Middle button emulation -

[Bob Goodwin]

3 button emulation provides the ultimate in convenience for copy/paste, 
highlight and one click and you're done! I do not understand why fedora 
makes it so difficult to have this feature?

I have two similar computers both running Fedora 24, this one a new 
installation. On both I have added the following to 
/usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d/10-evdev.conf:

Section "InputClass"
       Identifier "middle button emulation class"
       MatchIsPointer "on"
       Option "Emulate3Buttons" "on"
       Driver "evdev"
EndSection

On box7 this works as expected, on this new installation in box10 it 
does not.

Why not and how do I fix the problem?

Any help appreciated,

Bob

[Ed Greshko]

On 10/16/16 16:10, Bob Goodwin wrote:
> 3 button emulation provides the ultimate in convenience for copy/paste, highlight and
> one click and you're done! I do not understand why fedora makes it so difficult to have
> this feature?
>
> I have two similar computers both running Fedora 24, this one a new installation. On
> both I have added the following to /usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d/10-evdev.conf:
>
> Section "InputClass"
>       Identifier "middle button emulation class"
>       MatchIsPointer "on"
>       Option "Emulate3Buttons" "on"
>       Driver "evdev"
> EndSection
>
> On box7 this works as expected, on this new installation in box10 it does not.
>
> Why not and how do I fix the problem?
>
> Any help appreciated,

I suppose the first question is "Do you have xorg-x11-drv-evdev installed on the new
system?".

[Bob Goodwin]

On 10/16/16 05:49, Ed Greshko wrote:
> > On box7 this works as expected, on this new installation in box10 it does not.
> > > Why not and how do I fix the problem?
> > >
> > > Any help appreciated,
>
> I suppose the first question is "Do you have xorg-x11-drv-evdev installed on the new
> system?".

+

It looks like it is there:

[root@localhost bobg]# dnf install xorg-x11-drv-evdev
Last metadata expiration check: 0:21:42 ago on Sun Oct 16 05:36:42 2016.
Package xorg-x11-drv-evdev-2.10.3-1.fc24.x86_64 is already installed, 
skipping.
Dependencies resolved.
Nothing to do.
Complete!

[Ed Greshko]

On 10/16/16 18:05, Bob Goodwin wrote:
> On 10/16/16 05:49, Ed Greshko wrote:
> > > On box7 this works as expected, on this new installation in box10 it does not.
> > > > Why not and how do I fix the problem?
> > > >
> > > > Any help appreciated,
> >
> > I suppose the first question is "Do you have xorg-x11-drv-evdev installed on the new
> > system?".
>
> It looks like it is there:
>
> [root@localhost bobg]# dnf install xorg-x11-drv-evdev
> Last metadata expiration check: 0:21:42 ago on Sun Oct 16 05:36:42 2016.
> Package xorg-x11-drv-evdev-2.10.3-1.fc24.x86_64 is already installed, skipping.
> Dependencies resolved.
> Nothing to do.
> Complete!

OK...

Then check your /var/log/Xorg.0.log to see if it is being loaded.

grep evdev Xorg.0.log   should be sufficient

[Bob Goodwin]

On 10/16/16 16:16, Ed Greshko wrote:
> OK...
>
> Then check your /var/log/Xorg.0.log to see if it is being loaded.
>
> grep evdev Xorg.0.log   should be sufficient

+
[bobg@localhost ~]$ grep evdev /var/log/Xorg.0.log
[    61.657] (**) Power Button: Applying InputClass "evdev keyboard 
catchall"
[    61.755] (**) Power Button: Applying InputClass "evdev keyboard 
catchall"
[    61.758] (**) Logitech USB Trackball: Applying InputClass "evdev 
pointer catchall"
[    61.761] (II) LoadModule: "evdev"
[    61.761] (II) Loading /usr/lib64/xorg/modules/input/evdev_drv.so
[    61.762] (II) Module evdev: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[    61.762] (II) Using input driver 'evdev' for 'Logitech USB Trackball'
[    61.762] (**) evdev: Logitech USB Trackball: Device: "/dev/input/mouse0"
[    61.762] (EE) evdev: Logitech USB Trackball: Unable to query fd: 
Inappropriate ioctl for device
[    61.766] (II) UnloadModule: "evdev"
[    61.767] (**)   USB Keyboard: Applying InputClass "evdev keyboard 
catchall"
[    61.771] (**)   USB Keyboard: Applying InputClass "evdev keyboard 
catchall"

This is the whole file. It looks to me like the section I added at the 
bottom is not being accepted?

[bobg@localhost ~]$ cat /usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d/10-evdev.conf
#
# Catch-all evdev loader for udev-based systems
# We don't simply match on any device since that also adds accelerometers
# and other devices that we don't really want to use. The list below
# matches everything but joysticks.

