I'm using the basic synaptics touchpad module for my laptop. I'm wondering how to configure this. Specifically, my touchpad is FAR FAR too sensitive for the tap features. Second, I'd like to turn off this feature where a movement to the right on the bottom right of the pad or a movement to the left on the bottom left of the pad functions as a page forward and page back in Firefox. I'm not sure what button that corresponds to. In Konqueror and even just the desktop itself, the bottom centimeter or so of my touchpad doesnt do anything, even move the mouse cursor. I hate this behavior and so does everyone else who has tried my laptop. (Maybe it wouldn't be as bad if the sensitivity weren't so high, but I doubt it.)

try KSynaptics (edit: or is it called QSynaptics? kind of confusing. i installed the KSynaptics package), it works great:
http://qsynaptics.sourceforge.net/index.html

if you don't have the KDE (Qt) libraries, you can change the options manually in xorg.conf. here's what i have if you want to use it as a template (adjust to preference):
to turn off the corner tapping, put these two lines in your ~/.xinitrc:

synclient RTCornerButton=0
synclient RBCornerButton=0


gl

Thank you,

That's really great advice. I'll try installing that package as soon as I get a chance.

Just installed the package and wanted to restate my thanks again. This is an awesome program that anyone with a linux laptop should install. Just wanted to add that when I looked up the project, it appears that the qsynaptics version is actually more recent than ksynaptics. I think the difference is that they use different libraries, but they've only been updating qsynaptics recently. I still have one question for anyone who knows:

Is it possible to actually change the sensitivity of the touchpad? The amount of force that is required for the touchpad to respond. I always had that ability in windows. My pad still feels far too sensitive. I kind of wish that manufacturers would put the touchpad directly underneath the g and h keys rather than under the center of the keyboard. As it is, it's far too easy to brush the pad with my right thumb when I'm laying down and typing (like now). With an ultra sensitive pad, that messes up my typing. I'm not sure if I know which option in the xorg.conf file might adjust this as some of the parameter names aren't all that intuitive.

the sensitivity option is right in the first panel. you also have the option of turning off the touchpad while typing.

are you saying you used the sensitivity option and it's still too sensitive?


>> edit: i just looked at the QSynaptics screeshots. get rid of that and get KSynaptics. KSynaptics has the sensitivity option, and a lot more other options than it appears QSynaptics has. if i have time later i'll make some screenshots for you from my laptop.

You're right, it's the ksynaptics package that's the newer one, not qsynaptics.

I think I just have to vent and that's why I'm posting.

So here's my story with ksynaptics...
Uninstall qsynaptics, install ksynaptics 0.1.

Works, but it doesnt actually have any extra options that qsynaptics didn't already have. Definitely no sensitivity controls. I decide to find a newer rpm. Do a search, find and download the rpm to a folder on my computer.

Uninstall ksynaptics 0.1, install ksynaptics 0.2.

Has all of the controls I want... however it doesn't have the ability to apply any changes... fun. That's pretty worthless. What's worse, it has extra scrolling options so now both the bottom AND the right side of the touchpad become virtual minefields of annoyance. Now fully one quarter of my touchpad or more doesn't work in most situations and basically just annoys me in the few situations where it actually does something. And I can't change it.

Uninstall ksynaptics 0.2, install ksynaptics 0.1.

Wait, just had an idea. Maybe I need a newer version of the synaptics driver. Wish I'd thought of it before.

Install synaptics 0.14.1

Uninstall ksynaptics 0.1, install ksynaptics 0.2.

Nothing... I mean nothing happens. The same ksynaptics 0.2 rpm package that just installed minutes ago now does absolutely nothing. Sure, it SAYS that it installed. However, there is no icon in my menu, no ksynaptics file in /usr/bin, those nice little .so files that are required didn't show up anywhere.

Uninstall ksynaptics 0.2, install ksynaptics 0.2.

Same effect (or lack thereof). The rpm package that just worked now decided not to work. Currently running the find files program (is that kfind maybe?) just to see if there is any chance that the files got sent off to some weird lala land, but that program crashes about 80% of the time for me anyway. Today seems like no exception.

Oh well, ksynaptics 0.1 is a nice little program that has several things. I can live without changing the sensitivity I guess. Whenever did configuring a touchpad become such a chore though? Hours down the drain... Guess it's just another one of those things that isn't really worth bothering with in Linux.

...Linux is my Nemesis...

i agree, it seems that some things in linux are a lot harder than they really need to (or should) be, given all the programming talent in the linux community. but i guess that can only stretch so far, and most people are involved in maintaining their own projects. makes me wish i were a programmer, but that'll have to wait until next life.

if you're sure you have the latest version of the synaptics driver (and don't forget to restart X afterward), you could uninstall any k/qsynaptics rpms and install the latest ksynaptics from source. give that a try. the sensitivity option works for me, but i notice that it is of a very fine gradation, so iow the touchpad is still pretty sensitive at the lowest setting. it helps a little, though.

the lower and right side scrolling can be turned off with the horizontal and vertical scroll options. maybe try setting them on, then apply, then off, and apply again. i had to do that with turning the corner buttons off before the settings would "take."

gl, i hope you can get it working close enough to what you want that it's not as much of an annoyance, at least.