wsmoused(8) - NetBSD Manual Pages

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WSMOUSED(8)             NetBSD System Manager's Manual             WSMOUSED(8)


NAME

     wsmoused - multipurpose mouse daemon


SYNOPSIS

     wsmoused [-d device] [-f conf_file] [-m modes] [-n]


DESCRIPTION

     The wsmoused daemon provides mouse support in console, allowing copying
     and pasting text.  The left mouse button is used to select text when held
     and you use the right button to paste it in the active console.

     Supported options are as follows:

     -d device       specifies the device file to be used as the wsmouse(4)
                     device.  Defaults to /dev/wsmouse.

     -f conf_file    specifies the configuration file to be used.  Defaults to
                     /etc/wsmoused.conf.

     -m modes        specifies which modes should be activated.  Mode names
                     are given in the argument as a whitespace separated list.
                     Overrides the `modes' directive in the configuration
                     file.

     -n              do not fork in the background (for debugging purposes).
                     Overrides the `nodaemon' directive in the configuration
                     file.

     Many other details can be tuned.  See wsmoused.conf(5) for more informa-
     tion.

     wsmoused is designed to be a multipurpose mouse daemon.  Functionality is
     provided though independent modes, enabled either though the -m flag or
     though the `modes' property in the configuration file (the former takes
     precedence).

   The action mode
     The `action' mode executes commands upon receiving mouse button events.
     Commands can be associated on a button basis, and can differentiate
     between push or release events.

   The selection mode
     The `selection' mode provides visual copy and paste support in text con-
     soles when using the wscons(4) device.  A selection is created by click-
     ing with the primary mouse button at any point on the screen and dragging
     it while clicked.  When the button is released, the selected text is
     copied to an internal buffer for further pasting with the secondary but-
     ton.


FILES

     /dev/ttyE[0-n]      tty devices
     /dev/ttyEstat       wsdisplay status notification device
     /dev/wsmouse[0-n]   mouse control device
     /etc/wsmoused.conf  default configuration file


SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS

     When using the `action' mode, commands specified in the configuration
     file are executed as the user who started the daemon.  By default, this
     user is `root' when using the rc.subr(8) framework.  You should set
     `wsmoused_user="<some_user>"' in rc.conf(5) to a safer user (and adjust
     file permissions accordingly) if the commands you want to execute do not
     require superuser privileges.  An alternative is to use su(1) as part of
     the command string in the configuration file.

     When enabling the kernel option options WSDISPLAY_CHARFUNCS, only needed
     by the `selection' mode, be absolutely sure that /dev/ttyE* devices have
     restrictive permissions; the mouse uses some functions that could allow
     terminal snooping if improperly set.


NOTES

     The following notes apply to all work modes:

     ·   When switching from the X screen to a text terminal, there is a small
         delay (five seconds) until the mouse works again.  This time is used
         by X to close the mouse device properly.

     The following notes apply to the `selection' mode only:

     ·   The mouse cursor is only visible for a short period of time.  It will
         disappear when you stop moving it to avoid console corruption (which
         happens if it is visible and there is text output).

     ·   options WSDISPLAY_CHARFUNCS is needed in your kernel configuration
         file.

     ·   You need to change the getty program which is run in the first vir-
         tual terminal to use /dev/ttyE0 instead of /dev/console.  To do this,
         edit /etc/ttys and /etc/wscons.conf.


SEE ALSO

     su(1), wscons(4), wsdisplay(4), wsmouse(4), rc.conf(5), ttys(5),
     wscons.conf(5), wsmoused.conf(5), moused(8), rc.subr(8)


HISTORY

     The wsmoused command first appeared in NetBSD 2.0.


AUTHORS

     The wsmoused command was developed by Julio M. Merino Vidal
     <jmmv@NetBSD.org>.

NetBSD 2.1                      August 6, 2003                      NetBSD 2.1