Stick Mapping Question

[Andy Bush]

I feel dumb...but I can't figure out how to map more than one stick. I configure the #2 stick set using the utility, but then I don't see how to call it up.

I've tried using the stick and key mapper to program my stick and keyboard to go to the #2 stick set, but nothing seems to change when I do...I still have the same views as the #1 set. I used the 'end' key and my #3 button on my TM F22 Pro but neither 'worked'.

I am using a modified version of the F22 file posted on the AH menu.

'Nother question...sometime my Page Up/Down and arrow keys do not function (They do not alter the view). What am I doing wrong here?

All of this stems from my inability to configure my stick to use all the snap views...for example, I want to be able to use the 'Look Fwd Right' and the 'Look Front Up Right' views...as of now, all I can get is the 'Look Fwd Right' view.

Grrrr...help!!

Andy

[Kieren]

That seems odd...

I have all CH gear, so I don't know if I can help but... you should program a button or key to cycle between stick sets. You can then configure it from there.

As for the combo views, is the stick equipped with an 8-way hat? If not, you will have to press two buttons to get that effect, as in, hold F1 and the right hat to get forward-right...

[Saintaw]

Reply to Q1 only here :

In the setup, you have to assign a Key to the function that will allow you to change to Joystick setting 1/2/3/4 , I know it's in the Setup...but I don't have it in front of me...

There is no default KEY for that, you have to set one up yourself (I set them up as ALT1 / ALT2 ...)

Hope this is part of what you were looking for  

[Azrael]

nm

Az

[This message has been edited by azrael (edited 05-17-2000).]

[Andy Bush]

Kieren and Saintaw

That's what I attempted to do. Using the key mapper, I programmed the 'end' key to the #2 stick set choice in the menu. As a back up, I then configured the stick mapper to use the #3 button on my TM F22 Pro to call up the #2 stick set. Neither worked.

I understand that a double key press is necessary to get the other 45 degree view. Someone suggested the numpad 5 key in conjunction with the other relevant key (such as 5+9, or 5+3), but this didn't do anything.

The only thing that I can come up with is that there is something in my F22 Fox2 file that may be conflicting...or that my previous use of the F10 Save Head Position key might be the problem.

Andy

[Rocket]

Also view mapping works with snap views and not the f8 panning mode.  In that mode the arrows and pageup/down will not function.  I have had some problems switching sticksets for views on my sidewinder.  It sometimes gets stuck in different views and I am unable to fix it making it tough to fly.
BTW IMHO snap views are much more efficient than panning or padlock.  Try sitting in your car and quickly looking over your shoulder or out any window.  You can move your head that direction in about the time it takes to blink(yes I have tried it).  

I wish I could help with the TM products but I don't have any to try out to get more info on it.  I will have squaddies put up some info on each stick on our website to better complete the jstick setup help page.  

S!
Rocket

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The Red Dragons
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With Honour and Courage
_______________________

 www.reddragons.de

[This message has been edited by Rocket (edited 05-17-2000).]

[Minotaur]

Andy;

To select various stick sets you must set a key to do so.  I am away from home, but I believe this in "Keymapping" --> "Global" near the bottom.  You can see the text for different stick sets.  Assign a key for each set.  By default AH uses #1 stick set, with no key assigned.  

When you program a stick set make sure that you have selected the stick set your trying to program.  You select this by clicking the button just above the scrollable text section.  By default you will always program #1 stickset.

Additionally, you must not have any macro's programmed to the joystick button that you are trying to assign in the stickset.  AH seems to recognize the joystick button pressed via DirectX only if your joystick is not sending any macro text via the same joystick button.  Make sure that when you are on the "Joystick Mapping" screen that you see the apppropriate button highlight when you press a button on your joystick.

I know this is not your intentension, but I provide this for example of how I use stick sets.  I use macros for all my views, but use different stick sets to control firing my weapons via the trigger button on my joystick.

The only button I take advantage of is the trigger, whose function I change in sticksets 1 to 3.

• b = selects stick set #1 --> trigger set to fire both weapons
• f = selects stick  set #2 --> trigger set to fire primary only
• n = selects stick set #3 --> trigger set to fire secondary only

So here is how it works for me.  #1 stick set is default, so by default I fire both primary and secondary weapons with a trigger press.  If I press the f key, I fire only primary weapons with my trigger.  Same for the n key, where I fire only secondary weapons.

All this turns out to be quite easy once you get the hang of it.  Just one of the those that really is kind of easy to do, but is very difficult to describe how to do it.

For your question as to why sometimes you can not modify a view using "PageUp / PageDown".  I believe this is a bug.  Some view configurations can not be modified in certain directions for some reason.  I have submitted a bug report to HTC already.

Good Luck!  


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Mino
The Wrecking Crew

[Minotaur]

Andy;

LOL  

I am typing and you are already replying to others....

I have done alot of TM programing as I have had TM products for 8 years now.  I would send you my macro files, but they won't work.  I have installed the new digital chip and I use lots of RAW commands.

One of the neat things that I have been able to do with TM is program all my views so that the joystick button does not need to be held for a view to stay in use.

Holding a hatswitch constantly just gives me finger fatigue and I find it irritating to have to do so.

For example, one joystick button press and I get a FrontUp (45 degree up) view.  This view stays FrontUp and does not return to Front when I release the joystick button.  I use a separate hatswitch where I can look left/right/front/back, but the base view stays FrontUp.  It works very well for me.

