Changing Radio Command Keys!

[Greb]

The use of "F" keys for radio commands was just a pain for me. I hated reaching over from one side of the keyboard to bring up the comm menu and then reaching with the other hand to hit an numbered "F" to activate the command. It's very distracting when in battle trying to hit a bunch of keys to tell your wingy to hit targets.

 

I started cruising through files and then looked on the board and searched for changing the keystrokes for Radio Comms. I didn't find anything, so if this has been posted already I apologize. I thought others may have use for this also.

 

I found the file that controls the radio "F" commands and changed the layout. For those of us who don't have the Warthog hotas this may make your life a little easier. This is how I have it mapped now. If you go into your options menu and change the Radio buttons to the directions keys that sit next to your number keypad (see Photo below) you can make your left Direction key the VHF/FM radio, the down direction key your UHF radio, and the right direction key your VHF/AM radio. These keys are identified as HOTAS MIC switch in the controller options menu. Then make your up direction key your radio com menu toggle. This would normally be the backslash key.

 

Then go into your :\.....DCS A10 Beta\Scripts\input folder and open your CommandMenuItems.lua file using notepad and change the "F" key strokes to the following. Changes in red:

 

CommandMenuItems = {

keyCommands = {

{combos = {{key = 'Num1'}}, down = ICommandMenuItem1},

{combos = {{key = 'Num2'}}, down = ICommandMenuItem2},

{combos = {{key = 'Num3'}}, down = ICommandMenuItem3},

{combos = {{key = 'Num4'}}, down = ICommandMenuItem4},

{combos = {{key = 'Num5'}}, down = ICommandMenuItem5},

{combos = {{key = 'Num6'}}, down = ICommandMenuItem6},

{combos = {{key = 'Num7'}}, down = ICommandMenuItem7},

{combos = {{key = 'Num8'}}, down = ICommandMenuItem8},

{combos = {{key = 'Num9'}}, down = ICommandMenuItem9},

{combos = {{key = 'Num0'}}, down = ICommandMenuItem10},

{combos = {{key = 'F11'}}, down = ICommandMenuItem11},

{combos = {{key = 'F12'}}, down = ICommandMenuItem12},

{combos = {{key = 'Esc'}}, down = ICommandMenuExit},

{combos = {{key = 'Tab'}}, down = ICommandSwitchDialog},

{combos = {{key = 'Tab', reformers = {'LShift'}}}, down = ICommandSwitchDialog},

-- {combos = {{key = '\'}} down = ICommandSwitchToCommonDialog}

}

}

 

So now all your "F" radio keystrokes are on your Numberpad. Now when you want to ask to startup, takeoff, or send your wingy to do something its a quick single hand keystroke and they are close together. You want to ask for start up or take off, just hit your right direction key (VHF/AM Radio), then tap the number for current airfield and then ask for permission so it would just be right direction keypad 1-1. Or say you want to tell your wingy to attack ground targets. You hit down direction for UHF radio 1-2-1 or to attack air defenses, it would be direction key down for UHF and then key pad numbers 1-2-4. Check in with JTAC would be left direction key for VHF/FM Radio and 4-1-1 or whatever JTAC you want to check in with if multiples in mission. Its so much faster and you don't have to flip from one hand to the next and you don't have to look for that one certain "F" keystroke.

 

WARNING!!! This will change any defaults you have for said keys but they are view and control keys and I think for the most part they are unused by the average flight simmer.

 

Anyways! Thought it may help some out with looking for that "$%Q^_#%(_Q#^%_Q*^!!!!" "F" Keystroke when in combat mode!

 

Have fun!

Edited February 1, 2011 by Greb

[Sarge55]

Looks good Greb. While you were poking about did you happen to notice if it was possible to relocate the placement of the menu on the screen? I would like to move it to the left side.

[Greb]

Looks good Greb. While you were poking about did you happen to notice if it was possible to relocate the placement of the menu on the screen? I would like to move it to the left side.

 

From what little I have read on the forum I believe you can. Look in your FUI folder and go to Resource then to Radio folder. There are several LUA's in that there that can be adjusted. I will give it a go and see what comes about.

