Is there any way of using an xbox controller triggers as throttles?

[indiebob]

Basically I'd like my xbox controller triggers to work for my ship the same way they do for the buggy.

RT = forward thurst and LT reverses it.

Or maybe even: LT = reverse thrust throttle. RT = forward throttle.

Why?
To make flight assist free fighting easier.


What I have tried:
1. If I set thrust forwards axis to RT then releasing it puts me to full reverse and squeezing it all the way gets it to full forwards. Getting the ship to stop is very tricky indeed.

2. If I set the throttle axis to RT/forwards only with LT for reverse then the ship will go backwards or forwards but thrust never goes under 50% so I cannot stop ...

3. If I set the throttle axis to RT/full range then hurrah - letting the trigger go sets throttle to zero and squeezing to 100% puts throttle to 100% but .... LT for reverse has no effect and that makes me sad.

Any ideas? No... "use another device" or "buy this it's only £70" is not what I am looking for.

3 seems the best option for me, if only the LT was set to reverse the RT axis rather than only reversing it in a specific mode. Surely I'd underfine this key assignment if I didn't want it used?

Spoiler

Ideally what I'd like (and I know this isn't possible with the current set up) is for it to be possible to set separate throttle settings for free flight and flight assist so I get analogue control in free flight and/or increment/decrement with flight assist on or whichever way round I want it.

 

[Chris Simon]

You can't bind the separate axis for forward and backwards throttle, unfortunately.
But once you succeeded to bind forward throttle to your liking, just set the other trigger to reverse on hold. Then, if you hold it, you manage the backwards throttle, basically.

 

[indiebob]

You can't bind the separate axis for forward and backwards throttle, unfortunately.
But once you succeeded to bind forward throttle to your liking, just set the other trigger to reverse on hold. Then, if you hold it, you manage the backwards throttle, basically.

No it doesn't work as explained in the OP. But that would be great if it did!

 

[Rigmor]

I use the left stick for my throttle, up = forward, down = backwards, left and right = strafe. Push down for boost.
The right stick is for pitch and roll, triggers for guns, scanners etc, push down for free look.

 

[indiebob]

I use the left stick for my throttle, up = forward, down = backwards, left and right = strafe. Push down for boost.
The right stick is for pitch and roll, triggers for guns, scanners etc, push down for free look.

The problem with that is you can't go full speed and left at the same time. Also you'd lose some other axis of movement. Seems a shame that Frontier haven't quite thought things through, once again.

A bit like the fact you can reverse the vertical thrust axis in normal controls but not alternative controls ...

 

[Thogapotomus]

You, as you found out, can't assign throttle to the triggers properly. The Xbox pad isn't set up to offer all directions of movement. You'd need to upgrade to an Elite to have extra triggers. You said that's not an option though, so you may be SOL.

 

[Yodafone]

The problem with that is you can't go full speed and left at the same time. Also you'd lose some other axis of movement. Seems a shame that Frontier haven't quite thought things through, once again.

A bit like the fact you can reverse the vertical thrust axis in normal controls but not alternative controls ...

Indeed which is why I myself (to chime in) set lateral thrusters as digital inputs, (then analogue inputs in 'flight landing overrides' once landing gear is deployed for careful landings).

Also set Left Trigger for Vertical UP thrust (analogue) and Lb for thrust DOWN. Much prefer a gamepad in my left hand for ship thrust/translation (as opposed to a hands on throttle) and then my x55 Rhino in my right hand for ship rotation (much like my signature picture below)

I believe for those who are using just a gamepad Frontier implemented the "Alternate Flight Mode" so you can switch to and from this to gain the extra control surface you are down.

 

[Rigmor]

The problem with that is you can't go full speed and left at the same time. Also you'd lose some other axis of movement. Seems a shame that Frontier haven't quite thought things through, once again.

A bit like the fact you can reverse the vertical thrust axis in normal controls but not alternative controls ...

What I do is strafe left and boost, flight assist off, via VA (Voice Attack) there is as you say some axis issues, but I fly the ship like a plane. I never use yaw at all, limitations of the config i guess.

 

[indiebob]

You, as you found out, can't assign throttle to the triggers properly. The Xbox pad isn't set up to offer all directions of movement. You'd need to upgrade to an Elite to have extra triggers. You said that's not an option though, so you may be SOL.

That's not true. The xbox controller actually has one extra trigger. It's just that ED doesn't handle it correctly.

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Indeed which is why I myself (to chime in) set lateral thrusters as digital inputs, (then analogue inputs in 'flight landing overrides' once landing gear is deployed for careful landings).

