How do you use 3rd party applications while playing ED in VR

[delnelrimnim]

Hello,
I am playing Elite Dangerous in VR using the HTC Vive. I have a complete HOTS including paddles attached to my gaming chair so I have almost every function at my fingertips. Apart from navigating on the galaxy map, which is a bit cumbersome, I have no issues in the game control or performance wise.

The only problem I am encountering is, when I want to look up something from a source outside the game, so for example when I want to find out where to find a commodity or trade route in EDDB or figuring out what materials a certain engineer upgrade needs. Because every time I do so, I have to remove headphones and the headset, look up the information, rig everything back on my head, and sometimes I have to do it all again, because I missed or forgot something.

So my question to other commanders using VR or specifically the HTC vive is: What are your best practices to quickly look up information from outside sources? Are you using applications to display your desktop in VR? If yes, which one? Are you using the build in front camera? Are there other alternatives?

Best regards

 

[Chromezero]

I definitely recommend OVRDrop for this purpose. It allows you to "project" your desktop or specific applications into/onto your VR world. In Elite I use OVRDrop to show my whole desktop, allowing me to access my web browser, music player, and so on. I just press F1 and it pops up in front me as if I have a monitor that drops down in my cockpit. You can adjust where in your VR world you'd like it to sit.

 

[Tyr Ceti]

Hello,
<snip>..
So my question to other commanders using VR or specifically the HTC vive is: What are your best practices to quickly look up information from outside sources? Are you using applications to display your desktop in VR? If yes, which one? Are you using the build in front camera? Are there other alternatives?

Best regards

I just went through this yesterday when I started on an expedition. I was hesitant to buy OVRdrp but just did it when I was constantly lifting my headseat up to read discord chat. I downloaded OVRdrp, started it up and messed around with positioning the window in the game world - setting up autozoom when looking and cropping the window around the chat panel to just show what I wanted to see. Fairly easy to figure out. I then wanted to use EDdiscovery at the same time but I couldn't open a new window. I did some research and found out the developer has released an experimental build that allows for you to run multiple instances of the program for multiple windows. Set that up and now I have EDdiscovery and discord up for the long trips. This is a lot easier if you can touch type. I use a Dell Visor, but OVRdrp is specific to SteamVR so the Vive will work fine with it.

Edit: The way I have OVRdrp set up is my discord chat is small (not readable but I can monitor for new chat) in the lower left corner of my Krait cockpit and EDdiscovery small but readable at my avatar's foot. Whenever I look specifically at them, the window blows up to a comfortable size to read and/or edit. The only downside is that any fiddling with the windows (i.e. typing in the windows) requires you to mouse over to the window outside of VR and then clicking on said window for focus. This takes away focus from elite...so I don't mess with windows when I am going between systems. I place the windows on my desktop in a way that allows for me to easily move the cursor between them. I am sure there are shortcut keys you can use to grab focus but I haven't devoted a lot of time learning the ins and outs of the program yet.

 

[Chromezero]

I am sure there are shortcut keys you can use to grab focus but I haven't devoted a lot of time learning the ins and outs of the program yet.

If you're comfortable touch-typing, then just alt-tab to highlight the correct window and start typing as needed. However, if you need mouse clicks, then you'll still need to get your mouse in the right neighborhood before interacting.

 

[delnelrimnim]

Thank you very much for your answers. I looked into OVRDROP and it looks very much like what I need. I have absolutely no problem to put money into that software, but there are 2 things I would like to know before, and I did not find out so far:
First: Does OVERDROP require to have Elite Dangerous bought and installed via steam? Because I bought it 'stand alone' and just use Steam VR
Second: How do you cope with the problem of changing focus back an forth? Do you display your whole desktop (so you can click the Elite Window), or do you have some script you trigger when closing the browser window in ovrdrop to give Elite the focus back?

Best regards.

 

[Chromezero]

First: Does OVERDROP require to have Elite Dangerous bought and installed via steam?

No, OVRDrop runs independently and is not affiliated/attached to Elite in anyway.

Second: How do you cope with the problem of changing focus back an forth? Do you display your whole desktop (so you can click the Elite Window), or do you have some script you trigger when closing the browser window in ovrdrop to give Elite the focus back?

I personally use OVRDrop to display my whole desktop, and use my mouse or alt-tab to move from window to window and to give focus back to Elite.

 

[delnelrimnim]

Thank you very much on your information so far.

I tested OVRDROP today in Steam VR Home, and als long as ovrdrop has focus, everything works fine. I can position the window, define what to display, and toggle the desktop with a hotkey.

However, Elite needs the focus to work (like in every aspect) and overdrop needs the focus in order to have the hotkey working. At the moment I fail to see, how to set this up correctly.

Best regards

 

[Chromezero]

However, Elite needs the focus to work (like in every aspect) and overdrop needs the focus in order to have the hotkey working. At the moment I fail to see, how to set this up correctly.

OVRDrop should not need focus for you to hit F1 and have it appear. I'm guessing there's an option that needs to be set, for this to function the way you want. In my case, I just hit F1, OVRDrop appears, and I'm able to start working on my desktop. Then, I alt-tab to give Elite focus, hit F1 to close OVRDrop, then continue my flying. Unfortunately, I'm not currently able to check the settings for you at this moment. I'd recommend looking at the various options for OVRDrop; it's likely buried in there somewhere.

*Edit*
It occurred to me that I use OVRDrop to display "monitor 1" which is my desktop that includes Elite. I have two monitors, and do occasionally switch OVRDrop to "monitor 2" for various reasons. In either case, I use F1 to open/close OVRDrop.

 

[delnelrimnim]

*SlamsHeadOnTable*
All hotkeys in ovrdrop have a little checkbox in the config, which makes that specific hotkey work even when ovrdrop does not have the focus.

With that enabled it is running fine.

Thank you very, very much for your help on this.

 

[Chromezero]

I'm glad to hear that you got it working the way you wanted. It has some quirks but it's a great program and a great add-on for games like Elite.