X3 Terran Confict

[JollyBandit]

Hi!
My devices are MS Sidewinder FF2 and CH Pro Throttle Usb.
And i have a problem with X3TC with my equipment in this game. I need to assign Z-axis speed control on CH throttle , but the game does not permit this directly. There are two key press: "x"- increase speed, "z"- decrease speed.
I don't know how to do this. :( I try uncheck "DX Mode" from Z-axis, check "UpDown" "x" and "z" put in this cells (like ministick X-Y axises), "Ctr Key" does not active and no possibility to put in this cell "NULL" command.
May be CMS script will solve it?
Please somebody will help me?

Best regards.
P.S. Sorry, i the foreigner, my English poor.

[Bob Church]

Hello JollyBandit,

That sounds like you've made the right assignments with the "x" and "y" on an Up/Down. You usually need to set the number of characters to send. If you've done all that, I'm not sure what might be wrong. Did you click the "Download" button on the toolbar to send the map to the system?

Best regards,

- Bob

The StickWorks
http://www.stickworks.com

[JollyBandit]

That sounds like you've made the right assignments with the "x" and "y" on an Up/Down. You usually need to set the number of characters to send. If you've done all that, I'm not sure what might be wrong. Did you click the "Download" button on the toolbar to send the map to the system?

Best regards,

- Bob

Yes, i did click "Download". What the number of characters i have to set? "Step"?

[Bob Church]

Hi JollyBandit,

Yes, "Steps" was the one I meant. It sets the number of character to generate while the axis moves from one end to another. Try setting "x" for "inc key", "y" for "dec key", and "10" for steps. Download that, then open the "KeyCheck" facility. There's a button on the tool bar for it that will show you press and release characters keys as the axis moves. Usually it takes a certain number of steps to get from one end of the axis movement to the other. Watch it in the KeyCheck window and it should generate the characters, "x" going one way, "y" going the other. If it's all working, you'll see the characters listed. How many characters it sends will depend on how far you move the axis. You'll see how it works in the KeyCheck window.

Best regards,

- Bob

The StickWorks
http://www.stickworks.com

[JollyBandit]

Hi, Bob!
Certainly, i try to make different steps between 1-100, but it doesn't work properly. The "Throttle" sends not enough or too many characters ("x" and "z") in the game.
I try to make game script for this like that (see pic). Here there appears possibility to put "z" and "z" characters and "NULL" command. It is necessary what on one displacement of "Throttle", one pressing of a key was sent only.
Unfortunately, I do not know what further to do. It is obviously not enough my knowledge тo write the script code. But it should work somehow?
Bob, whether I can count on the small help of you if you have time?

[Bob Church]

Hi Jolly bandit,

>> Certainly, i try to make different steps between 1-100, but it doesn't work properly. The "Throttle" sends not enough or too many characters ("x" and "z") in the game. I try to make game script for this like that (see pic). Here there appears possibility to put "z" and "z" characters and "NULL" command. It is necessary what on one displacement of "Throttle", one pressing of a key was sent only. <<

When you program in Up/Down mode, the number of characters that gets sent is proportional to how far you move it. Suppose you program the ProThrottle "Z" axis for "x", "z", and 40 steps. Start with the throttle all the way back. As you move it forward, it will start to generate "x" characters. If you move it a little it will send one or two. By the time you get it halfway forward, it will have sent 20 of them. At 75% forward, it will have sent a total of 30. At full-forward, you should have seen 40 steps go past.

Now start to move it back. It will start to send "z" characters. When you get back to the halfway point, it will have sent 20 of them. By the time it's all the way back, it will have sent 40.

If you go full forward all at once, you'll get 40 characters. They can take a while to get sent, though. They have to press, then release, the key 40 times. It's not instantaneous, so if you need to make fine adjustments and you need a lot of steps, you have to move the handle slowly or it will tend to continue to generate keys for some time after you stop moving the throttle. How many it generates corresponds to how far you move the throttle. If you start at full-back, and move to 50%, it should generate 20 "x" characters. If you back up from there to the 25% position, it will send 10 "z" characters. If you move from the 25% position to the 50% position, it will generate 10 "x"s again to move the throttle.

I would do just that, really. First create a new map and just add the throttle. Set it for 40 steps, "x" and "z". You won't be able to set a "Center" character. Download the program and then click the KeyCheck button on the ToolBar. You can watch the characters get pressed and released as you move the throttle back and forth. You can also open NotePad and watch it there while you move it. It should help you understand what the Up/Down does.

