Ubuntu – Help trying to get two-finger scrolling to work on Asus UL80VT

12.04asusmulti-touchtouchpad

Multi-touch works fine on Windows 7 with: two-fingers scroll vertical and horizontally, two-finger tap for middle click, and three-finger tap for right click.

However with Ubuntu, I've never been able to get multi-touch to "save" and work, I was able to get it to work a few times but after restarting – it would just reset back.

I have the settings for two-finger scrolling on:
Mouse and Touchpad > Touchpad

Two-finger scrolling (selected)
Enable horizontal scrolling (ticked)

The cursor stops moving when I try to scroll with two fingers, but it doesn't actually scroll the page.

When I perform xinput list, I get:

Virtual core pointer id=2 [master pointer (3)]
↳ Virtual core XTEST pointer id=4 [slave pointer (2)]
↳ ETPS/2 Elantech ETF0401 id=13 [slave pointer (2)]

I've tried to install some 'synaptics-dkms' bug-fix (from a few years back) but that didn't work, so I removed that.

I've tried installing 'uTouch' but that didn't seem to do anything so removed it.

Here's what I have installed now:

dpkg –get-selections > installed-software
grep 'touch\|mouse\|track\|synapt' installed-software

libsoundtouch0 — install
libutouch-evemu1 — install
libutouch-frame1 — install
libutouch-geis1 — install
libutouch-grail1 — install
printer-driver-ptouch — install
ptouch-driver — install
xserver-xorg-input-multitouch — install
xserver-xorg-input-mouse — install
xserver-xorg-input-vmmouse — install
libnetfilter-conntrack3 — install
libxatracker1 — install
xserver-xorg-input-synaptics — install

So, I'll start again, what should I do now to get two-finger scrolling to work and ensure it works after restarting?

Also doing:

synclient TapButton1=1 TapButton2=2 TapButton3=3

…works but doesn't save after restarting.
However doing:

synclient VertTwoFingerScroll=1 HorizTwoFingerScroll=1

Does NOT work to fix the two-finger scrolling.

Output of: cat /var/log/Xorg.0.log | grep -i synaptics

[ 4.576] (II) LoadModule: "synaptics"
[ 4.577] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/input/synaptics_drv.so
[ 4.577] (II) Module synaptics: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[ 4.577] (II) Using input driver 'synaptics' for 'ETPS/2 Elantech ETF0401'
[ 4.577] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/input/synaptics_drv.so
[ 4.584] (–) synaptics: ETPS/2 Elantech ETF0401: x-axis range 0 – 1088
[ 4.584] (–) synaptics: ETPS/2 Elantech ETF0401: y-axis range 0 – 704
[ 4.584] (–) synaptics: ETPS/2 Elantech ETF0401: pressure range 0 – 255
[ 4.584] (–) synaptics: ETPS/2 Elantech ETF0401: finger width range 0 – 16
[ 4.584] (–) synaptics: ETPS/2 Elantech ETF0401: buttons: left right middle double triple scroll-buttons
[ 4.584] (–) synaptics: ETPS/2 Elantech ETF0401: Vendor 0x2 Product 0xe
[ 4.584] (–) synaptics: ETPS/2 Elantech ETF0401: touchpad found
[ 4.588] (**) synaptics: ETPS/2 Elantech ETF0401: (accel) MinSpeed is now constant deceleration 2.5
[ 4.588] (**) synaptics: ETPS/2 Elantech ETF0401: MaxSpeed is now 1.75
[ 4.588] (**) synaptics: ETPS/2 Elantech ETF0401: AccelFactor is now 0.154
[ 4.589] (–) synaptics: ETPS/2 Elantech ETF0401: touchpad found

Tried installing synaptiks but that didn't seem to work either, so removed it.

Temporary Fix (works until I restart)

Doing the following commands:

modprobe -r psmouse
modprobe psmouse proto=imps

Works but now xinput list shows up as:

Virtual core pointer id=2 [master pointer (3)]
↳ Virtual core XTEST pointer id=4 [slave pointer (2)]
↳ ImPS/2 Generic Wheel Mouse id=13 [slave pointer (2)]

Instead of Elantech, and it gets reset when I reboot.

Solution (not ideal for most people)

So, I ended up reinstalling a fresh 12.04 after indirectly playing around with burg and plymouth then removing plymouth which removed 50+ packages (I saw the warnings but was way too tired and assumed I could just 'reinstall' them all after (except that didn't work).