Edited February 1, 2011 by Greb

[Greb]

Looks good Greb. While you were poking about did you happen to notice if it was possible to relocate the placement of the menu on the screen? I would like to move it to the left side.

 

Here ya go Sarge...figured it out! PIA LOL!!!!

 

If you change these lines in your :\......DCS A-10C Beta\FUI\Resources\Radio folder and open up your "Menu.res" file with notepad, and change the following. It will relocate the Radio Com text to the left side of the screen.

 

Changes in RED:

 

\dialog

\begin

\tag{-1}

\coord{0, 10, 1024, 300}

\color{50, 50, 50, 50}

\musthavecursor{0}

\drawitself{0}

\acceptmouse{0} (Change to 1 for mouse clickable menu)

\fixedposition{0}

\layer{1000}

\bordercolor{255, 255, 255, 255}

\hasborder{0}

\end

 

\static

\begin

\tag{2}

\coord{40, 25, 1024, 40} (from 802 to 40...the header line. e.g. (1. UHF Main) I set this lower so if the menu list is 40 I like it set this to 35 to 38.

\color{200, 200, 200, 50}

\drawitself{0}

\font(1)

\fontcolor{255, 255, 255, 255} (Font Color)

\alignmentleft (Text Alignment)

\caption{}

\end

 

\multicolumnlistbox

\begin

\tag{3}

\coord{40, 50, 1024, 300} (from 800 to 40 ....this is the menu list).

\defaultitem{Radio/command_list_box_item.res}

\columnswidth{224}

\marker1{Radio/command_list_marker.res}

\bordercolor{255, 255, 255, 255}

\visiblescrollbar{0}

\hasborder{0}

\readonly{0}

\end

 

The lower the number in the columnlist box the farther left you go. Raise the number to go right. 40 seems about right. You may want to go 30 or maybe 45 the formula for the X/Y Axis or position appears to be as follows:

 

\coord{40, 50, 1024, 300} Red # = equates Lower goes left, higher goes right. Blue # = Equates to up and down. To the top go lower the number to go down go higher the number. Like I said you may want to adjust this to your liking.

 

You can do the same with the dialog box in the dialog.res file. This is the file that answers you back. JTAC, Wingy, ATC....etc

 

Have fun!

Edited February 2, 2011 by Greb

[Sarge55]

Wow. Excellent, thanks a lot. I would probably never have found that.

 

+1 Doh! It will not let me up the ante... next time. Thanks again.

[Greb]

Wow. Excellent, thanks a lot. I would probably never have found that.

 

+1 Doh! It will not let me up the ante... next time. Thanks again.

 

Your Welcome Sarge!

 

Hope it helps you out!

[WarriorX]

Great work Greb!

 

Tried to +1 rep you but got the following message.

 

"You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Greb again."

 

I owe ya one.

[Greb]

LOL!! Thanks Warrior!

 

Yeah that makes radio com so much easier. Even if you have the Warthog it works out OK because you still have to tap the F command key with that HOTAS don't you? Now you just have to reach up and hit the NUM pad key. This would work really well too if you had a NUM key pad, one of those small add on you can buy. You could place that in front or behind your Warthog throttle and then hit MIC key and then reach right down and hit the NUM key on the small keypad. SOOOOOO much easier......I'm Gonna have to get one!

[Druid_]

What about a target script that allow you to say

1. Select UHF (downward mic press) = F menu displays (as normal) then ..

2. Downward select on same mic button to scroll down selections and Upward to scroll upwards, on arrival at desired selection in F menu

3. Press IN on mic select button.

4. Goto 2.

 

I think in Target Script this is possible, getting late now so might check it out tomorrow.

[Greb]

What about a target script that allow you to say

1. Select UHF (downward mic press) = F menu displays (as normal) then ..

2. Downward select on same mic button to scroll down selections and Upward to scroll upwards, on arrival at desired selection in F menu

3. Press IN on mic select button.

4. Goto 2.

 

I think in Target Script this is possible, getting late now so might check it out tomorrow.

 

Yeah that might work for a mic switch programmed to the HOTAS in some way. Or as normal on the HoG throttle. The command input list There is the mouse clickable option that might fit in there somewhere too.