Also set Left Trigger for Vertical UP thrust (analogue) and Lb for thrust DOWN. Much prefer a gamepad in my left hand for ship thrust/translation (as opposed to a hands on throttle) and then my x55 Rhino in my right hand for ship rotation (much like my signature picture below)

I believe for those who are using just a gamepad Frontier implemented the "Alternate Flight Mode" so you can switch to and from this to gain the extra control surface you are down.

It still means jumping through hoops to workaround ED when it should be a case that ED is built to use, yanno, the most common PC controller out there, not to mention the xbone they are supposed to have ported it to. Not require people to shell out for a HOTAS.

Like many things ED it seems to be like a pristine granite/marble surfaced kitchen which looks super, but you eventually discover is held together with blue-tac and the power points have all been located where the kitchen sink plug should go ...

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BTW you can reverse vertical thrust in alternative controls by hand editing the config file. I just worked that out at least.

<VerticalThrustAlternate> <Binding Device="0E6F0413" Key="Pad_RStickY" />
<Inverted Value="1" />
<Deadzone Value="0.00000000" />

</VerticalThrustAlternate>

 

[Thogapotomus]

That's not true. The xbox controller actually has one extra trigger. It's just that ED doesn't handle it correctly.

Not sure what you're referring too? The Xbox controller can't map all the flight controls to analog inputs, even if the triggers worked appropriately. Even if the triggers worked correctly, you'd still have 2 extra inputs that would only be digital.

Anyways, I get your point. They really should fix how the triggers work, especially since the game is on the Xbone.

 

[indiebob]

Not sure what you're referring too? The Xbox controller can't map all the flight controls to analog inputs, even if the triggers worked appropriately. Even if the triggers worked correctly, you'd still have 2 extra inputs that would only be digital.

Anyways, I get your point. They really should fix how the triggers work, especially since the game is on the Xbone.

Ah I get what you mean now but that's not the issue. it is easy enough to map lateral thrust using alternative controls or to one of the unused sets of comboed bumper buttons but it is impossible to use the triggers for ship throttle as is, even though you can use it for buggy throttle. The issue is not too few axes it is that one of the axes you have [the triggers, often used as throttle axis] is rendered unusable.

 

[Yodafone]

That's not true. The xbox controller actually has one extra trigger. It's just that ED doesn't handle it correctly.

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It still means jumping through hoops to workaround ED when it should be a case that ED is built to use, yanno, the most common PC controller out there, not to mention the xbone they are supposed to have ported it to. Not require people to shell out for a HOTAS.

Like many things ED it seems to be like a pristine granite/marble surfaced kitchen which looks super, but you eventually discover is held together with blue-tac and the power points have all been located where the kitchen sink plug should go ...

- - - - - Additional Content Posted / Auto Merge - - - - -

BTW you can reverse vertical thrust in alternative controls by hand editing the config file. I just worked that out at least.

Agreed it is a "workaround" but this isn't really Frontier's fault, is the nature of all handheld gamepad controllers which only have so many control surfaces. Even if you could set the triggers as throttles - forwards/backwards you'll still be down the fundamental control surface either Yaw or Roll, this is the main problem with space flight on a gamepad.

The "alternate flight mode" is the only way of setting it all up so it feels intuitive (as in your pushing left to go left and/or Rolling/Yawing and up or forwards on sticks to translate vertically or forwards/backwards. There are too many control surfaces to fit on to the average gamepad, at least Frontier have realised this and given an option such as this alternate flight mode so each surface feels ok, you've just got to switch to an alternate mode.

As you've found out you know all this already, but the problem is inherent in gamepads themselves, not Frontier (with respect and again like I say, at least they've made it possible)

 

[indiebob]

Agreed it is a "workaround" but this isn't really Frontier's fault, is the nature of all handheld gamepad controllers which only have so many control surfaces. Even if you could set the triggers as throttles - forwards/backwards you'll still be down the fundamental control surface either Yaw or Roll, this is the main problem with space flight on a gamepad.

The "alternate flight mode" is the only way of setting it all up so it feels intuitive (as in your pushing left to go left and/or up or forwards on sticks to translate vertically or forwards/backwards or Rolling/Yawing. There are too many control surfaces to fit on to the average gamepad, at least Frontier have realised this and given an option such as this alternate flight mode so each surface feels ok, you've just got to switch to an alternate mode.

As you've found out you know all this already, but the problem is inherent in gamepads themselves, not Frontier (with respect and again like I say, at least they've made it possible)

You can use the triggers for throttle in the buggy, so any argument about surfaces or whatever doesn't hold. Yes I *could* do that and will if I have to but I'd rather not.

It's annoying that such an expensive game has such crazy and arbitrary limitations and it hasn't been made to work with the control most commonly used for a throttle on the most commonly available PC controller out there.

