Rotate mouse/cursor axes

[Riceboy004]

I've just discovered the magic of screen rotation and xrandr. My laptop (Asus S5n) is small enough that I can hold it like a book, and subsequently i can read pdf's as if i was reading book. However, it is a little annoying that my touchpad control doesn't change. Holding in book position, "up" on the touchpad translates to "right" on the screen. Is there any way to rotate my touchpad mappings? Preferably without needing to restart xorg, so that I can batch together a rotate-screen command with a rotate-cursor command in a script. Thanks.

[Riceboy004]

(Bump)

[mrpeenut24]

I've also been wondering about this. Anybody know if it's possible?

[popperoga]

Just found a solution to rotate the screen and the touchpad simultaneously. Here the procedure.

1. Enable xrandr
make sure that xrandr is installed:
sudo apt-get install x11-xserver-utils

Add this line to the xorg.conf file

Section "Device"
Identifier "Configured Video Device"
... ...
Option "RandRRotation" "true"
EndSection

then rotate the screen with this command:
xrandr -o [right,left,inverted,normal]

2. Patch the synaptic drives and enable touchpad XY flip

The following section has been taken from this website (http://www.helsinki.fi/~rantalai/synaptics/).

Modify the xorg.conf according to this:

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Synaptics Touchpad"
Driver "synaptics"
Option "SendCoreEvents" "true"
Option "Device" "/dev/psaux"
Option "Protocol" "auto-dev"
Option "SHMConfig" "true"
EndSection

Install those packages:
sudo apt-get build-dep xserver-xorg-input-synaptics

Get official sources:
apt-get source xserver-xorg-input-synaptics

Patch and compile the new drivers:
cd xfree86-driver-synaptics-*/
wget http://www.helsinki.fi/~rantalai/synaptics/axis_patch
patch < axis_patch
make

Backup the original drivers
mkdir original_drivers
cp -p /usr/lib/xorg/modules/input/synaptics_drv.so original_drivers/
cp -p /usr/bin/synclient original_drivers/

Install the new drivers:
sudo cp synclient /usr/bin/
sudo cp synaptics_drv.so /usr/lib/xorg/modules/input/

Usage:
synclient Xrandr=0
xrandr --orientation normal

synclient Xrandr=1
xrandr --orientation right

synclient Xrandr=2
xrandr --orientation left

synclient Xrandr=3
xrandr --orientation inverted

You can also write a simple script that automatically rotate the screen and the mouse/touchpad. Create with your favourite text editor a file named rotation and copy&paste this:


#!/bin/sh
if [ $1 = "normal" ] ; then
synclient Xrandr=0
xrandr --orientation normal
elif [ $1 = "right" ] ; then
synclient Xrandr=1
xrandr --orientation right
elif [ $1 = "left" ] ; then
synclient Xrandr=2
xrandr --orientation left
elif [ $1 = "inverted" ] ; then
synclient Xrandr=3
xrandr --orientation inverted
else
echo "rotation [normal,righ,left,inverted]"
fi

Then
chmod +x rotation
sudo cp -p rotation /usr/local/bin/

Hope it works!

[dreamessence]

Hey!
Thanks very much for the post, rotating the cursor is sth i've been meaning to do for a long time, but i didn't have the skills to do it.

I've followed all your steps and yet when i type:
synclient Xrand=1
I get:
Can't access shared memory area. SHMConfig disabled?

But i did change the xorg.config file to allow for the SHMConfig (i.e. I set it true).

Any idea?

Thanks a lot,

]d[

[popperoga]

Try to use this line in the xorg.conf:

Option "SHMConfig" "on"

[dreamessence]

Cool! You modify the xorg.config with that line, then re-start X (ctrl+alt+supr) and you are good to go!!!

[orob]

Hello,

Does anyone have a copy of the axis patch they can send me?
The url linked above for the axis patch is no longer available.

Thank you.

[seymour9]

I'd like patch too
do anyone has it?

