Newcomer / Intro How to save bindings

[steeffieee]

Hi,

I tried to save my control settings by copying the .bind files and renaming them, as I'm unable to play the game with my joysticks when visiting my parents. There's one issue: Even if I set the controls as I like them, then copying the bindings and renaming them: They don't appear in the dropdown menu of the game. I tried to open them in the different modes of the game, but no succes. Can anyone help me?

Thanks!

Stefan

 

[zombieapocalypse]

I play on mouse and keyboard, but use an Xbox pad for controlling the cameras. I've noticed that since 3.0, my key bindings will no longer show up in the options if the Xbox pad isn't plugged into my PC. I don't know if this is related to your problem, but you may want to ensure that the bindings you want to use round your parents make no reference to the joysticks.

 

[Chris Simon]

Hi,

I tried to save my control settings by copying the .bind files and renaming them, as I'm unable to play the game with my joysticks when visiting my parents. There's one issue: Even if I set the controls as I like them, then copying the bindings and renaming them: They don't appear in the dropdown menu of the game. I tried to open them in the different modes of the game, but no succes. Can anyone help me?

Thanks!

Stefan

If you are on the PC, the way I do it (I also play with or without HOTAS or with or without VR, at times) is to simply go to the Frontier development folder in AppData where all the settings are saved and copy the whole "Bindings" folder and save it somewhere else. Then just replace it with the appropriate one, depending on which input I am going to use.

 

[Ophion]

As far as I know, you only need "Custom.3.0.binds" file to be backed up. If you rename it, it wont be shown in the options. You can keep several versions of the file but under different folders as they have the same name. Be sure to paste the one you need BEFORE you start the launcher and start the launcher AFTER you connected all the controller you wish to use for that particular binding setup. In the menu, choose Custom.

 

[NoNeedForThat]

My bindings have been knocked out again today. Fine, I can go through the process again, but reading through Frontier's advice about saving, does it not strike you that their recommendation is a clumsy, manual approach? Surely they can code a "save bindings in backup folder" function for us so that we can just update/protect them whenever we want? When I drive my car, I don't want to have to re-program my automatic gearbox settings every time it gets a service. Why would I want to delve into my Elite Dangerous files to manually recreate what the dev team could design in?

 

[Para Handy]

......
I tried to save my control settings by copying the .bind files and renaming them, as I'm unable to play the game with my joysticks when visiting my parents. There's one issue: Even if I set the controls as I like them, then copying the bindings and renaming them: They don't appear in the dropdown menu of the game. I...........

You need to edit the second line of the actual file:

<Root PresetName="#############" MajorVersion="3" MinorVersion="0">


Insert the name you want where the #'s are above.

Save file

start game

the ########## name you put in is now in the drop-down list of presets


P.S. Don't keep copies in the same directory as E D looks at line 2 to decide what file to use / offer and multiple files with the same line 2 confuse the hades out of the game, it won't save changes etc etc ...

 

[Para Handy]

My bindings have been knocked out again today. Fine, I can go through the process again, but reading through Frontier's advice about saving, does it not strike you that their recommendation is a clumsy, manual approach? Surely they can code a "save bindings in backup folder" function for us so that we can just update/protect them whenever we want? When I drive my car, I don't want to have to re-program my automatic gearbox settings every time it gets a service. Why would I want to delve into my Elite Dangerous files to manually recreate what the dev team could design in?

If you edit your custom.3.0.binds file to give it a different name, remembering to also change the description in line 2 of the file (as I wrote above) - then that will not be overwritten. For some reason the custom binds file seems to get overwritten but I have never EVER had a differently named binds file mucked up by the game.


BTW - I totally agree we need a "Save As" option in the Options / Controls menu - it is staggering that F D have not done this.

 

[NoNeedForThat]

Thx for the steer. Quick question on your notes: if we should avoid saving the file into the same folder, does it matter where else it is? Is there a folder into which you'd recommend saving a backup file, so that E D can see it and your preset shows on the drop-down list?

