I’ve just purchased a new toy: the Wacom Bamboo tablet. Without any modifications, the tablet behaves in X like a (very slow) touchpad.
Luckily, kernel and xorg drivers are available, though support is not mature yet (I was expecting some gnome configuration tool).
Installing a Wacom Bamboo on Debian testing:
A. Install the following packages:
Packages that should be already on your system:
1. xserver-xorg-input-wacom (version 0.7.9.3-2)
2. linux-image-2.6.24-1-686 (or possibly 2.6.23, 2.6.22, YMMV)
Packages that you probably don’t have yet:
3. wacom-tools (version 0.7.9.3-2)
B. Tweak your /etc/X11/xorg.conf:
1. Add the following sections.
Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "stylus"
Driver "wacom"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
Option "Type" "stylus"
Option "USB" "on"
EndSection
Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "eraser"
Driver "wacom"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
Option "Type" "eraser"
Option "USB" "on"
EndSection
Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "cursor"
Driver "wacom"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
Option "Type" "cursor"
Option "USB" "on"
EndSection
Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "pad"
Driver "wacom"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
Option "Type" "pad"
Option "USB" "on"
EndSection
2. Change the following section to look something like this:
Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "Default Layout"
Screen "Default Screen"
InputDevice "Generic Keyboard"
InputDevice "Configured Mouse"
InputDevice "stylus" "SendCoreEvents"
InputDevice "eraser" "SendCoreEvents"
InputDevice "cursor" "SendCoreEvents"
InputDevice "pad" # no core events
EndSection
C. Configure the touch ring to act like a mouse wheel (i.e. scrolling).
1. I put the configuration in the in file /etc/X11/Xsession.d/80wacom-config_scrollpad, for lack of a better place.
Its contents:
xsetwacom set pad AbsWDn "5" xsetwacom set pad AbsWUp "4"
D. That’s it.
Very helpful – this worked like a charm to get my new Wacom bamboo functioning on my Sidux laptop. Thanks for publishing it!
Thanks for posting this … i figured it would be complex to install my bamboo fun wacom tablet on my debian laptop (2.6.26) according to the linuxwacom website – but actually following your instruction copy and paste into Xorg.conf – rebooting and that was it ! couldn’t be simplier– kudos
in the “server layout” section i had to change the line relative to the mouse:
InputDevice “Configured Mouse” “CorePointer”
otherwise, every click becomes a double click
this happens under debian testing.
Many thanks for the post. And for the links.
a.l.e, thanks for the pointer! Encountered the same on Debian testing.
This worked for me in debian testing..
One issue: The instructions said “Change the following section to look something like this” but there was no existing “Section ServerLayout” text in my system.
Perhaps you could change it to ” Change the following section to look something like this or append this section to the end of the file.
Here is the xorg.conf for my G41 Thinkpad with a Wacom bamboo Fun tablet:
Section “InputDevice”
Identifier “stylus”
Driver “wacom”
Option “Device” “/dev/input/wacom”
Option “Type” “stylus”
Option “USB” “on”
EndSection
Section “InputDevice”
Identifier “eraser”
Driver “wacom”
Option “Device” “/dev/input/wacom”
Option “Type” “eraser”
Option “USB” “on”
EndSection
Section “InputDevice”
Identifier “cursor”
Driver “wacom”
Option “Device” “/dev/input/wacom”
Option “Type” “cursor”
Option “USB” “on”
EndSection
Section “InputDevice”
Identifier “pad”
Driver “wacom”
Option “Device” “/dev/input/wacom”
Option “Type” “pad”
Option “USB” “on”
EndSection
Section “InputDevice”
Identifier “Generic Keyboard”
Driver “kbd”
Option “XkbRules” “xorg”
Option “XkbModel” “pc104″
Option “XkbLayout” “us”
EndSection
Section “InputDevice”
Identifier “Configured Mouse”
Driver “mouse”
EndSection
Section “Device”
Identifier “Configured Video Device”
EndSection
Section “Monitor”
Identifier “Configured Monitor”
EndSection
Section “Screen”
Identifier “Default Screen”
Monitor “Configured Monitor”
EndSection
Section “ServerLayout”
Identifier “Default Layout”
Screen “Default Screen”
InputDevice “Generic Keyboard”
InputDevice “Configured Mouse” “CorePointer”
InputDevice “stylus” “SendCoreEvents”
InputDevice “eraser” “SendCoreEvents”
InputDevice “cursor” “SendCoreEvents”
InputDevice “pad” # no core events
EndSection
Debian Lenny on a Thinkpad Z61m here, trying to add a Bamboo funpad. First time I’ve ever tried this although I’m otherwise a very experienced Linux user.
@ bgryderclock
I followed your instructions & it worked perfectly & first time.
@ udim
Thank you as well – but you might want to closely examine & tweak yours with bgryderclocks’ example.
Thank you both!
And for completeness sake -
Debian Lenny on an ASUS Eee PC 900a. Same Bamboo Funpad as attempted on the Thinkpad previously.
Also works like a charm.
Once again bgryderclock & udim thank you!
Good stuff. Thank you.
(I’d like to get the tablet working with gimp in window mode rather than screen mode, but it’s pretty impressive that gimp even handles pressure, etc. as it is. Wow)
Chris
Anyone having success in making the “keepshape” option to work on debian squeeze? It does not even have a default xorg.conf, I tried to use the same I use with Lenny (which works) in the same pc, but didn’t work. :-/
I have the official debian package installed, that’s not the compiled driver. I think I’ll try compiling the driver.
Hi! I’ve got newest Debian (it can be 6.0.2.1) and I cannot install both xserver-xorg-input-wacom and wacom-tools. What should I do?