[seymour9]

I found patch diff info.
To install it you need to modify the souce of yuour own synaptic driver version according to this:

diff -ur old/include/synaptics.h new/include/synaptics.h
--- old/include/synaptics.h 2008-11-26 11:40:08.000000000 +0200
+++ new/include/synaptics.h 2008-11-26 11:42:21.000000000 +0200
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@
typedef struct _SynapticsSHM
{
int version; /* Driver version */
+ int xrandr;

/* Current device state */
int x, y; /* actual x, y coordinates */
diff -ur old/src/eventcomm.c new/src/eventcomm.c
--- old/src/eventcomm.c 2008-11-26 10:49:01.000000000 +0200
+++ new/src/eventcomm.c 2008-11-26 11:58:49.000000000 +0200
@@ -192,6 +192,8 @@
struct input_event ev;
Bool v;
struct SynapticsHwState *hw = &(comm->hwState);
+ SynapticsPrivate *priv = (SynapticsPrivate *) (local->private);
+ SynapticsSHM *para = priv->synpara;

while (SynapticsReadEvent(comm, &ev)) {
switch (ev.type) {
@@ -272,10 +274,24 @@
case EV_ABS:
switch (ev.code) {
case ABS_X:
- hw->x = ev.value;
+ if (para->xrandr==0)
+ hw->x = ev.value;
+ if (para->xrandr==1)
+ hw->y = -ev.value;
+ if (para->xrandr==2)
+ hw->y = ev.value;
+ if (para->xrandr==3)
+ hw->x = -ev.value;
break;
case ABS_Y:
- hw->y = ev.value;
+ if (para->xrandr==0)
+ hw->y = ev.value;
+ if (para->xrandr==1)
+ hw->x = ev.value;
+ if (para->xrandr==2)
+ hw->x = -ev.value;
+ if (para->xrandr==3)
+ hw->y = -ev.value;
break;
case ABS_PRESSURE:
hw->z = ev.value;
diff -ur old/src/synaptics.c new/src/synaptics.c
--- old/src/synaptics.c 2008-11-26 10:49:01.000000000 +0200
+++ new/src/synaptics.c 2008-11-26 11:41:12.000000000 +0200
@@ -384,6 +384,7 @@
/* read the parameters */
pars = &priv->synpara_default;
pars->version = (PACKAGE_VERSION_MAJOR*10000+PACKAGE_VERSION_MINOR *100+PACKAGE_VERSION_PATCHLEVEL);
+ pars->xrandr = xf86SetIntOption(opts, "Xrandr", 0);

/* The synaptics specs specify typical edge widths of 4% on x, and 5.4% on
* y (page 7) [Synaptics TouchPad Interfacing Guide, 510-000080 - A
diff -ur old/tools/synclient.c new/tools/synclient.c
--- old/tools/synclient.c 2008-11-26 11:01:47.000000000 +0200
+++ new/tools/synclient.c 2008-11-26 11:03:37.000000000 +0200
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@
{ name, offsetof(SynapticsSHM, memb), (type), (min_val), (max_val) }

static struct Parameter params[] = {
+ DEFINE_PAR("Xrandr", xrandr, PT_INT, 0, 3),
DEFINE_PAR("LeftEdge", left_edge, PT_INT, 0, 10000),
DEFINE_PAR("RightEdge", right_edge, PT_INT, 0, 10000),
DEFINE_PAR("TopEdge", top_edge, PT_INT, 0, 10000),

[aapo4]

Instructions and patches:
http://cc.oulu.fi/~rantalai/synaptics/

[elgreengeeto]

Those instructions worked for me on Ubuntu 9.04! Thanks everyone :) My MSI Wind is now a sweet ebook reader

[lacunoso]

Nice, there is a new patch for Karmic and synaptics-1.1.2.
http://cc.oulu.fi/~rantalai/synaptics/
Thanks for this! :D

[aapo4]

Yes, patch is up-to-date and in Karmic it is even easier to use (no editing xorg.conf or hdi.policies). I sent it to upstream, lets see what happens.

Do not hold breath. Because actually this patch doesn't do things right. Yes, it solves problem, but maybe regular mouse should be also affected when screen is rotated. So maybe this screen orientation should be handled much lower level than synaptics.

[samguyjones]

Hello everyone,

I'm trying the patch on UNR. I compiled the patch and installed it. /usr/lib/xorg/modules/input/synaptics_drv.so is 232818 bytes. original_synaptics_drv.so is 50960 bytes. There was no error during the patch and build process. If I run "synclient Orientation=2", I get this error:

Unknown parameter Orientation

What should I be looking for?

[aapo4]

About filesize:
Compiling instructions doesn't contain 'stripping'.

If you check
file /usr/lib/xorg/modules/input/synaptics_drv.so
and
file $OWN_COMPILED/src/.libs/synaptics_drv.so

you see 'stripped' / 'not stripped'

So just
strip $OWN_COMPILED/src/.libs/synaptics_drv.so



About synclient:
You must use corresponding synclient and driver.

cp $OWN_COMPILED/tools/synclient /usr/bin/synclient
or use full path.

