Setting a 'shift' button with a T-Flight Hotas X

[Stratman59]

I know this can be done but for the life of me I can't figure out how? I want to use button 8 for instance as a shift so I can double up the number of buttons I can map, as I'm using a Rift this is important as i can't use the keyboard. 

The little orange squares show which buttons are used twice but how do I assign one button to be equivalent to shift on the keyboard. I'm sure I'm missing something really obvious here? 

[dburne]

Unfortunately can not be done currently, at least not that I am aware of without using a software program.

 

I so wish we had the ability to just assign a button as a modifier in the controller set up menu.

https://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/29956-controller-setup-suggestionrequest/ 

Edited August 12, 2017 by dburne

[Stratman59]

Really? That's a real bummer, using the rift is terrific but so annoying to have to keep lifting it to press a keyboard button. There must be a solution?   

[216th_Lucas_From_Hell]

Stratman, download Joy2Key or similar software. Then you'll be able to tell your PC to recognise buttons (I used the two above the rocker switch) as ctrl, alt or shift. Make sure to de-assign these buttons in the Il-2 settings to prevent conflicts though.

[Stratman59]

Thanks Lucas, Ill give that a go and report back. 

[dburne]

Thanks Lucas, Ill give that a go and report back. 

 

Please do, I would be curious how it works out for you. I may give a try as well.

[Stratman59]

No luck so far, So: Ive assigned a button on my yoke (Button 7) to be shift using joy2key. This works as if I open notepad and type a letter I get lower case and if I hold the button on the yoke I then get an upper case, all good. I then went into IL2 settings and assigned button 4 to lower gear and also Button 7 and button 4 to open canopy, all i get is the gear lowering even when I press button 7 and button 4 at the same time which in theory should be shift button 4? 

[dburne]

There may have to be a short delay between the two presses. I know I ran into that back when I was using TARGET.

Edited August 12, 2017 by dburne

[216th_Lucas_From_Hell]

It's a bit tricky to set up indeed. One of the most sorely missed features from DCS where you can add all modifiers by yourself.

 

This thread covers some alternatives: https://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/20864-joy2key-alternatives/

 

If nothing works, try to get in touch with Sokol1. He's a joystick wizard

[Stratman59]

Well for my own sanity I'm giving up on this, spent close to 9 hours faffing about and got nowhere. Something that on the face of it should be so simple, annoying! 

[Sokol1]

No luck so far, So: Ive assigned a button on my yoke (Button 7) to be shift using joy2key. This works as if I open notepad and type a letter I get lower case and if I hold the button on the yoke I then get an upper case, all good. I then went into IL2 settings and assigned button 4 to lower gear and also Button 7 and button 4 to open canopy, all i get is the gear lowering even when I press button 7 and button 4 at the same time which in theory should be shift button 4? 

 

Joy2key used to work in early BoS versions to allow this "shift" button, but I test recently again and no luck anymore.

 

Seems the timing that game see key/buttons press has changed, why you have the command assigned for individual button together with the 'shift'ied" one.

 

- This happen with keyboard commands too, e.g. Shift + B, if you type then fast, result in Shift + B and B recognized by game.

 

Take a looking in Joystick Gremlin, maybe this work with delays between key press - what is not possible in Joy2Key. 

 

https://whitemagic.github.io/JoystickGremlin/

 

JoystickGremlin seems more "powerful" but without the "Swiss pocket knife" simplicity of Joy2Key.

Edited August 12, 2017 by Sokol1

[Sokol1]

OK. SVMapper do the "Shift" trick:

 

Attention to field "Continuos - YES".

 

Tested with bombs and drive brakes.

 

In SVMapper I set Joy button 4  to send LShif  - Important  assure that this button is not assigned to any command in game.

 

In game controls:

 

Joy button 1 = drop bombs

LShift + Joy button 1 = open dive brakes.

 

For assign the command, press the LShift on keyboard and not Joystick button 4, or the button 4 is registered there and don't allow set Joy button 1.