Section "InputClass"
         Identifier "evdev pointer catchall"
         MatchIsPointer "on"
         MatchDevicePath "/dev/input/event*"
         Driver "evdev"
EndSection

Section "InputClass"
         Identifier "evdev keyboard catchall"
         MatchIsKeyboard "on"
         MatchDevicePath "/dev/input/event*"
         Driver "evdev"
EndSection

Section "InputClass"
         Identifier "evdev touchpad catchall"
         MatchIsTouchpad "on"
         MatchDevicePath "/dev/input/event*"
         Driver "evdev"
EndSection

Section "InputClass"
         Identifier "evdev tablet catchall"
         MatchIsTablet "on"
         MatchDevicePath "/dev/input/event*"
         Driver "evdev"
EndSection

Section "InputClass"
         Identifier "evdev touchscreen catchall"
         MatchIsTouchscreen "on"
         MatchDevicePath "/dev/input/event*"
         Driver "evdev"
EndSection

Section "InputClass"
       Identifier "middle button emulation class"
       MatchIsPointer "on"
       Option "Emulate3Buttons" "on"
       Driver "evdev"
EndSection

[Ed Greshko]

On 10/17/16 05:12, Bob Goodwin wrote:
> On 10/16/16 16:16, Ed Greshko wrote:
> > OK...
> >
> > Then check your /var/log/Xorg.0.log to see if it is being loaded.
> >
> > grep evdev Xorg.0.log   should be sufficient
>
> [bobg@localhost ~]$ grep evdev /var/log/Xorg.0.log
> [    61.657] (**) Power Button: Applying InputClass "evdev keyboard catchall"
> [    61.755] (**) Power Button: Applying InputClass "evdev keyboard catchall"
> [    61.758] (**) Logitech USB Trackball: Applying InputClass "evdev pointer catchall"
> [    61.761] (II) LoadModule: "evdev"
> [    61.761] (II) Loading /usr/lib64/xorg/modules/input/evdev_drv.so
> [    61.762] (II) Module evdev: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
> [    61.762] (II) Using input driver 'evdev' for 'Logitech USB Trackball'
> [    61.762] (**) evdev: Logitech USB Trackball: Device: "/dev/input/mouse0"
> [    61.762] (EE) evdev: Logitech USB Trackball: Unable to query fd: Inappropriate ioctl
> for device
> [    61.766] (II) UnloadModule: "evdev"
> [    61.767] (**)   USB Keyboard: Applying InputClass "evdev keyboard catchall"
> [    61.771] (**)   USB Keyboard: Applying InputClass "evdev keyboard catchall"
>
> This is the whole file. It looks to me like the section I added at the bottom is not
> being accepted?

This....

61.762] (EE) evdev: Logitech USB Trackball: Unable to query fd: Inappropriate ioctl for
device

EE=Error

Seems to indicate a problem.  Not sure what....at 6AM.  :-)

Have you tried a different mouse and/or USB port?

[Ed Greshko]

On 10/17/16 05:12, Bob Goodwin wrote:
> Section "InputClass"
>       Identifier "middle button emulation class"
>       MatchIsPointer "on"
>       Option "Emulate3Buttons" "on"
>       Driver "evdev"
> EndSection

You may also want to try changing the above to...

Section "InputClass"
      Identifier "middle button emulation class"
      MatchIsPointer "on"        
      MatchDevicePath "/dev/input/event*"
      Option "Emulate3Buttons" "on"
      Driver "evdev"
EndSection

[Bob Goodwin]

On 10/16/16 19:02, Ed Greshko wrote:
> On 10/17/16 05:12, Bob Goodwin wrote:
> > Section "InputClass"
> >        Identifier "middle button emulation class"
> >        MatchIsPointer "on"
> >        Option "Emulate3Buttons" "on"
> >        Driver "evdev"
> > EndSection
>
> You may also want to try changing the above to...
>
> Section "InputClass"
>        Identifier "middle button emulation class"
>        MatchIsPointer "on"
>        MatchDevicePath "/dev/input/event*"
>        Option "Emulate3Buttons" "on"
>        Driver "evdev"
> EndSection

+

Now it is:

Section "InputClass"
       Identifier "middle button emulation class"
       MatchIsPointer "on"
       MatchDevicePath "/dev/input/event*"
       Option "Emulate3Buttons" "on"
       Driver "evdev"
EndSection

It still will not copy/paste with "Emulate3Buttons". When log in/out did 
not help I rebooted ...

As part of an earlier effort I changed to "lightdm" if that matters? 
That never caused a problem before ...

[Ed Greshko]

On 10/17/16 07:41, Bob Goodwin wrote:
> On 10/16/16 19:02, Ed Greshko wrote:
> > On 10/17/16 05:12, Bob Goodwin wrote:
> > > Section "InputClass"
> > >        Identifier "middle button emulation class"
> > >        MatchIsPointer "on"
> > >        Option "Emulate3Buttons" "on"
> > >        Driver "evdev"
> > > EndSection
> >
> > You may also want to try changing the above to...
> >
> > Section "InputClass"
> >        Identifier "middle button emulation class"
> >        MatchIsPointer "on"
> >        MatchDevicePath "/dev/input/event*"
> >        Option "Emulate3Buttons" "on"
> >        Driver "evdev"
> > EndSection
>
> Now it is:
>
> Section "InputClass"
>       Identifier "middle button emulation class"
>       MatchIsPointer "on"
>       MatchDevicePath "/dev/input/event*"
>       Option "Emulate3Buttons" "on"
>       Driver "evdev"
> EndSection
>
> It still will not copy/paste with "Emulate3Buttons". When log in/out did not help I
> rebooted ...
>
> As part of an earlier effort I changed to "lightdm" if that matters? That never caused a
> problem before ...