[samguyjones]

About filesize:
Compiling instructions doesn't contain 'stripping'.

If you check
file /usr/lib/xorg/modules/input/synaptics_drv.so
and
file $OWN_COMPILED/src/.libs/synaptics_drv.so

you see 'stripped' / 'not stripped'

So just
strip $OWN_COMPILED/src/.libs/synaptics_drv.so

About synclient:
You must use corresponding synclient and driver.

cp $OWN_COMPILED/tools/synclient /usr/bin/synclientor use full path.


:biggrin: It worked! It freakin' worked! I just had to copy the client. If I wasn't at work and didn't have a bad cold, I'd be up and doing a little dance. This makes a huge difference to me. I love to use my netbook in portrait for ebooks and reader, but the controls were difficult.

I had to put this into my xorg.conf under the synaptics options


"GrabEventDevice" "Off"

X was hitting some kind of conflict. After I added the line, I had to warning in my X logs, and the Orientation started working. I lost some synaptics settings in my xorg.conf, but I can set them with synclient, so no biggie.

Also good to know about stripping. I was just using file size to tell me which was new and which was old and I knew that I copied the file. The size doesn't bother me, but the stripped synclient is a teeny 20596.

[emunrradtvamg]

[QUOTE=Riceboy004;5939785]I've just discovered the magic of screen rotation and xrandr. My laptop (Asus S5n) is small enough that I can hold it like a book, and subsequently i can read pdf's as if i was reading book. However, it is a little annoying that my touchpad control doesn't change. Holding in book position, "up" on the touchpad translates to "right" on the screen. Is there any way to rotate my touchpad mappings? Preferably without needing to restart xorg, so that I can batch together a rotate-screen command with a rotate-cursor command in a script. Thanks.[/Q

[aapo4]

Hi, I got my PPA working and patched driver can be installed without compiling. (Currently only 9.10 Karmic)


sudo add-apt-repository ppa:aapo-rantalainen/ppa-aaporantalainen
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install xserver-xorg-input-synaptics


http://cc.oulu.fi/~rantalai/synaptics/

[cats00eye]

Just got this to work, and it's wonderful! Thank you so much to all.

Just to point up that there's a typo in the last link. I couldn't get it to work, but worked back from the site http://ppa.launchpad.net/

I think the last hyphen on the first line needs to be omitted.

[aapo4]

Thanks, now address is corrected.

[clegends]

Any chance this ppa being made available for Lucid? Looking forward to trying it out, I have a eeepc 901. Cheers.

[aapo4]

Any chance this ppa being made available for Lucid?


Anybody is free to do so. I'm planning to do it after Official release, maybe May 2, 2010.

[Askrates]

Hi aapo4,

I found your page and this thread after a lot of digging around. Unfortunately, I am using a newer version of Ubuntu, so I am really looking forward to your patch for 10.04.

Keep up the good work!

[aapo4]

It has been 22 hours on the builders queue for 10.04.

[marranzano]

It has been 22 hours on the builders queue for 10.04.

just updated with your repo,, thnx!

bu when i run
$ synclient Xrandr=3
i get:

Unknown parameter Xrandr

synclient works fine for other options...

any ideas?

EDIT: ok... got it:
the command is synclient orientation=...
got distracted by previous posts...

thanks for the great work!!

[Ubuntitude]

In regards to it being ported to 10.04:

I got it to work perfectly in 10.04. I just followed the instructions on aapo's website. These seemed to not work, so i used the alternate driver installation method he posted here. Then i restarted X, and it worked great!

[Drisanna]

Okay. I installed this have it working correctly. What I would like to know now is this: Is there a way to automate this, so that when I rotate my screen, the touchpad automatically follows?

Thanks in advance.

Drisanna

[aapo4]

There are no yet true automatic way.

You can make scripts or aliases that every time you rotate screen also axis are flipped. Something like:
alias left = 'xrandr -o 1; synclient Orientation=1'

For developers: How this automation should be done? Driver can check orientation of screen. But how driver knows when to check state? Once in every seconds sounds very bad idea.

