Key-bindings merge request

[tovivan]

to Leatherneck Simulations

 

Would it be possible to merge keybindings for the air-brake? Right now we have two different keys, one for each function, but it's not really practical, especially with their default assignments being much different than in other modules. It would be nice if we had a "toggle" keybinding for the airbrake, like planes from FC3 have - the same key for extending and retracting.

 

It would make life much easier for those of us who do not have a gazillion buttons on the joystick. :)

 

I know this isn't a huge problem, but it's also a very easy one to fix...

[xxJohnxx]

Check out this thread: http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=130459

 

It explains how to add the functions you are looking for, to your DCS installation.

[tovivan]

Check out this thread: http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=130459

 

It explains how to add the functions you are looking for, to your DCS installation.

 

Thanks, man, much appreciated! :beer:

Edited March 3, 2015 by tovivan

[Kobymaru]

Check out this thread: http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=130459

 

It explains how to add the functions you are looking for, to your DCS installation.

Does this work if I don't have a Warthog?

 

edit: It doesn't.

 

I think it's great that LN caters to users of high-end Joysticks. But I'm afraid not all of us can afford them. I wonder if it's really so hard merge some of the key commands and add them (not replace the up/down ones) as toggle commands.

Something like "Airbrake On/Airbrake Off/Airbrake Toggle".

Edited March 3, 2015 by Kobymaru

[tovivan]

From what I've seen it just adds new keybindings for joystick you have in the OPTIONS - CONTROLS. You would probably need to use something like Notepad++ to copy the alternate bindings lines into the mig-21/keyboard/default.lua to be able to bind keyboard as well.

 

Mind you, haven't had the chance to test it in game. :)

[xxJohnxx]

Does this work if I don't have a Warthog?

 

Yes it works for any joystick. It should even be possible to set it up that it works with just the keyboard. If you need some further instructions, give me an exact example and I will make sure to get you going!

[tovivan]

Have to play with those settings for a bit because the new custom airbrake command doesn't toggle airbrake, but you have to hold the key/button for the duration you wish it to be extended because when you let the button go, the airbrake will immediately retract.

[Kobymaru]

Yes it works for any joystick. It should even be possible to set it up that it works with just the keyboard.

Maybe I misunderstood the purpose of the patches.

 

If you need some further instructions, give me an exact example and I will make sure to get you going!

So,

 

the new custom airbrake command doesn't toggle airbrake, but you have to hold the key/button for the duration

In case of the Airbrake, this is actually desired behaviour for me.

 

but in the case of the radar I want the following behaviour:

- If the radar is in OFF position, I push a button and it becomes ON

- If the radar is in STANDBY position, I push the same button and it becomes ON

- If the radar is in ON position, I push the same button and it becomes STANDBY

 

Similar for IR/SARH mode:

- If it is set to NOTHING, I push a button and it becomes IR

- If it is set to SARH, I push the same and it becomes IR

- If it is set to IR, I push the same and it becomes SARH

 

Also, I need this:

- I push a button and the weapons selector rotates clockwise

- I push another button and the weapons selector rotates counterclockwise

 

I need these things simply because I don't have so many buttons on my joystick. Currently, I need 2 buttons for radar toggle, 2 buttons for IR/SARH toggle, 4 buttons for stations 1-4. I could get more functionality on my stick, if there were toggle or cycle buttons, like there are in the Flaming Cliffs aircraft modules.

 

Any Idea how I could accomplish this?

Edited March 3, 2015 by Kobymaru

[tovivan]

Yes it works for any joystick. It should even be possible to set it up that it works with just the keyboard. If you need some further instructions, give me an exact example and I will make sure to get you going!

 

John, could you perhaps give me an airbrake that would toggle normally like in FC3 and not retract when I let go of the button? thanks! :beer:

[xxJohnxx]

In case of the Airbrake, this is actually desired behaviour for me.

 

but in the case of the radar I want the following behaviour:

- If the radar is in OFF position, I push a button and it becomes ON

- If the radar is in STANDBY position, I push the same button and it becomes ON

- If the radar is in ON position, I push the same button and it becomes STANDBY

 

Similar for IR/SARH mode:

- If it is set to NOTHING, I push a button and it becomes IR

- If it is set to SARH, I push the same and it becomes IR

- If it is set to IR, I push the same and it becomes SARH

 

Also, I need this:

- I push a button and the weapons selector rotates clockwise

- I push another button and the weapons selector rotates counterclockwise

 

I need these things simply because I don't have so many buttons on my joystick. Currently, I need 2 buttons for radar toggle, 2 buttons for IR/SARH toggle, 4 buttons for stations 1-4. I could get more functionality on my stick, if there were toggle or cycle buttons, like there are in the Flaming Cliffs aircraft modules.

