scrolling unusable, touchpad too sensitive

[aljosa]

using macbook air touchpad scrolling is unusable in a way that 2-finger scroll basically does page up/down.
i've reported this bug on bugs.kde.org and it looks like the problem is w/ old packages in kubuntu.

kde bug report: https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=337190

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.04
Package: kde-touchpad 0.0+git20140305-0ubuntu1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.13.0-30.55-generic 3.13.11.2
Uname: Linux 3.13.0-30-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: wl
ApportVersion: 2.14.1-0ubuntu3.2
Architecture: amd64
CurrentDesktop: KDE
Date: Tue Jul 8 12:08:46 2014
InstallationDate: Installed on 2014-07-03 (4 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Kubuntu 14.04 LTS "Trusty Tahr" - Release amd64 (20140416.1)
SourcePackage: kcm-touchpad
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Wiktor Sztwiertnia (drudan-forest)]

Scrolling is too sensitive. The only way to change sensitivity I've found (so I don't know if it's the only one at all (but then maybe there is a problem in design if it's hard to find the proper option)) is to manipulate Scrolling Distance in Scrolling tab, but it could be only worse in my case.

Currently I've vertical and horizontal distances at max values (which is 10.0mm). When I set a smaller distance then scrolling becomes even more sensitive. It's hard to scroll web page, because even slight movement scrolls too much of visible area.

I think is should be possible to set bigger scrolling Distance.

If I'm wrong, then sorry for misunderstanding. I've installed kcm-touchpad 0.9, and then upgraded to 0.99 but the problem is still there. Because I really like the new design I don't want to go back to my previous workarounds for setting touchpad.

I've got Lenovo G780 notebook.

[Alexander Mezin (mezin-alexander)]

Could you post output of "xinput list-props <touchpad-id>" here?
To find touchpad id, you could run xinput without arguments.
It's really strange if 10mm isn't enough.

[Wiktor Sztwiertnia (drudan-forest)]

Device 'ETPS/2 Elantech Touchpad':
        Device Enabled (133): 1
        Coordinate Transformation Matrix (135): 1.000000, 0.000000, 0.000000, 0.000000, 1.000000, 0.000000, 0.000000, 0.000000, 1.000000
        Device Accel Profile (262): 1
        Device Accel Constant Deceleration (263): 2.500000
        Device Accel Adaptive Deceleration (264): 1.000000
        Device Accel Velocity Scaling (265): 12.500000
        Synaptics Edges (287): 117, 2823, 68, 1192
        Synaptics Finger (288): 1, 1, 0
        Synaptics Tap Time (289): 180
        Synaptics Tap Move (290): 20
        Synaptics Tap Durations (291): 180, 180, 100
        Synaptics ClickPad (292): 0
        Synaptics Middle Button Timeout (293): 75
        Synaptics Two-Finger Pressure (294): 282
        Synaptics Two-Finger Width (295): 7
        Synaptics Scrolling Distance (296): 10, 10
        Synaptics Edge Scrolling (297): 0, 0, 0
        Synaptics Two-Finger Scrolling (298): 1, 1
        Synaptics Move Speed (299): 1.000000, 10.930648, 0.062539, 0.000000
        Synaptics Off (300): 1
        Synaptics Locked Drags (301): 0
        Synaptics Locked Drags Timeout (302): 5000
        Synaptics Tap Action (303): 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 2, 3
        Synaptics Click Action (304): 1, 1, 1
        Synaptics Circular Scrolling (305): 0
        Synaptics Circular Scrolling Distance (306): 0.100007
        Synaptics Circular Scrolling Trigger (307): 0
        Synaptics Palm Detection (308): 0
        Synaptics Palm Dimensions (309): 10, 200
        Synaptics Coasting Speed (310): 20.000000, 50.000000
        Synaptics Pressure Motion (311): 30, 160
        Synaptics Pressure Motion Factor (312): 1.000000, 1.000000
        Synaptics Grab Event Device (313): 1
        Synaptics Gestures (314): 0
      ...

[Alexander Mezin (mezin-alexander)]

> Synaptics Pad Resolution (316): 1, 1
Here is the problem. The driver reports wrong resolution.

As a workaround, I've increased max. scrolling distance, patch is already in master branch.
Maybe I'll also add lower bound for resolution, so "unknown" will be, for example, 10,10 instead of 1,1.

[Wiktor Sztwiertnia (drudan-forest)]

Thanks! Compiled from git, tested and it works with values 20mm, 20mm.