[marranzano]

there are several scripts that you can find here:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=996830

including magick-rotation-0.4-beta1 for lucid that can be found here:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=8052613&postcount=315

I have a tx2510us and use this script which checks hp-wmi every second, therefore it's triggered when the screen is rotated and shut in tablet mode:
#!/bin/bash

# From Red_Lion post #576: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=845911&page=58

old="0"
while true; do
if [[ -e /sys/devices/platform/hp-wmi/tablet ]]; then
new=`cat /sys/devices/platform/hp-wmi/tablet`
if [[ $new != $old ]]; then
# -Close and restart Cairo Dock so it resizes on rotation.
# killall -9 cairo-dock &
# sleep 2s
if [[ $new == "0" ]]; then
echo "Rotate to landscape, hide cellwriter."
xrandr -o normal
xsetwacom set 12 rotate NONE
xsetwacom set 11 rotate NONE
xsetwacom set 13 rotate NONE
synclient orientation=0

# cellwriter --hide-window
elif [[ $new == "1" ]]; then
echo "Rotate to portrait, show cellwriter."
xrandr -o right
xsetwacom set 12 rotate CW
xsetwacom set 11 rotate CW
xsetwacom set 13 rotate CW
synclient orientation=3
cellwriter --show-window
fi
# cairo-dock -o &
fi
old=$new
sleep 1s
fi
done
although it doesn't make much sense to have the touchpad (synclient) rotate when the laptop is in tablet mode because the touchpad is hidden under the screen...

the other script i use is connected to one of my special keys and rotates everything 90degrees every time i hit the key; to make it work you must first make a file named .screen-orientation in your home dir with the word "normal" in it, or just type this in a terminal:
echo "normal"> .screen-orientation


#!/bin/bash
rotate=`cat ~/.screen-orientation`
echo $rotate
if [ "$rotate" = "normal" ];
then
rotate="left"
wacom="CCW"
synaptics="1"
else
if [ "$rotate" = "left" ];
then
rotate="inverted";
wacom="HALF";
synaptics="2"
else
if [ "$rotate" = "inverted" ];
then
rotate="right";
wacom="CW";
synaptics="3"
else
if [ "$rotate" = "right" ];
then
rotate="normal";
wacom="NONE";
synaptics="0"
fi
fi
fi
fi
echo "rotate = "$rotate
echo "wacom = "$wacom
xrandr -o "$rotate";
xsetwacom set "12" Rotate "$wacom";
xsetwacom set "13" Rotate "$wacom";
xsetwacom set "11" Rotate "$wacom";
synclient orientation="$synaptics"
echo $rotate > ~/.screen-orientation;


hope this helps
marranzano

[pcolamar]

I have tried to use the ppa solution with my MSi Wind and Lynx 10.04 but it does not work.
It seems lucid is not using the synaptic driver.

cat /var/log/Xorg.0.log | grep -i "synaptics"
does not give anything and when I try synclient I get:

palmer@palmer-laptop:~$ synclient Orientation=1
Couldn't find synaptics properties. No synaptics driver loaded?

I have installed "gpointing-device-settings"(apparently gsynaptic is deprecated) and it recognizes the Sintelic trackpad.
Shell I force (and how?) the use of the synaptic driver ?
Cheers

[aapo4]

Unfortunately I do not know what to do if Synaptic driver is not used at all.

You have now driver installed?

apt-cache policy xserver-xorg-input-synaptics

[pcolamar]

that's the result of server-xorg-input-synaptics:

Installed: 1.2.2-1ubuntu4-b1
Candidate: 1.2.2-1ubuntu4-b1
Version table:
*** 1.2.2-1ubuntu4-b1 0
500 http://ppa.launchpad.net/aapo-rantalainen/ppa-aaporantalainen/ubuntu/ lucid/main Packages
100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
1.2.2-1ubuntu4 0
500 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ lucid/main Packages

[aapo4]

Maverick Meerkat (10.10) supported. Same PPA.


sudo add-apt-repository ppa:aapo-rantalainen/ppa-aaporantalainen
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install xserver-xorg-input-synaptics


Same usage: (e.g)

synclient Orientation=3 && xrandr -o 3

Read more:
http://cc.oulu.fi/~rantalai/synaptics/

[Nephiel]

Just tried this from the PPA on my netbook (ASUS eeePC 1001PX) and it worked. The only issue I had with it is, when the touchpad is rotated, the horizontal and vertical speeds of the touchpad no longer match.

So, when rotated, it took 3 whole passes of the finger from left edge to right edge of the touchpad to move the pointer on screen from top to bottom, while moving the pointer from side to side on the screen only required a finger movement of about a third of the touchpad height. I.e., the pointer moves very fast horizontally but very slow vertically.

The solution was to swap horizontal/vertical resolution properties when the touchpad is rotated.