 

In game pressing  and hold Joy button 4 then pressing Joy button 1 open dive brakes and no involuntary bomb is dropped.

 

Joy button 1 only drop bombs.

 

SVMapper can be donwloaded from Drekspearedesigns:

 

http://www.derekspearedesigns.com/technical-guide.html

 

And, run SVMapper "As administrator" - can open/configure/reconfigure after start the game.

Edited February 23, 2018 by Sokol1

[=EXPEND=Tripwire]

For what it's worth, I still use Joytokey for shift buttons. Only complication is the need to map everything to a single key stroke rather than trying to use a keyboard modifier like L-shift with a keypress.

 

I used up numpad keys for things like adjusting prop pitch which normally required a shift, ctl or alt key. Being in VR I don't need those keys for views, but I sorely need more buttons with just a MSFFB2 and no extra throttle which Joytokey provides me.

[Sokol1]

Thanks for this information.

 

I test again with Joy2key - and this time... work well. 

 

 

Joy button 1 (trigger)* assigned to press "Shift" in Joy 2 key. Is just "Shift" , this work as "LShift" and "RShift".

If want use only one, e.g. "LShift", right click over Joy2key assignment box and select from drop-down menu.

 

In game controls:

 

Joy button 3 = drop bombs

 

Lshift (on keyboard) + joy button 3 = Airbrakes (dive brakes).

 

Important: When assign commands in game, don't press the joy button assigned for "shift", but press the key "LShift" or "RShift" on keyboard, because the joy button still a DX button.

 

No involuntary bomb drop when open/close Airbrakes.

 

BTW - Test this "Shift" as modifier for keys commands (instead buttons) without issues.

 

* Bonus, in game I assigned Joy button 1 (Trigger, "Shift" in Joy2key) to "Wheel brakes", so this give me extra use for this button, as the "Shift" pressed when braking do nothing, nor the brake pressed when dropping bombs or open/close dive brakes cause issue. Maybe cause for other commands - need test.

 

IMO - In four buttons + POV HAT stick grip the practical button for "Shift" is trigger, since is need press and hold, in that way button 2 can be MG, and "Shift"+button 2 fire all guns, etc.

This allow apply "Shift" to POV HAT and double their functions. Or use button from joystick base or throttle - if available, for "Shift", other buttons in joystick grip is (IMO) not practical.

 

Final note: Always set "Run as administrator" for Joy2key (or SVMapper) or may Windows UAC prevents game to see their keypress.

Edited December 3, 2018 by Sokol1

[=EXPEND=Tripwire]

I use a button on the base of the MSFFB2 as a shift function.

 

Well worth the effort, especially in VR where you need functions available on hand rather than fumbling blindly on the keyboard.

[SCG_Limboski]

JoyToKey works perfectly fine for me.  I have one of my buttons set up to be a control key and this has effectively doubled the number of available buttons on my HOTAS setup.

 

One important trick  is to use the regular keyboard while making keymap assignments in BOS and NOT the joystick button.  JoytoKey would not work correctly for me until I tried this work around because BOS would always recognize that the joystick button was being pushed instead of the control key which I assigned it.  I have not had any bugs or conflicts with using the control key--works 100% correctly for me.

Edited August 14, 2017 by II./JG77_Limbo

[Sokol1]

BTW -

- wired in parallel with one of base buttons, e.g. the ones in "wrong" side of base (right) - that great increase the joysticks usability. Easy to do in this model.

 

Edited August 14, 2017 by Sokol1

[Stratman59]

Thanks to all and particularly to Sokol1 for such clear instructions, yippee!!! It's now working with your help, as I thought it should, where I was going wrong was pressing the button on the joystick that i'd set for shift rather than pressing shift on the keyboard. Now to just remap everything as I have twice the options(-:

Edited August 15, 2017 by Stratman59

[sniperton]

One important trick  is to use the regular keyboard while making keymap assignments in BOS and NOT the joystick button.  JoytoKey would not work correctly for me until I tried this work around because BOS would always recognize that the joystick button was being pushed instead of the control key which I assigned it.  I have not had any bugs or conflicts with using the control key--works 100% correctly for me.

