After going over 2 year old threads on the ALPS and synaptics "hack" that allowed 2-finger\1-finger "anywhere" scrolling and no one being much help on getting it to work on recent generation laptops and leopard, I decided to test it out myself. I feel that this feature has been overlooked and is one of the nice features of a macbook. After trial and error, I finally got it to "acceptable" speed and settings. This will allow you to scroll from anywhere on your trackpad ala macbook!

Preamble

- I highly recommend an external USB Mouse and Keyboard, just incase something goes wrong.
- This should work on most laptops, as they either have synaptics or an ALPS trackpad, I would do some research to find out which one you have.
- This operation was performed in Apple Mac OS X Leopard 10.5.2, I cannot guarantee it working with different OSX86 versions or different laptops. Please post your findings, your laptop model, and settings that you used.
- I take no responsibility for any damage done, it is pretty safe and easy to revert back to normal, be sure you backup your extensions. (Especially ApplePS2Controller.kext)
- The attached plist is currently "optimized" for the m1330. Other synaptics\alps trackpads will differ and you must edit the plist with trial and error. This is why I recommend AT LEAST an external mouse (USB\bluetooth), as these settings do not effect the external mouse\keyboard at all


How to enable 2-finger\1-finger "anywhere" scrolling on your laptop (synaptics or alps):

1) Backup "/System/Library/Extensions/ApplePS2Controller.kext" incase anything goes wrong

2) Download and extract the full install package:
http://rapidshare.com/files/93582903/2fingerscroll.zip.html

3) Run ALPS Glidepad Driver.pkg (thanks to deamobile for creating this driver package:
http://forum.insanelymac.com/index.php?sho...=47272&st=0) to install the driver and FFScroll.

4) After completing the install, it will ask you to reboot, do so. After rebooting you will get an error saying FFScroll is not working or somesort, Click "Fix" and reboot again.

5) Copy com.apple.driver.ApplePS2Trackpad.plist (found in the install package) to: /Users/[Your Username]/Library/Preferences AND /Library/Preferences. For some reason, if you do not place the plist file in both locations, FFScroll will not load.

6) Open terminal and type:
sudo killall -9 FFScrollDaemon
(Note: The first time I ran this, it didnt find anything of that sort running)
sudo /usr/local/bin/FFScrollDaemon
These commands will kill the FFScroll Process and restart it. You must do this everytime you edit that downloaded plist file.

7) Go into System Preferences, then FFScroll, you should see that 2-finger scrolling is enabled. You cant really edit the "Sample Accepts" as the highest threshold is 61 for some reason. All the other options you can edit.

8) Go back to System Preferences, go to keyboard & mouse, click the "Trackpad" tab. I believe you can uncheck "Use two fingers to scroll," as it still works without it. Set the tracking speed to midway.

9) Copy the FFScrollDaemon directory from the install package to /Library/StartupItems. Enter your password to authenticate. This will allow FFScrollDaemon to startup automatically when you start OSX. The next time you reboot, it will ask you to fix it, click Fix and then reboot your computer.


Tweaking the Settings

The attached plist is currently "optimized" for my m1330. Other synaptics\alps trackpads will differ and you must edit the plist with trial and error. This is why I recommend AT LEAST an external mouse (USB\bluetooth), as these settings do not effect the external mouse\keyboard at all. It seems that scrolling down is fine with one or two fingers, but scrolling up is a little bit more difficult with two fingers, but one finger is fine.

If, at first, you are not getting any scrolling, or you are scrolling all over the place even by lightly touching the touchpad, you need to edit Property: zAcceptThreshold in the plist file and restart the daemon. Don't do it within FFScroll because the highest you can enter in the GUI is 61 (which is too low for some trackpads).. right now the value is set at 80.

If you are scrolling all over the place and the trackpad doesnt move the mouse, make the value Higher (Try 90-130). However if you are not getting any scrolling at all, make it lower (Try 50-75).

- Open up com.apple.driver.ApplePS2Trackpad.plist in textedit and find zAcceptThreshold (or any other value) under either <key>SynapticsPreferences</key>, if you have a synaptics trackpad, or <key>ALPSPreferences</key>, if you have an ALPS trackpad.

- Place that file in "/Users/[Your Username]/Library/Preferences" AND "/Library/Preferences"

(For info on other values you should edit, go to: http://forum.insanelymac.com/index.php?s=&...st&p=500058 (thanks to duplicity for researching these values))

- Open up terminal and type:
sudo killall -9 FFScrollDaemon
sudo /usr/local/bin/FFScrollDaemon

You should right away notice the changes.


