Suggestion: Improved "Accidental Trackpad Input"

I never had a problem with the trackpad on my PowerBook G3/Firewire, but when I got the 15" PowerBook G4 (hi-res), text editing became extremely frustrating.
I like using the trackpad tapping for clicking, so I have that enabled, but the new trackpad is just too close to my hands when I type, so I get "accidental taps" all over the place while typing.
Of course the OS has the "ignore accidental trackpad input" setting and enabling it has saved my sanity as far as text editing is concerned. Unfortunately I find that it does a little bit too much, in that it pretty much ignores the trackpad as long as you are typing.
I found the SideTrack trackpad driver and tried it for a few minutes. Setting the top left and right corners to do nothing on taps proved to be a perfect solution for ignoring accidental taps in those areas. The only downside to this trackpad driver is that it doesn't know how to do two-finger scrolling, which I have come to like very much. The author of SideTrack is investigating the possibility of implementing two-finger scrolling and I would love to pay the shareware fee once that feature is also working.
Meanwhile, I'm wondering if it would be possible for Apple to implement something like "ignore the top left and right corners of the trackpad for tapping" option in the standard driver?

the cursor jumps everywhere
Hmm... In fact, the cursor doesn't jump everywhere. When it jumps, it jumps to a specific, predictable place: it moves to the exact spot in the text where you last left your trackpad/mouse pointer.
When you are typing and you use the trackpad (or a mouse) to move the cursor, make sure to move the trackpad/mouse pointer either out of or below the text field within which you are working so that when you do brush the trackpad the trackpad pointer will move either to the end of a line or to the end of the text field.
I would also suggest that you look into a replacement trackpad driver called SideTrack. In the SideTrack preference pane in System Preferences, there is a filtering feature called 'Ignore trackpad while typing,' which is much more useful than the PB's 'Ignore accidental trackpad input.' This filter is adjusted with a slider that enables you to set the duration of trackpad filtering that occurs after each keystroke. You can set the slider to anywhere between 200 ms and 2 seconds. (SideTrack adds quite a few additional features to the trackpad, as well: corner taps to perform software actions and/or actions that you normally would only be able to perform with a six button mouse; vertical and horizontal scrolling on the trackpad's edges,and more. Definitely worth the $15 shareware fee.)
Good luck.
Tuttle

Similar Messages

Ignore accidental trackpad input?

Like a lot of people, I first thought something was not working until I discovered the Ignore accidental trackpad input checkbox. After experimenting, I find it's better to have it ON than Off, but there's that pause after an accidental input before being able to do something.
Is there some key combination that will return control to me, or is there a sensitivity setting somewhere that I haven't found? Or do I just have to be patient and keep my fat fingers off until it's ready?
Thanks,
MacBook 2GHz Mac OS X (10.4.8) Dual USB iBook, G3 PowerBook, ruby iMac (Windows-free home since 1984)

From my own experience, I would say that it's not a pause, but rather that it is ignoring the sides.
As soon as you go to the middle of the trackpad, it starts moving-so you don't have to be patient, but you do have to aim for the middle.

"ignore accidental trackpad input" gone?

I read about the option "ignore accidental trackpad input" in the help pages, in several fora and in Pogues's Missing Manual, but I can't find it. There is a checkbox "ignore trackpad when mouse is connected", but not the "accidental input" one. Has this option been removed in 10.5.4? Has it been forgotten in the german localization (which I use)? Is there any other way to turn this feature on?

I don't know if this actually does something, because the option is not in ~/Library/Preferences/.GlobalPreferences.plist file by default. However, the option is ignoreTypingFilter, and you can set it thusly:
defaults write .GlobalPreferences com.apple.mouse.ignoreTypingFilter -bool true
I figured this out by looking here:
http://www.macgeekery.com/gspot/2007-04/sneakilykilling_thetrackpad
And then getting a friend to check his macbook for the correct variable for this feature.
Note that this may not cause any functional difference, or it may interfere with gestures. Please post and tell us if you think it's doing something. Of course, to turn it off simply do
defaults write .GlobalPreferences com.apple.mouse.ignoreTypingFilter -bool false
or open the file and remove the lines:
<key>com.apple.mouse.ignoreTypingFilter</key>
<true/>
Note that for all I know, it needs to be
<integer>1</integer>
and not <true/>
Please let us know if this works!

