[solved] Natural (reverse) scrolling

Support & Help Requests Hardware
1

I have been trying to implement natural scrolling. My most recent attempt has been to change HorizScrollDelta and Vert ScrollDelta in /etc/X11/xorg.config.d/50-synaptics.conf. However, when I attempt it the computer fails to boot.

I also looked up the synaptics documentation

https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Touchpad_Synaptics

It has a section for MATE, suggesting I should use dconf-editor, but I can’t find the the setting they mention.

If anyone has a good way to implement natural scrolling, please let me know. Thank you

2

I don’t know how far you have gotten with this; but here are two pretty common ways to get it done. :blush:

I have heard that this first (and easier) one doesn’t always work; but it has proven great for some.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:zedtux/naturalscrolling
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install naturalscrolling

Otherwise:

  1. In terminal:

gksu gedit

  1. Paste the following to the text file.

pointer = 1 2 3 5 4 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

(notice that #4 and #5 are switched. This represents the switch in the vertical scrolling direction… if you want the horizontal scrolling to switch as well, just switch the 6 and 7)

  1. Save the file with the name .Xmodmap (with the dot in front) in the Home folder.

  2. Close the file as well as terminal.

  3. Log in & out and the mouse scrolling direction should change now.

To revert the setting, just remove the .Xmodmap file from you system.

3

Hi mated,

not stepping on your toes but I think this should be "gksudo pluma" in Ubuntu Mate?. :smiley:

2 Likes
4

Accord to the MATE 1.12 release notes, “Touchpad support is significantly improved and now features multi touch and natural scrolling.”

The ubuntu-mate-dev PPA has MATE 1.12.1 for Wily and Xenial. I’ve only installed it in a VM, so I haven’t seen or tested the touchpad functionality, but I can say it’s been stable for me.

I don’t think I’d install it on an absolutely required system, but give it a try as long as you can handle the possibility of needing to roll back via ppa-purge.

2 Likes
5

I upgraded to ubuntu-mate-dev and saw the addition of the natural scrolling checkbox in touchpad options. However, enabling did nothing. I added the ppa:zedtux/natrualscrolling, but the package naturalscrolling was not found.

Eventually, what did it was the addition .Xmodmap file with “pointer = 1 2 3 5 4 6 7 8 9 10 11 12”

Thanks for all the help.

2 Likes
6

But of course… sorry, all :scream:… thanks @wolfman :sweat_smile:!

1 Like
7

Hi again @Senlis,

Glad the .Xmodmap file with pointer = 1 2 3 5 4 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 (or something at least) “pointed” you to satisfaction :laughing:; and sorry about the gksu gedit vs gksudo pluma (MATE’s fork of the Gedit 2 text editor):dizzy_face:!

Welcome to the MATE community! :santa:

8

That's too bad. I was looking forward to that option in 1.12. Hopefully it will work by the time it's in the stable release.

9

Looks like the latest packages in that PPA are for Trusty.

10

Open Dconf > org > mate > desktop > peripherals > touchpad > scroll-method and set it to the desired number, look at the bottom of that page, there are 3 options! (Change any other options you want on that page too!):

dconf Editor_014.jpg1920×1018 198 KB

1 Like
11

That is for edge scrolling vs two finger scrolling correct? I want Natural Scrolling (reverse direction scrolling). My Dconf has touchpad options where you listed, and it does include a Natural Scrolling option. However, enabling it does nothing.

I did mark this thread solved. However, I didn’t use the solution I listed because it also reverses the direction when I use a mouse. I think I will just stick with default direction scrolling on both Mouse and Touchpad from now on.

Thanks for all the help though.

12

Thank you! I am running an old Dell Inspiron laptop with Linux Mate 20.02 and this absolutley worked for me!!!!!!

1 Like