IL2 - VKBSim STECS Virtual controller not recognized

[KpaxBos]

Hello,

STECS Standard - Virtual Controller and IL2 - GB

As IL2 supports only 64 buttons, I decided to define 1 Vitual controller (+base one).
 The 2 controllers are recognized in test tab and also in Joystick Gremlin but not in IL2.
 

In IL2 I cannot assign keys from the virtual controller (setting hangs and I have to do ESC to get hand back).

 

One think I noted is that the virtual controller declares 4 POVs (instead of one in base version) - could this be a problem ?

 

What can I do to solve this problem or does IL2 does not support this kind of devices ?

 

Thank you for your help.

[dburne]

What do you mean by virtual controller?

[KpaxBos]

Hello,

Stecs standard can handle 128 buttons. IL2 handles 64 buttons.

To map buttons above number 64, I need to split the 128 buttons to two controllers, the basic one : buttons 1-64 and a new virtual controller with button 65-128 remapped to 1-64. You can check how to do this in video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aIyv4QvugE).

 If I check with different joystick testers (jgremlin,VKB,Virpil) I can see both controller and they work as intended.

 

When I try to map button in IL2, buttons of second controller not accepted; the input gui stays blank and hangs, I have to do "ESC" to escape the blocked interface.

 

Have a nice day.

[dburne]

1 hour ago, KpaxBos said:

Hello,

Stecs standard can handle 128 buttons. IL2 handles 64 buttons.

To map buttons above number 64, I need to split the 128 buttons to two controllers, the basic one : buttons 1-64 and a new virtual controller with button 65-128 remapped to 1-64. You can check how to do this in video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aIyv4QvugE).

 If I check with different joystick testers (jgremlin,VKB,Virpil) I can see both controller and they work as intended.

 

When I try to map button in IL2, buttons of second controller not accepted; the input gui stays blank and hangs, I have to do "ESC" to escape the blocked interface.

 

Have a nice day.

 

Ok fair enough yes to get more than 64 buttons in IL-2 I reckon you have to go something like this.

Do you really need more than 64? I personally found 64 to be more than enough for all my button assignments for my stick and throttle.

 

In any event I wish you the best in getting this worked out to your satisfaction.

[Mike2945]

Hi there,

I suggest you go onto the VKB website and go to their support page and submit a ticket with your problem. I have found them to be very helpful and they respond very quickly. 
Mike

[KpaxBos]

Hello,

Thank you for answering my question.

I do not think that I need more than 64 buttons on one device for IL2. It is just a trial for convenience.

I submitted the question to VKB, waiting for an answer, but problem seems linked to IL2 itself.

 

Have a nice day.

 

[keithbriscoe99]

Just for my understanding since I will soon be getting a new hotas setup...  does IL2 recognize the STECS and allow you to do acis and button bindings? But problem is u can't do more than 64 assignments? Is that an accurate description of issue?

Thx.

[KpaxBos]

Hello,

Yes no problems with STECS. It functions perfectly with IL2GB.

IL2 GB recognizes only 64 buttons. On the stecs, you can have up to 128 buttons, so, in IL2 settings, buttons mapped above 64 are not usable. In the software, VKB, you can define virtual controllers. But it seems that IL2 does not see this second virtual controller.

N.B.: you can define virtual controller for any VKB devices.

 

BR.

[dburne]

1 hour ago, KpaxBos said:

Hello,

Yes no problems with STECS. It functions perfectly with IL2GB.

IL2 GB recognizes only 64 buttons. On the stecs, you can have up to 128 buttons, so, in IL2 settings, buttons mapped above 64 are not usable. In the software, VKB, you can define virtual controllers. But it seems that IL2 does not see this second virtual controller.

N.B.: you can define virtual controller for any VKB devices.

 

BR.

 

Yeah I would most definitely recommend not going the virtual route for the problems. I see problems reported by many that try this route. You really do not need it for IL-2. Hopefully this yet to be announced new update/game will address that issue.

[firdimigdi]

On 10/20/2023 at 12:28 PM, KpaxBos said:

Hello,

STECS Standard - Virtual Controller and IL2 - GB

As IL2 supports only 64 buttons, I decided to define 1 Vitual controller (+base one).
 The 2 controllers are recognized in test tab and also in Joystick Gremlin but not in IL2.
 