 

.......finishing a mission right now .......maybe I will take a look also!

[hawka]

this is something I tried after reading your posts.I have F1 and F2 veiws programmed onto my x65 throttle hat with a = pinky command, along side the mic hat, while I was in a radio menu I thought I'll try it and see what happens, well it works a treat.

As a stand alone button its a view but when pressed when the mic switch menu is on it selects the menu ie., start--taxi to runway. the f2 view button works the same.I use it all the time now and I am going to programm others to my gear stick.The mic switch must act like a mode switch.

Edited February 4, 2011 by hawka

[Greb]

this is something I tried after reading your posts.I have F1 and F2 veiws programmed onto my x65 throttle hat with a = pinky command, along side the mic hat, while I was in a radio menu I thought I'll try it and see what happens, well it works a treat.

As a stand alone button its a view but when pressed when the mic switch menu is on it selects the menu ie., start--taxi to runway. the f2 view button works the same.I use it all the time now and I am going to programm others to my gear stick.The mic switch must act like a mode switch.

 

Glad it worked out for ya hawka. For me just changing to the num pad was a HUGE improvement. Although it took me a few days to get used to it.....I was still reaching for the F key commands! LOL!!!

[wolfstone]

Here ya go Sarge...figured it out! PIA LOL!!!!

 

If you change these lines in your :\......DCS A-10C Beta\FUI\Resources\Radio folder and open up your "Menu.res" file with notepad, and change the following. It will relocate the Radio Com text to the left side of the screen.

 

Changes in RED:

 

\dialog

\begin

\tag{-1}

\coord{0, 10, 1024, 300}

\color{50, 50, 50, 50}

\musthavecursor{0}

\drawitself{0}

\acceptmouse{0} (Change to 1 for mouse clickable menu)

\fixedposition{0}

\layer{1000}

\bordercolor{255, 255, 255, 255}

\hasborder{0}

\end

 

\static

\begin

\tag{2}

\coord{40, 25, 1024, 40} (from 802 to 40...the header line. e.g. (1. UHF Main) I set this lower so if the menu list is 40 I like it set this to 35 to 38.

\color{200, 200, 200, 50}

\drawitself{0}

\font(1)

\fontcolor{255, 255, 255, 255} (Font Color)

\alignmentleft (Text Alignment)

\caption{}

\end

 

\multicolumnlistbox

\begin

\tag{3}

\coord{40, 50, 1024, 300} (from 800 to 40 ....this is the menu list).

\defaultitem{Radio/command_list_box_item.res}

\columnswidth{224}

\marker1{Radio/command_list_marker.res}

\bordercolor{255, 255, 255, 255}

\visiblescrollbar{0}

\hasborder{0}

\readonly{0}

\end

 

The lower the number in the columnlist box the farther left you go. Raise the number to go right. 40 seems about right. You may want to go 30 or maybe 45 the formula for the X/Y Axis or position appears to be as follows:

 

\coord{40, 50, 1024, 300} Red # = equates Lower goes left, higher goes right. Blue # = Equates to up and down. To the top go lower the number to go down go higher the number. Like I said you may want to adjust this to your liking.

 

You can do the same with the dialog box in the dialog.res file. This is the file that answers you back. JTAC, Wingy, ATC....etc

 

Have fun!

Fantastic Greb that really helped me rep sent,,,, now do you happen to know what file i need to adjust to get the training messages moved to the left as they are split between two screens......:thumbup::thumbup:

[Greb]

Fantastic Greb that really helped me rep sent,,,, now do you happen to know what file i need to adjust to get the training messages moved to the left as they are split between two screens......:thumbup::thumbup:

 

Glad it helped wolfstone!

 

I'll take a look!

[Greb]

Still looking for the file Wolfstone. Will keep trying and let you know if I find it.

[wolfstone]

Thanks Greb, i am allso looking ,but not really sure what i am looking for LOL

[Sandman]

Here ya go Sarge...figured it out! PIA LOL!!!!

 

If you change these lines in your :\......DCS A-10C Beta\FUI\Resources\Radio folder and open up your "Menu.res" file with notepad, and change the following. It will relocate the Radio Com text to the left side of the screen.

