SYNTOUCH for DOS
Guide to Option Settings
CONFIGURING THE SYNTOUCH DRIVER
==============================
The SYNTOUCH driver is preconfigured with default settings
that many people find suitable for general use. However, it
also supports a wide range of hardware and software settings
to handle almost any situation.
You can override the default settings by adding option
switches to the SYNTOUCH command line, or through statements
in the MOUSE.INI configuration file. Command line options
are more convenient for temporary adjustments or frequently
changed items, while MOUSE.INI is the better place for your
long-term preferences. This distinction reflects the fact
that SYNTOUCH reads the MOUSE.INI settings only when you
first load the driver into memory. Therefore, any changes to
MOUSE.INI will not take effect until you either reboot the
system or remove the driver from memory and reload it.
Conversely, most of the resident driver settings can be
changed simply by issuing new SYNTOUCH commands.
During its initial load, SYNTOUCH normally looks for
MOUSE.INI in the same directory where the driver resides. To
specify a different location, set the MOUSE environment
variable to the desired drive and path (e.g., SET
MOUSE=C:\BIN) before loading the driver. This technique lets
you keep multiple copies of MOUSE.INI for different
purposes, without wasting disk space on identical copies of
the driver.
TESTING YOUR INSTALLATION
=========================
From the DOS prompt, type SYNTOUCH TEST to run a simple
diagnostic test built into the driver. If the driver loads
successfully (or was already loaded before this command),
the following line will appear after the copyright and
status messages:
-- Test mode active: press a key to quit --
While test mode is active, a mouse cursor appears on the
current DOS screen, tracking the motion of your pointing
device. The test mode cursor also responds to button presses
by changing to the letter "P" (primary), "S" (secondary),
"A" (auxiliary), or "*" (multiple buttons).
When you are finished with test mode, press a keyboard key
to quit and return to the DOS prompt.
REFERENCE: OPTION SETTINGS
==========================
This section provides full details on all SYNTOUCH command
line switches and MOUSE.INI statements, including background
information and explanatory notes.
You can type SYNTOUCH /? from the DOS prompt at any time to
display a summary of the command line options. (This assumes
SYNTOUCH.COM is in the current directory or on your DOS
PATH.)
Mouse Type
----------
The first time you run a newly installed SYNTOUCH driver, it
automatically searches for supported mouse types on various
hardware ports. This search may take up to several seconds.
If it succeeds (as it usually does), the result is written
to MOUSE.INI so future loads can avoid the delay. No option
switches are needed in this case.
NOTE: As used in this document, the term "mouse"
refers to any compatible pointing device, including
trackpads and trackballs as well as conventional mice.
Certain mouse types or nonstandard ports cannot be detected;
in these cases, you must supply more information to the
driver. Use the material in this section to determine the
appropriate command line options. When you find the right
switch or switches (and verify that the mouse is working
properly), place the equivalent settings in MOUSE.INI to
indicate your configuration.
The MouseType setting and associated switches actually
describe the computer port where your mouse is attached.
Because these options address the same ports as the driver's
automatic search, their most common use is simply to speed
the loading process. Users with multiple pointing devices
can also use this method to specify which device should be
activated. The following list matches the search order used
by the driver:
Switch MOUSE.INI
------ -------------------
/Z MouseType = PS2
/C1 MouseType = Serial1
/C2 MouseType = Serial2
/C3 MouseType = Serial3
/C4 MouseType = Serial4
/I1 MouseType = InPort1
/I2 MouseType = InPort2
/B MouseType = Bus
Serial mice can be further classified by their low-level
data formats, named here for the originating vendors. This
option is mandatory for Mouse Systems compatible mice, which
unlike other types cannot be detected through software. (For
the same reason, Mouse Systems compatibles also require an
explicit port number unless used on the default COM1.)
Switch MOUSE.INI Comments
------ -------------------------- -----------
/MI CompatibleWith = Microsoft 2-button
/LOM CompatibleWith = LogitechM "M+" series
/LOC CompatibleWith = LogitechC "C" series
/MO CompatibleWith = MouseSystems 3-button
Adding a "!" character to any of the serial format options
(e.g., "SYNTOUCH /MI!" or "CompatibleWith = Microsoft!")
tells the driver to force the specified installation, even
if the mouse does not respond to detection attempts. If you
specify the Mouse Systems format (always undetectable), the
"!" is assumed.
