The 3 Button Serial Mouse mini-HOWTO by Geoff Short (best novels for students .TXT) 📕

double-button. (These two from [email protected])

PC Accessories mouse that i got from CompUSA for under $10.

Has PC/MS switch on bottom. Works OK. (From [email protected])

First Mouse - seriously cheap at 7.79 pounds at Tempo.

Dual Microsoft/MouseSystems, mode set by button depress at power-up.

No switches, no links. Four wire connection, echo ‘*n’ doesn’t work.

`gpm -R’ works a treat. (From [email protected])

Trust 3-button mouse.

Dual-mode with switch, works OK as MouseSystems in `PC’ mode. gpm

doesn’t like the Microsoft mode.

Chic 410

Works perfectly when kept in ms mode and used with the gpm -R command.

From Stephen M. Weiss ([email protected])

KeyMouse 3-button mouse.

Works OK with ClearDTR and ClearRTS in Xconfig; `-o dtr’ needed with

gpm. (From [email protected])

Qtronix keyboard `Scorpio 60’

All three buttons work in MouseSystems protocol. (From

[email protected])

Tecra 720 laptop

The glidepoint is on devcua0; the stick is on devpsaux. (From

[email protected])

Anubis mouse

Works fine, need to hold down left button whenever switching to the X

virtual console. (From Joel Crisp)

Yakumo No.1900 mouse

Works with gpm -R -t ms exporting to X. (From Oliver Schwank)

Genius `Easy Trak’ Trackball

Is not Microsoft compatible, use Mouseman in the Xconfig and it will

work fine. (From [email protected].)

Highscreen Mouse Pro

`Works fine’ says [email protected].

Logitech CA series

Works in X using MMseries protocol, at 2400 Baud, 150 SampleRate.

(Should also apply to Logitech CC, CE, C7 & C9 mice). (From

[email protected].)

A4-Tech mouse

Works OK, needs DTR line under both X and gpm. (From

[email protected])

Vertech mouse

Normal Microsoft/Mousesystems behaviour, can be soldered for a

permenant fix. (From [email protected].)

Boeder M-7 “Bit Star” (and other M series apart from M13)

Switches to Mousesystems protocol by holding any button down at power-on. (From mailto:[email protected].)

Mouse Systems “Scroll” Mouse (four buttons and a roller/button)

Has a 2/3 switch - in mode 3 functions as a three button MouseSystems

mouse, ignoring extra button & wheel. Doesn’t need ClearRTS/DTR.

(From [email protected].)

Radio Shack 3-button Serial Mouse

Model 26-8432, available in Tandy for about 20 quid. Works as

Mousesystems with ClearDTR. (From [email protected].)

Dexxa serial mouse

Works fine using Microsoft protocol in Xconfig, no ChordMiddle or

anything needed. (From mailto:[email protected].)

Belkin 3 button mouse

As purchased from Sears ($10), needs -o rts under gpm (and probably

ClearRTS under X) when in PC mode. (From mailto:[email protected].)

∑ Mouse Systems has a web site at http://www.mousesystems.com/. They

have a Windows driver if you need one.

∑ The Linux Serial HOWTO is available from mirrors of sunsite around

the world. If you don’t know where your nearest mirror is, start

at http://sunsite.unc.edu/mdw/linux.html

∑ There is a very good explanation of how mice work at

http://www.4QD.co.uk/faq/meece.html.

∑ Fuller details of the Xconfig and XF86Config files are found on the

relevant man pages, and in the documentation about installing X

windows such as the Xfree86 HOWTO. Also, see the XFree86 FAQ at a

mirror of http://www.XFree86.org/.

∑ Information about gpm can be found on the man page, also try the

web page of Darin Ernst at http://www.castle.net/X-notebook/mouse.txt.

∑ Lots of information on mice hardware and software can be found at

http://www.hut.fi/Misc/Electronics/pc/interface.html#mouse

Much of the information for this document has been trawled from the

various linux newsgroups. I am sorry I did not keep a record of

everyone who has indirectly contributed by this route, thank you all

very much.

So, to sum up:

∑ Even cheap 3 button Microsoft mice can be made to work.

∑ Configure your copy of X to expect a Mouse Systems mouse.

∑ Hold down the left button at power-on to switch the mouse to

MouseSystems mode.

∑ You might need to hold the left button down when starting X.

∑ Mice are more intelligent than you think.