[kde-linux] Re: Disable trackpad for one user account?

[Duncan]

Doug posted on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 02:34:10 -0500 as excerpted:

> On 02/24/2011 12:07 AM, Duncan wrote:
> There is a program called synaptiks (note the spelling) that seems to be
> only available via kde, which will disable the touchpad only when there
> is a mouse or trackball plugged in.  So if your one user likes to use a
> mouse, let that user plug in the mouse when working, and unplug it when
> finished, and everyone should be happy.  I am using this program on my
> PCLOS laptop.

Thanks for pointing that out.  It's available under than name on Gentoo as 
well.  FWIW, the homepage says it's primarily a systemsettings/kcontrol-
module, which is probably what the OpenSuSE poster was referring to.  It 
also includes a systray applet that allows quick toggling, or automatic 
toggling based on typing or whether an external mouse is plugged in, which 
is obviously the bit you referred to, above.

Homepage: http://synaptiks.lunaryorn.de/

Gentoo package: kde-misc/synaptiks
 
> (I am not familiar with the synaptics driver you mentioned; I wonder if
> it's compatible with synaptiks.  That might make my laptop friendlier
> when I don't have my trackball available.  I really don't like the
> trackpad, and I _detest_ it when typing!  So far, the programs--I think
> from synaptic-- that "disable the touchpad while typing" don't have
> anywhere near enough hysteresis for me.)

FWIW, syndaemon options appear to be quite flexible, altho as I mentioned 
I've not tried it since I found I didn't need to after switching to the 
xorg synaptics driver.

>From the synaptiks site:

> Additionally xf86-input-synaptics 1.3 or newer must be installed and
> configured as touchpad driver. synaptiks will not work, if the touchpad
> is managed by a generic mouse device driver like xf86-input-evdev.

So it's possible you already have the driver installed, and may just need 
to configure it a bit more.  However, it's also possible that the toggle 
option you mentioned works, but not at least some of the more advanced kcm 
(kcontrol module, they still have that extension even if the thing is 
inaccurately renamed systemsettings in kde4) options, unless you have the 
driver installed.  Since you only mentioned the toggling and don't /know/ 
the driver is installed and active...

Thanks again.  I'll have to remember that for next time I update my netbook 
(which is still on kde 4.4.5, so I've not updated it in six months or so, 
tho I update my workstation much more zealously).

-- 
Duncan - List replies preferred.   No HTML msgs.
"Every nonfree program has a lord, a master --
and if you use the program, he is your master."  Richard Stallman