Now, I am not saying you are wrong, I am saying I am not wrong. It's an opinion and, from what I can see a valid one, even if, as a non-controller user, it doesn't bother you.

I have just set up one of the 2 sets of unused comboed bumper buttons for lateral thrust. No need for alternative controls any more or hacking config files or extra controls.

 

[Yodafone]

You can use the triggers for throttle in the buggy, so any argument about surfaces or whatever doesn't hold. Yes I *could* do that and will if I have to but I'd rather not.

It's annoying that such an expensive game has such crazy and arbitrary limitations and it hasn't been made to work with the control most commonly used for a throttle on the most commonly available PC controller out there.

Now, I am not saying you are wrong, I am saying I am not wrong. It's an opinion and, from what I can see a valid one, even if, as a non-controller user, it doesn't bother you.

I have just set up one of the 2 sets of unused comboed bumper buttons for lateral thrust. No need for alternative controls any more or hacking config files or extra controls.

I do actually agree with you that the main throttle axis should be separated so you could indeed then set analogue inputs on each of your triggers for your main forwards/backwards throttle but this doesn't address the main "where to put" - lateral thrust, Roll and Yaw (I would have thought this would be your main bug bare when flying with a gamepad). The SRV thing is different as far as the Rolling/Yawing issue because the SRV has no Yaw so it's not an issue. I use just a gamepad to drive the SRV with Roll and Steering on the same axis.

Interesting you found out that altering the config file for the alternate controls can invert it or otherwise, I wondered why there wasn't an option to do this in the actual options, so thanks for that, it may come in use one day.

How do you have Roll/Yaw set incidentally when flying the ship?

 

[indiebob]

I do actually agree with you that the main throttle axis should be separated so you could indeed then set analogue inputs on each of your triggers for your main forwards/backwards throttle but this doesn't address the main "where to put" - lateral thrust, Roll and Yaw (I would have thought this would be your main bug bare when flying with a gamepad). The SRV thing is different as far as the Rolling/Yawing issue because the SRV has no Yaw so it's not an issue. I use just a gamepad to drive the SRV with Roll and Steering on the same axis.

Interesting you found out that altering the config file for the alternate controls can invert it or otherwise, I wondered why there wasn't an option to do this in the actual options, so thanks for that, it may come in use one day.

How do you have Roll/Yaw set incidentally when flying the ship?

Apologies if I am seem snappy. It is late and I am annoyed with the game not you good people who are just trying to help.

Just to make sure we're on the same page here for anyone reading the xbox control scheme allows the function of the D-pad and L/R bumper buttons and L/R thumbstick "clicks" (pressing the thumb stick in as a button) to be altered by holding down the A, B, X and Y keys, giving a total of (I think) 46 functions on the controller rather than just 14 which is further increased with alternative control sets etc.

If you hold down ABX or Y for a second or two it puts up a menu showing you the buttons and their modified functions.

I use a variant of the "Default Context" control scheme which has pitch and roll on the left stick and yaw/vertical on the right.

 

[Yodafone]

btw apologies if I am being snappy. It is late and I am annoyed with the game not you good people who are just trying to help.

Just to make sure we're on the same page here for anyone reading the xbox control scheme allows the function of the D-pad and L/R bumper buttons and L/R thumbstick "clicks" (pressing the thumb stick in as a button) to be altered by holding down the A, B, X and Y keys, giving a total of (I think) 42 functions on the controller rather than just 14 which is further increased with alternative control sets etc.

I use a variant of the "Default Context" control scheme which has pitch and roll on the left stick and yaw/vertical on the right.

It's all good, I get that way sometimes, frustration can arise when we want something a certain way and it won't allow it, no need to apologise

If you've both sticks' "left" movement used up where do you then put Lateral thrust?

If all else fails and you can't find a way to configure it all try a program called "PinnacleGameProfiler". I know you didn't want to spend money ideally but it's only about 10 pounds. I use it myself anyway to use certain buttons on my gamepad like the middle xbox button that is wasted but this program might enable you to set up your triggers as throttles. Not entirely sure so I suggest you try the trial version first to see if you can but it's a comprehensive program that can be ran as a persistent program/profile that then overrides anything in game that is being used.

 

[indiebob]

It's all good, I get that way sometimes, frustration can arise when we want something a certain way and it won't allow it, no need to apologise

If you've both sticks' "left" movement used up where do you then put Lateral thrust?

If all else fails and you can't find a way to configure it all try a program called "PinnacleGameProfiler". I know you didn't want to spend money ideally but it's only about 10 pounds. I use it myself anyway to use certain buttons on my gamepad like the middle xbox button that is wasted but this program might enable you to set up your triggers as throttles. Not entirely sure so I suggest you try the trial version first to see if you can but it's a comprehensive program that can be ran as a persistent program/profile that then overrides anything in game that is being used.

