New Input Device Configuration Method in 11.3-Logitech Trackball case study

English Install/Boot/Login
#1

I just spent the morning getting my Logitech Marble trackball to scroll properly. I expected to put an fdi file into /etc/hal/fdi/policy , which I did, but it didn’t work.

Poking around Bugzilla, I discovered that in 11.3, input devices are now configured by adding parameter groups to the configuration files in /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/ .

The Identifier can be found by using ‘udevadm info -e’ as root and searching through the input devices. Button mapping can be determined by running ‘xev’ in a console window and noting the button number shown when each button is pressed. The Driver in each case is “evdev”

Appending the following to /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/11-mouse.conf got the Marble Trackball working perfectly in both USB and PS/2 modes:


Section "InputClass"
    Identifier "ImExPS/2 Logitech Explorer Mouse"
    Driver     "evdev"
    Option     "Buttons"            "9"
    Option     "ZAxisMapping"       "4 5"
    Option     "XAxisMapping"       "6 7"
    Option     "EmulateWheel"       "true"
    Option     "EmulateWheelButton" "8"
EndSection

Section "InputClass"
    Identifier "Logitech USB Trackball"
    Driver     "evdev"
    Option     "Buttons"            "9"
    Option     "ZAxisMapping"       "4 5"
    Option     "XAxisMapping"       "6 7"
    Option     "EmulateWheel"       "true"
    Option     "EmulateWheelButton" "8"
EndSection
#2

This worked like a charm! Thanks!

#3

If you’re like me, you’d also like to enable X11 copy/paste. To set small button next to your right thumb as the middle button of a 3 button mouse, also add these two options:

Option “ButtonMapping” “1 8 3 4 5 6 7 2 9”
Option “Emulate3Buttons” “true”