Switch Primary Button on Mouse?

mdiemer · 2021-06-06 18:02:37

How do I switch to a left-handed mouse? I tried some searches but can't find anything specific to Bunsen Labs. For example, I could install Gnome Tweaks, but BL doesn't use Gnome. and what may work on Debian may not work here. I'm on Lithium (the operating system, that is).

PackRat · 2021-06-06 19:08:11

You can use xinput to change the button mapping - more details in the man page.

You can also do button mapping with xmodmap or creating configuration file for Xorg - example

ohnonot · 2021-06-07 17:31:11

mdiemer wrote:

How do I switch to a left-handed mouse? I tried some searches but can't find anything specific to Bunsen Labs.

https://forums.bunsenlabs.org/viewtopic … 727#p69727
???

damo · 2021-06-08 10:48:13

ohnonot wrote:

mdiemer wrote:
How do I switch to a left-handed mouse? I tried some searches but can't find anything specific to Bunsen Labs.
https://forums.bunsenlabs.org/viewtopic … 727#p69727
???

To be specific to BL, you need to use .config/bunsen/autostart for the setting now.

mdiemer · 2021-08-05 18:06:42

I was able to change it with <xmodmap -e "pointer = 3 2 1">, but that only works for one session.

I just ran <xinput set-button-map michael's mouse 1 1 1>. That seemed to work, although I won't know for sure until I do a restart.

Thanks for the tips, I'll let you know how it worked out.

mdiemer · 2021-08-06 16:03:02

damo wrote:

ohnonot wrote:
mdiemer wrote:
How do I switch to a left-handed mouse? I tried some searches but can't find anything specific to Bunsen Labs.
https://forums.bunsenlabs.org/viewtopic … 727#p69727
???
To be specific to BL, you need to use .config/bunsen/autostart for the setting now.

I have tried several things at this point, but none of them make the change permanent. I am thinking of buying a left-handed mouse for use on Bunsen labs Linux. I would spend more time on it if I didn't have to run a terminal command at the start of every session .

One last thing to try. Can you tell me exactly what I should put in the above file - config/bunsen/autostart - ?

Thank you.

damo · 2021-08-07 07:02:27

Did this command work, as shown in the link?

xmodmap -e "pointer = 3 2 1"

If so, put it in your autostart

mdiemer · 2024-02-22 19:46:51

(After a long absence) -

Uh Oh, This little bugger has just bitten me on the ass again. I was able to change the button to left-handed by using <xinput set-button-map 13 3 2 1>.

I am striking out trying to make it permanent. I guess this problem only comes up 10% of the time it normally would, as that is the % of left-handed people in the world. so there isn't that much out there on the subject. and I don't know whether searching for Debian specifically will work, although it will bring up more hits. but not necessarily applicable to BL.

I am unclear just how to add this command to autostart. Perhaps a tutorial tells specifically how to do this? I'm afraid to go messing around too much for fear of breaking something.

Last edited by mdiemer (2024-02-22 20:15:27)

PackRat · 2024-02-22 21:08:42

Edit the ~/.config/bunsen/autostart file and add that command:

xinput set-button-map 13 3 2 1

You will have a left-handed mouse any time you log into the BL openbox session.

Robi · 2024-02-22 21:09:08

@mdiemer, It's late or not...
Supposing that more than one person uses your machine
the graphical way of changing mouse settings is Super then typing 'mouse'
and select it as Left/Right-handed

Once you do these 2 steps + logout:

sudo apt install xfce4-settings

insert into ~/.config/bunsen/autostart

xfsettingsd &

Here was a similar case
https://forums.bunsenlabs.org/viewtopic … 32#p132132

mdiemer · 2024-02-23 02:45:31

OK, I finally got it switched, and permanently (actually, just until my right hand is better - I use the right-handed mouse most of the time, even though I am left-handed - my right hand seems more resistant to fatigue).

What worked was Robi's suggestion to install xfce4 settings. I must have messed-up when trying to configure the autostart file. One issue I had was that I was not going to 'config/bunsen/autostart,'but 'config/autostart.' I finally realized my mistake, but I guess I still screwed up anyway. Not my day, I'm having problems typing also.

But it appears fixed, since I restarted and it held. It didn't work the first time, because I was focusing on the wrong line (optical mouse), when I needed to focus on M525. Like I said, not my day...

thanks for all the help!

Mx. Alba · 2024-02-23 09:04:46

I'm the other way around... I'm righthanded but use a trackball on the left, configured with lefthanded buttons. But when I use a normal mouse, I tend to switch between using it left- and righthanded, but keep its configuration for righthanded for easy swapping around. I'm weird like that.

mdiemer · 2024-02-23 17:36:10

Mx. Alba wrote:

I'm the other way around... I'm righthanded but use a trackball on the left, configured with lefthanded buttons. But when I use a normal mouse, I tend to switch between using it left- and righthanded, but keep its configuration for righthanded for easy swapping around. I'm weird like that.

Not weird, just ambidexterous, which ain't a bad thing to be. It's smart to divide the stress on one's hands, elbows and shoulders between the two sides of the body. In fact, it's weird that most of us are so one-sided. you'd think that the more balanced approached would be favored. One of nature's little mysteries, I guess.

#1 2021-06-06 18:02:37

Switch Primary Button on Mouse?

#2 2021-06-06 19:08:11

Re: Switch Primary Button on Mouse?

#3 2021-06-07 17:31:11

Re: Switch Primary Button on Mouse?

#4 2021-06-08 10:48:13

Re: Switch Primary Button on Mouse?

#5 2021-08-05 18:06:42

Re: Switch Primary Button on Mouse?

#6 2021-08-06 16:03:02

Re: Switch Primary Button on Mouse?

#7 2021-08-07 07:02:27

Re: Switch Primary Button on Mouse?

#8 2024-02-22 19:46:51

Re: Switch Primary Button on Mouse?

#9 2024-02-22 21:08:42

Re: Switch Primary Button on Mouse?

#10 2024-02-22 21:09:08

Re: Switch Primary Button on Mouse?

#11 2024-02-23 02:45:31

Re: Switch Primary Button on Mouse?

#12 2024-02-23 09:04:46

Re: Switch Primary Button on Mouse?

#13 2024-02-23 17:36:10

Re: Switch Primary Button on Mouse?

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