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Setting up a WP8060U Graphics Tablet on Linux

Linux has wonderful Wacom graphics tablet support. They work almost entirely out of the box with no configuration, unless you want to do extra. However, the one I have is not a Wacom, and is in fact an off-brand one from 15 years ago or so. Setting it up on Linux isn’t as easy. Here’s how, I guess.

In lsusb, my Manhattan-branded WP8060U graphics tablet shows up as such:

Bus 001 Device 005: ID 5543:0005 UC-Logic Technology Corp. Tablet WP8060U

So, by default, Xorg will try to use it with libinput, however, libinput can’t handle it because of an ‘internal bug’ - a bug that has been around since the kernel 3.x days, apparently. To get it to work at all, you have to force it to use evdev instead. So, create a file /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/61-wp8060u.conf:

Section "InputClass"  
       Identifier "Graphics tablet mouse"  
       MatchIsPointer "on"  
       MatchProduct "UC-LOGIC Tablet WP8060U Mouse"  
       MatchDevicePath "/dev/input/event*"  
       Driver "evdev"  
       # Apply custom Options below.  
       Option "KeepShape" "on"  
EndSection  
Section "InputClass"  
       Identifier "Graphics tablet pen"  
       MatchIsTablet "on"  
       MatchProduct "UC-LOGIC Tablet WP8060U Pen"  
       MatchDevicePath "/dev/input/event*"  
       Driver "evdev"  
       # Apply custom Options below.  
       Option "KeepShape" "on"  
EndSection  

I should note that the KeepShape option doesn’t actually have any effect, which is inconvenient when you’re using a 4:3 graphics tablet on a 16:9 screen. If anyone manages to get that working I’d appreciate it if you could tell me how. Anyway, following a rebooot/restart of your X session and etc., your tablet should work.

On the upside, at least all the features of the thing work on Linux. There are no signed drivers for Windows which means you’re stuck with a generic driver lacking pressure sensitivity, and the OS X situation is even worse - on 10.4 on PPC, it could move the mouse but not click. On 10.11 on my T420, it could click but not move the mouse.

By Izaya
2017/12/24 23:30 +1100

Tags: tech linux art hardware

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