Arch Linux

k395

Member

Registered: 2020-01-29

Posts: 37

How to disable the track point movement without disabling the buttons?

The question is in the title.

I can disable the track point (pointing stick) with `xinput disable <id>` or the BIOS option, but that would disable the mouse buttons too.

-----

My real problem is that sometimes the touchpoint moves the mouse spuriously (this is a known issue with touchpoints), but that would disable input with the mouse. Since I don't use the touchpoint anyway I figure out the easiest way would be to disable it.

Last edited by k395 (2020-02-04 13:58:16)

Ropid

Member

Registered: 2015-03-09

Posts: 1,069

Re: How to disable the track point movement without disabling the buttons?

You can use the property named "Coordinate Transformation Matrix" to make it so the pointer can't move. This wouldn't disable the device. It would just make it so the pointer won't move.

The default value for that matrix is this set of nine numbers here:

1 0 0
0 1 0
0 0 1

To make it so it can't move the pointer, you can use this matrix here:

0 0 0
0 0 0
0 0 1

The xinput command line to set the matrix looks for example like this:

xinput set-prop 8 'Coordinate Transformation Matrix' 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

This would disable pointer movement for the device with id "8".

To put it back to normal again, the command line would look like this:

xinput set-prop 8 'Coordinate Transformation Matrix' 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1

schard

Forum Moderator

From: Hannover

Registered: 2016-05-06

Posts: 2,110

Website

Re: How to disable the track point movement without disabling the buttons?

I doubt, that this is possible without modifying the corresponding driver.
The system seems to detect the trackpoint and its buttons as one single input device.
Afaik, your only option is to disable the (whole) device or don't.

Edit: Too slow. See above for a possible hack.

Last edited by schard (2020-02-04 14:07:41)

---

Inofficial first vice president of the Rust Evangelism Strike Force

k395

Member

Registered: 2020-01-29

Posts: 37

Re: How to disable the track point movement without disabling the buttons?

The xinput command line to set the matrix looks for example like this:

xinput set-prop 8 'Coordinate Transformation Matrix' 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

This would disable pointer movement for the device with id "8".

That works, but unfortunately doesn't solve the real problem. When there's any input on the touchpoint, the touchpad is unusable.

k395

Member

Registered: 2020-01-29

Posts: 37

Re: How to disable the track point movement without disabling the buttons?

This could be achieved by writing some program to grab the device, then only forward the click events to the OS.

It isn't a simple configuration, however.

k395

Member

Registered: 2020-01-29

Posts: 37

Re: How to disable the track point movement without disabling the buttons?

After some more research, there's no easy way.

https://unix.stackexchange.com/question … ting-stick -- disable both, doesn't help.
https://askubuntu.com/questions/1121773 … ep-buttons -- no answers.
https://askubuntu.com/questions/370505/ … nkpad-e531 -- method specific to touchpad.
Set track point acceleration speed -- minimum value is -1.

So this is a script to do that (edit event21 accordingly)

sudo evtest --grab /dev/input/event21 | perl -ne 'system("xdotool mouse".($2?"down ":"up ").($1-271)) if /Event:.*code (.*) \(BTN.* value (.)/'

It's pretty inefficient but works well-enough.

A more efficient way would be to write everything in a compiled program and do not invoke a subprocess every time a click is performed.

Last edited by k395 (2020-03-20 04:48:32)

WSDEs via FOSS

Member

Registered: 2021-02-28

Posts: 16

Re: How to disable the track point movement without disabling the buttons?

Thank you, this solution has worked for me so far: my buttons still work but the Trackpoint is no longer disrupting the pointer and preventing me from using the Trackpad.

You were very helpful - I'm very happy as my system was sent in for repair once already and they didn't solve the problem having replaced the Trackpad and cable.

This saves me sending it in again to repair the Trackpoint which I never use anyway.

This page was also helpful: https://techne.alaya.net/?p=19017

You can use the property named "Coordinate Transformation Matrix" to make it so the pointer can't move. This wouldn't disable the device. It would just make it so the pointer won't move.

The default value for that matrix is this set of nine numbers here:

1 0 0
0 1 0
0 0 1

To make it so it can't move the pointer, you can use this matrix here:

0 0 0
0 0 0
0 0 1

The xinput command line to set the matrix looks for example like this:

xinput set-prop 8 'Coordinate Transformation Matrix' 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

This would disable pointer movement for the device with id "8".

To put it back to normal again, the command line would look like this:

xinput set-prop 8 'Coordinate Transformation Matrix' 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1

Last edited by WSDEs via FOSS (2021-02-28 13:08:18)

purplepineapple

Member

Registered: 2024-09-11

Posts: 1

Re: How to disable the track point movement without disabling the buttons?

If you're using KDE, you can disable the pointing stick through the KDE system settings under "Input & Output" > "Mouse & Touchpad" > "Mouse", where you can select your pointing stick, i.e., "AlpsPS/2 ALPS DualPoint Stick" and then uncheck the option "Device enabled".

This option disables my pointing stick without affecting my touchpad. There is is need to use software like `xinput` or `libinput`.

Edit: I just realized that the mouse buttons above the touchpad are now disabled, as they belong to the pointing stick. However, the left and right click on the touchpad, as well as those on my external mouse, continue to work as expected.

Last edited by purplepineapple (2024-09-11 18:40:05)