The remaining cases which require more information involve
nonstandard ports, especially custom serial ports. If your
system is in this category, you probably already know about
it, having acquired such specialized hardware for your own
reasons. Otherwise, installation failures are more likely
due to physical problems such as loose connections or
hardware malfunctions.
Before turning to the most general case, we must note a lack
of uniformity among the "standard" serial port designations.
Ports COM1 and COM2 are assumed to use the same addresses
and interrupts on all systems, but COM3 and COM4 are not:
Port AT-Bus PS/2 (Microchannel)
---- ----------- -------------------
COM1 03F8h, IRQ4 03F8h, IRQ4
COM2 02F8h, IRQ3 02F8h, IRQ3
COM3 03E8h, IRQ4 3220h, IRQ3
COM4 02E8h, IRQ3 3228h, IRQ3
If the driver does not recognize your use of COM3 or COM4,
it may be misinterpreting your system type. You can override
the automatic determination by adding the suffix "A" or "P"
to the serial port command line switch. For example, /C3P
specifies COM3 with PS/2-compatible addressing, while /C4A
specifies COM4 with AT-compatible addressing. If the
override works, you can supply the equivalent base address
and IRQ through MOUSE.INI, as described next.
The most flexible way of specifying a serial port requires
both a base port address (3 or 4 hexadecimal digits) and IRQ
number, using the following syntax:
Switch MOUSE.INI
------ -----------------------------
/BAx BaseAddress = x (hexadecimal)
/IRQn IRQnumber = n (2-5, 7, 10-15)
If you specify a base address, you must also include the IRQ
number. (In this case, any /Cn switch or MouseType setting
is ignored. However, you can still use the serial format
switches or CompatibleWith setting). Be careful with these
parameters, as incorrect values can disrupt other devices!
When specified without a base address, the IRQ parameter is
assumed to modify an otherwise standard port designator.
This usage also applies to the InPort and Bus mouse types,
provided that the hardware can be suitably configured.
Button Mapping
--------------
The following options let you swap or rearrange the
available mouse buttons to suit your convenience. With a
three-button mouse, you can also redefine the third button
to provide a click lock function (described next).
Switch MOUSE.INI
------ -------------------------
/KPnSm PrimaryButton = n (1-3)
SecondaryButton = m (1-3)
To describe the button actions seen by your applications, we
use the terms Primary, Secondary and Auxiliary instead of
Left, Right and Middle. This more precise usage emphasizes
the fact that applications do not read the physical buttons.
In other words, what they consider a "left click" comes from
whichever button you designate as Primary.
The mapping options refer to physical buttons by number:
3-button mouse: left = 1, middle = 2, right = 3.
2-button mouse: left = 1, . . . right = 3.
With a 2-button mouse, the driver also accepts references to
button 2 as the right button. But calling it button 3 has
the advantage of compatibility with all mouse types.
Turning to examples, one common use of button mapping
reverses the primary and secondary buttons for left-handers,
so they can perform most mouse operations with the index
finger. This is accomplished through the command switch
/KP3S1 or setting PrimaryButton = 3 and SecondaryButton = 1.
With 3-button mice, note that you do not specify the
auxiliary button directly. Instead, when you specify the
primary and secondary buttons, the driver automatically
assigns the auxiliary role to the remaining button. For
example, /KP1S2 moves the secondary role to the middle
button, so the right button becomes the auxiliary.
Click Lock
----------
Because few applications recognize more than two buttons,
the click lock option provides an alternate function for the
auxiliary button on a 3-button mouse (normally the middle
button, unless the buttons have been remapped.) This option
has no effect on a 2-button mouse.
Switch MOUSE.INI
------ ---------------
/KC ClickLock = On
/K ClickLock = Off
With click lock enabled, pressing and releasing the
auxiliary button is equivalent to pressing and holding the
primary button. The primary button stays down (as seen by
applications) until you the next time you press and release
any button.
