How to program boost as an hold button.

[Youtch]

I realized that i do overuse boost as i tend to forget that i have triggered boost button in the middle of a combat. While at full throttle, the noise is noticeable when triggering the boost, but if moving the throttle in the middle of the combat, it is easy to forget.

 

I am using JoyTokey and i have programed a button to send a key when pushed and the same key when released, i have validated that it works with a tester, but the game does not seem to accept it, and react to the release keystroke.

 

Any idea how i could get the game to interpret the command as boost when holding button only?

 

Thank you very much in advance,

y.

 

[firdimigdi]

19 minutes ago, Youtch said:

I realized that i do overuse boost as i tend to forget that i have triggered boost button in the middle of a combat. While at full throttle, the noise is noticeable when triggering the boost, but if moving the throttle in the middle of the combat, it is easy to forget.

 

I am using JoyTokey and i have programed a button to send a key when pushed and the same key when released, i have validated that it works with a tester, but the game does not seem to accept it, and react to the release keystroke.

 

Any idea how i could get the game to interpret the command as boost when holding button only?

 

Thank you very much in advance,

y.

 

 

Set your on-release to trigger a non-existent button on your device (I used 32 in this case).

 

 

Set the Button 32 to trigger the default keybinding for boost.

 

 

[Youtch]

@Firdimigdi: many thanks, as always! I didn t know this little trick.

 

I understand I still need to assign to "press" Input2 the key to activate boost.

 

Now i have another issue, it seems to work great most of the time. Swithing on when i press and then off when I release, BUT it does not seem to work always, and from times to times it does not desactivate when i release and then all become inverted. I boost when not pressing and need to press to unboost.

 

Did i do anything wrong? Is there any parameter else i need to look at? Is it a failure from my TWCS or from Joy2key?

 

Many thanks again

[firdimigdi]

Should be easy to see if it's a button acting up. I tested it briefly with an I16, using the minijoystick's button on the TWCS and seemed to work OK but it's not something I'd use. That said I can see it being an issue with planes that require specific control settings to enable boost.

 

Sadly without separate boost on/off bindings there's not much else to do and it could desync if you press it the wrong moment and then it actually activates on release.

 

Edited June 22, 2022 by Firdimigdi

[Youtch]

I have tested it with notepad outside of IL2 and it seems to work fine, while on IL2 inversion happens very often.

 

I tried with other buttons as well same result. Something is passing with Il2 not getting the signal.

 

While using both notepad and IL2 at the same time, notepad register every press and release without any problem, but Il2 miss a release once in a while, from times to times as often as once every 3 pressure. Maybe it has to do wih the duration of the pulse. I don t know if the duration of the pulse for this function is configureable somewhere.

 

For as good as it is when it works, it fails too often and it is therefore not useable.

 

Would there be any other alternative to implement a boost while pressing only function?

Edited June 22, 2022 by Youtch
Reworded for better clarity

[Sokol1]

JoyToKey is not good for IL-2:GB sending key combos, e.g. L-Shift + B, seems a timing issue between the two keys, too short for the game code.

 

Making a test using a single key for Boost command. 

 

RSMapper work well for DCS.

 

Xpadder allow set the timing between the first and second key.

 

[Hoss]

I use Joy2key for my BlackHog explorer, I have one of the slider axis' assigned to do a button press for Radiators on the Mossie.  Use your throttle axis to turn on and off your Boost/WEP.  I used to do that for Afterburner with my TMWH left throttle.  I like using TARGET with my TMWH, and I use the keystroke "Device Tester" to make sure I have it working right before I go in game.  I also have the RPM set to the small slider on the Throttle too, you could also set that to when you go to full RPM it triggers WEP/Boost, and when you come back to cruise RPM it turns it off.  but on landing and take off you would have boost on.  That's why I would assign it to the Throttle.

 

Cheers and happy flying...

[1Sascha]

8 hours ago, Sokol1 said:

JoyToKey is not good for IL-2:GB sending key combos, e.g. L-Shift + B, seems a timing issue between the two keys, too short for the game code.

Nor is it in some other games. It does work, sort of, but for me it's a bit of a lottery - sometimes it will register as the combo ("ALT + X") but sometimes it will register as just "X". Making it about as useful as brakes on a car that only work 50 or 90% of the time... ?

 

And I think sokol is right ... it does feel like a timing issue between the modifier and the key.

 

 

S.

[firdimigdi]

11 hours ago, Sokol1 said:

JoyToKey is not good for IL-2:GB sending key combos, e.g. L-Shift + B, seems a timing issue between the two keys, too short for the game code.

 

Yes, I tried it again for more than just a few press-release cycles and it did in fact do this. So I tried replicating with VoiceAttack which allows for setting time-to-hold and it worked reliably for any amount of cycling.

 

Although as said before I think you'd be better served by simply remembering you have boost on (usually you can tell by the engine sound if you don't glance at manifold pressure or the boost switch in the cockpit).

[Youtch]

3 hours ago, Firdimigdi said:

Although as said before I think you'd be better served by simply remembering you have boost on (usually you can tell by the engine sound if you don't glance at manifold pressure or the boost switch in the cockpit).

As I said the problem comes when I am in combat with the boost on and then need to quickly reduce/increase/reduce throttle while the boost is still on. It is then very easy to forget when you go full throttle again that the boost is stil on. The only way for me to remember that it is on is by looking at manifold pressure, which I am now paranoically checking to make sure I don t drain my boost.

