NAME
mdetect - mouse device autodetection tool
SYNOPSIS
mdetect [option ...]
OPTIONS
mdetect may be run without arguments.
-h display a help message and exit
-n do not search for PnP (Plug ’n’ Play) mice
-r [not yet implemented]
-v be verbose; this option may be specified multiple times for
increasing levels of verbosity
-o produce output appropriate for XFree86 3.x configuration
-x produce output appropriate for XFree86 4.x configuration
DESCRIPTION
mdetect is a tool for autoconfiguring mice and compatible pointing
devices; it is typically used as the backend to some user-friendly
frontend code that, for example, asks the user to move the mouse for a
moment. mdetect is then run while user is producing input on the mouse
device. While mouse motion during detection is sometimes unnecessary,
it is seldom problematic.
mdetect writes the autodetected mouse device and protocol to standard
output. Unless either of the -o or -x options is given, mdetect
produces output appropriate for configuring the gpm(1) program.
Alternatively, output appropriate for an XFree86 X server configuration
file is produced. If the -v option is given, some information about
the program’s status is also written to standard output, but this is
largely unimplemented at this writing.
If mdetect is unable to find a mouse device, it exits after a few
seconds of searching.
NOTES
Detection of serial and PS/2 devices is often aided by moving the mouse
while mdetect runs.
Terminals connected to serial ports may display a small amount of
garbage to the screen while mdetect probes them, but this a harmless
side-effect; the terminal’s line settings are restored after the port
has been probed.
DIAGNOSTICS
mdetect’s exit status is used to communicate information.
0 mdetect found a mouse and exited normally.
1 An error occurred while attempting to read from the mouse
device.
2 mdetect timed out and gave up searching for a mouse device; this
indicates either that no mouse device is attached to the
computer, or that a mouse device exists which mdetect knows
nothing about. This also happens if your only mouse device(s)
are already open and in use; for instance, by gpm or an X Window
System server.
3 An error occurred while trying to set up mdetect’s signal
handler.
BUGS
Please report bugs in mdetect to <submit@bugs.debian.org>. The current
bug list may be viewed at <http://bugs.debian.org/mdetect>.
AUTHORS
mdetect is copyright 1999 Caldera Systems, Inc. The actual authors are
unknown. Branden Robinson of Progeny Linux Systems, Inc. and the
Debian Project added several enhancements, including the XFree86-aware
code and this manual page. Richard Hirst wrote code to save and
restore serial port settings.
LICENSING
The mdetect source code is licensed under the Q Public License (QPL);
see
<http://www.trolltech.com/products/download/freelicense/license.html>.
This manual page is licensed under the GNU General Public License.
SEE ALSO
gpm(1), XFree86(1)