# Console Mouse Support

GPM, short for General Purpose Mouse, is a daemon that provides mouse support for Linux virtual consoles.

## Installing

### Desktop

Install gpm with pacman.

### Laptop

Install gpm and xf86-input-synaptics with pacman.

## Configuring

The `-m` parameter precedes the declaration of the mouse to be used. The `-t` parameter precedes the type of mouse. To get a list of available types for the `-t` option, run `gpm` with `-t help`.

    $ gpm -m /dev/input/mice -t help

If the mouse only has 2 buttons, pass `-2` to `GPM_ARGS` and button-2 will perform the paste function.

The gpm package needs to be started with a few parameters. These parameters can be added in the file `/etc/conf.d/gpm` or used when running `gpm` directly.

- For PS/2 mice, replace the existing line with:

    GPM_ARGS="-m /dev/psaux -t ps2"

- Whereas USB mice should use:

    GPM_ARGS="-m /dev/input/mice -t imps2"

- And IBM Trackpoints need:

    GPM_ARGS="-m /dev/input/mice -t ps2"

Once a suitable configuration has been found, `gpm` can be started by systemd:

    systemctl start gpm.service

and enabled at boot time with:

    systemctl enable gpm.service

For more information see `man gpm`.

Category:

- Mice