Losing Joystick, Rudder Pedals & Throttle Quadrant Mappings? Potential solution.

[Buzzsaw]

A common reason people can lose their joystick settings is due to Windows 10 and the power settings for the joystick/pedals.

Windows 10 will turn off the power to these peripherals "...to save power." 

As a result, all the joystick programming is lost.

You can solve this 'helpful' Windows 10 feature by going into the Device Manager and unchecking the box to allow this power saving.

Process:

- Right click on the windows logo at the bottom of your page, select 'Device Manager'.

- Open 'Human Interface Devices'

- Right click on each device... select 'Properties'

- Select the 'Power Management' tab

- Uncheck the box which allows Windows to turn off the device to save power

Hopefully this will solve the issue with losing joystick/controller programming.

[Wallybob]

Thanks, trying that now.

 

[jollyjack]

My USB hub and HUD power management settings are off everywhere.

 

Importing an old save ... nada still. Just to be sure: the confUser.ini file? it seems to be in 2 places ...  the documents folder and the steamapps common folder.

Really get fedup with this ...

 

My warthog set works fine in IL2, but is not even recognized in CLoD's options menu for axis functions ..

Edited August 2, 2020 by jollyjack

[LLv34_Flanker]

S! 

 

I also disabled Steam Cloud for every game. 

[FG28Artist]

14 hours ago, jollyjack said:

Just to be sure: the confUser.ini file? it seems to be in 2 places ...  the documents folder and the steamapps common folder.

Really get fedup with this ...

The one in the documents folder is the one that counts. The other one in the steamapps common ... folder is the default, that gets copied over into documents folder on first install or if that one ther gets lost somehow.

[jollyjack]

On 8/1/2020 at 11:18 AM, LLv34_Flanker said:

S!  I also disabled Steam Cloud for every game. 

 

That's off, as are controller markings in general controller settings ...

As other games like IL2 run fine, i am by now really getting fed-up with steam. Too intrusive IMO and here the one to blame ...

 

 

 

Edited August 2, 2020 by jollyjack

[jollyjack]

I FOUND IT !!!!  ============= > F***ing Steam again:

INPUT MAPPING SHOULD BE OFF for CLoD !!!

 

Edited August 2, 2020 by jollyjack

[Roger_Meatball]

My controls got wiped between sessions today. Best I can figure guess is that I unplugged controllers in between sessions, but both times when I booted CLOD my controllers were all plugged in. Is it possible that plugging them into different USB jacks between sessions could wipe the mappings?

[messsucher]

12 minutes ago, Roger_Meatball said:

My controls got wiped between sessions today. Best I can figure guess is that I unplugged controllers in between sessions, but both times when I booted CLOD my controllers were all plugged in. Is it possible that plugging them into different USB jacks between sessions could wipe the mappings?

 

Yes. It can also happen that you lose the settings even if you plug plugs in the same ports.

[dazako]

I've had controls not respond due to being unplugged and plugged in the wrong ports on a usb hub, but nothing erased. I simply used trial and error to get them back to their original ports and all was well again.

 

Daz

[Sokol1]

On 9/30/2020 at 5:28 PM, Roger_Meatball said:

My controls got wiped between sessions today. Best I can figure guess is that I unplugged controllers in between sessions, but both times when I booted CLOD my controllers were all plugged in. Is it possible that plugging them into different USB jacks between sessions could wipe the mappings?

 

Yes, what happens is that Windows give a new ID for joystick when is re-connected, so buttons and axis assignments in game became blank. Keyboard assignments is not affected.

 

But is easy fix without need  assign all again.

 

-  When controls are  working OK, make a backup of assignment, in Options > Controls take note of what ID Windows are using for your joysticks, e.g. 41DC2137, then click in SAVE AS button and save a copy of actual assignments with name of this ID (the 41DC2137).

 

- Eventually you plug stick and notice that controls are blank (in my computer happens when Windows enter in sleep mode, stick/pedal is keep plugged 24/30/365)),  in this case just select an axis, e.g. aileron and momentary assign an axis, but don't hit APPLY, is just take note of the new ID, e.g. ABD81779.

 

- Close the game, open the file ConfUser.ini with Notepad, Notepad++  (in  \Documents\1C SoftClub\il-2 sturmovik cliffs of dover) and replace the new ID (ABD81779) with the old (41DC2137), save and start the game, buttons and axes are assigned again.

 

Sounds complicated but once figure the way can be done in a minute. 

 

This two above ID are from my computer, I notice that Windows use only this two numbers for my joystick, for pedal is different number, but pedal varies with less frequency.