In IL2 I cannot assign keys from the virtual controller (setting hangs and I have to do ESC to get hand back).

 

One think I noted is that the virtual controller declares 4 POVs (instead of one in base version) - could this be a problem ?

 

What can I do to solve this problem or does IL2 does not support this kind of devices ?

 

Thank you for your help.

 

Usually all such problems in IL2 can be traced back to the contents of data/input/devices.txt

 

Whenever I've had to add a new device or split a controller to two devices I rename that file and let the game regenerate it on the next launch. Then once that is done, I compare it to the old version and make sure my old controllers are in the same order as before (the index number at the start of each line) so as to not lose existing bindings. Once that is done, then the game recognises the new controller without issue.

[KpaxBos]

Hello,

 

"""

Whenever I've had to add a new device or split a controller to two devices I rename that file and let the game regenerate it on the next launch. Then once that is done, I compare it to the old version and make sure my old controllers are in the same order as before (the index number at the start of each line) so as to not lose existing bindings. Once that is done, then the game recognises the new controller without issue.

"""

Thanks for the tip. I tried once without success. I will try it again as you suggested. But as said, this only for my local test, I think as dburne said, I will not use virtual controller in IL2.

 

BR.

[firdimigdi]

Yes, if you are creating bindings a-new then avoid splitting it to virtual controllers - it becomes a hassle when also using it with any sim that doesn't have the 64 button limitation. If anything, for complex setups you are likely best served by a program like Joystick Gremlin and an IL2 profile for mapping to keypresses.

 

Edited October 30, 2023 by firdimigdi

[SBGGDoggyC]

128 buttons support would be nice BUT if you have VKB gear...in DevCfg you can create a new profile for your device and set it to 64 buttons in global settings.  Then take some time and make sure no logical buttons go above button 64.  I spent an hour setting assigning each physical button to logical 1-64 and i was able to cover every single button on my STECS Standard...and that's with adding 2 4-way hats with pushbuttons.  I didn't mess with virtual controllers for the other buttons...no real need in IL2.  Did the same for my MCG-Ultimate too...so now I just load those profiles when I play IL2 and load my normal (128 button) profiles for everything else.  Hope this helps anyone with VKB gear dealing with the 64-button limit.

[KpaxBos]

Hello,

Thanks for the info. Can you give me your configuration (STECS Standard,and GF) for IL2 ? This to get an idea for mapping my config.

 

Best regards.

[SBGGDoggyC]

6 hours ago, KpaxBos said:

Hello,

Thanks for the info. Can you give me your configuration (STECS Standard,and GF) for IL2 ? This to get an idea for mapping my config.

 

Best regards.

Absolutely.  I'll attach the profiles zipped here along with some screen shots for explanation.  Starting with the GF:

 

For MCG Ultimate:

 

1) I use the a ministick in the Master Mode position and a standard 4-way POV in the GATE CONT position.  For the Ministick I set the default mode to POV mode which i use to send 4 buttons plus the pushbutton (short-press sends logical button 34 (same as physical button)).  In IL2 I assign these buttons to my trim "axes" as well as trim "switches", with the center push assigned to "reset trimmers".  When I long-press the push button it changes to axes mode...where I have both axes set to relative axes (Axis ID 3 and 4) and then assign these to gunsight target size and gunsight target range in IL2.  I use a Boolean to make the pushbutton push a second physical button (42 in my case) and then assign 42 to a RESET AXES function for Axis 3 and 4...which means pressing the center ministick pushbutton will reset those 2 axes to center.  I use a shift modifier in IL2 for "reset trimmers" so that if I'm trimmed out and short press the pushbutton to reset gunsight axes, it doesn't also reset my trim.  More on the shift modifier later...

