Question / Idea of using Xubuntu on a notebook computer

[notebook]

Hi

I had a similar problem a couple of years ago. In case you don't find anything, you could use this shell script, that I'm using:

-----------
scriptfilePath="$(readlink -f $0)"
workingDir=$(dirname "${scriptfilePath}")
toggleFile=$workingDir"/toggleIndicator"

if [ ! -f $toggleFile ]; then
     xinput --enable "SynPS/2 Synaptics TouchPad"
     echo "1" > $toggleFile
else
     xinput --disable "SynPS/2 Synaptics TouchPad"
     rm $toggleFile
fi

-------------------------

Take a look at the two `xinput` commands. You need to find out, how your stick and touchpad are called (use `xinput --list`) and replace the names with the names on your computer.

I put the script as ~/.config/touchpad/touchpadToggle.sh and mark it as executable (right click-> properties -> permission -> checkbox on bottom)

I then set a command in `Keyboard` (Mouse Menu -> Keyboard -> "Application Shortcuts"):
/bin/sh /home/[YOUR_USERNAME]/.config/touchpad/touchpadToggle.sh
I'm using Shift+Ctrl+Space as Shortcut.


Regards
Chris



On 2021/09/06 18:46, Michael Lueck wrote:
> Greetings,
> 
> I have been remote for the past couple of weeks... traveling, so away from my desktop computer. For this trip I freshly loaded a ThinkPad with Xubuntu 20.04.2 release.
> 
> I prefer to attach an external Logitech mouse to the computer.
> 
> Is it possible to intelligently auto disable the built-in pointing stick / pad when the OS detects an external pointing device attached? And for them to re-enable if the external pointing device were to become disconnected?
> 
> Countless times the built-in pointing devices were picking up unintentional input and trashing my text I was trying to type. Very annoying!
> 
> I am thankful,
>