Touchpad not able to drag and drop [solved]

[Member argonaut459]

Good afternoon wise folks of the forum.
Since installing or running live ANY Distro, I found that I can’t drag and drop with my touchpad.
In MX Linux I tried the option to use the other “thingy” for a touchpad ??driver??
That didn’t work.

Here in AntiX, I’m lost not even a clue where I could start looking for making changes. And as keyboard shortcuts don’t work either, I’m forced to used dragging the mouse way more.
A little side topic, in MX I could choose a theme with THICK borders, to make changing windows easier. Didn’t find it here either, that’s something I really seem to need as I can’t find the spot with a USB mouse either.

For the quick info, I found that
sudo inxi -zv7
is getting blocked, -b or normal -zv7 don’t get blocked in THIS part of the forum. Normal -zv7 didn’t work in the introduction part of it.

inxi -zv7
System:
  Kernel: 4.9.0-279-antix.1-486-smp arch: i686 bits: 32 compiler: gcc
    v: 10.2.1 Desktop: IceWM v: 3.1.0 vt: 7 dm: slimski v: 1.5.0
    Distro: antiX-21_386-full Grup Yorum 31 October 2021
    base: Debian GNU/Linux 11 (bullseye)
Machine:
  Type: Portable System: Dell product: Inspiron 1011 v: A00
    serial: <superuser required>
  Mobo: Dell model: CN0Y53 v: A00 serial: <superuser required> BIOS: Dell
    v: A00 date: 03/20/2009
Battery:
  ID-1: BAT1 charge: 32.7 Wh (86.1%) condition: 38.0/44.0 Wh (86.5%)
    volts: 11.8 min: 11.1 model: Dell type: Li-ion serial: <filter>
    status: discharging
Memory:
  RAM: total: 1.96 GiB used: 408.3 MiB (20.4%)
  RAM Report:
    permissions: Unable to run dmidecode. Root privileges required.
CPU:
  Info: single core model: Intel Atom N270 bits: 32 type: MT smt: enabled
    arch: Bonnell rev: 2 cache: L1: 56 KiB L2: 512 KiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 1200 high: 1600 min/max: 800/1600 cores: 1: 1600 2: 800
    bogomips: 6383
  Flags: acpi aperfmperf apic arch_perfmon bts clflush cmov constant_tsc
    cx8 de ds_cpl dtes64 dtherm dts est fpu fxsr ht lahf_lm mca mce mmx monitor
    movbe msr mtrr nx pae pat pbe pdcm pebs pge pni pse sep ss sse sse2 ssse3
    tm tm2 tsc vme xtpr
Graphics:
  Device-1: Intel Mobile 945GSE Express Integrated Graphics vendor: Dell
    driver: i915 v: kernel arch: Gen3.5 ports: active: LVDS-1 empty: VGA-1
    bus-ID: 00:02.0 chip-ID: 8086:27ae class-ID: 0300
  Device-2: Syntek Integrated Webcam type: USB driver: uvcvideo
    bus-ID: 1-2:2 chip-ID: 174f:1403 class-ID: 0e02
  Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 1.20.11 driver: X: loaded: intel
    unloaded: fbdev,modesetting,vesa gpu: i915 display-ID: :0.0 screens: 1
  Screen-1: 0 s-res: 1024x576 s-dpi: 96 s-size: 270x152mm (10.63x5.98")
    s-diag: 310mm (12.2")
  Monitor-1: LVDS-1 mapped: LVDS1 model: AU Optronics 0x10d1 res: 1024x576
    hz: 60 dpi: 118 size: 220x130mm (8.66x5.12") diag: 256mm (10.1")
    modes: 1024x576
  OpenGL: renderer: Mesa DRI Intel 945GME x86/MMX/SSE2 v: 1.4 Mesa 20.3.5
    direct render: Yes
Audio:
  Device-1: Intel NM10/ICH7 Family High Definition Audio vendor: Dell
    driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus-ID: 00:1b.0 chip-ID: 8086:27d8
    class-ID: 0403
  Sound Server-1: ALSA v: k4.9.0-279-antix.1-486-smp running: yes
Network:
