Command-line command to disable the touchpad?

[volkerbradley]

My system is Ubuntu 13.10, 64-bit. I have a laptop with a touchpad that is not controlled by a synaptics driver.
Am presently using the touchpad-indicator application to disable the touchpad.
When I click on the touchpad-indicator Prefences, the application crashes. Seems to be looking for a synaptics driver.
Is there a command-line command in the touchpad-indicator application to disable the touchpad?

[Bucky Ball]

What machine are you using?

[volkerbradley]

I am using a System76 Serp6.
Here is what System76 has to say about my touchpad problems:
"We're aware of this issue. It's complicated by the fact that this trackpad actually works in a way similar to a theramin than a Synaptics touchpad. Currently, the best solution I can provide is to turn the trackpad off (Fn+F1) while typing, then turn it back on when you're finished. "

[codenine75a]

alternative, use an external mouse.

[Bucky Ball]

Thread moved to System76 Support.

You might have more luck here as seems specific to the System76 touchpad. This kinda says it all:

... this trackpad actually works in a way similar to a theramin than a Synaptics touchpad.

[volkerbradley]

Well, I turn off the touchpad and use the mouse. However, every time I reboot, I have to be sure to turn off the touchpad in the touchpad-indicator application. It used to be possible to set the preferences in the touchpad-indicator to have the touchpad be turned off when touchpad-indicator started at boot time. However, when clicking on "Preferences" in the touchpad-indicator app. causes this application to crash now and no longer works.
That is why I asked my specific question: Is there a command-line command to turn off the touchpad in the touchpad-indicator application?
Can't seem to find an answer to this question.

[jbelmonte]

Is there a reason you can't/don't want to turn the trackpad off using (Fn+F1)?

reason for edit: typo

[volkerbradley]

Although your response does not answer my question of: "Is there a command-line command to turn off the touchpad in the touchpad-indicator application?' I'll answer your question.
I tried the Fn-F1 routine for a long time. There were times when I just neglected to click on these keys until havoc occurred. Therefore I am looking for an automatic solution that the touchpad-indicator provided through Preferences. Unfortunatley, clicking on Preferences crashes the entire application now. That is why am looking for a command-line command that I can use to set the touchpad to be disabled. Sure wished that I could program in python. Suredly, the answer is in the code of the touchpad-indicator application.

[Dave_L]

On my computer, these commands work:

Enable touchpad:

xinput --set-prop 'FSPPS/2 Sentelic FingerSensingPad' 'Device Enabled' 1

Disable touchpad:

xinput --set-prop 'FSPPS/2 Sentelic FingerSensingPad' 'Device Enabled' 0

The parameter 'FSPPS/2 Sentelic FingerSensingPad' is the device name for my touchpad. On your computer, use this command to determine the device name:

xinput --list

For more information:

man xinput

[volkerbradley]

The command

xinput --set-prop 'FSPPS/2 Sentelic FingerSensingPad' 'Device Enabled' 0

works perfectly on my laptop as well.
Thank you very much for pointing me in the right direction.