Make TrackPoint act like a mouse's middle button (scrolling)

GWM · 2019-09-27 19:02:13

I have an E495, and I would like to use its TrackPoint to scroll things (for example web pages).
The archwiki says "When using xf86-input-libinput, middle-button scrolling is enabled by default", I do use xf86-input-libinput (at least I think I do, because I do not have xf86-input-evdev installed), but my TrackPad works as a pointing device, so I can't scroll using it, I have to use the touchpad which is not really comfortable.
Am I doing something wrong?

Last edited by GWM (2019-09-27 19:04:21)

Swiggles · 2019-09-27 19:26:49

You are supposed to hold down the middle mouse button and move the track point.

GWM · 2019-09-27 19:52:30

Swiggles wrote:

You are supposed to hold down the middle mouse button and move the track point.

Thanks for the response! I tried to do that, but even with the middle mouse button held down, the trackpoint still moves the mouse instead of scrolling.

Swiggles · 2019-09-27 20:57:02

In that case could you please provide some information about your setup?
Especially xinput config and Xorg logs would be helpful. Also please show the output of dmesg.

Trilby · 2019-09-28 00:00:48

Do you have synaptics installed (you most probably shouldn't).

GWM · 2019-09-28 08:10:00

No, I don't have synaptics installed.
There are my Xorg log: https://gist.github.com/GreWeMa/dc166a9 … 79770cf04c (I think it's a wrong one, because it was updated like a month ago... Where can I find the right one assuming it exists?).
dmesg: https://gist.github.com/GreWeMa/ee39fe3 … a2b5080822
idk where xinput config is located, so there is my `xinput list`: https://gist.github.com/GreWeMa/1c903ce … b9cdaf2866

And just to clarify, I would like to use my TrackPoint to scroll things without holding the middle mouse button (essentially, I would like it to be the only behavior of the TrackPoint, without pointing).

Trilby · 2019-09-28 12:38:55

Scrolling with the middle mouse button should work - if it isn't we could help with that. However, I don't think there is a config/software solution to get the trackpoint to act like a scroll wheel independent of the middle button.

seth · 2019-09-28 13:16:53

Let's see what it can do:

xinput list-props "TPPS/2 Elan TrackPoint"

You could perhaps turn the trackpoint button (1? if it has one at all) into the wheel emulation trigger thus making it scroll when pressing and moving it.

Swiggles · 2019-09-28 13:21:29

I am not sure how to interpret this, but maybe it is already possible.

https://www.x.org/releases/X11R7.5/doc/man/man4/evdev.4.html wrote:

Option "EmulateWheelButton" "integer"
~snip~ If the button is 0 and EmulateWheel is on, any motion of the device is converted into wheel events. ~snip~

Does this mean when the integer is 0 or the button state is 0? If it is the first you should be able to just setup your xinit like described in the wiki here, but replace the wheel button with 0 instead. Otherwise we might have to figure out some other plan.

seth · 2019-09-28 13:27:00

He's currently on "man 4 libinput",

Option "ScrollButton" "int"
Designates a button as scroll button. If the ScrollMethod is button and the button is logically held down, x/y axis movement is converted into scroll events.

Not sure whether the 0-button is supported there.

GWM · 2019-09-28 17:32:06

seth wrote:

Let's see what it can do:
xinput list-props "TPPS/2 Elan TrackPoint"
You could perhaps turn the trackpoint button (1? if it has one at all) into the wheel emulation trigger thus making it scroll when pressing and moving it.

https://gist.github.com/GreWeMa/57ef785 … 9f4dcfeda9

GWM · 2019-09-28 17:35:55

Swiggles wrote:

If it is the first you should be able to just setup your xinit like described in the wiki here, but replace the wheel button with 0 instead

I see this is for evdev, if I install it, will it conflict with libunput?

seth · 2019-09-28 19:03:48

You could first try

xinput set-prop  "TPPS/2 Elan TrackPoint" "Button Scrolling Button" 0

(the thing doesn't have a regular button)

evdev will not conflict w/ libinput but replace it (and there might be behavioral changes mandating configuration adaptions)

GWM · 2019-09-28 19:12:02

seth wrote:

You could first try
xinput set-prop  "TPPS/2 Elan TrackPoint" "Button Scrolling Button" 0
(the thing doesn't have a regular button)
evdev will not conflict w/ libinput but replace it (and there might be behavioral changes mandating configuration adaptions)

(root ~) >> xinput set-prop  "TPPS/2 Elan TrackPoint" "Button Scrolling Button" 0
property 'Button Scrolling Button' doesn't exist, you need to specify its type and format

And I also tried

xinput set-prop  "TPPS/2 Elan TrackPoint" 286 0

But it did nothing.

Last edited by GWM (2019-09-28 19:12:41)

Swiggles · 2019-09-28 19:39:07

I am pretty sure "libinput" cannot be omitted from the name: "libinput Button Scrolling Button"

But as you already found a workaround and the method is available and enabled this does not seem to work. Maybe try to follow the alternative plan or we have to dig much deeper than expected.

GWM · 2019-09-28 19:42:39

Swiggles wrote:

I am pretty sure "libinput" cannot be omitted from the name: "libinput Button Scrolling Button"
But as you already found a workaround and the method is available and enabled this does not seem to work. Maybe try to follow the alternative plan or we have to dig much deeper than expected.

You are right, with "libinput Button Scrolling Button" the command works, but doesn't do anything useful (at least it seems so).

Okay, I'll try the evdev option a bit later, thanks!

Arch Linux

#1 2019-09-27 19:02:13

Make TrackPoint act like a mouse's middle button (scrolling)

#2 2019-09-27 19:26:49

Re: Make TrackPoint act like a mouse's middle button (scrolling)

#3 2019-09-27 19:52:30

Re: Make TrackPoint act like a mouse's middle button (scrolling)

#4 2019-09-27 20:57:02

Re: Make TrackPoint act like a mouse's middle button (scrolling)

#5 2019-09-28 00:00:48

Re: Make TrackPoint act like a mouse's middle button (scrolling)

#6 2019-09-28 08:10:00

Re: Make TrackPoint act like a mouse's middle button (scrolling)

#7 2019-09-28 12:38:55

Re: Make TrackPoint act like a mouse's middle button (scrolling)

#8 2019-09-28 13:16:53

Re: Make TrackPoint act like a mouse's middle button (scrolling)

#9 2019-09-28 13:21:29

Re: Make TrackPoint act like a mouse's middle button (scrolling)

#10 2019-09-28 13:27:00

Re: Make TrackPoint act like a mouse's middle button (scrolling)

#11 2019-09-28 17:32:06

Re: Make TrackPoint act like a mouse's middle button (scrolling)

#12 2019-09-28 17:35:55

Re: Make TrackPoint act like a mouse's middle button (scrolling)

#13 2019-09-28 19:03:48

Re: Make TrackPoint act like a mouse's middle button (scrolling)

#14 2019-09-28 19:12:02

Re: Make TrackPoint act like a mouse's middle button (scrolling)

#15 2019-09-28 19:39:07

Re: Make TrackPoint act like a mouse's middle button (scrolling)

#16 2019-09-28 19:42:39

Re: Make TrackPoint act like a mouse's middle button (scrolling)

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