Assign Modifiers on HOTAS

[Ceowulf]

Really wish we could, right in game, choose to make any HOTAS button into any modifier key.  Lshift, Ralt, etc.    Could double or even triple the number of functions available without "hunt and peck" keying.  My ultimate goal would be to touch keyboard no more, not even the escape button.

 

Just a suggestion though, not a complaint.  There are already a lot of ergonomic niceties and I appreciate them.  

 

Thanks,

Ceowulf<><

 

PS.  I was able to get SVmapper to work but it took some reading.  

[flyingskytro]

Yes; I use JoyToKey in combination with my X52 Pro. The lack of an ingame HOTAS modifier makes it unnecessarily complicated for new players. 

[jokerBR]

Hi @Ceowulf, how did you manage to BoX recognize the difference between right and left Shift, Ctrl and Alt keys? I'm having trouble to make it work when the command has some of these LCtrl+key or RShft+key combos. It seems that the game only recognize the letter as a capital one (for instance: a, LShift+a or RShift+a are all recognized as "A" inside the game - so the LShift or RShift commands are never executed). 
I'm also using SVMapper with a DIY panel and Warthog. 

Edited March 27, 2018 by jokerBR

[dburne]

I so wish we had this ability! 

[Royal_Flight]

This is such a no-brainer I'm amazed that it isn't included.

 

Definitely should be possible. 

[Field-Ops]

I was surprised to see CloD has this function but BoX does not. Would take a lot of workload off my keyboard if I could do that.

[Ceowulf]

 

On 3/27/2018 at 10:41 AM, jokerBR said:

Hi @Ceowulf, how did you manage to BoX recognize the difference between right and left Shift, Ctrl and Alt keys? I'm having trouble to make it work when the command has some of these LCtrl+key or RShft+key combos. It seems that the game only recognize the letter as a capital one (for instance: a, LShift+a or RShift+a are all recognized as "A" inside the game - so the LShift or RShift commands are never executed). 
I'm also using SVMapper with a DIY panel and Warthog. 

Hi Joker,

Sorry I'm a month late.  I don't know if I understand the question but I run SVmapper as administrator, maybe that's one thing.  Other than that, I just set whichever shift button, say Lshift, in SVmapper, and use the same in the game.  Make sure you set the key within the game by pressing the keyboard shift (etc.) and the desired other key or button.  It doesn't work using by pressing the joystick modifier and button when key mapping in the game mapping menu.  It does work in the game itself, of course.

 

But that's all obvious if I said it clearly.  Here's a pic of my SVmapper just in case it helps.

 

Ceowulf<><

[jokerBR]

Thanks Ceowulf. After trying several different solutions, I've done it all with Joystick Gremlin using macros. Hint: it's way more powerful than SVMapper, too.  

[Sokol1]

These are different situations, one is just set a joy button to press  "shift", other is set macros - e.g. "LShif+A" in an button. 

 

Ceowulf

 

There's a workaround for set a button - e.g. T50 button #18 (pinky) as modifier for other buttons, but only be manually editing the file 'current.actions' in controls.

 

Example, for a given command set   the desired button, e.g. button # 1  - game allow set the same button for up to 3 commands.

After set all open the above file (current.acitons)  with Notepad++ and replace "joy1_b1" by "joy1_b18+joy1_b1" - need pay attention in command name, to don't change for undesired command.

 

In practice no advantage over use the button to send "Shift" key - that work as LShift and RShift with Joy2Key or L/RShift with SVMapper, other than not run another program in game background.

 

What lead to the question: as the game already accept a button as modifier for another, why don't add this in controls GUI options?

 

 

 

Edited July 19, 2021 by Sokol1

[Ceowulf]

Thanks Sokol, I understand exactly.  I have to fiddle with the controller text file in Rise if Flight because Win 10 keeps changing the numbers.  I just run down the text file and change joy(#) entries to create a same profile with different numbered controllers.  But that’s off topic.  

 

In wish our devs would just give us a modifier assignment option.  