4 hours ago, Firdimigdi said:

So I tried replicating with VoiceAttack which allows for setting time-to-hold and it worked reliably for any amount of cycling.

VoiceAttack works only with voice correct? Or it can be used as a substitute to JoyToKey? Forgive my ignorance.

[firdimigdi]

25 minutes ago, Youtch said:

VoiceAttack works only with voice correct? Or it can be used as a substitute to JoyToKey? Forgive my ignorance.

 

Despite its name it can accommodate any kind of input including voice. It can also do far more complex actions than JoyToKey if you want.

[Youtch]

16 hours ago, Sokol1 said:

 

RSMapper work well for DCS.

 

Xpadder allow set the timing between the first and second key.

 

Thank you very much it seems much more reliable than JoyToKey, pity it does not allow to do anything with axis.

 

It is 95% reliable, on quick repeated pressure it can invert from times to times, but it is much less frequent.

15 minutes ago, Firdimigdi said:

Despite its name it can accommodate any kind of input including voice. It can also do far more complex actions than JoyToKey if you want.

Thanks I need to have a look at it.

29 minutes ago, Firdimigdi said:

Despite its name it can accommodate any kind of input including voice. It can also do far more complex actions than JoyToKey if you want.

I was not using it because I was under the impression it was quite heavy and taxing. I am exploring it now, but it does not seem to cover conversion of axis to key either.

[Hoss]

9 hours ago, 1Sascha said:

Nor is it in some other games. It does work, sort of, but for me it's a bit of a lottery - sometimes it will register as the combo ("ALT + X") but sometimes it will register as just "X". Making it about as useful as brakes on a car that only work 50 or 90% of the time... ?

 

And I think sokol is right ... it does feel like a timing issue between the modifier and the key.

 

 

S.

Using TARGET you can program a delay between the Alt and the X. (0 to 2 sec) But do that on a "PRESS" function and then again on the  X.... delay ALt "Release" I had problems between dropping bombs "B" and drop bombs mode Alt + B would drop my bombs.

 

So it's PRESS.FUNCTION.....Alt + (.5 sec delay) X then RELEASE FUNCTION (after .5 sec delay) X (.5 sec delay) + Alt. This solved my problem, but you have to use TARGET GUI to accomplish it. Using the Event Tester. On the event tester you press and hold  the button you will see Alt.. a slight delay X as long as you hold it.. release it you will see X...delay....ALT. Now you need to decide if you are going to use a button or switch. With TARGET you can do a Pulse, Hold, Press, Release functions and knowing how the buttons/switches work in game. 

 

Cheers

[1Sascha]

22 hours ago, Hoss said:

Using TARGET

Don't like TARGET and since I use a TM TWCS with a VKB Gladiator Evo and MFG Crosswinds, it wouldn't work for me for much, anyway. Since I managed to understand the VKB software, I only really need Joy2Key to turn the paddle switch and mini-stick on my TWCS into keypresses - and that works fine. Had to re-map some functions in-game (changing modified keypresses to simple keypresses) and now everything works as I want it to.

 

S.

[Hoss]

You can still program that axis with on your throttle with joy2key, I did it with one of the BlackHog's slider axis' to turn on the Mossie coolant switches. 

[Youtch]

RSMapper works well for me and it covers my initial needs. Thanks for the recommendation!

[Sokol1]

XPadder map axes similarly to JoyToKey. Cost $9.99.

 

Their differential is allow add pause in sequences (e.g. LShift+B) use hold, release zones, combine sequences.

 

 

Can use up to 8 layers of button profile.

 

Downside, the initial setup is bit cumbersome, is need create a profile for your controller with their number of buttons dragging squares around on screen, but can add a joystick picture in background.

 

 

[Hoss]

In Joy2Key you  can use a DX command instead of a Keystroke. From reading your post I don't think you are going to be able to do a "HOLD" function, there are only certain commands that require the "HOLD" ability, WEP is not one of those. Flaps, Firing Guns, Input/Output Cowls, Radiators, the ones you have to wait while it performs the function that you can stop and restart along the way.  you have to have a Press/Release or WEP will not work.  Where with flaps it holds the press until you want to stop the process or raising the flaps all the way up or down, or somewhere in the middle. On the event tester you used you should of seen that. I use TARGET, but joy2key sees my TMWH in "Combined" format running with Script or GUI. but I can still program buttons on my Stick or throttle with either TARGET or joy2key. So you should have no conflicts at all setting up a sequence with joy2key across all your controllers even if some are using a different OS. I would not want to use my thumb on the throttle to hold down WEP/BOOST button which is the Red China Hat button, forward for Boost/WEP and aft for Supercharger, I can't recenter TIR, zoom in/out without that thumb... When you figure out the mechanics/electronics let everyone know your solution...

 

Cheers and good luck

[Youtch]

I don t use the thumb, I use my index or middle finger on one of the red button above the fake rudder axis on TWCS. So my thumb is free for other tasks.

 

Hold can be implemented quite easily by triggering the command when pushing and then triggering the command again when releasing. It is the same effect as hold. And since i put it, i have a much better boost management than before.

 

The only issue is that sometimes to times it inverts, when pressing too fast or half way. RSMapper is much better than JoytoKey in that sense, but still not perfect.

Edited June 25, 2022 by Youtch