Using Multiple Displays with a Touchscreen

When using multiple displays, including touchscreens, it can be challenging to get everything set up correctly. One of the key issues is telling Xorg (the X11 server) how to map the touchscreen input to the correct screen. This article will walk you through the process of setting up your touchscreen for use with multiple displays.

Step 1: Identify Your Touchscreen Device

Before you can start configuring your touchscreen, you need to identify which device it is and what driver it uses. You can do this by running `cat /dev/input/event?` (replacing the `?` with the event number) while touching the display. This will show you a list of all the event nodes on your system, including the one for your touchscreen.

Step 2: Choose an Appropriate Driver

Once you have identified your touchscreen device, you need to choose an appropriate driver. There are many open source drivers available, including xf86-input-evdev and xf86-input-egalax. Proprietary drivers may also be available for some devices, but it is recommended that you try the open source drivers first.

Step 3: Configure Xinput

To use your touchscreen with multiple displays, you need to tell Xorg how to map the touchscreen input to the correct screen. This can be done using the `xinput_calibrator` tool. Simply run this command and follow the instructions to configure your touchscreen.

Additional Tips

If you are having trouble getting your touchscreen working with multiple displays, there are a few additional things you can try. For example, you can use the `xinput` command to test your touchscreen input and see if it is being recognized correctly. You can also try using the `evdev` driver, which is likely to be the default if your touchscreen 'just works.'

In conclusion, setting up a touchscreen for use with multiple displays can be a bit challenging, but with the right drivers and configuration, you should be able to get everything working correctly. Remember to choose an appropriate driver for your device, configure Xorg using `xinput_calibrator`, and test your touchscreen input using `xinput`. With these steps, you should be able to use your touchscreen with multiple displays in no time.

Xinput test command