Right now xinput list shows up as:

⎡ Virtual core pointer — id=2 [master pointer (3)]
⎜ ↳ Virtual core XTEST pointer — id=4 [slave pointer (2)]
⎜ ↳ ETPS/2 Elantech Touchpad — id=13 [slave pointer (2)]

grep 'touch\|mouse\|track\|synapt' installed-software

libnetfilter-conntrack3 — install
libsoundtouch0 — install
libutouch-evemu1 — install
libutouch-frame1 — install
libutouch-geis1 — install
libutouch-grail1 — install
libxatracker1 — install
mousetweaks — install
printer-driver-ptouch — install
xserver-xorg-input-mouse — install
xserver-xorg-input-synaptics — install
xserver-xorg-input-vmmouse — install

cat /var/log/Xorg.0.log | grep -i synaptics

[ 4.890] (II) LoadModule: "synaptics"
[ 4.891] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/input/synaptics_drv.so
[ 4.892] (II) Module synaptics: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[ 4.892] (II) Using input driver 'synaptics' for 'ETPS/2 Elantech Touchpad'
[ 4.892] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/input/synaptics_drv.so
[ 4.956] (II) synaptics: ETPS/2 Elantech Touchpad: ignoring touch events for semi-multitouch device
[ 4.956] (–) synaptics: ETPS/2 Elantech Touchpad: x-axis range 0 – 1088
[ 4.956] (–) synaptics: ETPS/2 Elantech Touchpad: y-axis range 0 – 704
[ 4.956] (–) synaptics: ETPS/2 Elantech Touchpad: pressure range 0 – 255
[ 4.956] (–) synaptics: ETPS/2 Elantech Touchpad: finger width range 0 – 15
[ 4.956] (–) synaptics: ETPS/2 Elantech Touchpad: buttons: left right double triple
[ 4.956] (–) synaptics: ETPS/2 Elantech Touchpad: Vendor 0x2 Product 0xe
[ 4.956] (–) synaptics: ETPS/2 Elantech Touchpad: touchpad found
[ 4.980] () synaptics: ETPS/2 Elantech Touchpad: (accel) MinSpeed is now constant deceleration 2.5
[ 4.980] () synaptics: ETPS/2 Elantech Touchpad: MaxSpeed is now 1.75
[ 4.980] (**) synaptics: ETPS/2 Elantech Touchpad: AccelFactor is now 0.154
[ 4.980] (–) synaptics: ETPS/2 Elantech Touchpad: touchpad found

So, if all else fails, reinstall Linux :/

Best Answer

To get your synclient settings to stick you can add them to xorg.conf. I did this recently for my macbook pro in 12.10 and it works pretty well.

You can also specify a separate configuration file in /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/ file to keep things neater. Here's a step by step:

Create /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d (if it doesn't already exist)

sudo mkdir /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d
Create and edit /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/10-synaptics.conf

gksudo gedit /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/10-synaptics.conf

Make it look like the following:

#Sample /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/10-synaptics.conf
Section "InputClass"
  Identifier "touchpad catchall"
  Driver "synaptics"
  MatchDevicePath "/dev/input/event*"
  MatchIsTouchpad "true"
  Option  "SHMConfig"           "true"
  Option  "TapButton1"          "1"
  Option  "TapButton2"          "2"
  Option  "TapButton3"          "3"
EndSection

Save and logout/login again. If the xserver fails to load and you get forced into low graphics mode then edit the file again and comment everything out, or mv /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/10-synaptics.conf ~/10-synaptics.conf.backup and reload again to get back to normal.

For posterity, my current setup for my macbook pro 2012 13" is as follows (warning, I like my touchpad rather sensitive). Try any of these options using synclient before putting them into xorg.conf!

Section "InputClass"
      Identifier "touchpad catchall"
      Driver "synaptics"
      MatchIsTouchpad "on"
      MatchDevicePath "/dev/input/event*"
      MatchProduct "bcm5974"
      MatchIsTouchpad "true"
      Option  "SHMConfig"           "true"
      Option  "FastTaps"            "1"
      Option  "MaxDoubleTapTime"    "100"
      Option  "BottomEdge"          "6000"
      Option  "FingerLow"           "60"
      Option  "FingerHigh"          "90"
      Option         "ClickFinger3" "2"
#      Option         "FingerLow"             "30"
#      Option         "FingerHigh"            "80"
      Option         "VertTwoFingerScroll" "1"
      Option         "HorizTwoFingerScroll" "1"
      Option         "VertScrollDelta" "100"
      Option         "HorizScrollDelta" "100"
      Option         "MultiFingerButton" "2"
      #Option         "TapButton1" "1"
      Option         "TapButton2" "3"
      Option         "TapButton3" "2"
      Option         "MinSpeed" "1"
      Option         "MaxSpeed" "2"
      Option         "AccelFactor" "0.01"
#      Option         "AreaBottomEdge" "5000"
EndSection

