Configurate your Genius EasyPen graphic tablet

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Content

Use it in console :

You can use your Genius Easypen tablet as default pointer console (text mode), as it was a mouse. That give you some facilities to cut and past on command line, or whatever you do with your mouse.
If the mouse manager, a program call "gpm" is running (ps -edf | grep gpm), you must stop it with one of the following command:
bash# gpm -k
or as root:
bash# /etc/init.d/gpm stop

Once gpm daemon stopped, you could run it again with the goods options:
bash# gpm -t acecad -m /dev/ttyS0
Somes explanations:
- "-t acecad" means that the device driver is acecad. Gpm is now informed on the "langage" spoken by the tablet.
- "-m /dev/ttyS1" told gpm on which port the tablet is connect to the computer (here COM2).
You could change the connection serial port :
- com1 : /dev/ttyS0
- com2 : /dev/ttyS1
- com3 : /dev/ttyS2
- ...

Other web sites advice to set the option "genitizer" instead of "acecad". I've try it on my machin, but it doesn't work (linux Mandrake 8.1, gpm 1.19).


Use it under Xfree 3.3.x :

For what I am concerned, i have never try this configuration. I bought the tablet after upgrading to Xfree 4. Below are some links given advices for this configuration. I hope that could help you.

Use it under Xfree 4.x :

Using the tablet under Xfree 4.x, need to step.
In fact, the tablet is not directly supported under Xfree 4.x. It was necessary to use a translator between the tablet and Xfree. Gpm bring this functionnality through the option "-R". This option ask gpm to send all event receive in a virtual device call "/dev/gpmdata", and to reformat this event in a defined protocol given with the option. This is possible to use this option for mouses or tablets.
First of all, we will run gpm with this special option, and second, modify the Xfree configuration file.

A)

gpm will receive the option "-R" for the summa tablet protocol. The complete option is "-Rsumma" (don't put space between "R" and "summa").

The command line for gpm become:
gpm -Rsumma -t acecad -m /dev/ttyS1

B) Modification of the Xfree 4.x configuration file (/etc/X11/XF86config-4 one my Mandrake 8.1 Linux-box):
Add a new section InputDevice near the mouse one
Section "InputDevice"
	Identifier	"EasyPen"
	Driver		"summa"
	Option		"Device"	"/dev/gpmdata"
	Option		"cursor"	"stylus"
	Option		"Mode"		"absolute"
	Option		"AlwaysCore"	"on"
	Option		"resolution"	"2540"
	Option		"protocol"	"tablet"
EndSection
Add a new line in the "Serverlayout" section. There must be already a mouse and keybord entry : 
	InputDevice "EasyPen" "AlwaysCore"

Some links:

 Here comes all the links found before, and some more.

Download:

 Any comment, question, ask, other links, idea welcome:
Write to lefevre00@nospam.free.fr (put nospam off)