Here's an updated patch:

diff -ur xserver-xorg-input-synaptics_1.1.2.orig/src/synapticsstr.h xserver-xorg-input-synaptics_1.1.2/src/synapticsstr.h
--- xserver-xorg-input-synaptics_1.1.2.orig/src/synapticsstr.h 2011-01-14 19:36:17.000000000 +0100
+++ xserver-xorg-input-synaptics_1.1.2/src/synapticsstr.h 2011-01-14 19:36:03.000000000 +0100
@@ -92,6 +92,7 @@
/* Parameter data */
int left_edge, right_edge, top_edge, bottom_edge; /* edge coordinates absolute */
int finger_low, finger_high, finger_press; /* finger detection values in Z-values */
+ int orientation;
int tap_time;
int tap_move; /* max. tapping time and movement in packets and coord. */
int single_tap_timeout; /* timeout to recognize a single tap */
diff -ur xserver-xorg-input-synaptics_1.1.2.orig/include/synaptics-properties.h xserver-xorg-input-synaptics_1.1.2/include/synaptics-properties.h
--- xserver-xorg-input-synaptics_1.1.2.orig/include/synaptics-properties.h 2009-10-20 22:09:01.679710327 +0200
+++ xserver-xorg-input-synaptics_1.1.2/include/synaptics-properties.h 2009-10-22 18:48:47.123708014 +0200
@@ -142,4 +142,7 @@
/* 8 bit (BOOL) */
#define SYNAPTICS_PROP_GRAB "Synaptics Grab Event Device"

+/* 32 bit */
+#define SYNAPTICS_ORIENTATION "Synaptics Orientation"
+
#endif /* _SYNAPTICS_PROPERTIES_H_ */
diff -ur xserver-xorg-input-synaptics_1.1.2.orig/src/eventcomm.c xserver-xorg-input-synaptics_1.1.2/src/eventcomm.c
--- xserver-xorg-input-synaptics_1.1.2.orig/src/eventcomm.c 2009-10-20 22:09:01.683709019 +0200
+++ xserver-xorg-input-synaptics_1.1.2/src/eventcomm.c 2009-10-22 21:22:58.224803290 +0200
@@ -352,10 +352,28 @@
case EV_ABS:
switch (ev.code) {
case ABS_X:
- hw->x = ev.value;
+ if (para->orientation==0)
+ hw->x = ev.value;
+ else if (para->orientation==2)
+ hw->x = priv->maxx + priv->minx - ev.value;
+ else if (para->orientation==3)
+ hw->y = (priv->maxx - ev.value) * (priv->maxy - priv->miny) / (priv->maxx - priv->minx) + priv->miny;
+ else if (para->orientation==1)
+ hw->y = (ev.value - priv->minx) * (priv->maxy - priv->miny) / (priv->maxx - priv->minx) + priv->miny;
+ else
+ hw->x = ev.value;
break;
case ABS_Y:
- hw->y = ev.value;
+ if (para->orientation==0)
+ hw->y = ev.value;
+ else if (para->orientation==2)
+ hw->y = priv->maxy + priv->miny - ev.value;
+ else if (para->orientation==3)
+ hw->x = (ev.value - priv->miny) * (priv->maxx - priv->minx) / (priv->maxy - priv->miny) + priv->minx;
+ else if (para->orientation==1)
+ hw->x = (priv->maxy - ev.value) * (priv->maxx - priv->minx) / (priv->maxy - priv->miny) + priv->minx;
+ else
+ hw->y = ev.value;
break;
case ABS_PRESSURE:
hw->z = ev.value;
diff -ur xserver-xorg-input-synaptics_1.1.2.orig/src/properties.c xserver-xorg-input-synaptics_1.1.2/src/properties.c
--- xserver-xorg-input-synaptics_1.1.2.orig/src/properties.c 2009-10-20 22:09:01.683709019 +0200
+++ xserver-xorg-input-synaptics_1.1.2/src/properties.c 2009-10-22 18:48:47.131703654 +0200
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@
static Atom float_type;

Atom prop_edges = 0;
Atom prop_finger = 0;
+Atom prop_orientation = 0;
Atom prop_tap_time = 0;
Atom prop_tap_move = 0;
@@ -251,6 +252,8 @@
fvalues[0] = para->press_motion_min_factor;
fvalues[1] = para->press_motion_max_factor;

