Controller settings

[BM357_TinMan]

So, DCS creates a separate lua for each of the versions of the p51 (TF, D-25, and D-30) and this is a good thing.  However, in the Game GUI there are only two P51 (TF and P51D), for if you include the "real" and "easy" (or whatever it is).  Because there is no unique D-25 and D-30, the game just grabs the lua for whichever p51 is loaded into the game as the player first.  This is quite confusing to someone who doesn't understand why the settings seem to keep changing (like me until I figured it out).  I ended up just fixing the axis setting using NOTE++ and editing the LUA directly.

TL; DR:

Please modify the ingame input GUI to include a separate selection for the D-25 and the D-30

p.s. if there are variants of the p47, this probably applies to those as well; I don't know as I've never tried to set that particular aircraft up yet

[Lixma 06]

I've had trouble with DCS forgetting my P-51 bindings - I've never sussed out the reason, but the moment I realise it's happened I just shut down DCS and on the restart it's all back to normal.

If separate controls for all variants solves this (or just merging them in to a single P-51 entry) then +100 from me.

Re: P-47 - there's only one folder 'P-47D-30' which seems to cover all variants.

[BM357_TinMan]

10 minutes ago, Lixma 06 said:

I've had trouble with DCS forgetting my P-51 bindings - I've never sussed out the reason, but the moment I realise it's happened I just shut down DCS and on the restart it's all back to normal.

I can't say for sure but, I don't think it's "forgetting"; I think it is grabbing the settings for whatever p51 you've loaded.  i.e. if, in one session, you've opened the 25 first and got all the keys and axis set up, until you shut DCS down, it will apply those settings to the 25 or 30 (I think).  When you reopen DCS and, if you pick the 30 first this time, it grabs a whole DIFFERENT p51 profile because they are stored differently.

It is confusing and may not work exactly like this, but it is something like this.  So, yeah, having a P51D-25 and P51D-30 pulldown in the controllers settings GUI in the game would be really helpful.

[Art-J]

Control files not being loaded properly are a long-standing and "normal" bug for both Mustang variants and both Spitfire variants, unless player just manualny creates two correctly named copies of controls folders per each plane in Saved Games, then it's not an issue anymore.

Makes me wonder, though, how ED managed to solve this in P-47, which doesn't need any of such tricks and always loads controls correctly no matter which variant you fly first.

Edited January 30, 2022 by Art-J

[Florida]

21 hours ago, BM357_TinMan said:

I can't say for sure but, I don't think it's "forgetting"; I think it is grabbing the settings for whatever p51 you've loaded.  i.e. if, in one session, you've opened the 25 first and got all the keys and axis set up, until you shut DCS down, it will apply those settings to the 25 or 30 (I think).  When you reopen DCS and, if you pick the 30 first this time, it grabs a whole DIFFERENT p51 profile because they are stored differently.

It is confusing and may not work exactly like this, but it is something like this.  So, yeah, having a P51D-25 and P51D-30 pulldown in the controllers settings GUI in the game would be really helpful.

Maybe I've missed something, but I can't remember ever seeing a choice between the 25 and the 30. Where exactly is that choice? I have been frustrated doing the tutorials in "the P-51, and flying it quite nicely, and then getting into some of the campaigns and can't even taxi the plane. And I also have random occurances of the mixture going to cut-off in the middle of a flight, or the gear deciding to cycle.

Anyway, much of this may have to do with differences in bindings between the two models.

[BM357_TinMan]

30 minutes ago, Florida said:

... I can't remember ever seeing a choice between the 25 and the 30. Where exactly is that choice?  ...

Hi Florida,

As the game is currently coded, there is no choice in the in-game gui to specifically select the 25 or the 30; only a choice between the  p51D and the TF-51.  That's actually why I posted this thread; to ask the developers to add this ability.

I edited the .lua files in the "saved games" folder to ensure I was editing the correct profile for the correcct plane.  (I would give you the file path but I am not at my computer and don't remember it exactly.)

[Art-J]

^ I think Florida might be asking about choosing the -25 or -30 for the mission rather than about what's going on in control options menu.

That choice is done only when creating a new mission or editing existing one. Missions created by someone else have one of the variants chosen for you and that's that. For example training missions are all done with -30 by default, but Reflected's campaigns use -25s I presume.

1 hour ago, Florida said:

 I have been frustrated doing the tutorials in "the P-51, and flying it quite nicely, and then getting into some of the campaigns and can't even taxi the plane. 

That does sound like the problem being discussed here. For a quick fix - check if your /Config/Input folder in Saved Games contains TWO Mustang-related folders. One should be called "P-51D", the other - "P-51D-30-NA". If any of them is missing, create it manually and fill it with content copied directly from the other. That fixes the problem for good, but you will have to repeat copying if you decide to change your controls assignments later on (because changes are being saved in one of these folders, but not in the other automatically).

1 hour ago, Florida said:

And I also have random occurances of the mixture going to cut-off in the middle of a flight, or the gear deciding to cycle.

That sounds rather like a problem of duplicated assignments, which there are plenty of once you install every new module in DCS. You're probably hitting some button which activates these function by mistake without even realizing it. Go to control options, browse through the whole table and make sure mixture, gear and any similar, important function is activated only by device you intend to use for it. Delete all remaining duplicates.