 

Now I have backup of assignments saved with both ID names, so is just matter of look in Controls > Axis what ID Windows are using after sleep and load the correct ID backup, using the LOAD button.

 

This lost of ID is not game issue, is Windows issue, and when happens affect too JoyToKey, being need detect joystick again.

 

 

Edited August 13, 2022 by Sokol1

[=RS=Stix_09]

When you have lots of sim hardware its a real pain the the A to have to manully fix COD's mapping using its current system.

 

What they should do is what il-2 GB does , put these id mapping in  devices.txt, file (or a section at start of ConfUser.ini) , then its very easy to update 1 item in one file and not have to copy replace all the id's like this in il-2 COD ConfUser.ini, and it simplifies the options in game (Joy# rather than a windows GUI number)

Most games do this.

This is what it looks like in il-2 GB's devices.txt re-mapping file

 

So in this example:

 

Joy ID 0 =  %22bc5c1100-b02c-11e8-0000545345440180%22 which is a T.16000M joystick (in game it would show as JOY0)

 

 

configId,guid,model|

0, %22bc5c1100-b02c-11e8-0000545345440180%22 , T.16000M |

1 , %22fdd5ee90-1417-11e9-0000545345440180%22 , T-Rudder

 

I personally use  virtual joystick devices which never change in windows to avoid this problem with my devices. Joystick gremlin  in my case because it's a non proprietary, community made program which works great with any windows device. Virtual devices are also far more powerful , with things like macros, custom curves, , dif profiles, or just a simple remapping buttons and axis for ppl that like it simple. It also allows you to combine devices or make multiple devices in windows .

Edited August 13, 2022 by =RS=Stix_09
typo

[=RS=Funkie]

I use JoyID to ensure that windows doesn't reassign my Controller IDs.

 

https://theairtacticalassaultgroup.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13009

 

But I agree with Stix, this could be simplified to allow for more control, and also cleaner GUI in the game

 

 

[jollyjack]

Now after 2 years not playing cliffs i tried to give 5.037 a shot.

 

Alas F** Steam IMO screwed up again, the above trick Steam input per "game force off" is no longer there.

 

Los all my controllers again. Importing an old cofUser.ini into document did NOT work.

Worse; reprogramming my axis, warthog buttons, and keyboard keys sometimes went OK but often not.

 

It's NOT a windows issue, as IL2, and DCS work flawlessly. even after adding Saitek Pedals to my Warthog setup.

By now i think i give Cliffs up, my SSD is needing the useless space Cliffs occupies.

[9./JG52_J-HAT]

3 hours ago, jollyjack said:

Now after 2 years not playing cliffs i tried to give 5.037 a shot.

 

Alas F** Steam IMO screwed up again, the above trick Steam input per "game force off" is no longer there.

 

Los all my controllers again. Importing an old cofUser.ini into document did NOT work.

Worse; reprogramming my axis, warthog buttons, and keyboard keys sometimes went OK but often not.

 

It's NOT a windows issue, as IL2, and DCS work flawlessly. even after adding Saitek Pedals to my Warthog setup.

By now i think i give Cliffs up, my SSD is needing the useless space Cliffs occupies.

 

Your old settings haven't been erased. It's the game that won't show them because it won't recognize the ID the file has for the different input devices. You probably had them plugged into different USB ports when you last played. So it doesn't show anything in game. It's stupid. 

 

To work around this:

 

Map one command in game for each device and save the scheme as something easy to remember and find (use save as). Go to where you saved that file, open it and check for the IDs that were used for each device. 

Open the proper configs you have and search and replace the old ID with the new ones for each device. 

 

Load that file into CloD. This should bring back all your settings. 

[Dawson]

This issue with Windows reassigning controller IDs continues to be a sore point with players. I haven't had an issue since I started using devreorder and a USB hub but I don't think these tools should be a requirement. This issue affects veteran users as well as new. I know of two this year who didn't play because they couldn't face remapping their controllers and didn't understand or couldn't be bother with the find and replace method, as described by Sokol1 and J-Hat.

 

What is it about CloD that it's afflicted while other games (1946, RoF, BoX, FSX, MSFS 2020, DCS) are not? If it can't be eliminated perhaps a utility to reassign IDs can be created. Better documenting the issue would help and is possible in the immediate term.

 

The troubleshooting guide acknowledges the issue and suggests devreorder and a hub but those tools only prevent the next time. Illustrated, step by step instructions on using the find and replace method to update the controller ini file would help some players.  Even the suggestion to try reconnecting the controller until the ID comes around again is simple to understand.

