The Linux Wacom Project
SourceForge.net Logo

Linux Wacom Project HOWTO

5.1 - Adding the InputDevices






The X Window system identifies the stylus (tip and side switches of your pen), eraser (the other end of your pen if it is clickable), cursor (your Wacom mouse), and pad (buttons, strips and rings on your tablet if your tablet has any) as XInput devices. Most settings, such as stylus pressure level and system cursor movement mode can be done in /etc/X11/XF86Config or /etc/X11/xorg.conf configuration file before X server starts or live through command-line xsetwacom or the simple GUI control panel wacomcpl while Wacom driver is running.

However, adding the InputDevice sections to your XF86Config/ xorg.conf file for Wacom devices is required. You should add these devices to the ServerLayout section of your XF86Config/xorg.conf file too.

We assume you are running Either XFree86 4.2 or later Or Xorg. On some distributions, this file is called XF86Config-4. Notice that the serial and USB configurations are different, so only include the appropriate lines. The default serial and USB devices are given. For Tablet PCs, options "Device" and "ForceDevice" should be included. You should also change the device (e.g. ttyS0) to the correct one for your tablet. Tablet PC and Cintiq/PL/DTF models don't support cursor type. All the new driver options are listed in the manual page below.

Section "InputDevice"
  Driver        "wacom"
  Identifier    "stylus"
  Option        "Device"        "/dev/ttyS0"          # SERIAL ONLY
  Option        "Device"        "/dev/input/event0"   # USB ONLY
  Option        "Type"          "stylus"
  Option        "USB"           "on"                  # USB ONLY
  Option        "ForceDevice"   "ISDV4"               # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
  Driver        "wacom"
  Identifier    "eraser"
  Option        "Device"        "/dev/ttyS0"          # SERIAL ONLY
  Option        "Device"        "/dev/input/event0"   # USB ONLY
  Option        "Type"          "eraser"
  Option        "USB"           "on"                  # USB ONLY
  Option        "ForceDevice"   "ISDV4"               # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
  Driver        "wacom"
  Identifier    "cursor"
  Option        "Device"        "/dev/ttyS0"          # SERIAL ONLY
  Option        "Device"        "/dev/input/event0"   # USB ONLY
  Option        "Type"          "cursor"
  Option        "USB"           "on"                  # USB ONLY
  Option        "ForceDevice"   "ISDV4"               # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

# This section is for Intuos3, CintiqV5, Graphire4, or Bamboo
Section "InputDevice"
  Driver        "wacom"
  Identifier    "pad"
  Option        "Device"        "/dev/ttyS0"          # SERIAL ONLY
  Option        "Device"        "/dev/input/event0"   # USB ONLY
  Option        "Type"          "pad"
  Option        "USB"           "on"                  # USB ONLY
EndSection

# This section is for the TabletPC that supports touch
Section "InputDevice"
  Driver        "wacom"
  Identifier    "touch"
  Option        "Device"        "/dev/ttyS0"          # SERIAL ONLY
  Option        "Device"        "/dev/input/event0"   # USB ONLY
  Option        "Type"          "touch"
  Option        "ForceDevice"   "ISDV4"               # Tablet PC ONLY
  Option        "USB"           "on"                  # USB ONLY
EndSection

The above four sections identify the stylus, eraser, cursor, touch, and pad devices to XInput. Notice that all four reference the same device /dev/ttyS0 or /dev/input/event0 depending on whether its a serial or USB tablet.

The configuration options listed by your system's man page may be way out of date. Below is an updated wacom man page which will be installed by default when you issue make install.

WACOM(4)                                                              WACOM(4)

NAME
       wacom - Wacom input driver

SYNOPSIS
       Section "InputDevice"
         Identifier "idevname"
         Driver "wacom"
         Option "Device"   "devpath"
         ...
       EndSection

DESCRIPTION
       wacom is an X input driver for Wacom devices.

       The  wacom  driver functions as a pointer input device, and may be used
       as the X server's core pointer.

SUPPORTED HARDWARE
       This driver supports the Wacom IV and Wacom V protocols. Serial tablets
       only  need  this driver.  USB tablet support is available on some Linux
       platforms.  USB tablets needs  wacom Linux  kernel driver  being loaded 
       before this  driver starts.  Please check linuxwacom.sf.net  for latest 
       updates of Wacom X and kernel drivers.