In other words, click lock makes the auxiliary button act
like a latched version of the primary button. It lets you
use the mouse to drag objects without having to hold any
buttons down.
Orientation
-----------
This option lets you rotate the apparent direction of mouse
motion, as viewed on the display. Such action is required
when a clip-on trackball is mounted on the left side of a
laptop keyboard. (Otherwise the screen pointer appears to
move backwards and upside down.) Less dramatic adjustments
can also be helpful to mouse users, by compensating for
different hand positions.
Switch MOUSE.INI
------ -------------------------
/Or RotationAngle = r (0-359)
In the case of the left-mounted trackball, the /O180 switch
will provide 180 degrees of rotation, compensating for the
mounting position. Check the result, making additional fine
adjustments as necessary, until you are satisfied with how
the screen pointer tracks your physical motion. After
finding your preferred rotation angle, edit MOUSE.INI to
store this setting for future use.
Mouse users can simply experiment with different settings,
or take a more analytical approach: Imagine a "north/south"
line on your desk or mouse pad, in the direction that feels
most natural for up-and-down screen motion. Estimate the
rotation angle from this axis, proceeding clockwise to the
centerline of the mouse. The angle must be expressed as a
positive number. For example, 30 degrees counter-clockwise
would be expressed as /O330 (i.e., 360 minus 30). This
example setting might describe a right-handed user who
prefers holding the mouse with a slight inward twist.
Memory Regions
--------------
To maximize the amount of conventional memory (below 640K)
available to DOS applications, the SYNTOUCH driver attempts
to move its resident portion to other regions, if available.
These regions include expanded memory (EMS 3.0 or higher),
the High Memory Area (64K beginning at 1MB), and Upper
Memory Blocks (between 640K and 1MB).
As long as your memory manager or other necessary system
files are loaded before the driver, this relocation proceeds
automatically. You don't have to use the MS-DOS LOADHIGH or
DEVICEHIGH commands, or their third-party equivalents. In
fact, the driver's built-in relocator often succeeds in
cases where external loaders fail. It also has the ability
to split the driver between multiple regions.
The following options provide explicit control over the
driver's memory usage, letting you enable or disable access
to each of the supported memory types:
Switch MOUSE.INI
------ ------------
/E Memory = EMS
/E- Memory = NoEMS
/HI Memory = HMA
/HI- Memory = NoHMA
/U Memory = UMB
/U- Memory = NoUMB
/LOW Memory = LowMem
You can specify multiple memory settings (separated by
commas) in a single MOUSE.INI statement. For example, the
following syntax will prevent all relocation attempts:
Memory = NoEMS, NoHMA, NoUMB
In the example above, the simple statement "Memory = LowMem"
or the /LOW switch would yield the same result.
Power Management
----------------
In some cases, the power conserving features of laptop
computers or energy-efficient desktop systems may interfere
with normal mouse operation. SYNTOUCH uses two strategies to
address this problem:
* Advanced Power Management (APM) is an industry standard
specification that allows hardware and software from
different vendors to cooperate in various power saving
modes. SYNTOUCH includes full APM support as a standard
feature, requiring no option settings or switches.
* Mouse Power Management is a SYNTOUCH option intended for
older systems (primarily laptops) whose power saving
modes are not APM-compatible. It allows the driver to
detect and recover from power interruptions that may not
fully restore the hardware state. This option is normally
disabled, because few systems require it.
Switch MOUSE.INI
------ -------------------------
/MPM MousePowerManagement = On
/MPM- MousePowerManagement = Off
If your mouse behaves erratically after returning from
"sleep" mode, try the /MPM switch. If the problem goes away,
you can then edit MOUSE.INI to change the default setting.
Sensitivity
-----------
Sensitivity settings define how much the on-screen pointer
moves in response to physical motion of your mouse or
compatible pointing device.
As shown below, you can set different sensitivities for
horizontal and vertical motion. This feature can be helpful
in specific situations, such as navigating spreadsheets.
However, a uniform setting for both dimensions (specified by
the /S switch) usually feels more natural.
Switch MOUSE.INI
------ ---------------------------------
/Hn HorizontalSensitivity = n (5-100)
/Vn VerticalSensitivity = n (5-100)
/Sn - n/a -
Each setting takes values from 5 to 100, in steps of 5.
