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Linux Software

Digitizer Support for Linux? 6

kelvin asks: "How do I get a digitizer tablet, specifically the Calcomp Ultraslate, to work in Linux?" What is the overall digitizer support like under Linux? I would expect this kind of support is crucial if Linux wants to eventually break into the professional graphics markets.
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Digitizer Support for Linux?

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  • I've written an UltraSlate driver for X; it's available at www.computersprache.net as source and as a 3.3.2 binary. I also wrote support into GPM; it's available in the current GPM distributions. The pressure support in the X driver probably doesn't work (at least I never got it to work) but it does allow absolute-mode movement... I may work on this as time allows. The README file should tell you pretty much all you need to know; if you have any questions email me (elpdragon@email.com).

    As to tablets in general, in my opinion the Wacom tablets are of much better quality than Calcomp (I now have a Wacom Intuos 6"x8"), and they seem to have become the de facto standard tablet under Linux.

    ElpDragon.

  • hem.... allow the PRE tag. Sorry... :)
  • Darnit, wrong HTML tag.... let's try that XF86Config info again:

    Section "Module"
    Load "xf86Wacom.so"
    EndSection


    Section "XInput"

    SubSection "WacomStylus"
    Port "/dev/ttyS0"
    DeviceName "Wacom"
    Mode Absolute
    EndSubSection

    SubSection "WacomStylus"
    Port "/dev/ttyS0"
    DeviceName "WacomCore"
    AlwaysCore
    Mode Absolute
    EndSubSection

    SubSection "WacomEraser"
    Port "/dev/ttyS0"
    DeviceName
    "WacomEraser"
    Mode Absolute
    EndSubSection

    SubSection "WacomEraser"
    Port "/dev/ttyS0"
    DeviceName "WacomEraserCore"
    Mode Absolute
    AlwaysCore
    EndSubSection

    EndSection

    BTW, Rob, would it be possible to allow the tag?

    ElpDragon.

  • Wacom drivers have come with XFree86 since at least 3.3.2. I wasn't into Linux before then so I can't say how long they've been around. Wacom's new Intuos line requires a new module; the Wacom site contains this [lepied.com] link. The driver there is for XF86 3.3.3.1; if it doesn't work for 3.3.2, here [levien.com] is a link to a (older) 3.3.2 version. Locate xf86Wacom.so on your system, back it up, and replace it with the downloaded file.

    The following are the relevant sections of my XF86Config; modify as necessary.

    Section "Module" Load "xf86Wacom.so" EndSection Section "XInput" SubSection "WacomStylus" Port "/dev/ttyS0" DeviceName "Wacom" Mode Absolute EndSubSection SubSection "WacomStylus" Port "/dev/ttyS0" DeviceName "WacomCore" AlwaysCore Mode Absolute EndSubSection SubSection "WacomEraser" Port "/dev/ttyS0" DeviceName "WacomEraser" Mode Absolute EndSubSection SubSection "WacomEraser" Port "/dev/ttyS0" DeviceName "WacomEraserCore" Mode Absolute AlwaysCore EndSubSection EndSection

    The Core devices are not necessary unless you want your tablet to always control the mouse cursor. Including them causes a small problem if you want to use the tablet in a window instead of over the whole screen in that the tablet will move the mouse pointer and the in-window pointer at the same time.

    You'll want to use GIMP 1.1 to try out the tablet. (GIMP 1.0 doesn't support XInput which is the driver system the tablet runs off of.) Especially relevant are the Ink tool and the "Input Devices" and "Device Status" dialogs.

    If perchance you want to use the tablet in X without a mouse, download my Calcomp drivers (whether or not you have a Calcomp tablet); the README file explains how to do it.

    ElpDragon.

  • There is support for some tablets in X Windows.

    See man XF86Config and use /Summa to find mention of SummaSketch Tablet. There are several other tablets mentioned there, but as there may be a relationship between the Summagraphics and Calcomp tablets I'd try that first.

    I see in the X server with Red Hat that at least some of those modules are included, so they just have to be mentioned in the configuration file.

    Or put a terminal program on the serial port and see what data is arriving, and compare it to the SummaSketch code...

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