[saintbrutal]

Bump. Just bought BoS and honestly the only con i have for this game is not allowing me to use my hotas with modifiers

[squidboi]

Bump. This is absolutely imperative to any flight simulator game. Especially when, if not using a head tracking device, you must bind at minimum one entire POV hat to moving your head around the cockpit, which essentially loses you 4 entire bindings without modifiers in place. Of course, you can use external software to fix this, like Joy2Key, but its quite annoying to be in the "zone" and then realize you forgot to boot up Joy2Key in the background.

[saintbrutal]

Bump been playing on and off.. still hoping to see modifier feature in this game

[Dutch9911]

On 8/9/2019 at 3:26 AM, MechSauce said:

Bump been playing on and off.. still hoping to see modifier feature in this game

 

I finally picked up BOS after the guys on hoggit recommending this game a lot and immediately I realized I had a problem with no modifier options.  Huge oversight on the devs part to not do this.

[saintbrutal]

12 hours ago, Dutch9911 said:

 

I finally picked up BOS after the guys on hoggit recommending this game a lot and immediately I realized I had a problem with no modifier options.  Huge oversight on the devs part to not do this.

 

 

agreed! the only solution i found was to use gremlin software.. but nevertheless, i was pretty dissapointed to see how this game has been out for this long without a feature of this. 

[SharpeXB]

Most joysticks and controllers have an option in their software to emulate a keyboard press. So just make some of your buttons Shift or Ctrl etc. 

I used to do that in RoF. Very easy solution. 

[Sokol1]

2 hours ago, SharpeXB said:

Most joysticks and controllers have an option in their software to emulate a keyboard press.

 

Even if an given joystick have no keyboard emulation software and universal software exist - Joystick Gremlin. But is one more "gadget" for run in game background.

 

Being able to set a button, e.g. pinky of some joysticks, as modifier in games options is more easy and give the flexibility that some people want.

 

The irony is that game controls allow use this button modifier - as above ("joy1_b18+joy1_b1"), just lack the option for set the button in controls GUI.

Edited August 17, 2019 by Sokol1

[AirHoly_VR]

Bump !

This would be super useful and I can't imagine this being too difficult to implement... it's a low hanging fruit ! grab it, devs ! :)

[squidboi]

On 10/1/2019 at 7:14 AM, AirHoly_VR said:

Bump !

This would be super useful and I can't imagine this being too difficult to implement... it's a low hanging fruit ! grab it, devs !

 

yes, if i saw this low hanging fruit in a new patch note it would make me quite happy. seems like a easy effort to reward thing to me.

[saintbrutal]

i would like to also BUMP! 

 

with the many frequent sales happening, and many different keybinds needed for planes, i think its only natural to have this option available! 

[Fihnakis]

Just came here searching for how to use modifiers in game keybinds. Adding my vote hoping devs add this. 

[Wolferl_1791]

Actually it would be nice if we could map combinations of buttons. I already do this in Thrusmaster's TARGET software, but it would be so much easier if I could do it in game. I hate to name the nameless, but War Thunder has had this ability from the start. 

[Icer_Cro]

BUMP - may be going a bit too far with this, but I think I'll return the game if I don't get this worked around. DCS and War Thunder have this implemented without a problem, I don't see what the problem is here. (Just bought the game, and the first thing I come across is this)

[squidboi]

BUMP!!! I often avoid playing IL2 because of the lack of "Quality of life" such as modifiers and per plane bindings.. these are very simple to implement I'd imagine. Binding things in IL2 is a nightmare especially for VR when you aren't very well able to "hunt" down keys on the keyboard for a specific bind. Because of this I find myself stuck flying the BF109 only because it is the simplest plane to setup and I truly can't be bothered to completely reconfigure my joystick when I want to flip sides to allies or choose a different airframe. I'd like to be able to "hot swap" to another plane when I feel like it. DCS achieves this by having a separate binding dropdown for each plane. Why are we not able to have this? 

Il-2 beats out DCS in VR performance by a long shot, but the "quality of life" is extremely lacking and makes it annoying to fly sometimes

[CrazyHorse1-9]

Damn came here looking for the same, was puzzled when I couldn't bind modifiers.

[SharpeXB]

On 5/4/2020 at 7:09 PM, squidboi said:

DCS achieves this by having a separate binding dropdown for each plane. Why are we not able to have this? 

I don’t know how most people are but my HOTAS assignments are exactly the same in IL-2 and DCS. All the WWII birds have the same controls.

although I might appreciate that feature for Flying Circus...