(Other numbers in this range are rounded to the nearest
valid step.) The default values are 50 in each dimension.
Smaller values make the pointer easier to control, while
larger values let you cover more of the screen with less
hand motion.
Acceleration
------------
Acceleration profiles provide a dynamic adjustment of the
current sensitivity settings. In other words, sensitivity is
concerned only with how FAR you move the physical device,
while acceleration also depends on how FAST you move it.
The driver includes four built-in acceleration profiles,
which you select by number (profile 2, the default, gives
"Medium" acceleration):
Switch MOUSE.INI Description
------ ----------------------------- ------------
/P1 ActiveAccelerationProfile = 1 Slow
/P2 ActiveAccelerationProfile = 2 Medium
/P3 ActiveAccelerationProfile = 3 Fast
/P4 ActiveAccelerationProfile = 4 Unaccelerated
The descriptive names also appear in MOUSE.INI, along with
data tables that define each of the standard profiles. By
editing the data, serious hackers can create their own
custom profiles. (This is not a project for the novice!)
Pointer Appearance
==================
Forcing the Default Text Cursor
-------------------------------
Enabling this option prevents applications from changing the
standard inverse-block "software cursor" used as a mouse
pointer in most text-based programs. It has no effect on
graphics-based programs, or on those using the text-mode
"hardware cursor" provided by the video adapter.
Switch MOUSE.INI
------ ------------------------
/M ForceDefaultCursor = Off
/M1 ForceDefaultCursor = On
Some applications use different mouse pointer types to
provide useful status information. Therefore, this option
should be restricted to specific programs whose changes make
the pointer too difficult to see.
Display Delay for LCD Screens
-----------------------------
This option addresses a common problem with passive-matrix
liquid crystal displays (LCDs). Rapidly moving images, such
as the mouse pointer, may seem to disappear because the
display responds too slowly for each intermediate position
to become visible.
Switch MOUSE.INI
------ -----------------------------
/Nn CursorDisplayDelay = n (0-10)
Increasing the delay between screen updates gives each image
more time to register on the LCD display. On the other hand,
large delay values tend to make the pointer feel sluggish
and less precise in its response. The best strategy is to
use the lowest delay setting that keeps the moving pointer
from getting lost.
Pointer Color Options (Graphics Only)
-------------------------------------
Several color-related options affect the way the mouse
pointer appears in most graphics-based applications.
First, the PointerColor options are effective in all
graphics video modes. Assuming the current program has not
replaced the standard mouse pointer with its own design,
these options produce the following results:
* Normal (the default setting) gives a bright white arrow
pointer with black outline.
* Reverse gives a black arrow pointer with bright white
outline.
* Transparent gives a "see through" pointer that changes
color depending on the material it passes over (an effect
similar to the standard text-mode mouse pointer).
Switch MOUSE.INI
------ ---------------------
/PCN PointerColor = Normal
/PCR PointerColor = Reverse
/PCT PointerColor = Transparent
Additional control is available in 16-color and 256-color
graphics modes, provided that the pointer is actually being
drawn by the mouse driver (not the underlying application).
Referring to the normal arrow pointer and its outline as
Foreground and Background, you can change the colors used
for these elements through the following syntax:
Switch MOUSE.INI
------ ------------------------------------------
/PFn Foreground = color (default: Bright White)
/PBn Background = color (default: Black)
n Color Name n Color Name
--- ----------- --- --------------
0 Black 8 Bright Black
1 Blue 9 Bright Blue
2 Green 10 Bright Green
3 Cyan 11 Bright Cyan
4 Red 12 Bright Red
5 Magenta 13 Bright Magenta
6 Yellow 14 Bright Yellow
7 White 15 Bright White
If you use the command line switches without numeric
arguments, they revert to the default values /PF15 /PB0.
Pointer Growth Options
----------------------
This option group lets you enhance the mouse pointer
visibility through various forms of static or dynamic
growth.