 

Changes in RED:

 

\dialog

\begin

\tag{-1}

\coord{0, 10, 1024, 300}

\color{50, 50, 50, 50}

\musthavecursor{0}

\drawitself{0}

\acceptmouse{0} (Change to 1 for mouse clickable menu)

\fixedposition{0}

\layer{1000}

\bordercolor{255, 255, 255, 255}

\hasborder{0}

\end

 

\static

\begin

\tag{2}

\coord{40, 25, 1024, 40} (from 802 to 40...the header line. e.g. (1. UHF Main) I set this lower so if the menu list is 40 I like it set this to 35 to 38.

\color{200, 200, 200, 50}

\drawitself{0}

\font(1)

\fontcolor{255, 255, 255, 255} (Font Color)

\alignmentleft (Text Alignment)

\caption{}

\end

 

\multicolumnlistbox

\begin

\tag{3}

\coord{40, 50, 1024, 300} (from 800 to 40 ....this is the menu list).

\defaultitem{Radio/command_list_box_item.res}

\columnswidth{224}

\marker1{Radio/command_list_marker.res}

\bordercolor{255, 255, 255, 255}

\visiblescrollbar{0}

\hasborder{0}

\readonly{0}

\end

 

The lower the number in the columnlist box the farther left you go. Raise the number to go right. 40 seems about right. You may want to go 30 or maybe 45 the formula for the X/Y Axis or position appears to be as follows:

 

\coord{40, 50, 1024, 300} Red # = equates Lower goes left, higher goes right. Blue # = Equates to up and down. To the top go lower the number to go down go higher the number. Like I said you may want to adjust this to your liking.

 

You can do the same with the dialog box in the dialog.res file. This is the file that answers you back. JTAC, Wingy, ATC....etc

 

Have fun!

 

Thanks. +1

[S D]

For those that are inrested in another way of dealing with the pesky F keys. Have you tried a voice recognition system?

 

I use VR Commander, then just program the F keys into the software. So when i need the radio, i use the mic switch on my hotas then just say 1/2/3/4 etc. for which ever menu i need, works great.

[Guest Cayenne]

Shadow.D., Is there a way to switch for MP while using voip like Teamspeak? Just curious..

[Congo_Toey]

Here ya go Sarge...figured it out! PIA LOL!!!!

 

If you change these lines in your :\......DCS A-10C Beta\FUI\Resources\Radio folder and open up your "Menu.res" file with notepad, and change the following. It will relocate the Radio Com text to the left side of the screen.

 

Changes in RED:

 

\dialog

\begin

\tag{-1}

\coord{0, 10, 1024, 300}

\color{50, 50, 50, 50}

\musthavecursor{0}

\drawitself{0}

\acceptmouse{0} (Change to 1 for mouse clickable menu)

\fixedposition{0}

\layer{1000}

\bordercolor{255, 255, 255, 255}

\hasborder{0}

\end

 

\static

\begin

\tag{2}

\coord{40, 25, 1024, 40} (from 802 to 40...the header line. e.g. (1. UHF Main) I set this lower so if the menu list is 40 I like it set this to 35 to 38.

\color{200, 200, 200, 50}

\drawitself{0}

\font(1)

\fontcolor{255, 255, 255, 255} (Font Color)

\alignmentleft (Text Alignment)

\caption{}

\end

 

\multicolumnlistbox

\begin

\tag{3}

\coord{40, 50, 1024, 300} (from 800 to 40 ....this is the menu list).

\defaultitem{Radio/command_list_box_item.res}

\columnswidth{224}

\marker1{Radio/command_list_marker.res}

\bordercolor{255, 255, 255, 255}

\visiblescrollbar{0}

\hasborder{0}

\readonly{0}

\end

 

The lower the number in the columnlist box the farther left you go. Raise the number to go right. 40 seems about right. You may want to go 30 or maybe 45 the formula for the X/Y Axis or position appears to be as follows:

 

\coord{40, 50, 1024, 300} Red # = equates Lower goes left, higher goes right. Blue # = Equates to up and down. To the top go lower the number to go down go higher the number. Like I said you may want to adjust this to your liking.

