evdev stopped remapping events

[Pieter De Wit]

Since part of the lirc code made it into the kernel most Remote Controls show up as /dev/input/ devices. The remote controls have some strange buttons and evdev has a remap function that allows us to remap those events to events that X understands. This use to work prior to the load bug (Bug 931397) with the following config:

Section "InputDevice"
       Identifier "RF remote"
       Driver "evdev"
       Option "Device" "/dev/input/dvb-ir"
       Option "event_key_remap" "28=36 398=27 401=25 352=36 167=27 174=9 139=58 119=33"
EndSection

In my case /dev/input/dvb-ir is a symlink to /dev/input/event5. The symlink is managed by udev.

This method is also suggested by people with multi-multi button mice.

Thanks !

[Pieter De Wit (pieter-insync)]

Running evtest /dev/input/dvb-ir:

Testing ... (interrupt to exit)
Event: time 1333134333.488193, type 4 (EV_MSC), code 4 (MSC_SCAN), value 1e1f
Event: time 1333134333.488199, type 1 (EV_KEY), code 174 (KEY_EXIT), value 1
Event: time 1333134333.488200, -------------- SYN_REPORT ------------
Event: time 1333134333.738249, type 1 (EV_KEY), code 174 (KEY_EXIT), value 0
Event: time 1333134333.738251, -------------- SYN_REPORT ------------

Same result when not using the symlink :)

[Chase Douglas (chasedouglas)]

The event_key_remap option is not part of upstream xf86-input-evdev. It appears to be provided by a patch from: http://www.thenautilus.net/SW/xf86-input-evdev/. As such, it is not supported by Ubuntu.

Your options are:

* Propose the patch for inclusion in upstream xf86-input-evdev and/or Ubuntu
  - It's too late for Precise though, we're already past the feature freeze

* Apply the patch and build evdev manually for your machines

* Add the patch to the evdev package and upload it to a PPA
  - You will need to update every time a new release is made in Precise

My recommendation is to propose the patch for inclusion in upstream xf86-input-evdev. Ubuntu would then receive the feature in future releases.

[Pieter De Wit (pieter-insync)]

Hi Chase,

Thanks for the feedback. I don't mind maintaining it as it seems a lot of people might use it (I see this is *very* common in mythbuntu - so if I don't do it, who will ? :) )

I guess I will take the "dev" package of evdev and apply the patch to that ? My concern is that Bryce mentioned that ubuntu does some patches against xserver, so the stock package won't work ? Welcome to move this to irc if you prefer.

Cheers,

Pieter

[Pieter De Wit (pieter-insync)]

Hi,

What is the chances of including the remapping code from:

http://www.thenautilus.net/SW/xf86-input-evdev/

Into the main distro ?

It is quite frequently used by Mythbuntu users to remap "Remote Control" keys.

Thanks !

[Pieter De Wit (pieter-insync)]

Feature request added to evdev upstream, will see what they say

[Chase Douglas (chasedouglas)]

Hi Pieter,

For Ubuntu, you need to branch the package:

$ bzr branch lp:ubuntu/xserver-xorg-input-evdev

Then add the patch that adds the remap functionality inside debian/patches/

As for upstream, please provide the patch in the bug report. It is more likely to be reviewed if a patch is readily available. Also, if you are comfortable sending to a mailing list, the preferred mechanism for X development is to send patches for review to <email address hidden>.

Thanks!

[Pieter De Wit (pieter-insync)]

New patch released by original creator:

http://www.thenautilus.net/cgit/xf86-input-evdev/log/?h=code-remap-2.7.0

Please also pass credit to him, not me :)

[Pieter De Wit (pieter-insync)]

Thanks for this - I might still look into this. XOrg has recorded this as a feature request so it might be merged from upstream.

[Peter Hutterer (peter-hutterer)]

For reference, this is a workaround to Bug #11227.