After 7 years I still dont get the control profiles

[Boosterdog]

Olds and dumb I know but I dont understand the purpose of the diff.lua that is stored in my Inputuserprofiles folder and the luas stored in the input folder under each A/C. Moreover I have no idea where and to what I should save any conges that I make. 

If Im starting over I use the lua for each controller from the input folder but DCS directs me to the inputuserfiles folder as if the siles in there are the ones required. If I save a new change Ive been saving it in the IUP folder as a diff.lua. 

So...er.....help?

[draconus]

Input folder under main DCS mods\aircraft\ directories contains default bindings for some devices.

Diff.lua files under saved games\dcs\config\input\ contain changes you made to the bindings - hence the "diff" name, as it saves only the differences from the defaults. Each diff.lua contains bindings for each device you made bindings for and separate for every aircraft (and then like: sim, game, gunner etc.). These are saved (and created first) automatically after your edits to the controls to separate folders in order \config\input\aircraft\device\device_name_and_{ID}.diff.lua.

You can save any time the profile (it's only one device, like a column in controls, in one aircraft, and of one type) into the file where you want it for backup.

You can load any time such profile from the saved file into the controls of the selected device, aircraft and type.

Clean profile deletes bindings for the device (column in controls).

I only backup my \saved games\config\input folder in case I lost it or something goes wrong. In rare cases, sometimes some updates make your backed up files unusable for the module. You then have to redo the controls for the aircraft.

[Boosterdog]

Thank you Dranconus!

Its a litle clearer now. Looking at my config folder It appears that I now have two luas for everything after I re populated the controls fro the hind (all with different IDs). Would I be correct in thinking this is likely down to a new windows install renaming my devices IDs or is this a DCS thing? 

[draconus]

15 minutes ago, Boosterdog said:

Would I be correct in thinking this is likely down to a new windows install renaming my devices IDs

Yes, new system installation changes device IDs.

[Screamadelica]

Oldser and dumber here as well. 

I seem to recall, in the slowly deteriorating thing I call a brain, that you use to have to save each column (device) in the controls one by one otherwise it didn't save the whole profile correctly. Is that still the case? Should I give each column (device) a different name when saving, or does it just load the whole thing if you hit save profile just the once? Enquiring minds wish to know. Thanks, Scream.

[draconus]

16 minutes ago, Screamadelica said:

I seem to recall, in the slowly deteriorating thing I call a brain, that you use to have to save each column (device) in the controls one by one otherwise it didn't save the whole profile correctly. Is that still the case? Should I give each column (device) a different name when saving, or does it just load the whole thing if you hit save profile just the once?

Yes, save columns one by one and give them descripting names. I propose to include module and device names. This is of course not necessary if you backup the whole \saved games\dcs\config\input folder from time to time.

Edited December 16, 2021 by draconus

[some1]

You can simply rename the old .diff files to make them work on a new system. Easier than exporting/importing the settings from UI one-by-one. 

[Screamadelica]

Bloody hell, that was quick work!

Thanks Draconus, glad to see my memory hasn't quite gone for a burton yet.

Cheers, Scream.

Edited December 16, 2021 by Screamadelica

[Boosterdog]

Oh dear - im confused again.

I thought you save the diff file after a change and the magic happens automatically to the profiles stored in the config/input location.  What I mean is, if I make a binding on the stick, I save the diff and, should that column ever be wiped Ican repopulate it back to the last profile I stored to the diff by reloading the relevent controller to the relevent column. 

 

If that makes sense?

[draconus]

7 minutes ago, Boosterdog said:

Oh dear - im confused again.

I thought you save the diff file after a change and the magic happens automatically to the profiles stored in the config/input location.  What I mean is, if I make a binding on the stick, I save the diff and, should that column ever be wiped Ican repopulate it back to the last profile I stored to the diff by reloading the relevent controller to the relevent column.

If you save the profile manually you give the file a name and save it anywhere you want.

If you just change the controls in the game it will be automatically saved in \saved games\dcs\config\input\<module>\<device>\<device_ID>.diff.lua

If you clean the profile (column/device) in game controls - it will clean the respective file in \saved games\dcs\config\input\<module>\<device>\<device_ID>.diff.lua

If you load the profile from whatever file in the game control it will replace the respective file in \saved games\dcs\config\input\<module>\<device>\<device_ID>.diff.lua

Edited December 16, 2021 by draconus

[Screamadelica]

Sorry Boo.......looks like I've re-opened a can of worms....hmm, they are tasty though. 

[Boosterdog]

1 hour ago, Screamadelica said:

Sorry Boo.......looks like I've re-opened a can of worms....hmm, they are tasty though. 

I may not understand it but Im clearly doing something right  as I get all me old bindings back after a PC upgrade and reinstall :-) . Over the years of playing DCS Ive come to use the clickable cockpits more than bindings so, worst case, there isnt a lot to do. 

Which is why I dearly want a Full Fidelity SU25 or SU17M.