Newcomer / Intro Can keys be assigned to joystick buttons?

Harrzack · Apr 20, 2015

I have a Logitech G13 which has sorta spoiled me into getting any keypress set on it - wherever I like. Can this be done on joystick? I don't think so - but hoping.

Just ordered a TM Hotas X - mainly for the throttle control. Overall I'm doing fair with joystick and G13 - but from what I'm reading, the stand-alone throttle can really help in combat (which I SUCK at!). With all the buttons on the throttle I'm wondering if I can set them to be keypresses and maybe not need the G13. I'm also working with "the other" voice control (http://www.controlmyjoystick.com/) (which I rarely see mentioned here) so a lot of the keys can be set to voice. Controlling thrusters with button presses is nice for fine control - I tap speed up and down in 25% steps, and has been working pretty good in non-combat situations.

So it would be pretty nice if I can assign some keys to the buttons on the TM Hotas X throttle - but I suspect not. Any ideas? :S

Gully Foyle · Apr 20, 2015

Of course you can use your joystick buttons to control the game and you can use your G 13 and the keyboard as well if you need them.

DB Cooper · Apr 20, 2015

In the options , controls tab you can see there are 2 columns 1 for mouse joystick binds, the other is keyboard binds. Name your setup custom something and you can back it up in case something happens and you lose it ---itcan be restored. Use a forum search to find out how to do that

Harrzack · Apr 20, 2015

You misunderstood my question.

I DO understand that in the GAME all sorts of binding options are available. I'd like to be able to set a JOYSTICK Button, when clicked/pressed, to create a KEYPRESS - like an 'A' or 'Z' or whatever. That way, in the game when it asks for a BUTTON, and I press Joystick Button1 - I wouldn't get "BUTTON1" - but an "A" or a "TAB"... Just like the G13 does. Joystick-button-to-keyboard mapping...

I think this won't happen as joysticks have their own interface and there is prob no way to get them to emulate keystrokes... unless there is some cool software that might make it happen...

Gully Foyle · Apr 21, 2015

I'm not understanding. The game doesn't ask for a button. Every function is mappable to whatever you are using to control it, whether it is stick, throttle, game controller or what have you.
There probably is something like you want out there, but I don't know why you'd need it.
I want a G13 so I don't have to touch the keyboard to make commands like scoop and jettison, and use the keyboard only for texting in-game chat.
Good Luck CMDR Harrzack, sorry I couldn't help.

the100thmonkey · Apr 21, 2015

It would depend on the management software that comes with the stick. You can on the Saitek software that comes with the X5* series of sticks, and that program is rubbish.

If you can't (and I'll be very surprised if you can't), you will be able to do it with something like GlovePIE or Autohotkey.

I can understand the attractions, but honestly, it's quicker and easier to just use the in-game control mapper.

Painkiller · Apr 21, 2015

Harrzack said:
...Just ordered a TM Hotas X - mainly for the throttle control. ...help in combat (which I SUCK at!). With all the buttons on the throttle I'm wondering if I can set them to be keypresses and maybe not need the G13. I'm also working with "the other" voice control (http://www.controlmyjoystick.com/) (which I rarely see mentioned here) so a lot of the keys can be set to voice. Controlling thrusters with button presses is nice for fine control - I tap speed up and down in 25% steps, and has been working pretty good in non-combat situations.

If I understand you correctly, your goal is to use only Hotas X and no G13 at all (+ added help from Voice control). I have Hotas X and my answer is YES. You can use only thruster + joystick in combat and do
- select prev/next target
- select prev/next subsystem
- select highest treat
- swap weapons
- use joystick in 4 or 5 axis
- use throttle for thrust forward/back.

Without voice attack, in the same time I can select enemy, find its subsystem, fly towards him (rotate + accelerate) and eventualy position myself behind him, all this without using G510 keyboard.

Remeber that you loose maybe 1-2 seconds from moving your hand from throttle to the keyboard and pressing keys ...so conclusion, with Thrustmaster X you don't need keyboard to do combat in ED.

I hope this clarify your doubt and unnecesarry need for binding A, B keys to joystick.

TorTorden_VR · Apr 21, 2015

I'm not entirely sure what the current state of things are but, I think logitech took the idea of mapping various keyboard button presses to direct keyboard letters from older joystick companion software, for example button 2 on stick can be setup to be Shift+t or just w for whatever reasons.

Many games and I'm sure ED is one could just take direct button 2 input and bind to next target in options etc.

Granted I don't have stick yet (got one in the mail)

Ancipital · Apr 21, 2015

Harrzack said:
You misunderstood my question.

I DO understand that in the GAME all sorts of binding options are available. I'd like to be able to set a JOYSTICK Button, when clicked/pressed, to create a KEYPRESS - like an 'A' or 'Z' or whatever. That way, in the game when it asks for a BUTTON, and I press Joystick Button1 - I wouldn't get "BUTTON1" - but an "A" or a "TAB"... Just like the G13 does. Joystick-button-to-keyboard mapping...