Edited May 28, 2020 by SharpeXB

[firdimigdi]

On 5/5/2020 at 3:09 AM, squidboi said:

these are very simple to implement I'd imagine

 

If you want a phrase to avoid using when asking for a feature it's the above. From a developer's point of view you have no idea how triggering that is.

 

On a more serious note, the below tool helped me immensely to realize that I did not have to do nearly as many plane-specific bindings as I thought I did since most can be double-bound:

 

 

 

[icecream]

I'm really suprised this hasn't been implemented yet, even something simple as a shift modifier on the joystick itself.

even cliffs of dover has this function, and it makes life much easier.

[chuckinator]

Bump. Modifiers are essential for flight sims. 

[Icer_Cro]

You can edit the current.actions file in the input folder, it does work. For a game of this caliber, I find it really lackluster in having to do this. Not to mention the shifting controllers when you plug them in in another USB port, or in the same USB ports, just not in the same order (I have to plug in the joystick first and then the throttle)... Really really lackluster.

#BUMP

[[Z]JLX]

Long time DCS user who picked up Battle of Bodenplatte and is just getting started. I'm also surprised that modifiers aren't available. Looking at the age of this thread, I guess the devs have decided that they're not going to do it?

 

I've got a lot of muscle memory invested in my HOTAS setup that I can't use with IL-2. Very frustrating. Especially as this doesn't seem to be a crazy difficult request. What a shame.

 

If there is any chance this might be reconsidered I'd highly support the addition of modifiers to BoX. It really makes a big difference.

 

Here's hoping...

[Icer_Cro]

Deaf upon deaf ears by the devs unfortunately... I set up the T.A.R.G.E.T. Software, as editing the current.actions file seems not to be working anymore. I have been away from IL2 for some time, and just stopped working. TARGET may not be the best solution, and I invested a whole saturday into setting everything up from the start again.

I seem to be wasting more time setting the HOTAS for this game up than playing it.

WHY DOES DCS NOT HAVE THESE PROBLEMS?
WHY DOES WAR THUNDER NOT HAVE THESE PROBLEM?
as the matter of fact

ONLY THIS GAME HAS THIS PROBLEM!!!
ffs

[Rapierarch]

Oh god, I'm a new player here studying the setup while I'm downloading the game. Since I have not seen anyone applying modifiers in the tutorials on Youtube I googled it and apparently it is not possible in Il-2! Why?

 

I'm a VR player and I need full functionality of each button I have here and please do not push me to the road to virtual joystick solutions.  I hope this small thing can be easily implemented. I cannot imagine a sim not supporting this. 

[Soilworker]

11 hours ago, Rapierarch said:

Oh god, I'm a new player here studying the setup while I'm downloading the game. Since I have not seen anyone applying modifiers in the tutorials on Youtube I googled it and apparently it is not possible in Il-2! Why?

 

I'm a VR player and I need full functionality of each button I have here and please do not push me to the road to virtual joystick solutions.  I hope this small thing can be easily implemented. I cannot imagine a sim not supporting this. 

 

I hear you dude, it's a pain in the arse but Joy2Key is a good solution. 

[Rapierarch]

 

2 hours ago, Soilworker said:

 

I hear you dude, it's a pain in the arse but Joy2Key is a good solution. 

 

I mean I'm shocked! DCS has it, Elite Dangerous has it, War thunder has it, MSFS has it.... This is supposed to be a serious sim game why on earth that I need to run an unnecessary piece of software just to emulate a Lshift key? My dedicated modifier keys are always on my throttle next to VR quick zoom in every game now I need to run the stupid target software to be able to make a meaningful keybinding layout for all my hats. And the only thing this game needs in my control layout is just one modifier it is not that complex.

I'll dig in this, It is probably only the editor which does not allow it I'll see the key binding file.

In war thunder I was able to add things which the in game setup does not allow but you can write it down in saved controller setup file and it works.  

[Soilworker]

On 7/15/2021 at 12:50 PM, Rapierarch said:

 

 

I mean I'm shocked! DCS has it, Elite Dangerous has it, War thunder has it, MSFS has it.... This is supposed to be a serious sim game why on earth that I need to run an unnecessary piece of software just to emulate a Lshift key? My dedicated modifier keys are always on my throttle next to VR quick zoom in every game now I need to run the stupid target software to be able to make a meaningful keybinding layout for all my hats. And the only thing this game needs in my control layout is just one modifier it is not that complex.