What is the log output now?  The Desktop won't matter as this is initialized when Xorg is
started.

[Bob Goodwin]

On 10/16/16 20:13, Ed Greshko wrote:
> > It still will not copy/paste with "Emulate3Buttons". When log in/out did not help I
> > > rebooted ...
> > >
> > > As part of an earlier effort I changed to "lightdm" if that matters? That never caused a
> > > problem before ...
>
> What is the log output now?  The Desktop won't matter as this is initialized when Xorg is
> started.

+

[root@localhost bobg]# grep evdev /var/log/Xorg.0.log
[    73.809] (**) Power Button: Applying InputClass "evdev keyboard 
catchall"
[    73.908] (**) Power Button: Applying InputClass "evdev keyboard 
catchall"
[    73.911] (**) Logitech USB Trackball: Applying InputClass "evdev 
pointer catchall"
[    73.914] (**)   USB Keyboard: Applying InputClass "evdev keyboard 
catchall"
[    73.917] (**)   USB Keyboard: Applying InputClass "evdev keyboard 
catchall"

[Ed Greshko]

On 10/17/16 08:41, Bob Goodwin wrote:
> On 10/16/16 20:13, Ed Greshko wrote:
> > > It still will not copy/paste with "Emulate3Buttons". When log in/out did not help I
> > > > rebooted ...
> > > >
> > > > As part of an earlier effort I changed to "lightdm" if that matters? That never caused a
> > > > problem before ...
> >
> > What is the log output now?  The Desktop won't matter as this is initialized when Xorg is
> > started.
>
> [root@localhost bobg]# grep evdev /var/log/Xorg.0.log
> [    73.809] (**) Power Button: Applying InputClass "evdev keyboard catchall"
> [    73.908] (**) Power Button: Applying InputClass "evdev keyboard catchall"
> [    73.911] (**) Logitech USB Trackball: Applying InputClass "evdev pointer catchall"
> [    73.914] (**)   USB Keyboard: Applying InputClass "evdev keyboard catchall"
> [    73.917] (**)   USB Keyboard: Applying InputClass "evdev keyboard catchall"

Does the output of the log change if you move the line

Option "Emulate3Buttons" "on"

Into the top entry "catchall" and remove what you've edited in that file?

FWIW, I don't think you should be editing the file you are as user changes really should
go into their own file in /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d.  The file at /usr/share/X11...... could
get overwritten when an update occurs.

[Bob Goodwin]

On 10/16/16 21:10, Ed Greshko wrote:
> Does the output of the log change if you move the line
>
> Option "Emulate3Buttons" "on"
>
> Into the top entry "catchall" and remove what you've edited in that file?

+
I will try that next, just having coffee, facing an early appointment at 
the
VA low vision clinic which, with travel, will take up much of my day.
> FWIW, I don't think you should be editing the file you are as user changes really should
> go into their own file in /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d.  The file at /usr/share/X11...... could
> get overwritten when an update occurs.

+
Yes I always have to make the same change after some updates, normally 
it's a simple thing. I've been doing that for several years, since 
whenever they removed the feature. As I said I consider it essential, 
and I have two other F24 computers in which it works.

This problem began after I accidentally deleted my F24 system while 
making an F25-b installer on a thumb drive via Live Creator, or whatever 
it's called, that usually worked also but seemed never to be able to 
find the thumb drive target. I gave up and put F24 Live on a DVD using 
K3B and did this install on a new hard drive. Fortunately I still had an 
old F22 on another drive and could work from that.

Also I just booted this box to Gnome instead of xfce to cover another 
base, 3-button copy/paste did not work there.

AHA! I plugged in another old track ball and 3-button copy/paste works 
here in Thunderbird. In fact I now have two of the Logitech devices 
plugged into USB ports, only the one on the front panel works as expected.

It looks like I have a new avenue to investigate ... Perhaps a main 
board problem? There was the Live Creator problem and I noticed that the 
USB-3 port on the back panel has not been working recently, only a minor 
thing and I pushed that aside. Both track balls are plugged into USB-2 
ports, and I made no changes in that arrangement until just adding the 
second device ...

That's where I stand now, still confused, may need a new mother board,

Bob

[Bob Goodwin]

On 10/17/2016 03:48 AM, Bob Goodwin wrote:
> On 10/16/16 21:10, Ed Greshko wrote:
> > Does the output of the log change if you move the line
>
> That's where I stand now, still confused, may need a new mother board,
>
> Bob

+

And 3-button emulation works here in F-25 with the track ball connected 
at the front panel USB port. I've been plagued with a hardware problem 
all along! I did not suspect nor even consider that possibility.

I'll look into this later.

Thanks for your help,

Bob

[Ed Greshko]

On 10/17/16 19:53, Bob Goodwin wrote:
> Thanks for your help,

You're welcome.