Switch MOUSE.INI
------ ---------------------
/PSS PointerSize = Small
/PSM PointerSize = Medium
/PSL PointerSize = Large
/PG Growth = On
/PG- Growth = Off
/PZ Zoomable = On
/PZ- Zoomable = Off
/PTn Threshold = n (1-100)
/PDn Delay = n (1-100)
The most important setting in this group is PointerSize,
which selects a small (default), medium or large pointer.
What you see on-screen will vary depending on the current
application (its video and mouse handling strategies) and on
the remaining settings:
* Small (the default setting) entirely disables all pointer
growth features, regardless of the other settings.
* Medium changes the text-mode mouse pointer to a tall and
wide cross shape. Depending on the Zoomable setting, the
standard graphics-mode pointer will either grow by 50% or
acquire a shadow highlight.
* Large changes the text-mode mouse pointer to a hollow box
shape, three times taller and wider than the small
setting. Depending on the Zoomable setting, the standard
graphics-mode pointer will either double in height and
width or acquire a shadow highlight.
The Growth setting controls whether the PointerSize effects
described above are static or dynamic:
* Growth = On applies the Medium or Large settings only
while the pointer is moving. When motion stops, the Small
pointer returns.
* Growth = Off (the default) keeps the specified size
constant, whether the pointer is moving or not.
The Zoomable setting controls how the Medium and Large
pointers actually appear in graphics-based applications.
This setting has no effect in text mode.
* Zoomable = On selects a "true growth" strategy, drawing
the Medium and Large pointers as magnified versions of
the Small pointer. This strategy provides the maximum
possible emphasis for difficult viewing conditions.
* Zoomable = Off (the default) substitutes a shadow effect
for the Medium and Large pointers. This strategy provides
less emphasis than zooming, while still making it easier
to follow the moving pointer.
Threshold and Delay values control the timing of PointerSize
effects when growth is enabled. When growth is disabled
(preventing the pointer from changing size), these settings
are ignored.
* Threshold specifies how fast the mouse can move (on a
scale of 1 to 100) before pointer growth occurs. A low
threshold triggers growth very easily, while higher
values require more motion. The default value is 20.
* Delay specifies how long pointer growth lasts (on a scale
of 1 to 100) after mouse motion stops. Low values cause
the pointer to shrink back quickly, while larger delays
allow more "settle" time. Each unit equals roughly one
tenth of a second. The default value is 3.
Command line switches make it easy to experiment with
various combinations of pointer settings. For example, try
"SYNTOUCH /PSL /PG /PZ /PF4 /PB12" to give your graphics-
based DOS programs a large, dynamic zooming red pointer with
a bright yellow outline. When you find the combination you
like best, translate the switches into MOUSE.INI settings,
where you can store them to replace the built-in defaults.
SYNAPTICS TOUCHPAD OPTIONS
==========================
The SYNTOUCH driver includes several features specific to
the Synaptics TouchPad. These options have no effect on
other pointing devices.
Touch Threshold
---------------
This option controls how much finger pressure is required to
register on the sensor. Lower numbers represent higher
sensitivity.
Switch MOUSE.INI
------ ------------------------------------
/Tn TouchThreshold = n (0-7, default: 3)
Tips for adjusting TouchThreshold for best performance:
* If the Synaptics TouchPad jitters constantly, even with
no finger present, then TouchThreshold is much too low.
* If the cursor hops around as you lower your finger onto
the sensor or lift your finger away, TouchThreshold may
be slightly too low.
* If the pad responds to the lightest touch, but not if the
finger is held slightly off the surface, then
TouchThreshold is about right.
* If the cursor feels "sticky" when you put your finger
down to move it, TouchThreshold may be slightly too high.
* If the cursor never moves when you touch your finger to
the pad, or only if you exert noticeable pressure with
your finger, then TouchThreshold is much too high.
Gestures
========
The Synaptics TouchPad allows the user to tap on the pad to
simulate mouse events such as clicking or dragging.
Switch MOUSE.INI
------ -----------------------------
/G- EnableGestures = Off
/G EnableGestures = On (default)
With "Off", tapping on the pad does not generate a click.
Only the physical switches can be used to generate clicks.
With "On", the options described below control the
correspondence of gestures to mouse button events.