CONFIGURATION DETAILS
       Please refer to xorg.conf(5x) for general configuration details and for
       options  that can be used  with all input  drivers.  This  section only
       covers configuration details specific to this driver.

       Multiple  instances  of the Wacom devices can cohabit. It can be useful
       to define multiple devices with different  active  zones.  Each  device
       supports the following entries:

               Option "Type" "stylus"|"eraser"|"cursor"|"touch"|"pad"
                   sets the type of tool the device represents.  This option is
                   mandatory. The core options, such as "SendCoreEvents" or "AlwaysCore", 
                   are unnecessary in Gimp if you don't need to move system cursor 
                   outside of Gimp drawing area.  "pad" is for Intuos 3 and  CintiqV5 
                   ExpressKeys and menu strips, or Graphire 4 and Bamboo 
		   tablet buttons and wheel/ring.  It is required for Intuos3, 
                   CintiqV5, Graphire 4, or Bamboo if you want to use keystroke   
                   features.  "pad" is reported as a second tool in the driver. 
                   "touch" is for the tablet with touch support.  Right now only a few 
                   Tablet PCs have this feature.

               Option "Device" "path"
                   sets the path to the special file which  represents  serial
                   line  where  the tablet is plugged.  You have to specify it
                   for each subsection with the same value if you want to have
                   multiple  devices  with  the  same  tablet.  This option is
                   mandatory.

               Option "USB" "on"
                   tells the driver to dialog with the  tablet  the  USB  way.
                   This option is mandatory for USB tablets.

               Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4"
                   tells the driver to dialog  with the  tablet the  Tablet PC
                   way.  Right now we only support serial Tablet PC.  It is a 
                   special Wacom IV protocol,  called ISDV4 protocol.  This 
		   option is mandatory for Tablet PC.

               Option "DeviceName" "name"
                   sets the name of the X device.

               Option "Suppress" "number"
                   sets  the  position  increment  under which not to transmit
                   coordinates.  This entry must  be  specified  only  in  the
                   first Wacom subsection if you have multiple devices for one
                   tablet.  The default value is 2.  If you don't specify this
                   entry or your  value is  less  than  the  default  vaule or 
                   greater than 100, the default value will be used.  To disable 
		   suppression, the entry should be specified as 0.
                   When  suppress is defined,  an event will be sent only when
                   at least one of the following conditions is met:

		   the change between the current X coordinate and the previous 
                   one is greater than suppress;

                   the change between the current Y coordinate and the previous 
                   one is greater than suppress;

                   the change between the current pressure and the previous one 
                   is greater than suppress;

                   the change  between the  current  degree of rotation and the 
                   previous one of the transducer is greater than suppress;

                   the change between the current absolute wheel value and the  
                   previous one is equal to or greater than suppress;

                   the change between the current tilt value and the previous one 
                   is equal to or greater than suppress (if tilt is supported);

                   relative wheel value has changed;

                   button value has changed;

                   proximity has changed.		   

               Option "Mode" "Relative"|"Absolute"
                   sets the mode of the device.  The default value for stylus and 
                   eraser is Absolute; cursor is Relative; pad mode is decided 
                   according to its core option due to its nature of not moving 
                   system cursor: Relative if it is a core device; Absolute, otherwise.

               Option "TopX" "number"
                   X coordinate of the top corner of the active zone. Default to 0. 

               Option "TopY" "number"
                   Y coordinate of the top corner of the active zone.  Default to 0.

               Option "BottomX" "number"
                   X coordinate of the bottom corner of the active zone.  Default 
                   to width of the tablet.

               Option "BottomY" "number"
                   Y coordinate of the bottom corner of the active zone.  Default 
                   to height of the tablet.

               Option "ButtonsOnly" "on"
                   disables the device's motion events.  Default to off.

               Option "ButtonM" "AC"
                   reports an action AC when button M is pressed,  where M
                   is one of the device supported  button numbers,  it can be 1
                   to 32. The default action reported to Xinput is mouse button M click.    
		   To ignore the button click, i.e., to not report any button click event 
		   to Xinput,  use "0" or "button 0".  

               Option "TPCButton" "on"
                   enables the  stylus  buttons as  Tablet PC  buttons,  i.e.,
                   reports  stylus button event only  when its tip is pressed. 
                   Default to  "on" for  Tablet PC;  "off"  for all other models.