I'll dig in this, It is probably only the editor which does not allow it I'll see the key binding file.

In war thunder I was able to add things which the in game setup does not allow but you can write it down in saved controller setup file and it works.  

 

If it's any conciliation the devs are a small team working their collective arses off to bring us an abundance of new features and fixes and while there are a few small things like this that would be really nice to have fixed I can kinda understand them not being on the dev's radar. 

[AEthelraedUnraed]

57 minutes ago, Soilworker said:

If it's any conciliation the devs are a small team working their collective arses off to bring us an abundance of new features and fixes and while there are a few small things like this that would be really nice to have fixed I can kinda understand them not being on the dev's radar. 

Let me add that there *are* solutions. Sure, you'll need external software, but it's possible to fix, and fix really well at that. Although I would like this feature, personally I'd rather the Devs fix other issues that cannot be worked around with external software.

 

You can either complain about how IL2's competitors do have this option and how you "cannot imagine" a "serious sim game" doesn't, or you can use an "unnecessary piece of software" and have everything work exactly how you want while marveling at all the things IL2 does offer.

[Rapierarch]

4 hours ago, AEthelraedUnraed said:

Let me add that there *are* solutions. Sure, you'll need external software, but it's possible to fix, and fix really well at that. Although I would like this feature, personally I'd rather the Devs fix other issues that cannot be worked around with external software.

 

You can either complain about how IL2's competitors do have this option and how you "cannot imagine" a "serious sim game" doesn't, or you can use an "unnecessary piece of software" and have everything work exactly how you want while marveling at all the things IL2 does offer.

II do not make myself clear I guess. I play all of them. It is not a competition. Each one has one thig special to offer. their scopes might intersect for a while but it is not a competition. Modifier keys are not space age achievement it is a basic way of key binding. If IL-2 can do it on keyboard it can do it also on any usb input device.  I just do not understand that this very basic setup is not included in editor. I still believe you can set it up manually in control setup save file. So DX11 input system allows it game should support it too. It is just the editor I believe does not have the option. 

 

6 hours ago, Soilworker said:

 

If it's any conciliation the devs are a small team working their collective arses off to bring us an abundance of new features and fixes and while there are a few small things like this that would be really nice to have fixed I can kinda understand them not being on the dev's radar. 

Thanks, I have no idea of course how small or big the DEV team is. Since It is a well known old sim game I was shocked about something so fundemental is missing. Any way I have no idea what else is missing so If there are other priorities let them work on it. 

[Hoss]

I'm Amazed at posts on how the Thrust-master Wart Hog doesn't get it done for some people.  If you are not using TARGET software along with the Warthog HOTAS, the Cougar MFP, and their pedals, there is no reason to complain about the game Keyboard mapping.  Using the TARGET software I can program any key press, using the IN/OUT function on the Stick (technically a Shift function) I double all key presses, Using the "UP/MIDDLE/DOWN function on the Throttle, I triple the functions of what I just double with the Stick.  On one button I can program multiple function by using either a "Chain" of events where it will do multiple commands one after the other until it finishes or a "Sequence" where each time I push the button it does something different in the sequence.  I'm not a programmer, or someone super intelligent about scripts using C++ or any other stuff.  So if I can do it, anyone can.  And if it does not like to work, I can erase the function in the key mapping page of the game and put in what ever command I want to get it to work. As Gunny Highway said, "Adapt and overcome".............. 

 

Just my 2¢........................ Cheers!...

[AEthelraedUnraed]

16 hours ago, 352nd_Hoss said:

Using the TARGET software I can program any key press, using the IN/OUT function on the Stick (technically a Shift function) I double all key presses, Using the "UP/MIDDLE/DOWN function on the Throttle, I triple the functions of what I just double with the Stick.

Thanks, good to know! I don't have any real issues with the current IL2 input system, and I've actually still got 12 keys left on my HOTAS that I haven't even bound yet, but reading this I might spend some time to setup TARGET to get some extra functionality out of my favourite keys.