HOWTO: Logitech G7 Mouse

[NobodySpecial]

UPDATE 10/24/2007: This method using the evdev driver is now obsolete.
A newer project called btnx is MUCH easier and more feature rich.

Ubuntu how-to HERE.

Before changing to btnx, please remove the evdev device from xorg.conf and revert to the default device "/dev/input/mice". You may also need to change "protocol" to "auto".

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Logitech has put out a GREAT product that is fully usable in Ubuntu Linux once properly configured. I've spent several frustrating hours figuring this out and hope this guide might be helpful to others.

Big thanks to to Endy at his thread: http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=65471

1. Edit the xorg.conf file
First we'll tell X how to configure our G7.

sudo cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf_backup
sudo gedit /etc/X11/xorg.conf

Scroll down until you find the mouse section, something like:

Section "InputDevice"
	Identifier	"Configured Mouse"

REPLACE the entire mouse section from "Section "InputDevice"" to "EndSection" with the following:

Section "InputDevice"
	Identifier	"Configured Mouse"
	Driver		"mouse"
	Option		"Protocol"		"evdev"
	Option       	"Dev Name"		"Logitech USB Receiver"
	Option		"Device"		"/dev/input/mice"
	Option		"Buttons"		"8"
	Option		"ZAxisMapping"		"4 5 7 8"
EndSection

Save the file.

Note: If the above code doesn't work for you, read the link referenced above which describes how to find a more specific "Device" and a "Dev Phys" entry using output from "cat /proc/bus/input/devices". Note the mouse has two entries and you will have to experiment with both.

2. Restart X
First, bookmark this page because you will need to come back to finish. Then write down the following steps:
1. Log out like usual.
2. Simultaneously press "Control + Alt + Backspace"
3. If the mouse cursor moves like it should, log back in and procede to the next section.

If the mouse cursor won't move, simultaneously press 'CONTROL + ALT + F1" and type the following to restore your prior settings:

sudo cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf_backup /etc/X11/xorg.conf
sudo restartx

3. Configure key-bindings
First install xvkbd and xvindkeys.

sudo apt-get install xvkbd xbindkeys
gedit ~/.xbindkeysrc

You then have two choices of code to enter. The following code will
1. Allow the mouse "back" button to go back in Nautilus.
2. Allow the left/right tilt on the scroll wheel to scroll text left and right in programs such as Firefox when applicable.
Copy and paste the following (but see note below!):

"/usr/X11R6/bin/xvkbd -xsendevent -text "\[Alt_L]\[Left]""
  m:0x0 + b:6
"/usr/X11R6/bin/xvkbd -xsendevent -text "\[Right]""
  m:0x0 + b:7
"/usr/X11R6/bin/xvkbd -xsendevent -text "\[Left]""
  m:0x0 + b:8

Change the "L" in "Left" to a capital "L" !!!
Save the file.

OR you can use my prefered code below which will
1. Allow the mouse "back" button to go back in Nautilus.
2. Allow the left/right tilt on the scroll wheel to move through open tabs in Firefox!
Copy and paste the following (but see note below!):

"/usr/X11R6/bin/xvkbd -xsendevent -text "\[Alt_L]\[Left]""
  m:0x0 + b:6
"/usr/X11R6/bin/xvkbd -xsendevent -text "\[Control_L]\[Page_Down]""
  m:0x0 + b:7
"/usr/X11R6/bin/xvkbd -xsendevent -text "\[Control_L]\[Page_Up]""
  m:0x0 + b:8

Change the "L" in "Left" to a capital "L" !!!
Save the file.

Finally, go to "System > Preferences > Sessions", click on the "Startup Programs" tab, click "+Add" and enter "xbindkeys" as a Startup Command.

Log out, then log in again and run a final test.

Bonus: You do not need the "Logitech Applet" as you can change the sensitivity settings directly on the G7 mouse by pressing the "+" and "-" buttons.

[QettoE]

As a Kubuntu noob I really appreciate the thread... I was almost very frustrated until I saw this.

Now... my G5 has a very lousy middle button where I always miss my mid clicks and right/left scrolls. Could you tell me how I can bind all those clicks to middle click so I know that however I hit the damn button it will trigger the mid button?

Also, where in Kubuntu I can set that scirpt to run when KDE starts?

Thanks in advance,
Q.

[NobodySpecial]

I understand that you want the left/right tilt on the middle scroll wheel to do the same functions as if the scroll wheel were pressed down (i.e. middle mouse button). I really don't know the "right" way to do this. One way that might work is to simply configure a key-binding for whatever specific action you want.

For example, if you want to use this in Firefox to open a link in a new tab, you would look up the keyboard shortcut at http://www.mozilla.org/support/firefox/keyboard and find that it is "Control + Enter".

I have not tested it, but you might try:

"/usr/X11R6/bin/xvkbd -xsendevent -text "\[Alt_L]\[Left]""
  m:0x0 + b:6
"/usr/X11R6/bin/xvkbd -xsendevent -text "\[Control_L]\[Enter]""
  m:0x0 + b:7
"/usr/X11R6/bin/xvkbd -xsendevent -text "\[Control_L]\[Enter]""
  m:0x0 + b:8

Change the "L" in "Left" to a capital "L" !!!

If that doesn't work, try to substitute "Return" for "Enter".

You also ask about starting the script in KDE. I'm using Gnome and know very little about KDE. However, you might try to add shortcut to xbindkeys in ~/.kde/Autostart.

[QettoE]

I apprecaite it. It didn't work but with your explanation now I have an idea how this works .

[Pietro Pizzi]

Hi,

The thing with xbindkeys works good. Now i search for a possibility to put a "double-click" on the "back-button". Is this Possible with this sollution?

[ch13f121]

There wouldn't be a way to get something like this to work with an mx518 would there? If so that'd be a great thing

[NobodySpecial]

Pietro Pizzi - I like the idea of a double-click, but the only thing I can think of is to use an "enter" or "return" command as I described above.

ch13f121 - I don't see why you couldn't make it work with other Logitech mice. Read the (*long*) thread I referenced above (by Endy) and start experimenting with settings.

[kingzasz]

My tilt wheel is way too sensitive. For example, I set it up for Firefox tabs like you said. But it would move 3 tabs over.

Then I set it up to make a new tab. It made 3 new tabs.

Its like its getting 3 signals from one tap. Is there any way to fix this?

Thanks,
Brian

[NobodySpecial]

king - yes, I know what you mean. Signals get sent rapidly and I sure wish there was a way to slow it down. All I can say is that with practice, you can learn how to "just barely" tap the wheel and make it go one tab at a time - most of the time.

[pianoboy3333]

X on my system complains that it can't find the protocol evdev, even with the package xserver-xorg-input-evdev