X-56 Mode Switch - Alternative Solution(?)

[Snitkicker]

I'm new to DCS and enjoy having the real tactile switches on my Logitech X-56 throttle, plus most of my planes are FC3 so no clickable cockpits. I've already found myself short of switches so I wanted to use the Mode selector switch but most of the references I found online were cryptic and (I thought) overly confusing plus I wanted to maintain most if not all of my preset programming within DCS as opposed to within the Logitech software.

 

In an attempt to dumb-it-down here's my alternative solution ...

 

Using the Logitech software I program Mode 2 (M2 on the Throttle) using left "ALT" - push ALT and then click okay - do not release ALT until after you click OK. Mode 3 (S1 on the throttle) I do the same thing with left "CTRL". NOTE this only seems to work properly if you save it as your default inside the Logitech software (this could be wrong but it's the only way it worked for me).

Inside DCS choose your control and open the programming window, select your Mode and the modifier should auto-populate, then hit your chosen switch and you're set. Note if you want Mode 3 (S1) and your currently set to Mode 1 (M1) when you switch the mode selector to M2 (on your way to Mode 3) the modifier set for Mode 2 will auto-populate, just click reset, move the Mode selector to Mode 3 and the new modifier will auto-populate. This also works in reverse (moving from Mode 3 to Mode 1 for example), if the wrong modifier sets just hit reset and continue to the Mode you want. Best practice is to have the Mode switch one away from the next position you're going to populate so after you open the control programming window you first select the Mode then press your chosen Switch and you're done.

This method also allows you to program the Flight Stick switches using the modifiers.

The Mode changes do not seem to affect the axis controls but they will affect everything else - so if you want your HAT (for example) to behave the same regardless of Mode you will have to program it to operate the same controls with all your modifiers assigned to it.

 

*NOTE* this will mess with your entire Windows experience - the Mode switch will continue to apply it's modifiers outside DCS, so you may be clicking on something on your desktop whilst unknowingly holding the ALT/CTRL/etc. key if a modifying Mode is selected, remember to select Mode 1 (with no modifier) and normality will be restored.

 

** in some delayed brilliance I realized you could just hold your modifier key on the keyboard (ALT/CTRL/etc.) and press your HOTAS button to program with the modifier applied ... d'oh!

Edited November 25, 2019 by Snitkicker