Trying to use Up/Down on the CMS Controls is a little confusing. First, the CMS axes are all considered as "Centered". That is why you can set the "Center" character there. Leaving it at null should work, but I don't think there's any reason to use CMS Controls at this point. Find out if just programming the ProThrottle directly works. The ProThrottle main axis (Z) is seen as a "Non-Centered" axis so you don't have the option for a "Center" character. Normally it's used if there's a key that recenters Rudders or something like that. When you return the axis to center, the key gets sent to force things to get synchronized with the center point.

When you set "Steps" to "1", it acts a little differently. On the throttle, moving the axis forward will just press "x" and hold it down. It won't matter how far you move it. When you move it back to minimum, it will release the "x" key and send one "z", but it won't hold it down. It's mainly used with the Toe Brakes for sims that don't have proportional braking. It allows you to just hold the brakes down by pressing the brake pedal, when you release it you'll get the other character.

On a "Centered" axis, it does the same sort of thing, but based on the center point. Move up from center and it will hold down the "x" key. Go back to center and it will release the "x" and send one "Center" key. Move it back from center and it will hold the "z" key down. Move it back to center and it will release "z" and generate one "Center" key

I think if you watch it that way, you'll get a better feel for what's going on and it will make much more sense. I don't know how well it will work for your game. Character control of throttle has never been a very good method, and it's worse, mainly because it's slower, with the way the HID keyboard is set up. Anyway, have a look in KeyCheck and in NotePad. I think you'll see how it works and then you can figure out whether it will do what you want.

>> Unfortunately, I do not know what further to do. It is obviously not enough my knowledge to write the script code. But it should work somehow?

Bob, whether I can count on the small help of you if you have time? <<

Certainly! I'm always glad to help if I can.

Best regards,

- Bob

The StickWorks
http://www.stickworks.com

[JollyBandit]

Hi, Bob!
I have attentively read you has written up. All business in that, in game works the offered way not correctly - for example, (steps 40) when I draught fix steps on 0 %, speed of a spaceship make 0 m/s, when 100 % 81 m/s, it max.speed. When I establish throttle on 1/2 from its course, speed becomes zero. Then throttle I give against the stop, speed accepts value of 40 m/s, etc. Sets to zero. At various installations of a step there will be variations in this or that party, but the general direction remains. Besides, in X3TC there are different types of spaceships with different in the max.speed. It too enters certain difficulties.
It is necessary to emulate by means of a script axis movement "Z". (If possible to put "NULL" in "Ctr Key", there no prob. will be or script has something of type "MoveUp/MoveDown"...:( ).
For example, i solve LockOn's movement of aimreticle on the HUD (pic). It realy work. "NULL" has defines what movement of ",", "/" can stop any position, no center it back.
Regards!

[Bob Church]

Hi JollyBandit,

Sorry to be so long in replying. I haven't forgotten you, I've just been busy fixing some other bugs and haven't had time to sit down and figure out what might work for you. It may be a couple more days yet, I'm not quite done with the updates yet, but I'll get to it as soon as I can.

Best regards,

- Bob

The StickWorks
http://www.stickworks.com

[JollyBandit]

Hi, Bob!
Sorry. I'm need to take pause. There are TOO many holydays.:cheers: I congratulate on Christmas! And happy New Year! I wish your of good luck and all blessings!

[Bob Church]

Hi JollyBandit,

>> Sorry. I'm need to take pause. There are TOO many holydays. I congratulate on Christmas! And happy New Year! I wish your of good luck and all blessings! <<

No problem. Whenever you're ready, we'll be here! I know how the holidays are, there's never enough time for everything. Whenever you're ready come on back and we'll try to get it working, we'll be here!

A (slightly belated) Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you, too, JollyBandit!

Best regards,

- Bob

The StickWorks
http://www.stickworks.com

[oqvist]

I am curious how good is this game? I tried some of the previous but never light the cockpits or flight modelling much. X3 reunion was a step back even I felt and couldn´t even get force feedback or some axis to work with my saitek joystick. which I am throwing out for some more robust CH gear :)

I also have some general question I don´t know if it´s worth starting a new thread over. I want to order the leftyHOTAS but I need ten posts to be allowed to PM snomhf. If someone PM me can I then answer with the reply I want this kind person to get to snomhf :)

[JollyBandit]

There are many problems with game controllers. I'm not solved prob. with my joy M$ SW FF2+CH Throttle. Also, force feedback does not work. :( ( Ideal steering - IW2 Edge of Chaos). The basic advantage of this game - the concept, nonlinearity of passage. X3+ IW2 steering- it would be healthy.