 

Well, I have tried this for 4 hour straight now and unfortunately came to no real result.

As far as my testing went this is not directly possible within they Input config.

I am sure it is possible to achieve such functionality by adding a couple of lua files that get triggered by a Key Input and then set the corresponding command output. While the code to implement such a cycling through the different modes is fairly easy, I do not have the necessary experience to implement it.

Brief forum searches didn't give me any instructions that lead to success, mainly because they where in Russian and I was searching for the wrong terms.

 

However, I am sure that there are community members out there that could easily program such functionality, as the difficult thing seems to be the implementation and not the actual program. It is just beyond on what I do when setting up my keybinds (more or less similar too the stuff in the linked thread earlier where existing functions are used on different key inputs without actually changing the function.

 

 

 

John, could you perhaps give me an airbrake that would toggle normally like in FC3 and not retract when I let go of the button? thanks! :beer:

Hmm, this seems to be a hard nut to crack as well. I tried to implement the same logic they used on the FC3 birds, however that didn't work. It seems LNS doesn't use the standard functions for stuff like that (they only do that in a few places, most of it seems to be custom), which makes it very difficult to adjust.

 

However, I maybe have one suggestion: Many joystick come with software in which you can set up macros and do other stuff like that. For example the HOTAS Warthog comes with TARGET, a programming software for it.

Such software usually let's you to simulate a toggle switch by using a button: First press onto the button will put the simulated button to on, second press will put it off again. Depending on the joystick this is probably the easiest solution.

 

While I will have another look at the lua-files tomorrow (after I have fixed my DCS installation that I just have messed up by trying out different stuff in lua :doh:), I hope LNS might consider adding some of this functionally requested here and in the other thread natively to the MiG, which would make this modding obsolete.

 

:joystick:

[Kobymaru]

Thanks for your efforts John!

 

I think I could be able to do that as well, since I am OK with programming usually, but I have to learn Lua and Lua in DCS to be confident enough to hack something like this. Lets see. I'll figure something out.

 

And in the end, I feel like it's LN's job and not yours. Thanks for your concern, but I think it's better for you to focus on other things :)

[tovivan]

Hmm, this seems to be a hard nut to crack as well. I tried to implement the same logic they used on the FC3 birds, however that didn't work.

 

That's the path I tried to take as well, without results.

 

I'm not sure which was at fault, this experiment of mine or the fix for the wheels not sinking into the ground I was testing at the same time, but suddenly my 21 would accelerate out of control when I pressed wheel brake and applied rudder to navigate a ground turn (even though I didn't touch the throttle), there was a problem with the thrust - when trying to move out of parking space it would not move until the throttle was at min 70% (while normally 40% is enough to get it moving) and the MiG29 was breaking the sound barrier immediately after taking off and going into a hard turn with the ease as if I was going only 400... :doh:

 

However, I maybe have one suggestion: Many joystick come with software in which you can set up macros and do other stuff like that. For example the HOTAS Warthog comes with TARGET, a programming software for it.

Such software usually let's you to simulate a toggle switch by using a button: First press onto the button will put the simulated button to on, second press will put it off again. Depending on the joystick this is probably the easiest solution.

 

This may sound stupid, but what's a macro? English is not my native language, sorry.

[xxJohnxx]

This may sound stupid, but what's a macro? English is not my native language, sorry.

 

A macro basically is a function for your joystick that can do certain things. For example, depending on the software you use, you could save the word "Test" to one of your joystick buttons. Whenever you press that button it would type in the word "Test".

While writing words like "Test" is not useful for the simulator you can do a lot of different stuff depending on the software. For example key combinations, press/hold/toggle functions and stuff like that.

Some of the joystick software out there have functions that allow you to do a "simulated" toggle switch. This depends on the software though.

 

What joystick do you have? Did it come with any software?

[tovivan]

What joystick do you have? Did it come with any software?

 

I've got a Thrustmaster T.16000 and I think it came with software. Honestly, since I had the old Logitech Wingman Extreme I never bothered with software because that one's was so bloody useless for the non-complex stuff I used it for.

[xxJohnxx]

I've got a Thrustmaster T.16000 and I think it came with software. Honestly, since I had the old Logitech Wingman Extreme I never bothered with software because that one's was so bloody useless for the non-complex stuff I used it for.

 

I am no expert but I think for all the Thrustmaster products there is the so-called software TARGET. That software should allow you to set up a button with the hold function. Press once-> button is on. Press again -> button is off.

 

I would recommend installing it and giving it a try.