This system is very good for views during combat, especially those along my lift line.  Where the view typically cycles, Six --> BackUp --> Up --> FrontUp --> Front.  You don't have to hold the hatswitch and fly the plane at the same time.

Another handy view is one for bombing, which is the down view.  I press a joystick key and I get the Down view.  I can now zoom in/out and at the same time still manuver to accurately drop my bombs.  Otherwise this operation works best if you have three hands, or so it seems.

Luckily AH provides a view system with almost limitless possibilities.  I propose you try this.  

Change your Up view key (default is KP5).  If you have a programable throttle,  program key this to a button on the throttle.  If you don't have a programable throttle, change Up view from KP5 to the ` key, or some other key you can access easily with you left hand.

Now you can use your F22 hatswitch to look left/right/front/back.  If you press the ` key or use a throttle button, your view gets modified in the Up direction.  Not so easy to use at first, but if you get used to it, it will work.

If you want I'll take a look at the F22 macro file posted up on the HTC web page and see what I can do for you to make it more functional.

Good Luck!  

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Mino
The Wrecking Crew

[Andy Bush]

Mino

Hmmm...

I went to the stick mapping page and tried the F22 stick buttons to see if they lit up their corresponding button on the page. The trigger lit up the #1 button...and that was it. I tried programming the F22 #3 button again, making sure I had the #2 stick set selected...and no luck. The #3 button does not light up when I press the #3 stick button.

I think I'll try one of my TQS buttons and see if that does anything. I had also programmed the keyboard 'end' key to do the same thing (select the #2 stick set), but it didn't work either.

On the numpad views...right now, my #5 key gives the normal forward view (as in F2). Perhaps that's why I'm having prolems with getting the 'Up' view to look right.

As for your remark about 'macros'...isn't that what Gore is trying to be these days? Does that have something to do with being an 'alpha male'?!! I wouldn't know a macro from a Macchi!

But I do appreciate you guys' help.

Andy

[Andy Bush]

OK!!

I got the stick set #2 selection to work using the tilde (`) key. One question on this...once I select #2 stick set, do I have to go back to the stick mapping page to 'unselect' it? Or I guess I could just program another key to select #1 set.

Also finally got the 'Look Front UP' view to work...much better for lift vector control!

Andy

[Rocket]

Glad to see ya got it Andy, just map another key to stickset #1 and you are switching back and forth quickly  
S!
Rocket

[Minotaur]

LOL  

Sorry Andy...

I use the term "macro" loosely I suppose.  I mean that if your joystick is programmed to send text, it is sending a "macro".  I thought about this and I am wrong in my terminology.

What I meant to say...    

With a joystick hatswitch you can send information to the game two ways:

• If the joystick is programable and is programmed to do so, you can send text characters.  This is the same as pushing a keyboard key, only it occurs when a joystick button is pressed.
• DirectX, which is a Windows program, can detect the button press.  This button press once detected can be programmed by AH under "joystick mapping".

You just can't do both at the same time and is true for any joystick button.

For example, this means that if your F22 sends the text character kp4 (key pad 4) when you move your hatswitch to the left, you can not program hatswitch button with AH joystick mapping.  

This is why your trigger highlights a button, but your hatswitch does not.  Your trigger sends no text and relies on DirectX to detect a button press.  

To confuse you even more.   It is highly likely that under Windows --> Control Panel --> Game Controllers your set-up is for a "3 axis 2 button joystick".  That means that Windows does not recognize that you have any hatswitches.   Therefore, AH will not recognize them either.

BTW, I am glad you got multiple stick sets to work.  Like I said it is fairly easy to do once you get the hang of it.  It also kind of sounds like maybe your kp5 (Up view) got munched on your keyboard mapping.  Glad you got that fixed as well.

Hopefully sometime we can meet up on-line <sigh> and I can explain further.

Good Luck!    

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Mino
The Wrecking Crew

[This message has been edited by Minotaur (edited 05-18-2000).]

[Andy Bush]

Mino

Thanks again for the tips.

I have just one more question....which keystroke is it that immunizes me against the 'ping, ping, boom'?

I got whacked again last nite. You young whipper-snappers have no respect for your elders.

Be looking for you next time...I'm going to put right behind me!! In a B-17...that ought to soak up some of the rounds. I wish I could figure out how to load one of those M16 things...

Andy

[SOB]

Andy,

Got it figured out yet?  If not, I can probably help you get your stick programmed to do whatever you need.  I've got just about every view programmed into my F22 using the S1 and S3 switches as modifiers.

I can send ya my F22 file too, but it'd only work for you if you have the new digital chips for your F22 from Stickworks.


SOB
matt@hoffman.org

[Andy Bush]

SOB

Things are looking better..thanks for your offer, but I'm still using the original analog stick.

This is the first sim I've ever really used the snap views with...the result being that I had not much reason before to use the hat switches. I have found the physical size of the F22 to be a disadvantage when trying to easily access the #1 hat switch (when my hand is on the hand rest, the hat is too high up to reach without changing my hand position).

My fix was to make a wooden insert that I placed on top of the hand rest and which elevated my hand high enough to reach the #1 hat. It gets the job done but only just so.

I'd like to see a stick that would remedy this problem. I'm not sure that the new TM (Guillemot) gear will do that.

Why don't you send me your F22 file anyway. I'd like to see how you have mapped everything.

Many thanks.

Andy

e-mail:  alfakilo@doitnow.com