Buttons 7 & 8 on Sidewinder FF2 stick

[dixonaw]

I have tried programming these buttons in both AH setup and Sidewinder profiler, but nothing will make them work.(worked in AW3).Actually the stick setup in AH doesn't even see these two buttons
Anyone got them to work here?
Matelot

[Aurelius]

They are working for me. Try this. In your system tray at the lower right hand of the screen you should have the software running. When you put the mouse over it it will say game controller software. Right click this and choose suspend. Now go into AH and into the stick mapping. When you hit the buttons they should highlight and you will be able to program them.

[dixonaw]

Thks Aurious, but this didn't work. I had already tried that and I always fly with the sidewinder profile turned off. Actually on my taskbar it says disable profile/schemes, but as I said I never enable the profile anyway.
any other ideas greatfully accepted and tried
Matelot

[Aurelius]

Ok Try this,
Be sure that the sidewinder software is not running. You dont have to install it you just dont want it in your system tray. Gointo AH, Click on Setup, Click on JoyStick, Then Selectjoystick. Make sure you joystick you are wanting to set is highlited, Choose Set all inputs. Choose Apply and ok. The Choose calibrate. Calibrate the joystick. Go into stick mapper. Now when you hit button 7 or 8 they should light up and be able to be programmed.

[dixonaw]

Thanks again Aurelius;
I followed your instructions and button 7  worked, but not button 8. I tried again, changing button 7's input to button 8 and it didn't work. I tried going back to when button 7 worked, but I can't make it work again now after a number of attempts.
In the joystick selection box my joystick input only shows to  button 5 (although button 6 has always worked).Is this normal?

[Aurelius]

This is the way mine is listed.
x
y
dial
rz
hat switch
button 1
button 2
button 3
button 4
a
b

Now Do this, this is the same as above but with one extra step
Gointo AH, Click on Setup, Click on JoyStick, Then Selectjoystick. Make sure you joystick you are wanting to set is highlited, Choose Set all inputs then Choose set all buttons. Choose Apply and ok. The Choose calibrate. Calibrate the joystick. Go into stick mapper. Now hit all the buttons on the joystick and the base unit. B1-B8 should highlit. The dial will not do anything at this time. If all buttons light up then just for a test do this. Choose Global keys, then under function choose clipboard, now choose B8 and then click set button. Choose ok and go back to the tower. Give it a sec and then hit the Button 8 key. The clipboard should go way and come back. If it did it worked.

[dixonaw]

Aurelius thanks for prompt reply
Unfortunately when I follow your instructions down to "Hit all buttons" they all light to but not including Buttons 7 & 8 which remain greyed out.
My joystick input reads:
(none)
x - axis
y - axis
z - axis
Rz -axis
POV 0
Button 0
Button 1
Button 2
Button 3
Button 4
Button 5

Matelot

[Aurelius]

Go into Gameing options in your control pannel, Go to properties,
and then test. See if both of those buttons work there.

[dixonaw]

Yes they work in gaming options - properties

[bloom25]

A workaround would be to use the sidewinder software to map button 7 and/or 8 to just a key on the keyboard.

[dixonaw]

Thanks for the input Bloom;
I'm a bit confused with your suggestion though. I already have the actions I want programed available on the keyboard. Also I always fly with the sidewinder control panel turned off (doesn't seem to work as smoothly with control panel).
If I have misunderstood your suggestion, please expand what you mean
Thanks
Matelot:confused:

[Boat]

I have a sidewinder stick without force feedback. I use the sidewinder software instead of the stick mapping. I find with sidewinder software I can get twice the number of buttons by using the "shift" button. Also when I tried using the stick mapping function in Aces High I noticed that I was only able to map seven of the nine buttons which I guess is what you are experiencing. The "shift" button and button eight just don't seem to be supported.  

I don't notice any performance differences using sidewinder software as opposed to the stick mapping. Is there some reason I should be using the stick mapping instead of the software that comes with my stick?

By the way, I've been seeing Force Feedback sticks on sale this week and thinking about going for one.

Boat

[dixonaw]

Thanks Boat;
I think you would use a different set of profiles with your stick.I don't understand what you mean by doubling your buttons using the shift key. Do you mean you get 16 buttons (ie. Button1 and button shift1 give you different uses).
In my setup there is a slight hicup whenI use a hold type key with the sidewinder profiler,and none with the AH setup.
I really like my FF2, but I will admit that I shut off the Force feed back in AH. I find that  even with min feedback programmed the stick is too hard to use. Works well in other sims though.
Matelot:confused:

[Boat]

Yes, exactly. button 1 can have one function alone and a different function using what they call the shift key on the stick. I programed the stick for fighter missions and a second profile for bomber missions. The only problem is that I have to quit AH to switch profiles and then restart. I tried using the in-game mapping and it works fine too but of course with fewer buttons. I can switch from fighter to bomber stick sets without having to shut down but otherwise I notice no difference using the stick mapping versus the Sidewinder profiler.

Thanks for the "feedback" on FF. You're the second person who told me they don't use FF in Aces High so I guess I'll stay with my present stick for awhile:)

Boat

[Lizard3]

In AH you can have 4 different stick setups. You can switch between them using 4 keyboard keys.