Disable select-copy / middle-click-paste SEMI-SOLVED

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linx255
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Disable select-copy / middle-click-paste SEMI-SOLVED

Post by linx255 »

Hi,

Using Mint 16 Mate 64-bit.

I've found ways to disable the middle-mouse button completely, but I use the middle-mouse button for other things. I just do not want a second clipboard activated by selecting text and middle-clicking. One forum suggested patching a file ( not even sure if applicable to my distro / version ) and re-building some software, which is out of my league.

So I'd like to keep the freedesktop.org clipboard functionality and disable the X server clipboard, I suppose.

I don't understand why this setting has to be hardcoded; I can't tell you how often I've accidentally pasted something without realizing it or copied something into the clipboard without realizing it. It is not a useful feature for me; ctrl+c/v and right-click copy/paste always sufficed perfectly even though it's a couple more keystrokes or clicks. :(

Thanks
Last edited by LockBot on Wed Dec 28, 2022 7:16 am, edited 3 times in total.
Reason: Topic automatically closed 6 months after creation. New replies are no longer allowed.
- I'm running Mint 18 Mate 64-bit
- 4.15.0-34-generic x86_64
- All my bash scripts begin with #!/bin/bash
paradox

Re: Disable select-copy / middle-click-paste

Post by paradox »

I have the same problem: how do i disable automatic copying of selected text and automatic middlemouse pasting?
Bonus question: who's great friggin idea was it to enable it as default? It's caused me several privacy leaks too! :evil:
c3po

Re: Disable select-copy / middle-click-paste

Post by c3po »

I've got the same problem in Mint 17 Cinnamon.

Do you really not have a solution for this problem?
paradox

Re: Disable select-copy / middle-click-paste

Post by paradox »

No. Still angry about this. Whose great idea was it? :evil:
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linx255
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Re: Disable select-copy / middle-click-paste

Post by linx255 »

I tried several suggestions that involved re-mapping buttons to no avail. It would be NICE to just have a checkbox in mouse settings. :mrgreen: Apparently whoever made "X server" is responsible. I think I'd have to edit the source code and re-compile X, which is beyond my skill and available time.
- I'm running Mint 18 Mate 64-bit
- 4.15.0-34-generic x86_64
- All my bash scripts begin with #!/bin/bash
sgb

Re: Disable select-copy / middle-click-paste

Post by sgb »

I agree that this is a privacy and security concern. For me, disabling the behavior in Firefox was enough (middlemouse.paste = false), since I rarely use chat programs.
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linx255
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Re: Disable select-copy / middle-click-paste

Post by linx255 »

But you can also accidentally paste something in an email or a piece of code or a document and never know it.
- I'm running Mint 18 Mate 64-bit
- 4.15.0-34-generic x86_64
- All my bash scripts begin with #!/bin/bash
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all41
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Re: Disable select-copy / middle-click-paste

Post by all41 »

I came across this Ubuntu post:
http://askubuntu.com/questions/4507/how ... lick-paste

Code: Select all

xmodmap -e "pointer = 1 25 3 4 5 6 7 8 9"
This seems to eliminate the middle-click pasting for the session, but reverts after reboot.


I have not tried the following modification of the file to make the change permanent--

To persist this behavior, edit ~/.Xmodmap and add

pointer = 1 25 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Everything in life was difficult before it became easy.
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linx255
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Re: Disable select-copy / middle-click-paste

Post by linx255 »

Thanks, the command does disable middle-click paste. I don't even have a .Xmodmap file anywhere on my system so I guess I'll create a Startup Applications entry.

Of course the selection no doubt still copies to the clipboard even though you can't paste it, and I also discovered you can't mute / unmute the volume with middle-click anymore. :(

I'm going to call this post semi-solved. :)
Last edited by linx255 on Sat Mar 28, 2015 4:35 am, edited 3 times in total.
- I'm running Mint 18 Mate 64-bit
- 4.15.0-34-generic x86_64
- All my bash scripts begin with #!/bin/bash
buteman
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Re: Disable select-copy / middle-click-paste

Post by buteman »

Well in my Mint 17 from when I installed it soon after it became available this action did work and I love it. I have been using this method all the time for 10 years. I find it far better than the ( to me ) stupid Windows Ctrl C / Ctrl V method.
But suddenly yesterday it stopped working and I couldn't be more frustrated having to use the method you all seem to want!
I do agree that there should be a way of enabling/Disabling it though :(
DrHu

Re: Disable select-copy / middle-click-paste

Post by DrHu »

In the Ubuntu link given, what about the xsel loop script as a method of knocking out that X selection..
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linx255
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Re: Disable select-copy / middle-click-paste SEMI-SOLVED

Post by linx255 »

I'll experiment with the xsel script another time and let you know how it goes.
- I'm running Mint 18 Mate 64-bit
- 4.15.0-34-generic x86_64
- All my bash scripts begin with #!/bin/bash
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