Disable "Ignore accidental trackpad input"

Tiger and Leopard included a setting, "Ignore accidental trackpad input" which I would always UNCHECK, but this has been omitted from Snow Leopard according to this:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3009
Is there a command-line utility or file to edit or similar hack to effectively DISABLE "Ignore accidental trackpad input"?
That is, as one who happens to type with wrists raised, I'm finding that I often must tap three or more times for a click to register after typing (or press harder for the mechanical/audible click) on a MacBookPro5,3/unibody. (Subsequent clicks without typing again are fine, but those first few clicks getting ignored really disrupt the thought-process.)
Yes, I realize that the software is doing what most people would prefer, but I'd rather be the one to decide what's best for me.
Thanks!

One step closer to an OS native setting...
The programming documentation indicates that this should be a simple matter of toggling the default value for: setWantsRestingTouches.
See "Resting Touches" section of:
http://developer.apple.com/mac/library/documentation/Cocoa/Conceptual/EventOverv iew/HandlingTouchEvents/HandlingTouchEvents.html
Apparently, this particular method would require each application to call that method.
Ideally, there should be an OS level toggle to override the default.
Hoping that there might be a straight-forward translation of such methods, I'm running with the following for now:
via Terminal shell:
defaults write -g com.apple.trackpad.setWantsRestingTouches -bool TRUE
(However, you can set just about any key to any value with the 'defaults' command, so lack of an error doesn't necessarily mean that this will work as intended.)
Anyone have further insight to this type of approach? Thanks.

HT201822 Is there a way to improve Apple's default "ignore accidental trackpad input" function?

I find I frequently end up typing in the wrong place and/or deleting text because the size of the trackpad leads me to touch it accidentally, usually with my right hand below the thumb. Is there any way to improve on the built in function in Lion?

http://www.apple.com/feedback/macosx.html

Has the "accidental trackpad input" option disappeared in Mac OS X 10.7 Lion?

It doesn't seem to be under any of the usual (mouse, trackpad, universal access) preference panes.

This sounds like a compatibility issue with the software you are using. I recommend you contact the software vendor for a Lion-compatible update.

Ignore accidental trackpad is not there

I recently bought a MacBook Pro at BestBuy.. It's my first Mac and I LOVE IT, but I've got one major issue.
I'm constantly accidentally hitting the trackpad while typing sending the mouse all over everywhere... I read on the web that I can use an option to "ignore accidental trackpad imputs" but that option does not exist on my system... What gives?
it's got the Lion OS, brand new computer.
Any help would be appreciated.

shldr2thewheel wrote:
The "Ignore accidental trackpad input" trackpad option no longer appears in System Preferences. Functionality for "Ignore accidental trackpad input" is enabled automatically, by default for these computers.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3009
Under Mountain Lion it doesn't appear to be enabled by default, there's seemingly no way to turn it on, and it's driving me nuts.

Suggested improvements

Installation
1. Remove the PKGADD dependancy. Pkgadd requires root access to a
machine, iPS is likely to be installed by developers, not sysadmins.
2. Install Java in the same directory tree as iPS. too many applications
use /usr/java and expect different java versions.
3. Include 'optimization' settings; i.e java flags, documented in the
release notes as part of the install.
4. During install request a username to run the gateway, web server and
ldap server as. Again changing this is documented as an option in the
release notes. If installing as a non-root user, this user should be
used.
Admin.
1. Make gateway url rewriting changes on a per machine basis. Too many
sites use the same javascript variables, i.e; url, src, pathname, html;
some sites require rewrites others do not.
2. Add comment fields to the admin interface, if I make a change I want
others to know why.
3. Provide backup/restore scripts. As part of the development/production
phase I've written scripts to make an image of a production ips setup,
which I can then install on a development system. A few 'sed' statements
deal with the new hostname and IP addresses, and a few 'pkginfo' checks
need removing, but this works.
Support.
1. Make 'Hot Patches' available on the iPS web site. Or a minimum the
release notes, so I know whether I need it.
2. List 'public' versions of bugs/rfe's on the iPS web site. Something
similar to 'SunSolve' would be great. If I have a problem I can save a
lot of time by finding a bug report online. Most technical Sun/Netscape
customers rarely ever use telephone support.
3. Remove the 'black box' support restrictions on the LDAP and web
servers. If I want to add a CGI script to my web server, iPS should
still be supported, just not my CGI script.
Licensing.
1. Remove the crazy per CPU prices for the 'secure' version. All this
is, is an implementation of the Mozilla NSS code which is freely
available. Many companies offer faster H/W SSL solutions at far lower
prices. Whether the URL rewriter is only available as part of the
'secure' version I've never had a clear answer.
2. List prices on the iplanet web site. When I try a product I want to
know how much it'll cost me, and right now I have to have an iplanet
sales rep visit me ...I hate sales reps :)
You may not believe it from the above, but I do like the product.
-Mark

