How to use the Gal Map with the Rift?

Kietrax · Dec 27, 2015

Hi all,

i guess i must must be doing something wrong 'cos I'm finding the galaxy map almost impossible to use in the Rift at the moment. When I manage to search for a star, it often doesn't actually show up in the centre of the screen so. I can't get the system map up or select it as a routing destination. Running one hop routes is fine using the nav panel, but long routes or exploration is a real pain.

Anyone got got any hints or advice? Am I missing a trick somewhere?

Cheers,

Kietrax

Darktemp · Dec 27, 2015

Hi,
I have the same problem. It is very hard to line up the system-point in the map with the "popup"-dialog and the mouse. So it takes very long to make any interaction with it.
Maybe there are keyboard shortcuts, but I didn't look them up yet.

For now, I'm trying to move the mouse slowly over the map until something pops up, then I close one Eye and try to line up the selected dot with the mouse.

I hope they improve this eventually.
I just found a bug report about this: https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=210288
I have no permission to post there, so I'm just including it here:
My first Idea to improve the interaction is to change(enhance) the mouse curser to be a Line, going straight through the map (along the viewing axis).
To the 2D rendering it would look like a dot (or like the normal mouse cursor if additionally rendered). But in 3D you can see, where the line is intersecting the systems in the map.
And especially regarding the bug report: the "arrow" part of the tooltip menu (which is pointing to the originating/corresponding) system could point to the correct 3d position of that system, leaving the 2D plane of the tooltip.

grammatonfeather · Dec 27, 2015

What u need to do is navigate to the star u want using the mouse... Combination of right and left mouse button and middle button? Up/down/left/right controlled with the mouse movement and buttons.

When you have the retical close to the star you want.... use the WASP keys on keyboard... that will cause the reticle to lock and u will see the popup for route navigation and information. At this point I use the hatswitch on my X-52 pro together with the pickle button to set the jump destination. It's easy once you get used to it but I'm using HOTAS. I guess u can do this just with mouse and keys?

Nexen · Dec 27, 2015

I just peek out and type the name of the system I need.

grammatonfeather · Dec 27, 2015

Nexen said:
I just peek out and type the name of the system I need.

I also type the name of the system I need but the popup menu can easily disappear which means u can't set the jump to that system.

That's why I use the WASP keys to get the popup to appear again.

drkaii · Dec 28, 2015

https://youtu.be/P5bQONIsKfk use this guide I made

razalom · Dec 29, 2015

Was also having a lot of issues but watched a few YT videos and using the X55 Hotas made it a lot easier. I did find that by default it didnt have the grid on and when this is turned on you can see the pointer a lot easier as a big circle appears where it is. Also make sure you angle the view so you are looking down at about a 45 degree angle.

SkepticalGorilla · Dec 29, 2015

I've found the only way to select a system on the Galactic Map with any predictability is to NOT MOVE the Rift. That is, don't move your head. Moving the Rift while moving the mouse is like moving a touch screen while trying to touch it.

In system, the WASD (default map) helps, but getting port information means leaning to my left while trying not to lose the tracking lock on the port.

Kietrax · Dec 30, 2015

drkaii said:
https://youtu.be/P5bQONIsKfk use this guide I made

Thanks drkali - will give this a go - looks like I need to remap some controls on my HOTAS ... Whilst I can see this helping for short runs (2 or 3 jumps) doesn't really help when you search for a system and the map moves, but the system you searched for is not showing in the middle of the map after though ...

drkaii · Dec 30, 2015

Never had any trouble at all

slartybartfast · Dec 30, 2015

What i have trouble is with never being able to see details of the object selected, because you select it then look left to see whats what and it vanishes, same as on the system map. not been able to see ring type details or anything because of the same problem. pane on the left for details needs to be set to whats selected not what you are looking at because it is useless at the mo.

Khaldur · Dec 31, 2015

If you play with a HOTAS the best advice is to not use the mouse at all. A 2D mouse is simply a very bad pointing tool for a stereoscopic 3D map.
On the X52 it runs very well with default bindings. Use the lateral thrusters hat to move the selector circle along the horizontal plane of the map. For vertical movement of that plane hold the C button while moving with the thruster hat.
Don't select the stars themselves but the projected points of them on the horizontal plane.
drkaii's guide demonstrates that very well.

What i have trouble is with never being able to see details of the object selected, because you select it then look left to see whats what and it vanishes, same as on the system map. not been able to see ring type details or anything because of the same problem. pane on the left for details needs to be set to whats selected not what you are looking at because it is useless at the mo.

On my system the details are always set to whats selected with the HOTAS and doesn't change when moving the head. But you should make sure the mouse pointer is nowhere on the screen as this might automatically select a different star when accidentally hovering over one.