 

2) I also programmed a "helicopter style" trimmer and reset for pitch/roll/rudder using the two right-hand grey buttons on the GF...mainly to have an easy way to trim my WWI planes in Flying Circus, but you could actually use this for ANY plane and not even bother with the trim assignments in IL2 if you wanted to use those POV buttons for something else.  This is done usinge Fix Axes function (FA0) and for the upper button and Trim Reset function for the lower button.  Note that there's a bug in firmware 2.16.5 that prevents FixAxes from working with more than 2 axes...but the latest version on their "hidden" server fixes this.  I don't have the link but could send you the firmware in a zip file if you want.  On my MCG Axes 1,2 and 7 are pitch roll and yaw.  I tweaked this so that when I am holding level flight with any/all pitch/roll/yaw...I press that top button and it will fix or hold each axis at that location allowing me to return everything to center quickly (within .6 seconds) and that's where each new trimmed "center" is now.  To reset just press the bottom grey button.  If you don't care for this then just assign both buttons back as "buttons".   But for Flying Circus I find this invaluable.  Also works great for helis in DCS or XP12...

 

3) I use my Trigger flipup "safety" assigned to reload guns in IL2.  I also have a button assigned to my brake lever which pulled all the way back is for parking brake.

 

4)SHIFT modifier.  IL2 does have buillt in modifier buttons but you have to use keyboard CTRL/ALT/SHT/WIN.  So I normally use my GF pinky button as a modifier in DCS but in IL2 you have to enable keyboard emulation and then assign a button to key press ***** (scan code 124) and select Alt/Ctrl/Shft or Win.  The problem is that this also sends a "power button" code along with the modifier key you check off and yep...IL2 only sees the "power_key" and not the modifier.  There's a way around that though.  With Windows PowerToys you can use the Keyboard Manager to reassign (disable) this "power key" by pressing the button you assigned...which will be detected in PowerToys as "undefined" and then you change it to "disabled" which strips off the power key output and just sends the LALT (in my example).  Problem solved and now you can double your button assignments in IL2 - effectively eliminating the 64 button limit (on both GF AND STECS with a single button).   When you assign your shift button in VKBCFG don't forget to press the SET button to activate the change before you go into PowerToys.

 

For STECS Standard - I also have 2X THQ connected which gives a total of 11 axes on the throttle...so I had to create a virtual controller to use 3 of the axes and my profile reflects this.  You probably need to redo your axes settings if you load my STECS profile.  Otherwise it's pretty standard fare.  I disabled my STECS ministick button and the 5-way rotary buttons then assigned every other physical button on the STECS and STEM (including 2 4-way HATs in place of the right throttle buttons) and still had 8 buttons left over to hit my 64 button limit for IL2.  I used those remaining 8 for one of my THQs (8 buttons each).  And remember, with the LALT Modifier in place now I can double the number of assignments...equivalent to having a 128-button limit!

 

Sorry this is so long...I'll post lots of screens for reference and just let me know if you have any other questions with my config and I'll try to help best I can!

 

 

VKB.zip

[SBGGDoggyC]

12 hours ago, KpaxBos said:

Hello,

Thanks for the info. Can you give me your configuration (STECS Standard,and GF) for IL2 ? This to get an idea for mapping my config.

 

Best regards.

Actually found a few issues on my STECS profile...mostly with the encoders conflicting with my THQ buttons.  Solved now and attached.  Also...if you do decide to create a button to act as a shift/modifier - I forgot to mention you need to keep PowerToys running in the background otherwise the power_key will be reenabled.  It's not a heavy app or anything but it does need to be running - at least while playing IL2.

VKB.zip

[KpaxBos]

Hello,

 

Wow  ?Thank you very much for these explanations. Lot of idea for my future config.

Do you have a list like this button on the device activate this command in IL2GB; for instance button 24 on STECS is assigned to "Parking Brake" in IL2.

Enormous thanks for the time you spent for me.

Best regards.

Edited November 14, 2023 by KpaxBos

[SBGGDoggyC]

I don’t have a button assignment list but i will probably put one together when im back from business travel.  Stay tuned and i’ll let you know.  And my pleasure…the VKB stuff is SO versatile - just have to dive into the software and learn it but once you do its incredible what you can make your controllers do for you!  Its really not hard either…just not intuitive at first glance.

[Charon]

Were you hitting the 8 device limit?

 

This old post may be of use to you.

 

 

[KpaxBos]

Hello,

Thanks for this post about devreorder and hiding devices. Saved to my knowhow info.

 

Have fun.