Other Notes

At least on the m1330, it doesn't seem to matter whether you have 1 or 2 fingers on, but just how hard you press on the trackpad to start scrolling. I didn't have a lot of time to edit thresholds and all that. So if all of you can start editing the plist file to find out values that allow "true 2-finger" scrolling, that would be great! Other than that, One finger scrolling actually works well since the m1330's trackpad is pretty small. Use your tip of your finger to move your mouse around and the flat part of your finger to scroll around.

Clicking\double-clicking seems to be off also, again, we need to play with the plist settings.

If FFscroll stops loading, replace the plist file in both directories with a kosher plist that is attached in this post.

This does not really enable multi-touch that the macbook trackpads have (example from macbook: holding down one finger on trackpad and clicking the mouse button would open up the right mouse button menu)


Uninstalling

To revert back to regular trackpad\keyboard:
go into terminal, and type:
sudo -s
rm -rf /System/Library/Extensions/ApplePS2Controller.kext

Now use kext Helper to install the backed up ApplePS2Controller.kext. Reboot and you should be back to normal. Note: if you dont reinstall this kext correctly, you will be without keyboard and trackpad and you will have to use an external mouse\keyboard to fix the problem. (In my case, all I had was a BT mouse, so I had to download an onscreen keyboard to enter my password in kext helper )

Help Out!

Sonotone has created a installer package that includes many kexts and configurations for Dell laptops.
Please go to:
http://forum.insanelymac.com/index.php?showtopic=97966
and post your working com.apple.driver.ApplePS2Trackpad.plist

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And there you have it, one step closer to even a truer macbook. Now all we need is 100% working sound kexts, sleep, shutdown, and restart!

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Here is a mirror for a zip containing everything that you need: ffscroll driver package, ffscrolldaemon startup, plist, kext (optional use) and kext helper(optional use for reinstalling kexts):
http://rapidshare.com/files/93582903/2fingerscroll.zip.html

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wow, good skills!

stickied, as i think many people will find this useful.

Didn't work for me on my inspiron 1420 (synaptics), but didn't hurt either...good to know there's a chance Thanks for your how-to!

Mike

when you went into System prefs, did FFScroll load for you?

Try setting the Accept threshold to 55 and sample to 5 in the 2-Finger Scroll Tab (which made my trackpad pretty much scroll on any movement). Im not sure what trackpad the inspiron 1420 uses.

Yeah, FFscroll loads and I tried setting the threshold much lower but still no luck. I'm not sure what trackpad model it is, but I know under linux xorg loads a 'synaptics' driver.

hi, i got a xps m1330 too, but i copied another applePS2controller.kext when i did the 10.5.2 upgrade, and your alps glidepad driver didn't work (no mouse after the first or the second reboot...) that's why i was wondering if it was possible for you tou upload your applePS2 controler in order to see if it works better ? but great work thought, i was wondering if it was possible thoses days and you came with a solution just in time ^^ thanks a lot for you work then !

Hey, I have a toshiba a205-s4587 using a synaptics driver running 10.5.2. I followed the instructions and now i have tapping on the trackpad. However, scrolling absolutely doesn't work. I do not have the trackpad tab in the Keyboard and Mouse Pane either. Any suggestions?

thanks ranova

So with this, you cannot use the trackpad to double click and drag?

I tired this with my m1330, after all said and done, the whole trackpad becomes scroll enable. And the supposed to be scrool areas (right and bottom part of the trackpad) can not scroll but work as trackpad. It needs to be reserved. I tried to play the maxX, maxY, minX, minY but it does not seem to work.

So you applied the driver and then updated to 10.5.2, and then copied over an applied applePS2controller.kext to fix the PS2 problems (http://forum.insanelymac.com/index.php?showtopic=87139&st=20)? If so, then it wont work because this "hack" is based off of that kext and FFScroll. If you reinstalled and followed the guide after updating to 10.5.2, it should work (if it worked before) again. My applePS2controller.kext is from the driver package found in the guide.


I will attach the applePS2controller.kext that was included in the driver package. Use Kext Helper to install it, and reboot.Did you run sudo /usr/local/bin/FFScrollDaemon in terminal after restarting the 2nd time? Its bugged (at least for me, in leopard) and does not load at all even after rebooting.


You can still do it, however its a little bit more tougher. You can change values around to make scrolling require a lot of pressure OR try to setup the side scrolling ( I couldnt get it to work offhand)Most of the laptops you guys are using come with two buttons, so its a good trade off to use that and have scroll enabled. All depends on your needs!