  Device-1: Broadcom BCM43228 802.11a/b/g/n vendor: Dell driver: wl v: kernel
    bus-ID: 03:00.0 chip-ID: 14e4:4359 class-ID: 0280
  IF: wlan0 state: up mac: <filter>
  IP v4: <filter> scope: global broadcast: <filter>
  IP v6: <filter> type: dynamic mngtmpaddr scope: global
  IP v6: <filter> scope: link
  Device-2: Realtek RTL810xE PCI Express Fast Ethernet vendor: Dell
    driver: r8169 v: 2.3LK-NAPI port: 2000 bus-ID: 04:00.0 chip-ID: 10ec:8136
    class-ID: 0200
  IF: eth0 state: down mac: <filter>
  WAN IP: <filter>
Bluetooth:
  Message: No bluetooth data found.
Logical:
  Message: No logical block device data found.
RAID:
  Message: No RAID data found.
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 223.57 GiB used: 3.99 GiB (1.8%)
  ID-1: /dev/sda vendor: Patriot model: Burst size: 223.57 GiB
    speed: <unknown> type: SSD serial: <filter> rev: E1.3 scheme: MBR
  Message: No optical or floppy data found.
Partition:
  ID-1: / size: 39.08 GiB used: 3.99 GiB (10.2%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda7
    label: rootantiX21 uuid: b990c422-28b1-4e04-9fe5-2330b4b492de
Swap:
  ID-1: swap-1 type: partition size: 5 GiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) priority: -1
    dev: /dev/sda5 label: swap uuid: 61d180d5-871f-44b2-b690-149fa9b43e37
Unmounted:
  ID-1: /dev/sda1 size: 50 MiB fs: ntfs label: N/A uuid: EEBA32EBBA32B047
  ID-2: /dev/sda2 size: 19.53 GiB fs: ntfs label: N/A
    uuid: 525425FD5425E487
  ID-3: /dev/sda3 size: 4.88 GiB fs: ntfs label: Programme
    uuid: A40E08440E0811CA
  ID-4: /dev/sda4 size: 1 KiB fs: <superuser required> label: N/A uuid: N/A
  ID-5: /dev/sda6 size: 40 GiB fs: ext4 label: rootMX21
    uuid: 03b083a1-1c23-4c0e-a668-a3a7d745fa06
USB:
  Hub-1: 1-0:1 info: Full speed or root hub ports: 8 rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s
    chip-ID: 1d6b:0002 class-ID: 0900
  Device-1: 1-2:2 info: Syntek Integrated Webcam type: Video
    driver: uvcvideo interfaces: 2 rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s power: 500mA
    chip-ID: 174f:1403 class-ID: 0e02
  Device-2: 1-3:3 info: Realtek USB 2.0 multicard reader type: Mass Storage
    driver: ums-realtek interfaces: 1 rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s power: 500mA
    chip-ID: 0bda:0158 class-ID: 0806 serial: <filter>
  Hub-2: 2-0:1 info: Full speed or root hub ports: 2 rev: 1.1
    speed: 12 Mb/s chip-ID: 1d6b:0001 class-ID: 0900
  Device-1: 2-1:3 info: USB OPTICAL MOUSE type: Mouse
    driver: hid-generic,usbhid interfaces: 1 rev: 1.1 speed: 1.5 Mb/s
    power: 100mA chip-ID: 275d:0ba6 class-ID: 0301
  Hub-3: 3-0:1 info: Full speed or root hub ports: 2 rev: 1.1
    speed: 12 Mb/s chip-ID: 1d6b:0001 class-ID: 0900
  Hub-4: 4-0:1 info: Full speed or root hub ports: 2 rev: 1.1
    speed: 12 Mb/s chip-ID: 1d6b:0001 class-ID: 0900
  Hub-5: 5-0:1 info: Full speed or root hub ports: 2 rev: 1.1
    speed: 12 Mb/s chip-ID: 1d6b:0001 class-ID: 0900
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 59.0 C mobo: N/A
  Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A
Info:
  Processes: 148 Uptime: 2d 1h 20m wakeups: 11 Init: SysVinit v: 2.96
  runlevel: 5 default: 5 Compilers: gcc: 10.2.1 alt: 10 Packages: apt: 1687
  Shell: Bash v: 5.1.4 running-in: roxterm inxi: 3.3.19

