configuring xorg.conf

[don fisher]

My 8.10 X display works quite well. I wanted to modify actions on my 
synaptic touch pad, so went to edit xorg.conf. There was surprised to 
find that there is almost nothing there!

Previously I have had sections:

Section "ServerLayout"
Section "Files"
Section "InputDevice" for keyboard
Section "InputDevice" for mouse
Section "InputDevice" for touchpad
Section "Monitor"
Section "Device"
Section "Screen"

Now there is :

Section "Device"
	Identifier	"Configured Video Device"
EndSection
Section "Monitor"
	Identifier	"Configured Monitor"
EndSection
Section "Screen"
	Identifier	"Default Screen"
	Monitor		"Configured Monitor"
	Device		"Configured Video Device"
EndSection

I am aware of how to generate xorg.conf files, but would like to learn 
how to be consistent with where ubuntu is going. I purchased a book 
titled "Ubuntu Hacks" 2006 which describes xorg.conf the old way. Is 
there documentation that describes the current approaches ubuntu is taking?

When I attempt to use the gsynaptics configuration program, I receive 
the "Can't access shared memory area. SHMConfig disabled?" error 
message. That was an option that was previously set in the touchpad 
input device section of xorg.conf. The existing xorg.conf says that the 
file is generated by dexconf, edit with caution.

Thanks for any pointers.
don