Mark,
Thank you for this good list of suggested improvements. I've forwarded it
to the iPS product manager.
WRT the one about licensing for the secure version, let me try to give a
clear answer. The extra licensing fees for "secure" mode is for the
gateway component of iPS and the features it provides. This includes:
     - reverse proxy with URL rewriting
     - netlet VPN
     - certificate-based authentication
The term "secure" in this context can be a bit confusing. It does not
refer to whether the iPS itself is access using SSL. Rather, it refer to
the security of the entire intranet that is accessible via the portal. In
secure mode, the only access point for the entire intranet is the iPS
gateway, so the intranet can be made secure. In open mode, the iPS server
is accessed directly as are any other web servers in the intranet because
there is no gateway. Even in open mode, the iPS server can be configured to
use SSL. But that doesn't do anything about the other web servers and
resources that might be necessary for a complete portal solution.
HTH.
Tom
Mark Godiver wrote:
>
Installation
1. Remove the PKGADD dependancy. Pkgadd requires root access to a
machine, iPS is likely to be installed by developers, not sysadmins.
2. Install Java in the same directory tree as iPS. too many applications
use /usr/java and expect different java versions.
3. Include 'optimization' settings; i.e java flags, documented in the
release notes as part of the install.
4. During install request a username to run the gateway, web server and
ldap server as. Again changing this is documented as an option in the
release notes. If installing as a non-root user, this user should be
used.
Admin.
1. Make gateway url rewriting changes on a per machine basis. Too many
sites use the same javascript variables, i.e; url, src, pathname, html;
some sites require rewrites others do not.
2. Add comment fields to the admin interface, if I make a change I want
others to know why.
3. Provide backup/restore scripts. As part of the development/production
phase I've written scripts to make an image of a production ips setup,
which I can then install on a development system. A few 'sed' statements
deal with the new hostname and IP addresses, and a few 'pkginfo' checks
need removing, but this works.
Support.
1. Make 'Hot Patches' available on the iPS web site. Or a minimum the
release notes, so I know whether I need it.
2. List 'public' versions of bugs/rfe's on the iPS web site. Something
similar to 'SunSolve' would be great. If I have a problem I can save a
lot of time by finding a bug report online. Most technical Sun/Netscape
customers rarely ever use telephone support.
3. Remove the 'black box' support restrictions on the LDAP and web
servers. If I want to add a CGI script to my web server, iPS should
still be supported, just not my CGI script.
Licensing.
1. Remove the crazy per CPU prices for the 'secure' version. All this
is, is an implementation of the Mozilla NSS code which is freely
available. Many companies offer faster H/W SSL solutions at far lower
prices. Whether the URL rewriter is only available as part of the
'secure' version I've never had a clear answer.
2. List prices on the iplanet web site. When I try a product I want to
know how much it'll cost me, and right now I have to have an iplanet
sales rep visit me ...I hate sales reps :)
You may not believe it from the above, but I do like the product.
-Mark

Chinese Trackpad Input brokecomm, barrier for millions using a Mac notebook

Hello World. To those who speak, read and write in chinese.
I was just playing with the chinese trackpad input and it rocks, I liked it since it first appeared on the iphone, but SL just put it on a whole new level. Talk about localization....go Apple Inc.
Note: One thing I would love to see on a future build of MAC OS is localization of lang.'s using text to speech. Now that would be some $&^(^(*&....

One thing I would love to see on a future build of MAC OS is localization of lang.'s using text to speech.
I think this is present already, but you have to acquire the voices elsewhere.
http://atmac.org/text-to-speech-in-languages-other-than-english/

OS10.7 trackpad inputs with an older trackpad.

Does anyone know if the new trackpad inputs coming with 10.7 work on an older macbook pro that still has the trackpad button? Or are they designed just to work with the newer models that have no button. I've got a late 2006 2.16GHz core 2 duo model. . .