I think this won't happen as joysticks have their own interface and there is prob no way to get them to emulate keystrokes... unless there is some cool software that might make it happen...

Most joysticks come with software to do exactly that- so you can send keypress events, and all sorts of other stuff, by pressing a joystick button. It depends if the manufacturer of yours supplies such software- I don't think it does, as the HOTAS-X is pretty bargain basement. Here's the manual:

http://ts.thrustmaster.com/faqs/eng/thr_eng_00124.pdf

otherwise, you'll need to look for third party stuff, eg:

http://joytokey.net/en/

Maybe? There are better free ones out there, but I can't remember the names right now.

Do remember that you don't need to send keypresses for ED, it can also be configured to recognise the buttons on the stick directly- it's very easy.

willowfan · Apr 21, 2015

I'm not sure what the OP is trying to achieve but the ingame control settings will allow the setting of any function to any input device be it keyboard key, joystick button/swith or mouse button

Harrzack · Apr 21, 2015

Painkiller - good info! I think I was swayed/sidetracked by the way I have to interact with ED SETUP and the G13. It is only a keyboard replacement, so naturally it would need... keys! Which is not-so with joystick... DUH! BTW - I'm a long time advocate of getting an 'ergonomic' setup to minimize hand/finger movement. That is why I have the G13. But being a mush-head - I STILL get the keys mixed up and get killed anyway... ARRRGH!

Microblitz · Apr 21, 2015

What I want to know is why when using the X52 pro built in profile, can't I use the keyboard or the button to do the same thing. It makes using voice control a total PITA, since I have to rebuild the built in profile with one using the profile creator in the X52 software.

If the Voice recog is used it is disabled by the inbuilt profile because it works by pressing buttons and the built-in X52 profile overrides it.

Dommarraa · Apr 21, 2015

Then modify the built in profile to also have keys and copy/rename the customised profile

Painkiller · Apr 21, 2015

Harrzack said:
Painkiller - good info! I think I was swayed/sidetracked by the way I have to interact with ED SETUP and the G13. It is only a keyboard replacement, so naturally it would need... keys! Which is not-so with joystick... DUH! BTW - I'm a long time advocate of getting an 'ergonomic' setup to minimize hand/finger movement. That is why I have the G13. But being a mush-head - I STILL get the keys mixed up and get killed anyway... ARRRGH!

Cheers Harrzak , I got my G 510 keyboard to use macros in SWTOR and I was thinking maybe you wanted the same thing. Even when you land on station, you can use joystick fire primary/secondar button + yawn up/down/left/right to navigate through panels so with a little tweaks, kb becomes obsolete at all

Check another thread here ... https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=138454

Harrzack · Apr 21, 2015

Here is another voice control program that might be more manable: http://www.controlmyjoystick.com/

I've just started working with it - he gives a 60 day free trial, and has fairly good tut's on his site.

Microblitz said:
What I want to know is why when using the X52 pro built in profile, can't I use the keyboard or the button to do the same thing. It makes using voice control a total PITA, since I have to rebuild the built in profile with one using the profile creator in the X52 software.

If the Voice recog is used it is disabled by the inbuilt profile because it works by pressing buttons and the built-in X52 profile overrides it.

MoGod · Apr 21, 2015

Why don't you just get voice attack for 8 bucs?

Harrzack · Apr 21, 2015

CMJ is only 9 bux and has a much nicer interface. Also you can turn off TeamSpeak and it still works. Also - I was trying to use the 3D mouse which CMJ supports - but have abandoned that idea for a reg joystick.

k?

huwthomas · Apr 21, 2015

Harrzack said:
I have a Logitech G13 which has sorta spoiled me into getting any keypress set on it - wherever I like. Can this be done on joystick? I don't think so - but hoping.

Just ordered a TM Hotas X - mainly for the throttle control. Overall I'm doing fair with joystick and G13 - but from what I'm reading, the stand-alone throttle can really help in combat (which I SUCK at!). With all the buttons on the throttle I'm wondering if I can set them to be keypresses and maybe not need the G13. I'm also working with "the other" voice control (http://www.controlmyjoystick.com/) (which I rarely see mentioned here) so a lot of the keys can be set to voice. Controlling thrusters with button presses is nice for fine control - I tap speed up and down in 25% steps, and has been working pretty good in non-combat situations.

So it would be pretty nice if I can assign some keys to the buttons on the TM Hotas X throttle - but I suspect not. Any ideas? :S

The Hotas X is sadly not supported by TM's TARGET software but luckily there's a free program called GlovePIE that does exactly what you want (is better than TARGET in many ways, not least because it works with just about any input device imaginable, not just from one range/manufacturer) ... for an intro, see link in my sig.