If you scroll by just lightly touching the trackpad, you need to change Property: zAcceptThreshold in the plist file and restart the daemon. Don't do it within FFScroll because the highest you can enter there is 61.. and right now its set at 80. Try setting it to 90, 100 or above. Higher the number, the more pressure it requires, BUT it is different for every trackpad!

thanks ranova - i'll try this over the weekend on my 1330

thanks ranova - i'll try this over the weekend on my 1330

hi would you send me the files (driver + plist file) please, the forum's fileserver is down, I think.
nam.thang@gmail.com
Thanks

yep, looks like the file server is down atm, Ill try to upload them to my webhost when I get home from work

here is a mirror for ffscroll driver package, plist, kext and kext helper:
http://rapidshare.com/files/93559636/2finger.zip.html

2-Finger scroll is not the same as the scroll areas (windows version of the Synaptics tuchpad)
,

thanks alot dude, got it work (magic # is 95)

Cool, does it work in both ways (horz and vert) ?

yup, i opened up a 1920x1200 image and just moved around the trackpad and works both ways, circulating around; thats the beauty of macbook's trackpad. I still need to tweak my settings, but for the most part it works pretty well, just needs some getting used to

yes work both way, 95, probably will buy a lottery tomorrow

what laptop model and trackpad do you have?

95 still works for me, but i feel that I have to press too hard. Does only 2-finger scroll for you, or does 1-finger also scroll?

1 finger works for me both way. 80 is way to sensitive, 90 is nice but still scroll when I don't want to. 95 seems to be the number!!
M1330 Synatics tochpad.

Hmm, weird, each touchpad must be calibrated\different.

where do I put the ffscrolldaemon and starupparameter files to?
I downloaded from yr minor link (rapid) but it seem does not a package installer.
Thx

I forgot to add the package installer to the zip file, you can grab it from the tutorial link. Give me a few to add it

edit: heres the updated file with all the files you will need:
http://rapidshare.com/files/93582903/2fingerscroll.zip.html

Thx, get it now, will post result later.

I actually think 1finger scrolling is much better on non-macbook trackpads. The macbook trackpads are HUGE, on the other hand the m1330's trackpad is like a quarter of macbooks .

Im really used to it now, so move the pointer and click with the tip of your finger and scroll with the bottom of your finger. works really well!

it working now, but it take time for trial and error to fix the pointer speed to works with scrolling.
- after install and copy all the needed files to their loacation, the pointer is moving extremly fast.
- change parameter of zthres... down to 60: scrolling ok but pointer speed too slow
- change to 75 scrolling is difficult to control, pointer ok but somtime pausing.

And I totaly agree
.

Anyway Thx, I do have a good time to try this.

right now Property: speedScale is set to Value: 1600, which, I believe is the DPI. You can turn that down to make it slower. But I recommend you go in the mouse\keyboard settings in System Preferences and turn down the track speed (mine is set to half way)

ranova, when you modify the zAcceptThreshold directly in the file does it prevent to load the Preference Pane?

I try to load it but is stuck at "loading FFScroll"

That happened to me when I did not manually copy over the plist files to both dirs and when I edited both under the ALPS and Synaptics section, I mustve typed something in wrong. Redownload the plist file and put them back in both directories and edit only under your section. Its kind of picky, FFScroll is...

thanks for the tip.

Hi, after a day my scrolling function not going smoothly any more. I need to touch the pad for 3, 4, 5 sec to be able to scroll with 1 finger, what parameter I need to change to make it more active (faster recognize scroll function) when i touch the pad and move my finger up, down (vertical scroll), left, or right (horizontal scroll)?

And I got the info during verbose mode:
Alkor: Starting.
Feb 23 19:51:29 localhost kernel[0]: Chosen model GMA 950
Feb 23 19:51:29 localhost kernel[0]: Alkor: Setting built-in=<data not shown>
Feb 23 19:51:29 localhost kernel[0]: Alkor: Setting AAPL,HasPanel=<data not shown>
Feb 23 19:51:29 localhost kernel[0]: Alkor: Setting AAPL,SelfRefreshSupported=<data not shown>
Feb 23 19:51:29 localhost kernel[0]: Alkor: Setting AAPL,NumFramebuffers=<data not shown>
Feb 23 19:51:29 localhost kernel[0]: Alkor: Setting AAPL,NumDisplays=<data not shown>
Feb 23 19:51:29 localhost kernel[0]: Alkor: Setting AAPL01,Depth=<data not shown>
Feb 23 19:51:29 localhost kernel[0]: Alkor: Setting AAPL01,Pipe=<data not shown>
Feb 23 19:51:29 localhost kernel[0]: Alkor: Setting AAPL01,DataJustify=<data not shown>

Is it correct loading for FFscroll data driver?

Wow, just wow - an easy to use tutorial not having to spend 30 minutes trying to figure out what's going on. Well written and pretty easy to use for novices.

Only thing I really need from my Dell XPS M1330 now is my Wifi cover to be fixed (I have a Dell Truemobile 1490 card just waiting to replace the Intel card but the screw is completely stripped!!! ARGH!!!! I've been waiting forever a week to get the bottom part of my computer replaced under warranty.)

