Galaxy Map

_Grey_Area_

G
Has anyone got a Joystick/VoiceAttack ONLY solution that allows good integration with the galaxy map - so able to;

Search for a system by name
Lock the destination and plot route

Not "I use the mouse".
Not "I peek down the nose gap".
Not "I keep one hand on a braille keyboard"

Joystick. VoiceAttack. Nothing else.

I can bring up the map fine with "Galaxy" spoken command (it even toggles so it says "Open" or "Closed" depending on last recorded state.
What I'm really looking for is a way to access the Search field (saying something simple like "Search" would be nice) - but I don't know the command to give the text entry box focus.
Then spell the system name (I accept VoiceAttack is unlikely to be able to guess the spelling of "Bhritzameno") and finish with a command to stop dictation that starts the search.

It then needs a "Find Next" command to cycle through the results.

Lastly, it needs to access that stupid, STUPID floating menu over the map where the "Plot course" menu is.

Ideally, it would be nice to be able to say "plot quickest", "plot cheapest", etc.

I have a feeling it may not be currently possible...I would be delighted to be proved wrong.

My Joystick isn't a full HOTAS but I've done a reasonable job of keybinding on my faithful old Cyborg EVO.

The actual flight experience of ED in VR is still the single, best full price game out there...it's just this **** Galaxy Map that's preventing me from playing it more.

Hope someone can help!
 

Franc Kaos

Franc Kaos
Voice attack the UI commands, left, right, up, down, next / previous panel, enter (one of those commands will move to the floating menu and back) which will get you to the search bar then do the dictation (didn't know VA could do that). Not sure what your joystick is capable of, but with mine: Twist to rotate, 4 way hat up / down & zoom, X & Y left 'n right, forward 'n back.
Just had a look at the joystick, maybe use the 8 way hat for the menus (there is a way to jump from floating menu to sidebar), and use the throttle and stuff for movements.
 

_Grey_Area_

G
Franc Kaos said:
Voice attack the UI commands, left, right, up, down, next / previous panel, enter (one of those commands will move to the floating menu and back) which will get you to the search bar then do the dictation (didn't know VA could do that). Not sure what your joystick is capable of, but with mine: Twist to rotate, 4 way hat up / down & zoom, X & Y left 'n right, forward 'n back.
Just had a look at the joystick, maybe use the 8 way hat for the menus (there is a way to jump from floating menu to sidebar), and use the throttle and stuff for movements.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply.

I've started writing my own and fairly quickly I'm seeing the problem...because of the need to interact with both the menus and the actual map, we're looking at three "axes" for the former (up/down. left/right and prev/next tab) and a horrendous six for the latter; pitch, yaw, zoom, plus the three lateral axes...there simpy aren't enough available axes on a three-axis, single POV hat joystick to go around...

...not helped by the fact that Elite doesn't recognise the shift button on my EVO when used with POV hat left and right)...

...and most people (well, me at least) would want to use the same controls for some of the options...

...however, I think I've solved it.

It needs fine tuning, but so far I can;

Open the map.
Select any of the five tabs (Info, Search, Bookmarks, Display and Options) by either joystick POV Hat or spoken command
Move through each tab with the POV hat and select anything in the table with the trigger.
Search for a system - including a "search again" command to step through results.

Plus, operate the galaxy map view commands (all of them) with a combination of my three axes, the Hat and my primary and secondary fire button.

I haven't been got around to locking in a course yet...again I'm hoping to be able to do that by spoken command OR joystick.

It's complicated to write, but fairly easy to use. The hardest part is ensuring VA "knows" which tab it's on - I can do that reasonably well but long Joystick inputs can overwhelm my commands meaning it can get out of sync.

There's a trick to using the same controls for different things...I discovered that Elite Dangerous will happily accept dual inputs from keyboard and joysticks...meaning I can double my actual joystick axes and the POV hat by pressing shift on the keyboard simultaneously. I've setup up two "Mode" commands in Voice attack; "Map Mode" simply holds down the shift key, "Panel mode" releases it (it has to be that way around or the main interface screens in the cockpit will likely do all sorts of screwy things).

So - say "Map mode" and Voice Attack "holds down shift for me" meaning all my joystick inputs and voice commands are "shifted"...say "Panel mode" and the shift key is released sending normal commands to ED. Then it's just a matter of setting up the appropriate shifted and unshifted key bindings (and joystick bindings) in ED.

Fairly confident I can get a 100% "no keyboard, no mouse" solution for this, but as with all things it's going to take a bit of time. WHen I get closer to a finished version I'll happily share the file ad details of the setup for anyone interested in beta testing or using it as a baseline for their own setups.

Watch this space...
 

dogbite

dogbite
I edited this post as even though you didn't mention it, it became clear you are using a Vive. This of course explains your reluctance to using a keyboard. No nose gap.

For typing, may I suggest programming Voice Attack for alpha-numeric dictation (since system names are not conventional words).

The mouse (placed beside your Cyborg) is still an elegant solution for navigating. The only thing that it doesn't do well in VR maps is locking on the desired target. You can bind your Cyborg pov to move the cursor in the GM (x,y) and SM (scroll). All other mouse map control, including rmb for z axis in GM, work as before VR just fine. Use rmb for z axis as before.
The only thing you might want to practice, being your pov control Cyborg) is in your dominant hand, is working the mouse with the other hand so you have tandem control of the camera movement.

This will allow you to:
-keep the Vive on
-quickly use the mouse as before VR
-wheel mouse zoom in tight and use the pov to lock map target- then click
-grab either map and drag large distance fast
-quickly click on text box (comms panel as well)
-then dictate text
- depending on your mouse adds additional buttons for binding

Given that dictating alpha-numerically will be slower than typing having the speed of the mouse will help.
Don't forget to turn on the GM grid.

The mouse is the best thing Steve Job's ever stole.
 
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dogbite

dogbite
Kingtutuk said:
This is what i tried but ultimately stopped using as I mainly use the galaxy map while docked. Hope it helps.
Watch the vid file no longer available.
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=33065

https://1drv.ms/u/s!AhuWeZMlcfEuh1OJufNEprmlt4lQ
This link is my cut down version of the above original file. No warranties or support provided, file will be available for a week.
Click to expand...

Excellent work. I am sure it will be widely adopted by Vive users in particular who can't peek. How do you deal with typing specific systems into the dialogue box?
 
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