Edited May 22, 2023 by Dawson

[jollyjack]

On 8/13/2022 at 3:08 AM, =RS=Stix_09 said:

I personally use  virtual joystick devices which never change in windows to avoid this problem with my devices. Joystick gremlin  in my case because it's a non proprietary, community made program which works great with any windows device. Virtual devices are also far more powerful , with things like macros, custom curves, , dif profiles, or just a simple remapping buttons and axis for ppl that like it simple. It also allows you to combine devices or make multiple devices in windows .

 

I couldn't get around setting up Sokol1's way; could not find the lines where you should input the noted ID numbers for my setup. somewhere around 323 in Notepad++.

Just tried Joystick Gremlin but it seems you have to manually set all your buttons and axes new?

 

Pff, in case of ID errors the fix is easy in IL2 with devices.txt. Why cant Teamfusion come up with something similar?

 

[Dawson]

7 hours ago, jollyjack said:

 

I couldn't get around setting up Sokol1's way; could not find the lines where you should input the noted ID numbers for my setup. somewhere around 323 in Notepad++.

Just tried Joystick Gremlin but it seems you have to manually set all your buttons and axes new?

 

Pff, in case of ID errors the fix is easy in IL2 with devices.txt. Why cant Teamfusion come up with something similar?

 

Start looking for your controller references in section [HotKey pilot]. Line 289 in my confUser.ini. There may be references in other sections related to views.

 

Ideally when you have a functioning setup you can use the "save as" option in the game to save your controller only setting to it's own file.

[jollyjack]

Thanks, yep i used that saving and loading option often before.

 

Screendumps, and just in case also the zipped confUser ini files involved.

 

What i don't get is how to change the ID addressing. Find and Replace in Notepad?

 

Working situation from a backup 2022:

 

 

confUser - BUP 01.zip

 

And the now non-working one; of course the IDs have  changed; even had a new MB fitted and extra USB (one controller, 4 ports) card added,

and a Saitek pedal unit besides another head tracker system.

 

(Removed all dead USB drivers with USBdeview recently.)

 

 

 

confUser.zip

 

=================================================

PS what do you choose here from the recent Steam Game Properties controller interface Just set this to disabled for a test, it was enabled.

Also tried Default before.

 

 

 

==========================================

 

PS, added,  after inputting all controls again new now, also keyboard keys for functions ........

It's all seen in the controller setup page OK.

 

But my keyboard is not functioning in game play, only the analogue axis functions.

Alas i spent another 3 hours on this friggin' system, i give up ...

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 23, 2023 by jollyjack

[Dawson]

In Steam controller settings for the game I have "Use Default Settings". My Steam "Controller General Settings" have three items checked; Guide Button Focuses Steam, Use Nintendo Button Layout, and Combine Pairs of Joy-Con Controllers. The remainder are not checked.

 

Quote

What i don't get is how to change the ID addressing. Find and Replace in Notepad?

Yes, Find and Replace in Notepad or better Notepad++ which I see you are using.

 

I see this line in your old, previously working file, "Joystick_-_HOTAS_Warthog-E87160CF+Key0=trigger0".

 

So the old controller ID is "E87160CF". Now find the new ID in the game. In "Control Options" choose Category "Aircraft" and tab "Axes". Beside Aileron you will see the new ID if it is assigned. If the line is blank configure it in the usual way without saving anything. 

 

Let's say beside Aileron you now see "Joystick_-_HOTAS_Warthog-1234ABCF+X Axis". Your new ID is 1234ABCD.

 

Use Notepad/Notepad++ to Find "E87160CF" and Replace with "1234ABCF".

 

Now your situation, when you created the confUser.ini you attached, was not as straight forward. It looks like at that time the game had no idea what controllers you have. I see this at line 232.

 

[HotKey pilotMove]
Joystick1+AXE_Z=1rudder
Joystick+AXE_Z=-1throttle
Joystick2+AXE_Y=1elevator
Joystick2+AXE_X=1aileron

 

To me this means, Joystick1 are your rudder pedals, Joystick is your throttle quadrant, and Joystick2 is your Joystick (still a Warthog I assume). But an actual physical device isn't configured.

 

You'll need the long name of each of these. By long name I mean "Joystick_-_HOTAS_Warthog-1234ABCF" instead of just "1234ABCF".

 

So Find "Joystick2+" and Replace with "Joystick_-_HOTAS_Warthog-1234ABCF+".

 

Repeat for pedals and throttle.

 

Include the "+" in your search or you will map your throttle to everything as it isn't numbered.