Primary Gestures
----------------
When gestures are enabled, this option specifies which left
button actions can be simulated.
Switch MOUSE.INI
------ --------------------------------
/GPT PrimaryGestures = Tap
/GPD PrimaryGestures = Drag (default)
/GPL PrimaryGestures = DragLock
With "Tap", a light tap on the pad is equivalent to a click
of the left button switch. There is no way to simulate
holding the switch down ("dragging") using taps.
With "Drag", taps can generate both clicks and drags. The
drag gesture is like a double-click where the finger stays
on the pad on the second click. (Two short taps without
holding the finger down still work to generate a double-
click.) The drag ends as soon as the finger is lifted. If
you run out of travel during a drag, just hold down the
corresponding physical switch before lifting your finger.
With "DragLock", the drag gesture begins a locking drag. To
begin a drag, use the same gesture described above. The drag
continues until you tap again on the pad.
Secondary Gestures
------------------
When gestures are enabled, this option supports variants of
the tap and drag gestures for clicking the second (right)
mouse button.
Switch MOUSE.INI
------ ----------------------------------
/GSN SecondaryGestures = None (default)
/GSH SecondaryGestures = Hop
/GSC SecondaryGestures = Corner
To do a "Hop" gesture, lift the finger from the pad and
bring it down a good distance to the left or right of its
original position. Bring the finger down in a regular tap or
drag gesture to click or drag the right mouse button.
If hops are enabled, you must tap fairly close to where you
last held your finger, or lift your finger for a second or
two before tapping, in order to generate a left-button
click.
The "Corner" gesture is simply a normal tap or drag gesture
originating in a small zone at the upper right hand corner
of the pad. With this option selected, taps in the corner
zone will be interpreted as right button events; taps in
other locations will remain left button events.
Edge Motion
-----------
The edge motion option causes the cursor to glide in a
constant direction whenever the finger rests against one of
the four edges of the sensor pad. It allows the user to move
a large distance without lifting the finger; this is
especially useful for dragging objects across the screen
without using DragLock.
Switch MOUSE.INI
------ -------------------------------
/EM0 EdgeMotion = Off
/EM1 EdgeMotion = Drag (default)
/EM2 EdgeMotion = On
If EdgeMotion is "Drag", edge motion only occurs during a
drag gesture, not during normal pointing.
Switch MOUSE.INI
------ ----------------------------------------
/En EdgeMargins = L R T B (default: 5 5 5 5)
/ELn
/ERn
/ETn
/EBn
The MOUSE.INI syntax uses four integers in the range 0-15 to
specify the distance from each pad edge (left, right, top,
bottom) at which edge motion begins. From the command line,
use /En to set all margins to a single "n" value, or the
other switches to set the edge margins individually.
Increase the value for a particular edge if you find it hard
to produce edge motion on that edge; decrease the value if
you find edge motion coming on when you are still out in the
middle of the pad.
Virtual Buttons
---------------
Through gestures and/or physical buttons, the Synaptics
TouchPad normally behaves like a two-button mouse. However,
for times when a third button would be useful, this option
provides an alternative.
Switch MOUSE.INI
------ ------------------------
/VBn VirtualButtons = n (2,3)
With VirtualButtons=2 (default), the physical buttons act
like the left and right buttons of a standard mouse.
With VirtualButtons=3, the physical buttons act like the
middle and right buttons (respectively) of a three-button
mouse. Left button clicks may be produced through the tap
gesture.
NOTE: If gestures are disabled by the /G- switch or
the statement EnableGestures=Off, the virtual button
count is forced back to 2.
Download Driver Pack
After your driver has been downloaded, follow these simple steps to install it.
Expand the archive file (if the download file is in zip or rar format).
If the expanded file has an .exe extension, double click it and follow the installation instructions.
Otherwise, open Device Manager by right-clicking the Start menu and selecting Device Manager.
Find the device and model you want to update in the device list.
Double-click on it to open the Properties dialog box.
From the Properties dialog box, select the Driver tab.
Click the Update Driver button, then follow the instructions.
Very important: You must reboot your system to ensure that any driver updates have taken effect.
For more help, visit our Driver Support section for step-by-step videos on how to install drivers for every file type.