Edited January 31, 2022 by Art-J

[Florida]

1 hour ago, BM357_TinMan said:

I edited the .lua files in the "saved games" folder to ensure I was editing the correct profile for the correcct plane.  (I would give you the file path but I am not at my computer and don't remember it exactly.)

I know where my specific "Saved games" folder is. Maybe you could give me some advice as to what I need to edit in these .lua files. And Art, the only mission I have attempted so far is the very 1st on the list, accompanying bombers. I don't know who the author is - I'll check.

[BM357_TinMan]

I can not really offer much help as I did nothing apart from set up the input axises that I use and make sure that they were uniform across all three 51 variants.  I use, almost, exclusively the stock keyboard bindings for all "button" presses and just program them to my x51 joystick; then remove any joystick buttons that get autoprogrammed by DCS.

Edited February 1, 2022 by BM357_TinMan

[Florida]

On 1/31/2022 at 2:19 PM, Art-J said:

That does sound like the problem being discussed here. For a quick fix - check if your /Config/Input folder in Saved Games contains TWO Mustang-related folders. One should be called "P-51D", the other - "P-51D-30-NA". If any of them is missing, create it manually and fill it with content copied directly from the other. That fixes the problem for good, but you will have to repeat copying if you decide to change your controls assignments later on (because changes are being saved in one of these folders, but not in the other automatically).

I have both folders in my Saved Games folder. SO - first off, how do I even know which folder I am modifying? IOW, when I load the Mustang in DCS, which one am I loading? If I knew how to pick and choose, I'd do so, but if I heavily modify the one I load (not knowing which one it is), then how do I go to my folders and copy/paste that file into the "other" folder.

 

I have no idea what I'm doing here, and when I open the .lua files, it's even more confusing.

ADD: I just went into the Mission mode again and picked the first one - something didn't work (Gear Up/Down) so I paused the mission and went into my Control Options. And, WTF! The controls were all set differently. I believe they were set to P-51D Easy. So when I load one of these missions, whoever wrote them decides what I am flying????? I mean, I'm still in the Mustang, but the controls are junk. I just went and reassigned my gear and other switches to Real, but I don't have any idea what will happen when I go back into the mission.

Edited February 2, 2022 by Florida
New info

[Art-J]

Going to bed now so won't be able to write longer reply till tomorrow, but what mission exactly was that? Maybe I can check how it runs on my PC.

Another thing, are you sure you don't have "game flight mode" turned on by mistake?

EDIT - OK, back to my gaming rig. Let's concentrate on "P-51D Real" controls, 'cause I'm not sure where "Easy" go - I don't use them. Changes you make in controls menu are saved in files in "P-51D-30-NA" folder, so use that one as a source for the other ("P-51D"). Needless to say, D-30 Mustang loads data from the forrmer, while D-25 loads data from the latter.

As for the other question of yours, yes, mission file can override some of player's difficulty settings, that's why I asked you which mission you had this problem with exactly.

Edited February 3, 2022 by Art-J

[Florida]

Okay, Art: And maybe in the process, you can tell me why there are 4 entries on my Mission screen for this. Thew mission is "Atlantic Wall Raid - Bomber Escort" I do own the WWII Assets Pack, the Normandy and the Channel terrains, so I should be good to go. The aircraft listed in at least one of the 4 missions says "P-51-30-NA*1".

When I load to the start screen and open the Controls screen, it comes up with "P-51D Real" so I don't think I'm flying in Game Flight. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I'm trying to learn how to fly these missions before I come online and make a total fool of myself.

[Art-J]

20 hours ago, Florida said:

Okay, Art: And maybe in the process, you can tell me why there are 4 entries on my Mission screen for this. Thew mission is "Atlantic Wall Raid - Bomber Escort" I do own the WWII Assets Pack, the Normandy and the Channel terrains, so I should be good to go. The aircraft listed in at least one of the 4 missions says "P-51-30-NA*1".

Which mission screen? The "Instant Action" or "Mission" one? Well, I don't have such a mission on my PC, but I also don't own Channel map or any of payware campaigns, so that's probably the reason. Can't advise on that one then.

20 hours ago, Florida said:

When I load to the start screen and open the Controls screen, it comes up with "P-51D Real" so I don't think I'm flying in Game Flight. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I'm trying to learn how to fly these missions before I come online and make a total fool of myself.

"Real" comes up by default even when game flight and avionics modes are enabled, so that's not indication of which one you're in. I'd still check these in gameplay options scren, just to be sure.

As for the online preparations - I swiched to strictly offline years ago, but even then I'd say it's not really a good long-term solution of learning how to use the Mustang in combat efficiently. Mostly because artificial intelligence of warbirds in DCS is pretty bad and thus fighting them will have a very limited training value. You'll be better off trying to find some online squad in your timezone, who are opened to teaching newcomers everythin required for good multiplayer fun.

Edited February 4, 2022 by Art-J

[Florida]

Art,it was the Missions screen, and the top two in the first section and the first two in the lower section (4 entries in all). And I did check the choices in the Main set-up...it's set up for Simulation and not for Game.

And you probably have something about just going online and taking my lumps. I almost made Storm of War before they shut down. Any recommendations as to best servers?