510-minimec-remote-alpha.Logitech
(Undo, Redo, Print, Save, Zoom+/-, 100%, Rotate, Shuffle)
S510-full-alpha.Logitech / S510-full-remote-alpha.Logitech
(all possible special keys of the S510)
These files should work plugging the Keyboard via USB. I cannot tell you if they work with PS/2, as my S510 version doesn't have a PS/2 connection.
The 'remote' versions add the missing buttons for those lucky guys like me, who have the S510 Remote Control. (Menu, Maximize, Close, Preset 1-3, Back, MEDIA). The 'rewind/fastforward' buttons are mapped to 'previous/next'. They give the same keycode.
The files are marked 'alpha' because there may be some changes in the future. I will contact the keyTouch developers and send them my keyboard files. So I guess we will have official support for the s510 with the final release of keyTouch 2.4.0.
/etc/X11/xorg.conf example
Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "Default Layout"
Screen 0 "Screen0" 0 0
InputDevice "Generic Keyboard" # not needed anymore in Hardy Heron
InputDevice "Configured Mouse" # not needed anymore in Hardy Heron
EndSection
Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Generic Keyboard"
Driver "kbd"
Option "CoreKeyboard"
Option "XkbRules" "xorg"
Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
Option "XkbLayout" "ch"
Option "XkbVariant" "de"
EndSection
Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Configured Mouse"
Driver "mouse"
Option "CorePointer"
Option "Protocol" "auto"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5 6 7"
Option "Buttons" "7"
EndSection
There seem to be some problems with the 'tilt-wheel' function of the mouse. I also realized, that the mouse is not working correctly, using the 'evdev' driver. The bugs have been filed by others in Launchpad. As I don't use the mouse, I don't want to focus on that. If you have some ideas... ;)
Let me finish with this...
“I hope that this letter finds you and finds you well...”
(The Shawshank Redemption)
Your Minimec.