 

You can do the same with the dialog box in the dialog.res file. This is the file that answers you back. JTAC, Wingy, ATC....etc

 

Have fun!

 

Hi Greb and All, I am loving this sim and now have finally got it running on all five of my monitors and it looks great.

 

I am using a combination of eyefinity and SoftTH to create one large virtual screen of 6024x3340 (includes bezels), so I dont need to use any special lua file for my screen layout, I just use the 1Camera.lua and setup my resolution in the options menu. I do this instead of setting up five cameras as it just looks more real.

 

But I have one big issue, in that I can not see the menus or the messages as they are displayed off of the real screens in the top right corner of the virtual one big screen.

 

I tried playing around with the menu.res file to see if I can move the radio commands menus to my centre screen, but I have had no luck with this.

 

I am now using the version 1.1.0.7 of the sim and its menu.res file is slighty different than the one you show here, so I am wondering if anyone has updated their menu.res file in the latest version. Secondly I am wondering about the what the different sections of the file refer to (E.G. dialog, static and multicolumnlistbox sections) and what the coord values refer to. I believe that it is {starting x point, starting y point, width, height} from 0,0 point being the top left corner, but I am not sure where the 0,0 point is, is it the 0,0 point of the whole screen as in the 0,0 point of the 1Camera.lua file, or is there another subscreen 0,0 point that I dont know about, if so how do I set or move the subscreen. It seems to me like there is some sort of subscreen that has a default size of 1024x768, if that is so how does that relate to the screen size that I have of 6024x3340.

 

Also any ideas how I would move the reply messages or instruction messages while in the training missions etc to the centre screen.

 

Any feedback or help would be very much appriciated. FYI below you can see my setup.

 

 

you can see Blackshark set up the same way here.

 

[Steel Jaw]

When I try this the radio menu just centers in the screen, 40 or 10 etc. Also, even in the center, the left side of the lines are still cut off.

 

Ideas? Cheers.

[Decay]

This is the right pod of my hacked standard USB keyboard.

That numpad is the Standard usb numpad.

so i got your post about input command menue.

I just hope that LUA is there for LOMAC Flaming Cliffs 2

 

ANd here's the full rig:

And yeah the desk is painted pixel camo.

 

All the best

Dave Decay

Edited June 4, 2011 by Decay
Missed pic #2

[Decay]

For LOMAC FC2 the command list is: at

C:\Program Files (x86)\Eagle Dynamics\LockOn Flaming Cliffs 2\Scripts\Input\InputEvents.LUA

 

And you need to change all the F1 to Num1

I used Notepad++ from ninite.com

[Decay]

but it hasn't worked yet i've got the cant get out of pause break problem

hmmmm

[Decay]

OKAY HERE'S THE FIX !!!

 

IN:eg for the SU-25

C:\Program Files (x86)\Eagle Dynamics\LockOn Flaming Cliffs 2\Config\Input\Aircrafts\su-25\keyboard

There is the file keyboard.lua that you are editing when you change keyboard commands in the options page in-game.

This does NOT have the Radio Commands, but you need to know this file, because you will have to check for conflicts later.

 

The file to change the RADIO COMMANDS is in:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Eagle Dynamics\LockOn Flaming Cliffs 2\Scripts\Input

and it's called: WingmenCommandPlane.lua

 

I used Notepad++ to find F1 - F12 and replace those keys to the Num1 - Num0 (F11=Space and F12-Num.)

 

BUT THEN: My game would not get past the "Pause/Break to start" and even though I reassigned the Pause Key in-game it still was not working.

WHAT I FOUND: The "Num." key that I had assigned in WingmenCommand.Plane.lua was conflicting with the default assignments for "Num." that the game was getting from the keyboard.lua in the above directory. I went in-game and cleared the remaining "Num." assignments.

 

The game runs, and I have the RADIO COMMANDS assigned where I need them for my configuration.

Which is this keypad:

 

Super Happy About that one.

Hope this helps others who hate the F1 - F12 thing.

 

Dave Decay

 

"If a job's worth doing - it's worth half doing twice". - Homer Simpson.

Edited June 4, 2011 by Decay
Forgot Pic