 

^This^

 

You can also define the rocker switch to act both as 'shift' (left) and 'alt' (right), meaning that you can have two more layouts.

In my base layout the hat switch is assigned to flaps up/down and prop pitch coarse/fine.

In my shifted layout to elevator trim and rudder trim.

In my alt-ed layout to aileron trim and mixture.

The same goes for the trigger: MGs only, cannons only, and both. 

Edited August 17, 2017 by sniperton

[Dirty_Potter]

Hello everyone,

I know this thread is old, but I was asking myself the exact same question as the OP (i also have a HOTAS.X and use the button 8 as a modifier) so I decided to post my answer I case someone else has the same problem and, like me, doesn't want to install any program. The solution is just like in CloD (at least on the  Blitz version) you can "force" the game to accept joystick buttons as a modifier but you have to do it manually.  Under  "...steamapps\common\IL-2 Sturmovik Battle of Stalingrad\data\input" there should be a couple of files.

I modified 2:

• current.actions
• current.map

Now I didn't experiment enough nor deep enough to be sure If I had to modify both of them but I did it and it worked. For example, I like to use the button 8 of my Hotas.X with my Thrustmaster 16000m´s Trigger as the wheel brake so you should look for the wheel brake command and it should look something like this:

 

current.map:

• action("rpc_wheel_brakes_p","State","key_b"); <---this line is the Key B on my Keyboard (just as an example)
• action("rpc_wheel_brakes_p","State","joy1_b7+joy0_b0"); <---this one is the HOTAS.X , which on my case its joy1 and _b7 is the button 8 (the numbers on the HOTAS.X start with 1 but on the game they start with 0) + joy0 (my T.16000m) _b0 (the Trigger)

 

current.actions:

• rpc_wheel_brakes,                                 key_b,                                            0| // Wheel brakes  <----again this line is the "B" Key on the keyboard
• rpc_wheel_brakes,                                 joy1_b7+joy0_b0,                        0|                               <---this one is the HOTAS.X + T.16000M 

And that's it, just save the changes and be sure you made some backup copies! also, keep in mind the joystick´s number can be different from mine.  I'm sorry if this information was already posted somewhere else, but as I said this thread was the first it came up so I don't think it hurts to have it here as well. I really hope the devs make this whole process easier. Here is an in-game capture:

 

[Sokol1]

This manual assignement method have bee used for some people and work OK - I have tested.

 

BTW

 

Quote

The solution is just like in CloD

 

At least for some commands CloD allow set a button as modifier for another button in Controls GUI, is not need edit .INI files.

Edited September 8, 2018 by Sokol1

[336th_Ripper*]

On 8/13/2017 at 1:25 PM, Sokol1 said:

Thanks for this information.

 

I test again with Joy2key - and this time... work well. 

 

 

Joy button 1 (trigger)* assigned to press "Shift" in Joy 2 key. Is just "Shift" , this work as "LShift" and "RShift".

If want use only one, e.g. "LShift", right click over Joy2key assignment box and select from drop-down menu.

 

In game controls:

 

Joy button 3 = drop bombs

 

Lshift (on keyboard) + joy button 3 = Airbrakes (dive brakes).

 

Important: When assign commands in game, don't press the joy button assigned for "shift", but press the key "LShift" or "RShift" on keyboard, because the joy button still a DX button.

 

No involuntary bomb drop when open/close Airbrakes.

 

BTW - Test this "Shift" as modifier for keys commands (instead buttons) without issues.

 

* Bonus, in game I assigned Joy button 1 (Trigger, "Shift" in Joy2key) to "Wheel brakes", so this give me extra use for this button, as the "Shift" pressed when braking do nothing, nor the brake pressed when dropping bombs or open/close dive brakes cause issue. Maybe cause for other commands - need test.