               Option "Speed" "Rspeed"
                   sets the cursor's  relative  movement speed to Rspeed.  The
                   default value is 1.0.  A Rspeed greater than 1.0 will speed
                   up the cursor's  relative movement.  A Rspeed less than 1.0 
                   but greater  than 0 will slow  down the  cursor's  relative 
                   movement. A Rspeed too close to 0 is not recommanded.

               Option "Twinview" "horizontal"|"vertical"|"none"
                   sets the  orientation of  TwinView to map the tablet to one 
                   screen  and to be able to  move the screen  cursor from one 
		   screen  to the  other  when tool  reaches  the  edge of the
		   tablet.  The cursor can be constrained in a specific screen 
                   if  "ScreenNo"  option is  added.   If you  want to map the
                   tablet  to the  whole  desktop,   you  should  NOT add this
                   option.  The default is "none".

               Option "TVResolution" "res1,res2"
                   specifies  different  resolutions  for the  two  screens in
                   TwinView setup.  For example, if the resolution of screen 1
                   (res1) is 1024x768 and screen 2 (res2) is 1280x1024, the 
                   option will be set to:
                            Option "TVResolution" "1024x768,1280x1024"

                   This option is used  only when TwinView option is not none.  
		   It is  unnecessary to add this  option if  your screens are 
                   displaying in the same resolutions.

               Option "ScreenNo" "n"
                   In a multi-monitor environment, specifies the screen number
                   in which the cursor can move.

               Option "Rotate" "CW"|"CCW"|"HALF"|"NONE"
                   rotates the tablet orientation clockwise (CCW) or anti-
                   clockwise (CW) or 180 degrees (HALF). The default is "NONE".

               Option "PressCurve" "x1,y1,x2,y2"
                   sets pressure curve by control  points  x1, y1, x2, and y2.
                   Their values are in range from 0..100. The input for 

                         linear curve (default) is "0,0,100,100";
                         slightly depressed curve (firmer) might be "5,0,100,95";
                         slightly raised curve (softer) might be "0,5,95,100".

               Option "KeepShape" "on"
                   When  this  option  is  enabled,  the  active  zone  begins
                   according to TopX and TopY.  The bottom corner is  adjusted 
                   to  keep the ratio width/height of the active zone the same 
                   as the screen while maximizing the area  described by TopX, 
                   TopY, BottomX, BottomY.

               Option "DebugLevel" "number"
                   sets the level of debugging info reported for the  defined 
                   device. There are 12 levels in use, specified by the  integers  
                   between 1 and 12. Once it is defined, all the debug  messages  
                   with a level less than or equal to the "number" will be logged  
                   into /etc/X11/XFree86.0.log or /etc/X11/Xorg.0.log.

               Option "CommonDBG" "number"
                   sets the level of debugging info for all devices defined for the  
                   same tablet. There are 12 levels in use, specified by the 
                   integers between 1 and 12. Once it is defined, all the debug 
                   messages with a level less than or equal to the "number" will 
                   be logged into /etc/X11/XFree86.0.log or /etc/X11/Xorg.0.log.

               Option "CursorProx" "number"
                   sets the max distance from tablet to stop reporting  movement 
                   for cursor in relative mode.  Default for Intuos  series 
                   is 10,  Graphire series (including Volitos) is 42.

               Option "Serial" "number"
                   sets the serial number associated with the physical device.
                   This allows to have multiple devices of the same type (i.e.
                   multiple pens). This option is only available  on  wacom  V
                   devices (Intuos series and Cintiq 21UX). To see the serial 
                   number associated with a device, run xsetwacom.

               Option "Threshold" "number"
                   sets  the  pressure  threshold  used to generate a button 1
                   events of stylus. The default is MaxPressure*3/50.

SEE ALSO
       Xorg(1x), xorg.conf(5x), xorgconfig(1x), Xserver(1x), X(7).

AUTHORS
       Frederic Lepied <lepied@xfree86.org>, Ping  Cheng <pingc@wacom.com>,
       John E. Joganic <jej@j‐arkadia.com>, Magnus Vigerlöf <Magnus.Vigerlof@ipbo.se>

X Version 11                      linuxwacom 0.8.0                     WACOM(4)







Copyright (C) 2002-2008 - LinuxWacom -Last updated May 23, 2008
This website and its contents are licensed under the GNU FDL.