xorg.conf.d

Page last updated May 2011

This page describes static device configuration through xorg.conf.d snippets. Such a configuration applies applies to hotplugged devices, as opposed to static configuration in the xorg.conf or runtime configuration with xsetwacom.

Tip: xorg.conf.d snippets are available since X server 1.8

The X server scans several directories for ''.conf'' files on startup:

• ''/usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d'' ** Files here are the shipped by the distribution and may be overwritten at update time. It is not recommended to place any user-specific configuration files here.

Tip: The directories are distribution specific and may vary slightly. Check your Xorg.log for confirmation

• ''/etc/X11/xorg.conf.d'' ** Files here are user-specific configurations. If there is no user-specific configuration, this directory may not exists - simply create it and store your configurations here. ** Files here are read '''after''' the distribution-specific patches, so user-specific configuration always overrides the default configurations.

We will create a new file in /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d called 52-wacom-options.conf to add configuration Options to it. Numbering it 52 ensures it will be run after the 50-wacom.conf in /usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d/.

Tip: Only filenames with the extension .conf are read by the X server.

More than one configuration snippet may apply to any device. Configuration settings are merged, but if the same setting is specified multiple times, only the last one is used. Usually, your distribution ships with a number of ''.conf'' files that will pick the right driver for your device. Thus, if you want to configure a particular device through xorg.conf.d snippets, you can usually skip the driver assignment - it's already done for you.

Available static '''configuration Options''' are listed in the Wacom manual (''man wacom'' entered in a console).

Matching a device

xorg.conf.d snippets are based on several different Match keywords. The most common ones are to match on a product name ('''MatchProduct''') or to match on a certain device path ('''MatchDevicePath'''). The example below shows a snippet that applies to any device with ''either'' the string "Wacom" ''or'' the string "Waltop" in the product name ''and'' that matches a certain device path:

Section "InputClass"
        # This is for human-readable purposes only.
	Identifier "Wacom class options"
        # Match all devices with either Wacom or Waltop in their product name
	MatchProduct "Wacom|Waltop"
        # AND match devices with a device path of /dev/input/eventX.
	MatchDevicePath "/dev/input/event*"
EndSection

For the purpose of configuring Wacom devices, we will use the following match keywords:

• '''MatchProduct''': matches when the device name contains the given substring
• '''MatchDevicePath''': matches when the device path matches the given path (wildcards possible)
• '''MatchDriver''': matches when the assigned device driver matches the given one

As mentioned above, configuration snippets can be stacked and combined. This is particularly interesting for the '''MatchDriver''' option because we can have one snippet that selects a driver for all our devices and then a separate snippet that selects options based on what driver is assigned. As shown in the example above, multiple '''Match*''' lines constitute a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logical_conjunction logical AND] match (i.e. both must apply), wherase using a '''|''' separator in a single '''Match*''' line is a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logical_conjunction logical OR] match. The match strings are case sensitive.

'''Examples of MatchProduct keywords''' - used in the 50-wacom.conf at one time or another

• '''USB''': "Wacom", "WACOM", "WALTOP", "Hanwang"
• '''Serial''': "Wacom serial class", "WACf", "FUJ02e5", "FUJ02e7", "FUJ02e9"
• '''N-Trig''' (usb): "Wacom N-Trig class", "HID 1b96:0001|N-Trig Pen"

These examples provide a fairly general match. Keep them in mind when you write a snippet to match your device(s). More specific matches will be shown below.

X servers 1.8 and 1.9

Tip: You can find out your X server version by typing Xorg -version in a terminal.}} With X servers 1.8 and 1.9, xorg.conf.d configuration snippets apply only to the parent device (stylus) and not dependent devices like the eraser, cursor, or touch. In other words you can only set tablet-wide settings. To configure dependent devices you either have to use xorg.conf sections or xsetwacom commands.

Example Configuration

Only one snippet is enough as you cannot configure dependent devices. Notice the ''Driver "wacom"'' line is not used (we rely on the distribution-wide configuration). Always pick a suitable ''Identifier''. Identifiers of matching input classes are printed into the Xorg.log and allows you to determine at a glance whether your match lines worked and your Options are being applied. Identify each input tool's device name with xsetwacom list. This will let you determine what keyword(s) will be useful for a match.

Tip: Bamboo Pen & Touch tablets and USB tablet PCs are exported as two separate kernel devices and can be configured independently. See USB Tablets with Touch.

Section "InputClass"
	Identifier "Wacom Bamboo Presscurve and Area configurations"
        # Match all Wacom input tools that have "BambooFun 6x8" in the "device name".
	MatchProduct "Wacom BambooFun 6x8"
	MatchDevicePath "/dev/input/event*"

        # Apply a custom configuration options. Any option will also apply to
        # all dependent devices, if applicable. So e.g. the pressure curve will
        # be available on the stylus and the eraser (but not on the pad).
	Option "PressCurve" "0 10 90 100"
	Option "TopX" "0"
	Option "TopY" "0"
	Option "BottomX" "21648"
	Option "BottomY" "13530"
EndSection

Warning: Configuration file parameter names are not necessarily the same as xsetwacom parameter names

X server 1.10

With ''X server 1.10'' you can configure dependent devices. In other words you are able to set each input tool up in its own snippet like a section in the xorg.conf. The advantage is that these settings will be reapplied to each device when the device is plugged in at run-time.

Example Dependent Device Static Configuration

Identify each input tool's device name with xsetwacom list. We use the '''MatchDriver''' tag here to simplify device selection. This way, we rely on the distribution-wide match tags to apply the right driver to our device and then only match on those devices that have the wacom driver applied to them. However because the xf86-input-wacom driver appends the input tool type after the server has made the MatchProduct match we can not use the same match method for the parent device (stylus). Instead stylus (tablet wide) options must be applied to the appropriate snippet in the 50-wacom.conf file or a match similar to that used in the 52-wacom-options.conf file as shown below.

Section "InputClass"
	Identifier "Wacom Bamboo stylus options"
	MatchProduct "Wacom|WACOM"
	MatchDevicePath "/dev/input/event*"
	Driver "wacom"

	# Apply custom Options to this device below.
	Option "Button2" "3"
	Option "Button3" "2"
	Option "PressCurve" "0,10,90,100"
EndSection

Section "InputClass"
	Identifier "Wacom Bamboo eraser options"
	MatchDriver "wacom"
	MatchProduct "eraser"

	# Apply custom Options to this device below.
	Option "PressCurve" "5,0,100,95"
EndSection

Section "InputClass"
	Identifier "Wacom Bamboo cursor options"
	MatchDriver "wacom"
	MatchProduct "cursor"

	# Apply custom Options to this device below.
	Option "Button1" "1"
	Option "Button2" "2"
	Option "Button3" "3"
EndSection

Section "InputClass"
	Identifier "Wacom Bamboo pad options"
	MatchDriver "wacom"
	MatchProduct "pad"

	# Apply custom Options to this device below.
	Option "Button1" "1"
	Option "Button2" "3"
	Option "Button3" "2"
	Option "Button4" "0"
	Option "AbsWheelUp" "5"
	Option "AbsWheelDown" "4"
EndSection

You would only use the snippets corresponding to the input tools you have, of course. Clearly if you are plugging in two or more tablets they will have the same Option settings and more specific matches may be required.

Also notice in static configuration files pad Buttons may only be assigned integer values as described in ''man wacom''. To set key strokes to pad Buttons xsetwacom runtime commands must be used as shown in Tablet-Configuration-0. The use of the "0" value to turn off a button is demonstrated.

It is anticipated that X server 1.11 will allow negative matches. That will permit matching of the parent device.