Related Solutions

Ubuntu – Enable two-finger scrolling on ALPS touchpad

First of all, to identify which touchpad you have, run

xinput list

If it shows something like

...
↳ AlpsPS/2 ALPS GlidePoint                  id=14   [slave  pointer  (2)]
...

then you most probably do not have multitouch support. The Alps touchpads tend not to have multitouch, while they use the same driver as the Synaptic touchpads.

You can use synclient -l to obtain information on your touchpad.

Still, the definitive way to see how many fingers are supported on your touchpad, is to

Enable SHMConfig in your xorg.conf file
Run synclient -m 100, which will show in real time the status of your touchpad. The fifth column labeled f is for fingers, therefore you can see up to how many fingers you can tap at the same time.

To enable SHMConfig in xorg.conf, see http://mjg59.livejournal.com/118588.html and then add

Section "InputClass"
   Identifier "enable synaptics SHMConfig"
   MatchIsTouchpad "on"
   MatchDevicePath "/dev/input/event*"
   Option "SHMConfig" "on"
EndSection

to your xorg.conf. You can remove the above snippet once you performed your testing.

Ubuntu – How to get two finger scrolling working on an Acer S3 Elantech Touchpad

First off does the touch-pad support two finger scrolling? If so the result of synclient -l would be nice to edit

add the output of the command synclient -l.

Parameter settings:
    LeftEdge                = 1775
    RightEdge               = 5503
    TopEdge                 = 1652
    BottomEdge              = 4662
    FingerLow               = 24
    FingerHigh              = 29
    FingerPress             = 255
    MaxTapTime              = 180
    MaxTapMove              = 245
    MaxDoubleTapTime        = 180
    SingleTapTimeout        = 180
    ClickTime               = 100
    FastTaps                = 0
    EmulateMidButtonTime    = 75
    EmulateTwoFingerMinZ    = 10
    EmulateTwoFingerMinW    = 6
    VertScrollDelta         = 111
    HorizScrollDelta        = 111
    VertEdgeScroll          = 0
    HorizEdgeScroll         = 0
    CornerCoasting          = 0
    VertTwoFingerScroll     = 1
    HorizTwoFingerScroll    = 0
    MinSpeed                = 1
    MaxSpeed                = 1.75
    AccelFactor             = 0.0359131
    TrackstickSpeed         = 40
    EdgeMotionMinZ          = 29
    EdgeMotionMaxZ          = 159
    EdgeMotionMinSpeed      = 1
    EdgeMotionMaxSpeed      = 445
    EdgeMotionUseAlways     = 0
    TouchpadOff             = 0
    LockedDrags             = 0
    LockedDragTimeout       = 5000
    RTCornerButton          = 2
    RBCornerButton          = 3
    LTCornerButton          = 0
    LBCornerButton          = 0
    TapButton1              = 1
    TapButton2              = 3
    TapButton3              = 2
    ClickFinger1            = 1
    ClickFinger2            = 1
    ClickFinger3            = 1
    CircularScrolling       = 0
    CircScrollDelta         = 0.1
    CircScrollTrigger       = 0
    CircularPad             = 0
    PalmDetect              = 0
    PalmMinWidth            = 9
    PalmMinZ                = 199
    CoastingSpeed           = 20
    CoastingFriction        = 50
    PressureMotionMinZ      = 29
    PressureMotionMaxZ      = 159
    PressureMotionMinFactor = 1
    PressureMotionMaxFactor = 1
    ResolutionDetect        = 1
    GrabEventDevice         = 1
    TapAndDragGesture       = 1
    AreaLeftEdge            = 0
    AreaRightEdge           = 0
    AreaTopEdge             = 0
    AreaBottomEdge          = 0

You can change the setting of the synclient by adding to the startup application a new application with the following command:

xterm -e synclient "EmulateTwoFingerMinZ=10"

This would change the setting of EmulateTwoFingerMinZ to the value of 10

Found similar answer here: How to get two-finger scolling to work?