• This topic was modified 6 months, 1 week ago by argonaut459.
• This topic was modified 6 months, 1 week ago by argonaut459.
• This topic was modified 6 months, 1 week ago by argonaut459.

[Moderator caprea]

Helpful

Up

0

::

argonaut459 wrote:

For the quick info, I found that
sudo inxi -zv7
is getting blocked, -b or normal -zv7 don’t get blocked in THIS part of the forum. Normal -zv7 didn’t work in the introduction part of it.

Hi argonaut459, welcome to the forum.We found some criterias where the spam filter gets triggered for unknown reasons.
One is the word data followed by colon.Probably a part of sudo inxi -zv7 under Memory.
https://www.antixforum.com/forums/topic/your-post-disappeared-spam-filter-may-have-flagged-it/

Edit: For themes I like the antiX-Magic themes, more comfortable with mouse.
For the keys it depends on the window manager you are using.If the default icewm have a look at control-centre > icewm settings > Tab keys.

• This reply was modified 6 months, 1 week ago by caprea.
• This reply was modified 6 months, 1 week ago by caprea.

[Member argonaut459]

Helpful

Up

0

::

Good to know. I’ll refrain from using sudo inxi unless necessary.

If only dragging via touchpad worked, that would make selecting stuff easier.

What I found, I can click and hold a window, and it will move / jitter around by itself.
But every second input on the touchpad is ignored.

Scrolling via the touchpad edges or with 2 fingers work vertical and horizontal.
So 2 finger input seem to work, it’s just impossible to click a button and hold it for dragging.

Hope this helps clarifying the issue.

[Member argonaut459]

Helpful

Up

0

::

Speaking of themes, that doesn’t show up for me.
Adwaita
Arc
Crux
And a few more.
Only arc-dark is the only one that doesn’t burn retinas while still being readable in bright environment

[Moderator caprea]

Helpful

Up

0

::

If you are using the default window-manager icewm, look in the menu > preferences > themes

[Member argonaut459]

Helpful

Up

0

::

caprea wrote:

If you are using the default window-manager icewm, look in the menu > preferences > themes

Ohh I thought this was only for the task bar, as I didn’t nothing anything else changing.
Choose Antix magic medium mac now. This will give me thicker borders to change windows sizes, right?

Maybe I shoudl make a seperate thread for that topic 😀

Edit: just realized this switches the positions of the minimize/maximize/close buttons with the menu button of the windwos, oohh that won’t work with my muscle memory.
I’ll leave it, till someting better comes around, especially if that helps with drag and drop working.

• This reply was modified 6 months, 1 week ago by argonaut459.

[Member argonaut459]

Helpful

Up

0

::

May I bump this.

The issue of not being able to drag n drop with the touchpad still remains.
A hint on what I could try?
As switching between the 2 input options (that my Linux offers) didn’t help.

[Member PPC]

Helpful

Up

0

::

Why not search on-line? I searched “drag n drop with the touchpad linux” on duckduckgo.com.

THE VERY FIRST link (https://help.ubuntu.com/stable/ubuntu-help/mouse-touchpad-click.html.en) says:

To click, tap on the touchpad. To double-click, tap twice. To drag an item, double-tap but don't lift your finger after the second tap. Drag the item where you want it, then lift your finger to drop.