2.) VGA out -- still not working with this laptop and GMA X3100, the screen gives me completely garbled display. However, with Kalway 10.5 DVD the external VGA works just fine, but the internal display doesn't. SOOO CLOSE yet so far.

You really should make that in bold text at the top! Besides that, yay! Works for me on my Latitude D820, although I still have a little tweaking and/or getting used to pushing hard to scroll to do. Thanks!

70 is the good number on a Vostro 1500

I have a little annoyance: since the driver update it's much difficult to tap to click, i have to concentrate and keep my hand incredibly still to make a tap - is there a parameter to adjust it to make it easier, more sensitive?

Well I installed the package and followed all the steps, everything seems in place, trackpad became much more sensetive, but I dont think scrolling is working atleast when I try to do it its not. am I not doing it right ? I`m on Dell e1505


Well it kinda works, but the way it scrolls is kinda unusable. WHen I press the finger on it, it just kinda starts going crazy..... DO I have to change the value in both places ?

Had to uninstall the mouse is a unusable too sensitive...... and starts scrolling while just using the mouse normally

that verbose mode looks like it is for your graphics display driver.anyways to change the sensitivity on acceptance of scroll is to change the value of zAcceptThreshold in both horizontal and vertical either under ALPS or Synaptics. Make the value lower to be more sensitive. also try moving the sensitivity slider up or down in the FFScroll app for both vertical and horizontal, read the tutorial again, as I have updated it with how to change settingsyea, it is difficult to tap now, but it is a trade off for scrolling function. You can try editing the tap threshold, Property: tapTolerence , I havent tried tweaking with that yet. Its a good thing there are two buttons on your laptops for the trackpad :)How I tap is exactly how I move the mouse on the trackpad, use the very tip of my finger to tap\move mouse, while the bottom of my finger is to scroll. Tap lightly and tap fast.did you change the tracking speed in the mouse\keyboard settings? try turning it down more than halfway. If scrolling is going crazy, you have to edit the zThreshold mentioned above. Try making it higher.

Changed the speed all the way down, its still sensitive, scrolling crazy is kinda in control, but no meter what value I put in the zThreshold it still tries to scroll in the most appropriate time, like its very sensitive....... I tried higher/lower had to finally uninstall(wify was going crazy)

what was the highest you set the threshold to? the original poster of the settings had his all the way up to 135.

130. I can try 135. Just wish it would actually need 2 fingers, cuz its too easily gets activated

I have installed it on a Vostro 1700, but since the first reboot the trackpad will only move in the y = -x direction (in the direction of +ve y), just clicking on the trackpad buttons increments the -xy position.

Any help would be great
Thanks

I've got a problem with my vostro 1700 too.
Of course, I haven't done any backup of my appleps2controller.kext and now, my mouse just moves to the left and up angle, I can do any other move!
Could you explain me what's wrong? I've tried to reinstall the drivers and follow the tuto but it doesn't work
Please, help

ibm r60
kalyway 10.5.1 updated to 10.5.2

after first reboot my trackpad became over-sensible. than i pressed "Fix errors", made one more reboot as it was told, and lost my tackpad... deamon started, but no any reaction. can't even click with trackpad buttons. I rolled back to backuped kext. ffscroll doesn't work with it (mean the original kext).

and now I'm trying to understand: should I forget about 2finger scrolling, or not all chances are lost?

does somebody with a vostro success to have 2 fingers scrolling?

Works for me pretty well with zAcceptThreshold at 135. Yeah, it's basically one-finger scroll, and it kills dragging windows for me (have to use physical left-click)...

I'm not sure whether I'll stick with it or go back to the old-fashioned spacebar/shift+spacebar scrolling.

Thanks for the great work!

Snoomy,
I ran into identical issues on my Lenovo T60p. Once I did get my trackpad working with the driver I could move it around for about 2-3 seconds, then the mouse cursor would freeze. I tried hooking up an external keyboard/mouse after this happened to restart the daemon, but no luck. The trackpad still wouldn't work. This happened after every successive restart.

I'm just using the sidebar in windows or just using Spacebar/Shift-spacebar...it sucks, but it'll have to do. I try to keep an external mouse handy for when I'm on the laptop at work, etc.

-P2

I am having the same problem on my Vostro 1400. I am curious what is up. The mouse also will "freak out" and register right/left clicks while scrolling in the up/left direction. Same issues with buttons as you. help!

Hi, i have installed this, and it works.

Just one issue. The mouse have become very shaky... when i hold my finger still on the touchpad the cursor is still moving around a small area. which makes it very hard to hit anything.

When i try to calibrate nothing happens when i press the done button.

Anyone who have fixed this issue?

I was experiencing the issue with the mouse freak out listed above. Now I tried to uninstall and it does not seem to work! My trackpad is still freaking out. I have removed FFScroll from my machine entirely and also replaces the one .kext it changed, still broke. HELP!