On the B button + left and right bumpers. hold down B - it then selects "B button mode" for the bumpers and they become lateral thrust whilst it is held down. Like shift or ctrl on a normal keyboard ish. Will have a look at Pinnacle, tomorrow! What I'd much rather happen, of course, is Frontier stop working on cosmetic but otherwise worthless things like animated avatars and get some of the basics sorted out. I have a long list, as do many more experienced players than me.

 

[th03bgt]

Are you using a PC?

If so, the following may help you. I used it to combine two separate analogue peddles into a single axis for lateral thrust.

Applying it to your xbox triggers should give you what you want for forward/backwards thrust. May need a little playing around.

As I found a solution, thought I would share it here in case others have a problem.

When viewed in the control panel/game controller property settings, I have, for vjoy, a single axis, with a central neutral position. When I apply pressure to the right peddle, the axis moves to the right, when I apply pressure to the left, the axis moves to the left. Small video attached as example.

...

Hi there,

For yaw and laterial thrust, I am using the saitek Pro Combat pedals.

Out of the box, yaw is straight forward. getting analogue output from the pedals so that ED could uses it, took some external software. The Combat pedals have two analogue output but ED will only allow you one input.

Using vJoy and UJR, I was able to create a single axis by merging the two, applying it to a virtual joystick and then binding the virtual joystick to ED.

For those interested;

vJoy Device 8
X Axes ticked, 0 buttons, 0 POVs, Enable Effects unticked.

UJR
vJoy Stick ID 8
Axes 1
1 (X) [Rest L] 5 1 Invert (ticked)
Axes 2
1 (X) [Merge] 5 2 Invert (Unticked)

ED failed to see the vJoy input in options as the pedals output was milli-secs quicker, so I used the Bindings options to send the output during setup without pressing the pedals. Worked perfectly and in the .binds file, the text reads;

<LateralThrustRaw>
<Binding Device="vJoy" Key="Joy_XAxis" />
<Inverted Value="1" />
<Deadzone Value="0.00000000" />
</LateralThrustRaw>

I only have vJoy running one virtual device, so do not know how more than one would be registered here.

For the others comment;

In addition to the Worthog, I use Saitek Pro flight combat rudder pedals and a PS3 controller for SRV.

 

[indiebob]

Are you using a PC?

If so, the following may help you. I used it to combine two separate analogue peddles into a single axis for lateral thrust.

Applying it to your xbox triggers should give you what you want for forward/backwards thrust. May need a little playing around.

As I found a solution, thought I would share it here in case others have a problem.

When viewed in the control panel/game controller property settings, I have, for vjoy, a single axis, with a central neutral position. When I apply pressure to the right peddle, the axis moves to the right, when I apply pressure to the left, the axis moves to the left. Small video attached as example.

...

Hi there,

For yaw and laterial thrust, I am using the saitek Pro Combat pedals.

Out of the box, yaw is straight forward. getting analogue output from the pedals so that ED could uses it, took some external software. The Combat pedals have two analogue output but ED will only allow you one input.

Using vJoy and UJR, I was able to create a single axis by merging the two, applying it to a virtual joystick and then binding the virtual joystick to ED.

For those interested;

vJoy Device 8
X Axes ticked, 0 buttons, 0 POVs, Enable Effects unticked.

UJR
vJoy Stick ID 8
Axes 1
1 (X) [Rest L] 5 1 Invert (ticked)
Axes 2
1 (X) [Merge] 5 2 Invert (Unticked)

ED failed to see the vJoy input in options as the pedals output was milli-secs quicker, so I used the Bindings options to send the output during setup without pressing the pedals. Worked perfectly and in the .binds file, the text reads;

<LateralThrustRaw>
<Binding Device="vJoy" Key="Joy_XAxis" />
<Inverted Value="1" />
<Deadzone Value="0.00000000" />
</LateralThrustRaw>

I only have vJoy running one virtual device, so do not know how more than one would be registered here.

For the others comment;

In addition to the Worthog, I use Saitek Pro flight combat rudder pedals and a PS3 controller for SRV.

Thanks, will try it out. Still seems quite complex and yet another case of #WTFrontier and much eye rolling. I am sure the self empowered love it as it's yet another case of elite "not holding your hand" or as the rest of us say, "being a barely functional mess of half finished software components".

 

[th03bgt]

Thanks, will try it out. Still seems quite complex and yet another case of #WTFrontier and much eye rolling. I am sure the self empowered love it as it's yet another case of elite "not holding your hand" or as the rest of us say, "being a barely functional mess of half finished software components".

No worries