9.10 Xorg.conf use or do not use

[gjbob]

I'm a VERY VERY VERY frustrated Ubuntu 9.10 user. I'm trying to learn how to configure input devices and I get mixed messages everywhere I look on whether or not to use xorg.conf. I can't find anywhere a COMPLETE instructions on how to configure mice, monitors, devices, etc. There are thousands of articles on how to configure a specific device but I'm looking for a how to so I can understand all the "magic". People need to understand how this works in order to troubleshoot problems. There are so many possible input devices these days a manual in needed on this subject.

I see stuff about HAL, hotplugging, DBus, fdi and policies, etc. I see articles that say Ubuntu is transitioning. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? Does it mean sometimes, maybe, or fiddle with it until it works?

Thanks for listening

[garyedwardjohnston]

u seem frustrated...the linux (ubuntu) learning curve can be at times

i will help but first try to explain your problems in detail one at a time

lets get through this :)

[diesch]

https://wiki.ubuntu.com/X/Config should help you.

[gjbob]

Well to start with reading xorg.0.log is a problem. The header says
Markers: (--) probed, (**) from config file, (==) default setting,
(++) from command line, (!!) notice, (II) informational,
(WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown.
Where do the (==) default settings come from? Do I ever need to modify "Default settings"? Could they be wrong? Is this HAL, udev, hotplug, etc?
What ** config file? Do they mean xorg.conf?
NEXT:
Xorg.0.log has an entry:
(II) config/hal: Adding input device Macintosh mouse button emulation
Where did this come from? Where do I go from here? How to troubleshoot? Please note I would like to know how to do this rather than you telling me to "add this line and it should work"
thanks

[diesch]

Well to start with reading xorg.0.log is a problem. The header says
Markers: (--) probed, (**) from config file, (==) default setting,
(++) from command line, (!!) notice, (II) informational,
(WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown.
Where do the (==) default settings come from?


They are built into X and used if you don't provide any values for some setting.





What ** config file? Do they mean xorg.conf?

Yes. Settings that come from HAL are marked **, too.




(II) config/hal: Adding input device Macintosh mouse button emulation
Where did this come from? Where do I go from here? How to troubleshoot? Please note

X is adding a input device named "Macintosh mouse button emulation" provided by HAL. The following lines describe the settings used for this device.

See https://wiki.ubuntu.com/X/Config/Input for how to change input device settings

[gjbob]

You keep saying things like "built into X" , "come from HAL". WHERE??? what file? How did this information get there? I do not have a MacIntosh mouse button. I'm trying to keep X from putting it there. I'm reading your recommendation " https://wiki.ubuntu.com/X/Config/Input" seems good but it will take me a while to digest this. It talks about xinput which may be a clue to this. If I do a:
# xinput list | grep id=
"Virtual core pointer" id=0 [XPointer]
"Virtual core keyboard" id=1 [XKeyboard]
"Logitech MX1000" id=2 [XExtensionPointer]
"AT Translated Set 2 keyboard" id=3 [XExtensionKeyboard]
"Power Button" id=4 [XExtensionKeyboard]
"Power Button" id=5 [XExtensionKeyboard]
"Macintosh mouse button emulation" id=6 [XExtensionPointer]

Where did xinput and X get this Macintosh mouse thing from. I think this is the problem and this is what I'd like to know about.

Thanks again

[diesch]

"Macintosh mouse button emulation" is a virtual device created by the kernel. The help for the corresponding kernel config values (drivers/macintosh/Kconfig in the kernel sources) says:


config MAC_EMUMOUSEBTN
bool "Support for mouse button 2+3 emulation"
select INPUT
help
This provides generic support for emulating the 2nd and 3rd mouse
button with keypresses. If you say Y here, the emulation is still
disabled by default. The emulation is controlled by these sysctl
entries:
/proc/sys/dev/mac_hid/mouse_button_emulation
/proc/sys/dev/mac_hid/mouse_button2_keycode
/proc/sys/dev/mac_hid/mouse_button3_keycode

If you have an Apple machine with a 1-button mouse, say Y here.

It seems to be deactivated by default (/proc/sys/dev/mac_hid/mouse_button_emulation contains 0).

See the output of lshal for what HAL knows about this device.

Why do you want to remove it from X?