Now, should I report problem with driver (in Linux I guess), so this workaround won't be necessary in the future?

[Alexander Mezin (mezin-alexander)]

(In reply to comment #4)
> Thanks! Compiled from git, tested and it works with values 20mm, 20mm.
>
> Now, should I report problem with driver (in Linux I guess), so this
> workaround won't be necessary in the future?
I think it's a known problem.
It looks like the driver properly sets "Synaptics Edges" property. I think approximate resolution could be computed from it.

[Alexander Mezin (mezin-alexander)]

Git commit 008ead68ea69e73cb548d70f901d94a315f52d37 by Alexander Mezin.
Committed on 07/03/2014 at 16:11.
Pushed by alexandermezin into branch 'master'.

X11 backend: when resolution is unknown, approximate using "edges"

Though I am not able to test if it works correctly

M +12 -2 src/backends/x11/xlibbackend.cpp

http://commits.kde.org/kcm-touchpad/008ead68ea69e73cb548d70f901d94a315f52d37

[Alexander Mezin (mezin-alexander)]

Could you confirm if the problem is solved with latest git master, please?
Now values near 2-3 mm should be sufficient.

[Wiktor Sztwiertnia (drudan-forest)]

I don't think there is any change. I still have to stick with 20mm.

[Alexander Mezin (mezin-alexander)]

1. Make sure you have latest version from git. If you're still able to set 20mm, then you're not using it, as I've changed max distance back to 10mm.
2. Enable debug output for kcmshell4 (using kdebugdialog), and disable for everything else. Run "kcmshell4 kcm_touchpad" in terminal, and attach/post its output here.

[Wiktor Sztwiertnia (drudan-forest)]

1. Checked.
2. I have no kcmshell4 in kdebugdialog, but I still can launch command 'kcmshell4 kcm_touchpad'.

[Alexander Mezin (mezin-alexander)]

(In reply to comment #10)
> 2. I have no kcmshell4 in kdebugdialog, but I still can launch command
> 'kcmshell4 kcm_touchpad'.
Oh, sorry, my mistake. There aren't any "kcmshell4" in kdebugdialog, but there are "kcmshell" instead.

[Alexander Mezin (mezin-alexander)]

Git commit 9007344a1a11315eb4b08a77f6935fb4cddb4051 by Alexander Mezin.
Committed on 11/03/2014 at 20:35.
Pushed by alexandermezin into branch 'master'.

X11 backend: another resolution detection fix

Previous fix contained a bug - scaling wasn't enabled for properties
when fallback algorithm was used.

M +19 -20 src/backends/x11/xlibbackend.cpp

http://commits.kde.org/kcm-touchpad/9007344a1a11315eb4b08a77f6935fb4cddb4051

[Alexander Mezin (mezin-alexander)]

Could you please check again if it works correctly now?

[Wiktor Sztwiertnia (drudan-forest)]

Sorry, have no time. No I have :)

When I start kdebugdialog there is no entry with *shell*, especially 'kcmshell' / 'kcmshell4'.

No I'll check new version.

[Alexander Mezin (mezin-alexander)]

(In reply to comment #14)
> When I start kdebugdialog there is no entry with *shell*, especially
> 'kcmshell' / 'kcmshell4'.
I need debug output only if you still have to set maximum possible scrolling distance.

[Wiktor Sztwiertnia (drudan-forest)]

Now works as it should. 2mm / 2mm is good.

Great job with new kcm module. Thanks! :)

[Alexander Mezin (mezin-alexander)]

*** Bug 333491 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***

[Xavier Gnata (xavier-gnata-gmail)]

Exact same issue on a macbook air 11" with kubuntu 14.04 (kcm 0.99)