 

IMO - In four buttons + POV HAT stick grip the practical button for "Shift" is trigger, since is need press and hold, in that way button 2 can be MG, and "Shift"+button 2 fire all guns, etc.

This allow apply "Shift" to POV HAT and double their functions. Or use button from joystick base or throttle - if available, for "Shift", other buttons in joystick grip is (IMO) not practical.

 

Final note: Always set "Run as administrator" for Joy2key (or SVMapper) or may Windows UAC prevents game to see their keypress.

 

Hello Soko1, Since my saitek aviator software does not work anymore I was wondering from your post if I can get my A/B switch to work as modifier keys  to increase 12 buttons to 36 total using Shift and CNTRL, which is what it appears you have done. In Off mode I want my brakes as trigger and flaps as toggle, etc. In the air mode A for my engine settings , and finally mode b for weapons.

 

I spent hours trying to do this with sd mapper but flaps up was not working. 

 

Do I setup the other 24 keys as Joystick 2 and 3 or keyboard 2 and three. I could not find any good tutorials!

 

Thanks cheers.

 

[-332FG-Gordon200]

From what I understand Joy2key is no longer available.

Joytokey is a similar free software that I use to get desired results from my VPC throttle.

Sorry I can't help with your question but I'm still learning my way around the program.

https://joytokey.net/en/

[Sokol1]

Joy2key is just a acrimonious for JoyToKey. 

 

334th_Ripper*

 

If this OFF, A, B switch press DX buttons - you see the buttons highlight in windows Game controllers (joy.cpl), you can use then for change "profiles" - what in JoyToKey is called "Joystick" (you can set up to 16 different "joysticks"), instead use modifiers (ALT, CTRL or SHIFT), another option, but a bit more more complicated.

 

If this switch don't press DX buttons will be not recognized by JoyToKey or games, is usable only with Saitek software.

 

Assuming that switch press DX buttons, but in OFF position do nothing -  because don't press a DX button in this position, you can use 2 "joysticks", one in A and another in B position.

 

Starting from A, turn switch for B load Joystick2

In B turn switch for A load Joystick1

 

Rinse and repeat.

 

For example, in "Joystick1'" assign joy trigger for press "Wheel Brakes", in Joystick2" for fire Machine Guns.

 

You will don't find tutorials - are some Youtube videos, but most of people setting gamepad's in "fight" games. Need do experiments with the options.

 

The other option, use A and B for press a modifier key (ALT, CTRL or SHIFT) theoretically you can use 3 "joysticks", one without modifier, one with "ALT (or CTRL or SHIFT) " in A, other with "CTRL" (or ALT or SHIFT" in B, but in IL-2 Great Battles series, maybe keys are detected before the modifier, need test.

 

[336th_Ripper*]

Thank you Sokol 1, I will experiment with it and report back?

3 hours ago, Gordon200 said:

From what I understand Joy2key is no longer available.

Joytokey is a similar free software that I use to get desired results from my VPC throttle.

Sorry I can't help with your question but I'm still learning my way around the program.

https://joytokey.net/en/

Thank you this is the one I meant!

 

[AndySimpson96]

Hi, sorry I know this is an old thread but it's the one which appears when trying to set key mapping for this joystick, I'm having issues getting BoS or Joy2Key to pick up that I've got Lshift, Lctrl etc mapped to the. Joy2Key looks fine and if I go to a text editor and press which I've got Lshift and 'a' it'll appear as 'A'. I then remapped the BoS controls using the keyboard for these keys but when I got in flight they don't work.  What seems to happen is that for example if I go to id do Lshift + joy button 5 nothing happens and it won't do the action for joy button 5 on it's own.

edit: this is the schema I've mapped 

 

Edited August 25, 2020 by AndySimpson96
Added link showing mapped control schema