 

When the controls are mapped use the Saved as function in the Control Options section to create a controller only ini file. In the future you can edit this file and import it with load.

 

Quote

PS, added,  after inputting all controls again new now, also keyboard keys for functions ........

It's all seen in the controller setup page OK.

 

But my keyboard is not functioning in game play, only the analogue axis functions.

Alas i spent another 3 hours on this friggin' system, i give up ...

 

Your keyboard not functioning has me stumped. 

Edited May 23, 2023 by Dawson

[jollyjack]

Back at the station. I reprogrammed most of the functions new.

But basic functions as setting a L Control wit key W the input field just stays blank. Almost as some times a keyboard key works, and the it does not.

 

Trimming axes' curves appears to be working in the options axes fields, them green bars. But in game play the f.i rudder still reacts very rough.

Now i really don't want to mess up with something like Joystick gremlin, as IL2 and DCS work fine.  

 

I really get the feeling this options and thus USB input functioning including keyboard of Cliffs need a complete overhaul, i cannot work with it.

 

ADDED my keyboard works fine with all software and sims like IL2 and DCS, only it's not OK with Cliffs a lot of times.

As such also not recognized in the options pages of Cliffs. It beats me ..

 

Also occasionally in Cliffs my Analog Warthog functions work, and then again not: In Windows 'game controller' all seems fine.

i can't figure out why.

Edited May 29, 2023 by jollyjack

[jollyjack]

I think i finally found something, Windows Club Info:            AND YES: f*************cking steam again:

====================================

 

Delete the Stored Cloud Files

If the problem is related to the Steam Games like Warframe and Dragon Age: Origins that are launched through Steam, exit the game and Steam.

Then, locate and delete the remotecache.vdf file under Steam\userdata\SteamID\AppID.

When done, start Steam again and check if the problem persists.

 

======================================

And then the keyboard worked BUT FOR 5 MINUTES ONLY ....

======================================

 

ADDED: the fix seems FOR CLIFFS ONLY it seems:

Device Manager: Right click on the 2nd, 3rd, or also 4th HID Keyboard Device, then properteis and unmark Power management.

 

=============================

 

!!!!!! DEVELOPERS PLEASE GIVE US A VERSION WITHOUT STEAM !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Edited June 5, 2023 by jollyjack

[Buzzsaw]

On 6/4/2023 at 12:06 AM, jollyjack said:

I think i finally found something, Windows Club Info:            AND YES: f*************cking steam again:

====================================

 

Delete the Stored Cloud Files

If the problem is related to the Steam Games like Warframe and Dragon Age: Origins that are launched through Steam, exit the game and Steam.

Then, locate and delete the remotecache.vdf file under Steam\userdata\SteamID\AppID.

When done, start Steam again and check if the problem persists.

 

======================================

And then the keyboard worked BUT FOR 5 MINUTES ONLY ....

======================================

 

ADDED: the fix seems FOR CLIFFS ONLY it seems:

Device Manager: Right click on the 2nd, 3rd, or also 4th HID Keyboard Device, then properteis and unmark Power management.

 

=============================

 

!!!!!! DEVELOPERS PLEASE GIVE US A VERSION WITHOUT STEAM !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, you need to make sure your PC cannot shut off power to your joystick and other peripherals.

[jollyjack]

Again i lost all settings but now there's a JoystickWizard.exe in the folder:........... Steam\steamapps\common\IL-2 Sturmovik Cliffs of Dover Blitz. Curious if it works !

[Buzzsaw]

On 12/3/2023 at 11:33 AM, jollyjack said:

Again i lost all settings but now there's a JoystickWizard.exe in the folder:........... Steam\steamapps\common\IL-2 Sturmovik Cliffs of Dover Blitz. Curious if it works !

Never use Cloud for any storage of the game config files.

[ATAG_Snapper]

This will be added to The Cliffs of Dover Getting Started and Trouble Shooting Guide:

 

Disable Steam Cloud

 

Players have found that Steam Cloud has played havoc on saving & retaining their joystick & other peripheral assignments in-game. This can be avoided by disabling Steam Cloud by the following procedure:

 

1)      Launch Steam

2)      Left Click on LIBRARY

3)      Right Click on IL-2 Sturmovik Cliffs of Dover Blitz

4)      Left click on Properties….

5)      Within the General tab, left click on “Manage Cloud Settings”

6)      Within the Cloud tab, disable “Enable Steam Cloud”

7)      Exit Cloud settings by left clicking on the “X” at the top right of the Steam Settings pop up window.