How do I enable Middle mouse button emulation in 12.04 LTS?
I think it was disabled by default in the last release. I'm sure this is a silly question but I can't find a generic answer, they all seem to be touchpad specific (ie, multi-touch related, which I don't have), or using what I consider not to be normal ubuntu methods (creating xorg.conf file). I'm using xubuntu variant (xfce) on a dell inspiron mini.
I was actually just testing there and if I tap with both fingers at once it brings up a context menu (like right click). Wired I didn't know this trackpad could even tell that there was a two finger tap…
Former behaviour was clicking both touchpad buttons (they are the built in kind) at the same time produced a middle clicck. They no longer do this. I never used a double tap, but the actual buttons.
To clarify I am using a built in Touchpad, not an external mouse. Gpointings detects it as synaptic touch, which I believe is correct
Update- The question @medigeek linked to below let me set a two fingered tap to emulate a middle click, but I still cant click both buttons at the same time
output from synclient is here:
LeftEdge = 1760
RightEdge = 5302
TopEdge = 1639
BottomEdge = 4479
FingerLow = 25
FingerHigh = 30
FingerPress = 256
MaxTapTime = 180
MaxTapMove = 232
MaxDoubleTapTime = 180
SingleTapTimeout = 180
ClickTime = 100
FastTaps = 0
EmulateMidButtonTime = 0
EmulateTwoFingerMinZ = 282
EmulateTwoFingerMinW = 7
VertScrollDelta = 105
HorizScrollDelta = 105
VertEdgeScroll = 1
HorizEdgeScroll = 0
CornerCoasting = 0
VertTwoFingerScroll = 0
HorizTwoFingerScroll = 0
MinSpeed = 1
MaxSpeed = 1.75
AccelFactor = 0.0378931
TrackstickSpeed = 40
EdgeMotionMinZ = 30
EdgeMotionMaxZ = 160
EdgeMotionMinSpeed = 1
EdgeMotionMaxSpeed = 422
EdgeMotionUseAlways = 0
TouchpadOff = 0
LockedDrags = 0
LockedDragTimeout = 5000
RTCornerButton = 2
RBCornerButton = 3
LTCornerButton = 0
LBCornerButton = 0
TapButton1 = 1
TapButton2 = 3
TapButton3 = 0
ClickFinger1 = 1
ClickFinger2 = 1
ClickFinger3 = 0
CircularScrolling = 0
CircScrollDelta = 0.1
CircScrollTrigger = 0
CircularPad = 0
PalmDetect = 0
PalmMinWidth = 10
PalmMinZ = 200
CoastingSpeed = 20
CoastingFriction = 50
PressureMotionMinZ = 30
PressureMotionMaxZ = 160
PressureMotionMinFactor = 1
PressureMotionMaxFactor = 1
ResolutionDetect = 1
GrabEventDevice = 1
TapAndDragGesture = 1
AreaLeftEdge = 0
AreaRightEdge = 0
AreaTopEdge = 0
AreaBottomEdge = 0
HorizHysteresis = 26
VertHysteresis = 26
ClickPad = 1
RightButtonAreaLeft = 0
RightButtonAreaRight = 0
RightButtonAreaTop = 0
RightButtonAreaBottom = 0
MiddleButtonAreaLeft = 0
MiddleButtonAreaRight = 0
MiddleButtonAreaTop = 0
MiddleButtonAreaBottom = 0
Best Answer
GUI solution
Install the package
gpointing-device-settings
Console/terminal solution #1
Alternatively, try this:
The alternative solution might require the installation of
gnome-settings-daemon
package.Console/terminal solution(s) #2
Using
synclient
command you can view your synaptics touchpad options.Run
synclient
and see what variables you have available.You can set/change the synclient options using this command:
syclient var=1
(where var is the variable you wish to change and 1 the value)Read the manual page about each variable: http://manpages.ubuntu.com/synaptics
What worked for me
Instead of figuring out how to press both buttons of the touchpad, keep/press two fingers on the touchpad and click on the left click button of the touchpad with a third finger. This emulates a middle button by default.
What worked for the original poster
a) Setting the TapButton variable works for the two fingered tap
b) If you still want to click both buttons and produce a middle button emulation, execute:
EmulateMidButtonTime allows you to change the time required to produce a middle button (allowed time period to click both buttons). 100 means 100 milliseconds (ms).
You may set it to even higher values, such as
synclient EmulateMidButtonTime=500
(500ms).