 

[aRJay]

Thx for the steer. Quick question on your notes: if we should avoid saving the file into the same folder, does it matter where else it is? Is there a folder into which you'd recommend saving a backup file, so that E D can see it and your preset shows on the drop-down list?

You should have the working version of the file in its original location back up copies should be somewhere ED can't see it to avoid accidents, just as you shouldn't keep your spare keys on the same ring as your main ones.

 

[NoNeedForThat]

Thx I needed to hear it at that basic level. Advice taken.

 

[SMcA]

Thx I needed to hear it at that basic level. Advice taken.

As Para Handy said but to expand a bit. If you don't change the PresetName then you will have multiple entries under that name.
When you state changing the bindings in Elite it saves the file as Custom.3.0.binds in:
%AppData%\Local\Frontier Developments\Elite Dangerous\Options\Bindings

Copy that file and rename it to something that will be sensible to you. Rename the PresetName value in the file to the name of the file, as above.
Open StartPreset.start in a text editor and change the entry to the bindings file you want to load when you start the game. Don't put the extension in the file and save it.
Start ED and your new binding file will be loaded.
Each change you make in Controls will be saved to that file.
To change which file ED uses click the first dropdown and you may have to scroll down to get the file you want.

I use XML Notepad for editing binds files as it formats them better than notepad.
Using % AppData% removes the need to type the whole path.

Note to self. Save a copy of this as it is a question that is often asked.

For those older Brits

Spoiler

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEYVc8OAI-4&feature=youtu.be&t=4

 

[Kemo]

You need to edit the second line of the actual file:

<Root PresetName="#############" MajorVersion="3" MinorVersion="0">


Insert the name you want where the #'s are above.

Save file

start game

the ########## name you put in is now in the drop-down list of presets


P.S. Don't keep copies in the same directory as E D looks at line 2 to decide what file to use / offer and multiple files with the same line 2 confuse the hades out of the game, it won't save changes etc etc ...

Been away from ED for most of this year, thought I'd fire the old girl up this morning for a quick toodle about in the black. My 3.0 Binds file was no reflection as to what my old 2.0 settings were, so inserted my 2.0 backup and renamed to 3.0.binds and hey... nope, not working. Spent most of the morning and early afternoon getting more and more peeved off that I couldn't get this to work. Then gave up and thought I'd re-map the whole thing, at which point I was toying with the idea as to whether I could be ar$sed and put the thing back on ice - then I came across this thread and Para Handy's top tips.

Definitely sorted my woes.

I'd suggest, don't have more than one binds file in the folder, I found that even with these being renamed to Custom 3.0 backup.binds still appeared to cause issues with the game.

I copied my 2.0 backup in Notepad and saved the file as 3.0.binds and changed the PresetName as suggested by Para and the MajorVersion="3" and hey presto, we're back to the 2.0 scheme working flawlessly in 3.0.

+Rep to Para and SMcA for the tips, saved me shelving the game. (FD, it'd be really good if you could sort this out for those of us that just want to play the game and not have to faff about like this in future updates)

 

[Tyres O'Flaherty]

Just as an aside, the file is a .BINDS file: I did see that, once or twice, if I edited (but not make any changes to) the file, notepad would try to give it a TXT extension which the game won't read. Wordpad is a little more forgiving.

Worth noting if you ever dabble in changes GraphicsConfiguration.xml

 

[STRONTIUM DOG]

if fd sold cars they would turn up at your door slide your brand new car of the polished ramps of the gleaming shiny new car transporter
and low and behold your new car sits by the pavement immaculate tyres so black its like they were painted then the rep says as ordered your brand new car sign here
so you sign an ask " so can I have the keys?"
"Er em yes just request them using the phone app you can download here ~wejustsodumbsometimes.com"
er excuse me that site is down for maintenance?
"try the forums bye bye!"

 

[Tyres O'Flaherty]

Er... kore wa nan desuka?

Anyway, rep for necro