+ prop_orientation = InitAtom(local->dev, SYNAPTICS_ORIENTATION, 32, 1, &para->orientation);
+
prop_pressuremotion_factor = InitFloatAtom(local->dev, SYNAPTICS_PROP_PRESSURE_MOTION_FACTOR, 2, fvalues);

prop_grab = InitAtom(local->dev, SYNAPTICS_PROP_GRAB, 8, 1, &para->grab_event_device);
@@ -270,7 +273,13 @@
para = &tmp;
}

- if (property == prop_edges)
+ if (property == prop_orientation)
+ {
+ if (prop->size != 1 || prop->format != 32 || prop->type != XA_INTEGER)
+ return BadMatch;
+ para->orientation = *(INT32*)prop->data;
+ }
+ else if (property == prop_edges)
{
INT32 *edges;
if (prop->size != 4 || prop->format != 32 || prop->type != XA_INTEGER)
diff -ur xserver-xorg-input-synaptics_1.1.2.orig/src/synaptics.c xserver-xorg-input-synaptics_1.1.2/src/synaptics.c
--- xserver-xorg-input-synaptics_1.1.2.orig/src/synaptics.c 2009-10-20 22:09:01.683709019 +0200
+++ xserver-xorg-input-synaptics_1.1.2/src/synaptics.c 2009-10-22 18:57:34.363700791 +0200
@@ -433,6 +433,7 @@
horizTwoFingerScroll = FALSE;

/* set the parameters */
+ pars->orientation = xf86SetIntOption(opts, "Orientation", 0);
pars->left_edge = xf86SetIntOption(opts, "LeftEdge", l);
pars->right_edge = xf86SetIntOption(opts, "RightEdge", r);
pars->top_edge = xf86SetIntOption(opts, "TopEdge", t);
@@ -2391,8 +2391,14 @@
int xCenter = (priv->synpara.left_edge + priv->synpara.right_edge) / 2;
int yCenter = (priv->synpara.top_edge + priv->synpara.bottom_edge) / 2;

- hw->x = (hw->x - xCenter) * priv->horiz_coeff + xCenter;
- hw->y = (hw->y - yCenter) * priv->vert_coeff + yCenter;
+ if ((priv->synpara.orientation==1) || (priv->synpara.orientation==3)) {
+ hw->x = (hw->x - xCenter) * priv->vert_coeff + xCenter;
+ hw->y = (hw->y - yCenter) * priv->horiz_coeff + yCenter;
+ } else {
+ hw->x = (hw->x - xCenter) * priv->horiz_coeff + xCenter;
+ hw->y = (hw->y - yCenter) * priv->vert_coeff + yCenter;
+ }
+
}

void
diff -ur xserver-xorg-input-synaptics_1.1.2.orig/tools/synclient.c xserver-xorg-input-synaptics_1.1.2/tools/synclient.c
--- xserver-xorg-input-synaptics_1.1.2.orig/tools/synclient.c 2011-01-14 19:22:01.000000000 +0100
+++ xserver-xorg-input-synaptics_1.1.2/tools/synclient.c 2011-01-14 19:19:13.000000000 +0100
@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@
{"RightEdge", PT_INT, 0, 10000, SYNAPTICS_PROP_EDGES, 32, 1},
{"TopEdge", PT_INT, 0, 10000, SYNAPTICS_PROP_EDGES, 32, 2},
{"BottomEdge", PT_INT, 0, 10000, SYNAPTICS_PROP_EDGES, 32, 3},
+ {"Orientation", PT_INT, 0, 3, SYNAPTICS_ORIENTATION, 32, 0},
{"FingerLow", PT_INT, 0, 255, SYNAPTICS_PROP_FINGER, 32, 0},
{"FingerHigh", PT_INT, 0, 255, SYNAPTICS_PROP_FINGER, 32, 1},
{"FingerPress", PT_INT, 0, 256, SYNAPTICS_PROP_FINGER, 32, 2},

So far, this works for me with Maverick 10.10, following aapo4's instructions to get the Ubuntu sources, patch them, compile them, create the package and install it.

[aapo4]

Thanks to Nephiel for this patch. Package on PPA is now updated (current version is 1.2.2-2ubuntu5-b2) for Maverick. I'm not planning to update Lucid or Karmic versions.


http://cc.oulu.fi/~rantalai/synaptics/

[henriquemaia]

Will the patch be updated to Natty?

Just in case I need it.