xinput list-props 11
Device 'bcm5974':
        Device Enabled (135): 1
        Coordinate Transformation Matrix (137): 1.000000, 0.000000, 0.000000, 0.000000, 1.000000, 0.000000, 0.000000, 0.000000, 1.000000
        Device Accel Profile (265): 1
        Device Accel Constant Deceleration (266): 2.500000
        Device Accel Adaptive Deceleration (267): 1.000000
        Device Accel Velocity Scaling (268): 12.500000
        Synaptics Edges (269): -3791, 4311, 423, 6027
        Synaptics Finger (270): 70, 75, 0
        Synaptics Tap Time (271): 180
        Synaptics Tap Move (272): 20
        Synaptics Tap Durations (273): 180, 180, 100
        Synaptics ClickPad (274): 1
        Synaptics Middle Button Timeout (275): 0
        Synaptics Two-Finger Pressure (276): 283
        Synaptics Two-Finger Width (277): 7
        Synaptics Scrolling Distance (278): 10, 10
        Synaptics Edge Scrolling (279): 1, 0, 0
        Synaptics Two-Finger Scrolling (280): 1, 0
        Synaptics Move Speed (281): 1.000000, 1.750000, 0.016855, 0.000000
        Synaptics Off (282): 2
        Synaptics Locked Drags (283): 0
        Synaptics Locked Drags Timeout (284): 5000
        Synaptics Tap Action (285): 2, 3, 0, 0, 1, 3, 0
        Synaptics Click Action (286): 1, 3, 0
        Synaptics Circular Scrolling (287): 0
        Synaptics Circular Scrolling Distance (288): 0.100007
        Synaptics Circular Scrolling Trigger (289): 0
        Synaptics Circular Pad (290): 0
        Synaptics Palm Detection (291): 0
        Synaptics Palm Dimensions (292): 10, 200
        Synaptics Coasting Speed (293): 248.880005, 44.619999
        Synaptics Pressure Motion (294): 30, 160
        Synaptics Pressure Motion Factor (295): 1.000000, 1.000000
        Synaptics Resolution Detect (296): 1
        Synaptics Grab Event Device (297): 1
        Synaptics Gestures (298): 1
        Synaptics Capabilities (299): 1, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1
        Synaptics Pad Resolution (300): 1, 1
        Synaptics Area (301): 0, 0, 0, 0
        Synaptics Soft Button Areas (302): 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0
        Synaptics Noise Cancellation (303): 39, 27
        Device Product ID (255): 1452, 656
        Device Node (256): "/dev/input/event8"

It is quite anoying because even with 10mm the scrolling is *way* too fast.
What should I test/compile??

[Xavier Gnata (xavier-gnata-gmail)]

Never mind : I have complied the current git version and it works like a charm.
The kubuntu package should be updated (I'm going to write a separate bug report).

[Alexander Mezin (mezin-alexander)]

*** Bug 337190 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[Tilo Werner (tilo-c)]

Please fix this bug.

In meantime a workaround ist to set synclient (Vert|Horiz)ScrollDelta="100" via KDE startup.

Thanks!

[aljosa (aljosa)]

a simple fix is to uninstall kde-touchpad and download a more recent version from https://code.launchpad.net/~kubuntu-ppa/+archive/ubuntu/experimental although i've been trying to find direct link to .deb file but w/o luck.

you don't need to add this PPA just install updated package if you can find it.
launchpad has horrible ui/ux, i was lucky to find it the first time.
example: you can see updated touchpad version on this ppa packages list but you can't click it and get more info/download.

i really appreciate hard work required by developers to produce ubuntu/kubuntu even dough they use tools like launchpad in their daily workflow.

[Saurav Sengupta (saurav-sengupta-id)]

Same issue with ETPS/2 Elantech Touchpad on Lenovo G500. https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=331706 says that this is fixed upstream, hope Kubuntu devs push an update soon.

@Tilo Werner: The workaround in comment #3 works, though 100 is too slow for me (and killed coasting), I had to experiment a bit with ScrollDelta, CoastingSpeed and CoastingFriction to find a suitable configuration. Thanks for the tip!

@aljosa: Comment #4, couldn't find any new kde-touchpad package. Nor in trusty-backports or utopic.

[Barnabas Prosser (barnabas-deactivatedaccount)]

Thanks aljosa - I followed your link and clicked "Technical details about this PPA" which gives you the URL to the .deb's - http://ppa.launchpad.net/kubuntu-ppa/experimental/ubuntu/pool/main/t/touchpad/

I'm using amd64 so downloaded both kde-touch-config and kde-touch-dbg amd64 .deb's. Then removed existing kde-touchpad and kde-touchpad-dbg:

sudo apt-get remove --purge kde-touchpad
sudo apt-get remove --purge kde-touchpad-dbg

Then installed the downloaded newer versions:

sudo dpkg -i kde-touchpad-config_0.1+git20140616+r314~9db1cb9+2~ubuntu14.04.1_amd64.deb
sudo dpkg -i kde-touchpad-config-dbg_0.1+git20140616+r314~9db1cb9+2~ubuntu14.04.1_amd64.deb

Has fixed it for me.

