Dragging problem in linux

[pdf23ds]

In windows, I can click-drag even the smallest object with precision. In linux, without changing anything on the keyboard (without even switching to linux mode) a click-drag only sends the mouse-down event some time after I start moving the cursor. This makes it so I have to wiggle around my fingers a bit while I wait for the drag to start. Incredibly annoying. Is anyone having this problem besides me? I have a hard time believing it's the touchstream's fault, and I have a hard time believing this is a quirk in linux USB support (I have a recent 2.4 kernel). I'd like to think it's something weird windows does with retrograde click actions--sending the mouse-click event with the coordinates the cursor was at a few moments ago. But I'm really not sure. Can anyone offer an explanation?

[JerryKnight]

See here (http://forums.fingerworks.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=641&highlight=click+drag+linux), here (http://forums.fingerworks.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=442&highlight=click+drag+linux), and here (http://forums.fingerworks.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=272&highlight=click+drag+linux) for discussion on the subject.

[pdf23ds]

Thanks for the pointers. I usually search first, but didn't think to this time.

[schvenk]

So am I correct in understanding that while some users have had variable success in dealing with this problem, overall it's a known problem with no known reliable solution?

[JerryKnight]

Ok, since it's been so long since I've personally addressed the problem, I'll describe my situation again.

Around the time I was experimenting with my Wacom Graphire2 tablet, I first noticed this problem with the TouchStream. I experimented with countless XFree86-Config configurations, with no success. Then I unplugged my Wacom tablet - instantly better.

I have diagnosed the problem many times using xev, the X11 event viewer, only to find that the events are simply not occurring in the timing that they should be. In other words, the mouse-down event is delayed - the same delay in the click-drag gesture. I can only hypothesize that this means the problem lies somewhere in the USB/HID layer, or the way X11 interacts with this layer. All I can say for sure is that once I unplugged my tablet, all was well, and I can plug my tablet back in to instantly restore the delayed behavior. I think it even exists in the X.org servers, which makes sense because I think the X.org 6.7.x is just a branch of the XFree86-4.3 code.

Anyways, the official Fingerworks position, as they have told us, is that there is no readily apparent cause of the behavior, and given the wide variation in X11 setups (versions, distributions, extensions, configurations, etc.), they cannot afford to fully investigate the problem.

[schvenk]

That is indeed too bad. Thanks for the recap.

BTW (and I know it's off-topic, sorry), what is the story with the free iPod thing? I've seen some cautionary tales about it elsewhere on the Web.

[fingerworks]

Firmware v1.46 to be released later this week will make permanent the fix of putting a 'ButtonPress' event in the BeginSlide events list. This will fix those complaining of the tiny delay...but not the odder problem of very large delays?