[aapo4]

Now PPA has also version for Natty.
----
NEWS: patch is committed to the upstream:
http://cgit.freedesktop.org/xorg/driver/xf86-input-synaptics/commit/?id=049d5fb6037b34d94b24cb8300849cf4e3b67437

Unfortunately it is then reverted back:
http://cgit.freedesktop.org/xorg/driver/xf86-input-synaptics/commit/?id=4ebde557aee7953f766fcd6b725cbacd47f806ec
and discussed further:
http://comments.gmane.org/gmane.comp.freedesktop.xorg.devel/20034

Currently issue is still open on upstream, but there are hope. Next step needs more Xorg-knowledge than I have...

[sdaau]

Hi all,

Sorry to bump in the thread, but it did come up quite high in my search results, yet my problem wasn't so much related to Synaptics touchpad - I wanted to rotate the axis of touchscreen.

The thing is, in principle, it seems that one should be able to use `xinput` without changes to any drivers - however, it is not very straightforward, and I've had only limited success with it (mostly because you'd have to think through what sort of a Coordinate Transform Matrix you'd like, and I was just testing values blindly :) )

Nonetheless, here's a link dump, maybe it helps someone:


How To: rotate screen portrait mode Ubuntu lucid - Micro PC Talk Forums (http://www.micropctalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8933)
Bug #767315 in xorg-server (Ubuntu): “xinput 2 "Coordinate Transformation Matrix" not affecting all events” (https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/xorg-server/+bug/767315)
X.Org Wiki - XInputCoordinateTransformationMatrixUsage (http://www.x.org/wiki/XInputCoordinateTransformationMatrixUsage)
X/InputCoordinateTransformation - Ubuntu Wiki (https://wiki.ubuntu.com/X/InputCoordinateTransformation)
Debian User Forums • View topic - Configure your trackpad using xinput (http://www.debianuserforums.org/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=572)
Dual touchscreen support. NOW: Stuck on xinput configuration - Ars Technica OpenForum (http://arstechnica.com/civis/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=1146846)
[PATCH] evdev: add 3x3 transformation matrix xinput property for multi-head handling (http://lists.x.org/archives/xorg/2010-April/049967.html)

[Jack Brown]

tried out the patch on natty and it works after reboot.

thing is, command to disable the touchpad no longer works.


synclient touchpadoff=1how to fix this?



EDIT:

in case you tried the above command and your touchpad stops working.
use
synclient touchpadoff=0
to turn it back on.

and i guess that's good news for you if you applied the patch, since it still works for you.

Edit2:
im using the 1.3.99 patch.
another question: what happens if upstream updates xserver-xorg-input-synaptics?
is it possible that we are using an old version that's why synclient touchpadoff is not working?

[Jack Brown]

also bash script that you can call from Keyboard Shortcuts:


#!/bin/bash

# this script changes screen orientation, and also the touchpad orientation. uses xrandr and synclient commands.
# also used xserver-xorg-input-synptics patch from https://launchpad.net/~aapo-rantalainen/+archive/ppa-aaporantalainen

case $1 in
0)
xrandr -o normal
synclient Orientation=0
;;
1)
xrandr -o left
synclient Orientation=1
;;
2)
xrandr -o inverted
synclient Orientation=2
;;
3)
xrandr -o right
synclient Orientation=3
;;
*)
echo "pass parameter 0-3"
;;
esac

save as a file (e.g. orientscreen.sh) somewhere in your home folder.

give it executable privileges from terminal
chmod +x orientscreen.sh

then in Keyboard Shortcuts
add custom shortcut
'normal orientation'
with
command:
/home/...[other folders]/orientscreen.sh 0

set keyboard shortcut to something like SUPER key + UpArrow

and so on for other orientations.

[aapo4]

I'm using package from my PPA (for Natty) and synclient touchpadoff=1 is working as expected.

Did you compiled patched driver for yourself? Try then compile same version (with same configuration) WITHOUT patch and check is touchpadoff=1 is working or not.

Just looking patch doesn't give any hints why touchpadoff is not working.

[Jack Brown]

Hi aapo,

thanks for replying.

used the xserver-xorg-input-synaptics_1.3.99+git20110116.0e27ce3a-0ubuntu12-b1_amd64.deb
from the ppa. 64bit.

wonder why it doesnt work. it used to work before i applied the patch.


are you supposed to modify anything else after applying the above patch?
the rotate for both screen and mouse works already though...

when i run synclient touchpadoff=1 on the terminal, there is no error message.

How do you go back to original version for testing? just apt-get purge and reinstall xserver-xorg-input-synaptics (from ubuntu and not from ppa)?

[aapo4]

How do you go back to original version for testing?