Try that, and see if it works for you… If it does, then you just learned 2 things, one being: always search on-line. Any problem you have, probably someone else already reported it in the internet and there’s (most probably) already a solution for it…

Edit: I tried that myself on my netbook and it works fine. I’ve been using Linux on laptops and netbooks for some 15 years and I never, ever tried to drag and drop using the touchpad, so I learned something new for myself- I’ll probably even add this tip to Sticky post for new users…

P.

• This reply was modified 6 months ago by PPC.
• This reply was modified 6 months ago by PPC.

[Member Rantanplan]

Helpful

Up

0

::

Hi @argonaut459,

Perfectly seen that resizing window is OK for you.

But to resize window, you also can do this with icewm :

activate the window to resize,
combinate the keys Alt+[F8],
press the arrows keys (you can associate them with Alt or Ctrl or Maj)

The window’s size will increase or decrease.

Friendly

• This reply was modified 6 months ago by Rantanplan.

Vive antiX !
Vive le Groland !

[Member argonaut459]

Helpful

Up

0

::

OMG this strange tapping actually works.
Thanks for sharing, for some reason I didn’t come up with the idea to search for linux in general. Probably assumed that its a MX / Antix thing.

It is very strange, and really really needs to be getting used to, but it works 😀
That Alt F8 is cool, too, though the F-Keys are blue on my keyboard and I have to press that weird Fn Key too, but it works, but us should definatlly not touch the mouse of your window is all over the place.

Tried it with Rox Filer and the FAQ in Dillo, but I couldn’t grab the top of the window and pull in down, only the left / right or bottom were the ones that could be moved.

Well, I guess this “issue” was never one, and is SOLVED by tapping 😀
Thank you guys :heart:

[Member blur13]

Helpful

Up

0

::

haha I’m with you on that one PPC, never knew, never missed it. I guess all the touchpads I use have two buttons underneath.

even more of a pro tip, get a keyboard driven workflow and you dont have to bother with drag n drop. 😉

[Moderator Brian Masinick]

Helpful

Up

0

::

@blur13: I’m with you on that! I occasionally copy some text from one place to another, but ever since the beginning of the “desktop environment” era – Xfce, KDE, GNOME, LXDE and the many others since, I NEVER became familiar with or comfortable with drag and drop; I’m MUCH more likely to do things with files and directories from a command line interface (CLI), 1) because I have had keycode definitions, command alias definitions, and several combinations of these to do all kinds of different things. 2) while I do use plenty of graphical interfaces, including some desktop environments, I seldom use ONLY ONE technique to do various workflows, and I have a good reason for this: 3) Keyboard ergonomics suggests that varying the position and keys that your hands and fingers feel and touch, and the angle at which your hands interact with the keyboard have significant impact on whether you develop hand or wrist issues – I’ve never had either because I vary the way I use the keyboard and I NEVER rest my palms or my wrist on the keyboard or the device. These are all things to know.

My own axiom (not well known) drag n drop is a “DRAG”! Don’t bother with it! 🙂

--
Brian Masinick

[Member argonaut459]

Helpful

Up

0

::

Hi,
I tried these for a bit, they are definitely very awkward and strange to use.
Especially selecting texts and passages/paragraphs is more a thing of luck if the correct line is hit and dragging the selection is very jittery and jerky this way.

Pressing left button and dragging was way more precise in Windows.

I’ll see if I can get used to this, though I already would rather prefer the classical push touchpad button and move cursor.

I’ll read your input ASAP as I get a bit of time on my hands. I apologize.

[Member Rantanplan]

Helpful

Up

0

::

Hi argonaut,

why don’t you use a wireless mouse (or a wired mouse) instead of the touchpad ?
You can no answer. 😀

Peace and friendship.

Vive antiX !
Vive le Groland !

[Author]

Posts