As has already been announced Lion will support gestures only on those trackpads that can support them and to the limit of what the trackpad can handle.

No keyboard or trackpad input

My four month old MBP has recently been sporadically deciding to ignore input from the built in keyboard and trackpad. The computer continues to run fine otherwise, and will recognize input from external keyboards and mice even after internal keyboard and trackpad failure. The only solution i have found yet is to restart the computer. Sometimes even restarting the computer does not work, and i replace the battery before the trackpad and keyboard work, which may just be superstition on my part. I cannot tell whether the failure is hardware or software related. The failure occurs about once a day almost at random, although usually after i wake the computer from sleep. Any suggestions?
thanks,
emegram

Check to be sure all updates are downloaded. If this is the case and it's still happening, you may wish to contact Apple or book an appointment with a genius at a store so they can diagnose it and likely replace those components.
Unless a driver somehow corrupted (unlikely in OS X, but possible) the only other possibly besides outright failure is that the wire may be loose somehow.
Nick

Chinese trackpad input not working - won't insert characters

Hi all,
I've been trying to set up chinese character input for an hour already, and no luck yet. I've read tons of articles here but the solutions mentioned made no difference.
I open TextEdit (or Chrome, Notes, Safari... any app, really) and hit ctrl-shift-space bar. The little handwriting recognition window comes up. I draw a character, it's recognized correctly, I tap the appropriate place to insert it... and nothing happens.
It doesn't seem to be a font issue, because even if I draw a 3, for instance, it is simply not inserted.
I'm using 10.8.5
Thanks

Abtrav wrote:
UPDATE MY KEYBOARD IS NOW BUGING OUT (HENCE CAPSLOCK> AND NO PUNCUATION) ALSO I"VE BEEN USING MY DRAWING TABLET AS A TRACKPAD AND THAT SEEMS TO BE HAVING DIFFICULTIES AS WELL
That is a sign of an expanding battery. Bring the MBP to an Apple store genius bar ASAP.
You can remove the battery if you have a #00 Phillips driver for the back panel and a #0 Triwing driver to remove the battery. The Triwing may not be easy to get locally.
Ciao.

Suggestions & improvement - Please Read.

I don't know if this is fixed in the new version of J2SE 5.0 , if not then it should take it in consideration.
Improvement Forum - Should there are a specfic forum for Java Improvement? Because it feel even if i post it here i don't know if anyone reads it and take into Account.
Installation - I think the ne J2SE 5 has improved on that with the help of Wise Installer. Now instalation looks much more professional. But there is always some files such as temporary extraction files left. Which takes up a lot of space. I hope this could be cleaned up. Or at least have an option to clean up "ALL" unwanted files.
Installation Location - I think this has been changed to a folder inside Program Files in the latest beta. Which is a Good thing.
Mutiple Installation - I think user are starting to complain. With the help some Extremely good Java Desktop Program; namely Azureus Bt client. More people are willing to install JRE. However, Opera includes its own Java, other includes as well. Shouldn't these program Detect Java inside this computer? I think J2SE5 should have more guideline to programmer on that to avoid people downloading / installing more then they need.
Enable Java Loading as Services - There should be an options for this. But should always remain untick and allow us to decide whether or not to use this. This would reduces the loading time of most app as Java has already started.
Thanks for reading

Improvement Forum - Should there are a specfic forum for Java Improvement? Because it feel even if i
post it here i don't know if anyone reads it and take into Account.There actually are people working for Sun who are actively searching the forums for new suggestions
here's the link:
http://forum.java.sun.com/forum.jsp?forum=53

Help with MacBook Pro Trackpad- Input Chinese Option

I'm trying to use the Chinese input trackpad option where you write characters on the trackpad and then select them, but whenever I select a character, it doesn't show up on the screen. It used to work before. How can I fix this?

For which os? Post in your os forum area. The font experts hang out there.

Where to send application suggested improvements

I have some suggestions for Apple to improve it's Address Book app, but cannot find the email address to send such suggestions. Like in the English edition, why doesn't the address field automatically start numbers as that is the default address format in the US. Any help?

There is no email address; however, there is this:
http://www.apple.com/feedback/
Just pick the category you want and away you go...

Suggestion: Improved "Accidental Trackpad Input"

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