OpenKneeboard - a (not only for) VR kneeboard app

[firdimigdi]

Re-posting this because seems like the original post went AWOL and I've had PMs about it.

 

Practical kneeboard app by Fred Emmott.

 

Download from: https://github.com/OpenKneeboard/OpenKneeboard

 

Videos/reviews:

• DCS - and an alternative one in french
• MSFS 2020

 

It's an excellent app which works amazingly well in VR (can't really comment on screen use). It supports both OpenVR/SteamVR and OpenXR natively, controller bindings for all the functions and a lot of customization. One extremely cool feature is its support for digitizer tablets so you can scribble away your thoughts as enemies get on your six; I tried this out with a Wacom Intuos and it worked right away.

 

I've not noticed any performance hit by using it; I suspect there might be some tiny one while it is rendering on screen but you can always hide it.

 

 

[TG-55Panthercules]

Can you use this to display a game map in your cockpit as if it were on a kneeboard?  I worked out something useful with an app called OVRDrop (or something like that) a few years back with my Rift CV-1, but I recall it being a bit tricky to set up and having at least some small performance hit (worth it for the convenience/coolness), so it would be nice to find something simple like that for my new G2.

[firdimigdi]

Sure, you can stick a whole stack of images to page through or even read pdf files.

[Broadway]

Works very well, i use in VR, ability to switch on or off with a button is great, plus use i a Wacom tablet to scribble the odd note 

Edited November 29, 2022 by =DW=_Broadway

[TG-55Panthercules]

OK - D/L'd and installed it and added a copy of a FC map screen as a tab for it.  However, I can't seem to find in the documentation exactly how it is that you're supposed to get it to start up for your FC VR session.  If my normal startup process is:

 

1.  Connect VR headset

2. Start WMR Portal (which starts WMR for SteamVR and then SteamVR and Steam)

3. Start IL-2 GB from Steam

4. Put HMD on and play

 

Where/how should I insert this OpenKneeboard into the mix?

 

Also - is there a way to preview where/what the kneeboard screen is going to look like while you're messing around with the app's VR setup screen, or do you just have to guess, go in and see where it is, then go out and guess how to change it, rinse and repeat?

[TG-55Panthercules]

Revisiting this issue/question as I have now finally gotten my VR setup working in a usable fashion.  My start-up process is now as follows:

 

1. Connect VR headset

2. Start VR Necksafer 2.09, which starts SteamVR (which I think then starts WMR for Steam VR - not really sure but I no longer need to start it separately)

3. Start IL-2 GB from standalone shortcut (C:\Games\IL-2 Sturmovik Great Battles\bin\game\launcher.exe, not through Steam)

4. Put VR headset on and play

 

So, my questions remain - Where/how should I insert this OpenKneeboard into the mix?  And, is there a way to preview where/what the kneeboard screen is going to look like while you're messing around with the app's VR setup screen, or do you just have to guess, go in and see where it is, then go out and guess how to change it, rinse and repeat?

[Broadway]

I often forget to start before launching he game ,but it doesn’t matter , you can start at any point . As for location it is hit and miss , start with default then adjust ill happy.   I ve recently connected it to a folder with all the recon target photos for Combat Box Apollo  campaign, great to review a target in VR headset whilst inbound!

[TG-55Panthercules]

Great - thanks.  I found the instructions/interface of this app a bit more confusing than I remember from using OVRDrop back in the day, but it only took a few attempts by trial and error to get a copy of the mission map screen positioned down in the cockpit, about where a kneeboard would be.  I'll have to test to see if it's having any impact on performance, and also to figure out why the position of the map seems to drift sideways a bit during flight, but so far things are looking very promising.

[Tonester]

On 2/15/2023 at 12:19 PM, TG-55Panthercules said:

Revisiting this issue/question as I have now finally gotten my VR setup working in a usable fashion.  My start-up process is now as follows:

 

1. Connect VR headset

2. Start VR Necksafer 2.09, which starts SteamVR (which I think then starts WMR for Steam VR - not really sure but I no longer need to start it separately)

3. Start IL-2 GB from standalone shortcut (C:\Games\IL-2 Sturmovik Great Battles\bin\game\launcher.exe, not through Steam)

4. Put VR headset on and play

 

So, my questions remain - Where/how should I insert this OpenKneeboard into the mix?  And, is there a way to preview where/what the kneeboard screen is going to look like while you're messing around with the app's VR setup screen, or do you just have to guess, go in and see where it is, then go out and guess how to change it, rinse and repeat?

I use a batch file to start everything in the order i want including game, this app, discord, teamspeak, srs, Flightpanel app etc…then when done i use another bat to shut it all down…works a treat

[Youtch]

On 2/16/2023 at 7:31 PM, =DW=_Broadway said:

  I ve recently connected it to a folder with all the recon target photos for Combat Box Apollo  campaign, great to review a target in VR headset whilst inbound!

Where do you find these recon target picture?

[Broadway]

Combat box

 

recon pictures for Apollo 6 can be found at https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Fv-u6AFiK7-CbSNYLbvyi2M2HwqrGkid?usp=share_link

[Taurus]

So OpenKneeboard is approved by 1C for use with online servers?

[DerShrike]

Did you ever get an answer for if this works in multiplayer?

[Taurus]

Nope. Good luck with that.

[Broadway]

i use on line with no problems in Combat Box servers

[firdimigdi]

It works just fine in MP - the methods it uses to render in VR do not bring it at odds with any injection-prevention mechanisms the game has. In 2D/screen mode this probably changes as it hijacks Direct3D to render itself IIRC. No one can answer if it's "approved by 1C for use with online servers" - all we know is that it works and it's not a cheat or considered a cheat by the game anti-cheat system.

[Voris]

Good morning could you tell me how to configure the Open Kneeboard to work in il2 in vr.
Inside the Game settings tab, I look for the address of the file "G:\Steam "Steamapps" Sturmovik Battle of Stalingrad "G:\Steamapps" Sturmovik Battle of Stalingrad "G:\Steamapps" Sturmovik-2.exe".
And in the tab rendering API:what option I have to use so that it is seen inside the vr

[firdimigdi]

3 hours ago, Voris said:

Good morning could you tell me how to configure the Open Kneeboard to work in il2 in vr.
Inside the Game settings tab, I look for the address of the file "G:\Steam "Steamapps" Sturmovik Battle of Stalingrad "G:\Steamapps" Sturmovik Battle of Stalingrad "G:\Steamapps" Sturmovik-2.exe".
And in the tab rendering API:what option I have to use so that it is seen inside the vr

 

Make sure under Game Settings the file you are associating is <IL-2 installation path>\bin\game\il-2.exe and then for Rendering API if you use OpenComposite you choose OpenXR, otherwise set it to SteamVR - if not sure just leave it on "Auto-Detect".

[Voris]

Thank you very much

I will try it as you say and see if I have luck.