Check what is version on Ubuntu's repository:

apt-cache policy xserver-xorg-input-synaptics


Answer will be something like:

xserver-xorg-input-synaptics:
Installed: 1.4.1-1ubuntu2-b2
Candidate: 1.4.1-1ubuntu2-b2
Version table:
*** 1.4.1-1ubuntu2-b2 0
500 http://ppa.launchpad.net/aapo-rantalainen/ppa-aaporantalainen/ubuntu/ oneiric/main amd64 Packages
100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
1.4.1-1ubuntu2 0
500 http://fi.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ oneiric/main amd64 Packages

Which means: Currently installed version is 1.4.1-1ubuntu2-b2, it is also the newest version and it comes from http://ppa.launchpad.net/aapo-rantalainen/.
And there are version 1.4.1-1ubuntu2 from ubuntu.com.

Then install (downgrade) to that version

sudo apt-get install xserver-xorg-input-synaptics=1.4.1-1ubuntu2

(This can be done also with GUI tools: look for 'select version manually').

[aapo4]

Oneiric (11.10) version released:

http://cc.oulu.fi/~rantalai/synaptics/

[wolneykien]

Hi!

I've written a small utility that dynamically rotates the coordinate system of an XInput device monitoring the screen (output) orientation:

http://github.com/wolneykien/xrandr-align (https://github.com/wolneykien/xrandr-align)

May be you will find it interesting. If so, advertise it a little. Thanks.

[aapo4]

Hi!
utility that dynamically rotates the coordinate system of an XInput device monitoring the screen (output) orientation:

Sounds good. How it is used?

I can see that ALT Linux is already packed it:
http://sisyphus.ru/en/srpm/Sisyphus/xrandr-align

I get it compiled on Ubuntu:
git clone https://github.com/wolneykien/xrandr-align.git
apt-get install xutils-dev
./autogen.sh
./configure
make

When compiled, it produces 'xrandr-align' -binary. Then what?

Does upstream (xrandr) know about it? Seems to me that xrandr-align contains code from xrandr, but is not replacing it, but they are used together?

[wolneykien]

Sounds good. How it is used?


Run

xrandr-align monitor --input="My touchpad device"

and your touchpad will be rotated follow after screen rotations. It stays in the foreground listening for RandR events. To see the proper name of the input device use

xrandr-align list-input

New version supports the complement procedure too: it can rotate the screen follow the device rotations reported by a gravisensor (accelerometer) input device (can be found in some modern tablets).

In the new version there are scripts and desktop files to start the tools automatically. See the README file and manual pages for more information.



I can see that ALT Linux is already packed it:
http://sisyphus.ru/en/srpm/Sisyphus/xrandr-align


Yep, I'm working on it there.



I get it compiled on Ubuntu:
git clone https://github.com/wolneykien/xrandr-align.git
apt-get install xutils-dev
./autogen.sh
./configure
make


Good to hear that it builds fine. :)



When compiled, it produces 'xrandr-align' -binary. Then what?


Use it! :)



Does upstream (xrandr) know about it? Seems to me that xrandr-align contains code from xrandr, but is not replacing it, but they are used together?


I've post a message to the xorg-devel list: http://lists.x.org/archives/xorg-devel/2012-February/029321.html . No answer yet. Shouldn't I mail some people directly?

Yes, it uses some code from xinput and xrandr as mentioned in the copyright and authorship messages.

[aapo4]

Yes, it uses some code from xinput and xrandr

Could functionality of xrandr-align be merged to the xrandr? Then monitoring step can be skipped.

So it would be used something like this:
xrandr list-input
xrandr add --input="My touchpad device" #this writes to config file
xrandr -o left #rotates screen and check devices for config file

And then there can be permanent config files and files which are cleaned on boot.

[wolneykien]

Could functionality of xrandr-align be merged to the xrandr? Then monitoring step can be skipped.

So it would be used something like this:
xrandr list-input
xrandr add --input="My touchpad device" #this writes to config file
xrandr -o left #rotates screen and check devices for config file

And then there can be permanent config files and files which are cleaned on boot.

Is the `xrandr' the only program that can be used to interfacing with the RandR extension? Potentially, there may be various desktop applets for that purpose. Moreover, the touchscreen devices (aka tablet PCs) would have other means to automatically rotate the screen when the device itself is rotated. Thus, I see the "third-party monitoring" approach as relatively universal.

Support for configuration files is already added in version 0.3.2. ;)

[aapo4]

Precise (12.04) version released:

http://cc.oulu.fi/~rantalai/synaptics/