Multiple Input Devices (X52Pro and Cougar MFD's)

[stingen]

Can someone explain to me how you get your Joystick (I have a X52 Pro) not to overlap with the key mappings on the Cougar MFD's? I'm attempting all of this on FC2.

 

I'm using the SST software for my X52 and JoyToKey for the MFD's but the key mappings all appear to overlap each other. For example, if I map the trigger (Button1) to Fire and then try to map the first button on one of the MFD's to something else it appears to use the SST software mappings. In addition, both of the MFD's seem to be mirrors of each other, there are 28 buttons on each MFD but they aren't unique.

 

Can you use two different applications to map input devices?

 

I think I overloaded on buying new gear and got way over my head on this...

 

X52 Pro

Thrustmaster Cougar MFD's

CH Pedals

TrackIR

[hassata]

For the cougars, you just go into options [edit: in FC2], choose the button you want to assign, scroll right to MFD 1 or 2 and assign as appropriate. You don't need any third party software

[blaster454]

Can someone explain to me how you get your Joystick (I have a X52 Pro) not to overlap with the key mappings on the Cougar MFD's? I'm attempting all of this on FC2.

When you go into the options menu in FC2, click on controls. You should see your X52 Pro HOTAS and two MFD's listed as separate controllers. They will be after the keyboard assignments and their order will be determined by their controller ID in windows (whci you don't have to worry about). To assign a function to one of your controllers, make sure you click (select) in the column that is headed by that controller (e.g., MFD1, MFD2, X52 PRO, ...)

 

I'm using the SST software for my X52 and JoyToKey for the MFD's but the key mappings all appear to overlap each other. For example, if I map the trigger (Button1) to Fire and then try to map the first button on one of the MFD's to something else it appears to use the SST software mappings. In addition, both of the MFD's seem to be mirrors of each other, there are 28 buttons on each MFD but they aren't unique.

You do not need JoyToKey for the MFD's ... just make sure you installed their Thrustmaster drivers and they should be recognized as separate controllers.

 

Can you use two different applications to map input devices?

 

I think I overloaded on buying new gear and got way over my head on this...

 

X52 Pro

Thrustmaster Cougar MFD's

CH Pedals

TrackIR

 

You can use separate applications to map to your controllers but that is making it more difficult if you are a beginner. Just make sure your MFD's are installed correctly then map those inside the game or sim (FC2 here) as I described above. You use either the SST software (profiler) to map your joystick and throttle or you can map them in the sim under the OPTIONS/CONTROLLERS tabs. You can also combine these mappings if you make sure you do not have a functioned mapped in both the profiler and in the sim ... they will conflict.

 

Clear as mud, I'll bet! :) Take your time and work on one controller at a time. Also, be sure to clear out any default mappings that may be in the FC2 application before you start mapping your own. The sim assumes some defaults that are incorrect and those need to be cleared to avoid conflicts.

 

Hope this helps.

[stingen]

Thanks for the quick response guys!

 

I have tried using the in-game programming and experienced the same issues with duplicate key entries. This was the main reason "I thought" I needed a third party application. I have installed all the software that came with the MFD's but still think I'm missing something here...

 

If I attempt to map a function to button1 on the Left MFD and then map button1 on the Right MFD they conflict and don't appear to be unique. I will just overwrite the Left MFD with the Right MFD function. This same issue carries on with the stick, button1 can only be mapped once and doesn't seem to be unique on any of the devices. The X52 and the MFD's appear in the programming section in the game and I can map functions to them, I just think I'm not setting something up correctly from the start.

[blaster454]

Stingen, can you post a screen shot of your options/controls window ... scroll sideways so that the keyboard column is hidden so we can see what you have in the game.

[stingen]

Let me know if you need a specific section of the controls.

 

[Krebs20]

Hit clear category for both the MFDs then assign them from scratch. It's what I did.

[sweinhart3]

also button 1 on your joystick is not the same as button 1 on the first mfd and button 1 on the second mfd.

[shu77]

Also dont forget you need to do it for each aircraft, otherwise you will jump into an A-10 like I did, go to press the button you mapped to 'Nav' mode in the F-15 and find its defaulted back to the cannon and sending rounds out at your lead AC. (Sorry Mouse!)

[blaster454]

all the above :smilewink:

 

Most especially, clear the categories for each of your devices (MFD1, MFD2, and X52Pro). Then look at each command and decide where you want it to be programmed ... and you can program each command for more than one device (e.g., you could have a command programmed to your MFD1 button 1 and also to your HOTAS button 4 ... just an example).

 

So, first, click under the MFD1 column header in any of the commands and then click Clear Category. This will erase all the programmed functions under MFD1. Do the same for MFD2 and then X52 Pro.

 

Then, program each command as you want it. For example, suppose you want the keystroke to set your HUD to NAV MODE programmed to be the first button on the left of your first MFD. You would scroll to the command for NAV MODE (keystroke "1") and click in the box that intersects that command with the device (here, MFD1). Then click the ADD button and it will pop up a dialog box to set the command ... don't move any controls or press any keys except the one you want to program for that command. In this case, you would press the top row, left button and the dialog box would fill in with MFD1 Button 1. Click OK and it is done. You can also double click in the respective box rather than single click and then click the ADD button.

 

Your MFD buttons are numbered from 1 to 20 starting at the top left and going clockwise around the MFD. The rocker switches are numbered 21 to 28 after that. Look in you MFD docs for details.

 

Remember that "Button n" (n being any number up to the max for a controller) is not the same for MFD1 or MFD2 or X52Pro ... each is a different button and can have it's own command programmed.

 

Hope this helps some.

[stingen]

Thanks for the help guys! I cleared the categories and attempted to program different functions to the various MFD's and everything is working. I wish I didn't have to do this for each aircraft but its worth all the work in the end.

 

Now on to the next issue, how and heck do I remember what I've programmed each button as...

 

I located an image of the insert that goes in the MFD and edited it with my programmed functions. It does require some time investment but its the only method I can think of that will help with remembering what each button is. I'm just using standard paper and cutting the image out and sliding it into the MFD. Its not pretty but it works.

 

Thanks again!

[hassata]

http://cougarmfd.thrustmaster.com/

[stingen]

I'm oozing with joy...

 

If I only would have known about this a week ago I would have saved myself an entire night of image editing.

 

Thanks hassata, you the man!

Edited August 25, 2010 by stingen