[Alexander Mezin (mezin-alexander)]

*** Bug 339914 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***

[free5lot (free5lot)]

Still a problem on Kubuntu 14.10 with no update/fix.

Even deb from unknown PPA is not available for 14.10.
Please post a walkaround or a solution for this issue for users of 14.10, because 15.04 is too far.

PS. Even after fix being published, there will be not reason to put 10mm limit back, make it 20-50 at least.

[free5lot (free5lot)]

For MacbookPro linux users: manual removing of kde-touchpad and manual installing of
kde-touchpad-config_0.1+git20141226+r325~fd2fb3d+2~ubuntu14.04.1_amd64.deb
from
http://ppa.launchpad.net/kubuntu-ppa/experimental/ubuntu/pool/main/t/touchpad/
does fix scrolling on Kubuntu 14.10. Yes, the deb is for 14.04. An alternative is to compile it from git's repo.

But it better be an updated package in usual (K)Ubuntu's system update, the problem exists for a year.

[Rafal Truszkowski (truszko1)]

I can confirm that Barnabas Prosser's post resolved the issue on my MacbookAir Early 2013.

[Christian Herenz (cherenz)]

Today I updated to the latest plasma on my openSUSE Leap and this bug appeared again on my Lenovo Thinkpad T410. The vertical scroll speed is way to senstive again, even when set to 10mm.

[Eol (igor-poboiko)]

I can confirm I also experience this regression with recent update (Plasma 5.5.95). Setting it to 80 via "synclient VertScrollDelta=80 HorizScrollDelta=80" gives desired result, but it is impossible to set these values via UI.

[Bugreps (bugreps)]

I can also confirm the bug on openSUSE tumbleweed (plasma 5.5.5). Igor's command fixes it from the terminal.

[Scarlett Gately Moore (scarlettmoore)]

We do not support openSuSe sorry.

What I need is for someone on *trusty* to enable kubuntu backports update and tell me if the problem still exists.
Thanks,
Scarlett

[Scarlett Gately Moore (scarlettmoore)]

Oh haha imported bugs.

Still need someone from trusty to test. thanks

[Christian Herenz (cherenz)]

Indeed, Igors command is a workaround.
Maybe we should open a new bug, since this is a regression??

[Eol (igor-poboiko)]

Recent update (Plasma 5.6.1; maybe also 5.6.0, not sure) fixed this problem for me.

[Christian Herenz (cherenz)]

I can confirm. Upgraded to 5.7 beta today and the problem is gone.

[xdya (xdya57)]

I can confirm this bug on Linux Mint 18 KDE Plasma 5.6.5 but Igor's workaround still seems to solve the problem.

[Eol (igor-poboiko)]

Since there was no update since June, closing this.
Feel free to reopen if it is still an issue.

[Bill-meyer-rsa (bill-meyer-rsa)]

This ridiculous. The Touchpad (17.10 but same for 17.04. 16.x) is waayyy to sensitive.
So you do a search for help. What do you find? Lots and lots of links to and excuses.
Windows and Mac had this sorted for decades. How is it that the Trackpad on Linux is so unusable? Starts selecting and clicking when I did not tap, start selecting text etc etc.
Go here, do this setting, install this tweak, that config - oh yeah right - most, no, all of the programs are not available, have been dropped (gpointing-device-settings, Synaptiks etc etc).
Oh... and Wayland libinput you cannot get the configs for it.
I'm getting to the point of just uninstalling and going back to another Operating System. Every bloody time you install something it is dependency hell, unconfigurable things and crashing of apps.
Maybe it is time to stand still for a while and just fix what is there instead of going for yet another new interface, yet another new glitzy theme and feature when the basics don't work properly.

And looking at the lots and lots of bugs logged, this is not a new issue. This is coming on decades now that a basic feature like a usable trackpad is still not working.
Ridiculous

[Chris Cowan (macil)]

I just updated my macbook air (2013) from Ubuntu 16.04 to 17.10, and the touchpad scrolling is way too sensitive. All instructions I find seem to be X-specific and involving editing X config files. `xinput list` doesn't mention any touchpads like any examples I can find online.

[clel (clel)]

Currently libinput is the library used for mouse input and the desktop environments only provide a GUI for changing its settings. The problem is that libinput currently does not support the changing of scroll speed. Thus I created an issue for scroll speed there, which you can support by voting it up: https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/libinput/libinput/issues/185