Newcomer / Intro Sim Dashboard - tablet button box?

[CMDR Lefty Jackson]

Many games out there, especially space and racing games, use DIY button boxes to map various keys to, including using tablets for touch screen buttons with labels. A tablet seems so appropriate for a space game, versus analog buttons and switches.

So far, I have not found any videos or info on using Sim Dashboard for Elite Dangerous. I sent Sim Dashboard an email for clarification. it's not listed in their list of approved games. However, there are several designs in the Community section of their website to download and use. Seems strange those designs are there if Sim Dashboard won't work with Elite.

Apparently, Frontier doesn't make available telemetry like racing games do?

Can anyone clarify the situation?

I don't want to pay to get the Pro version of Sim Dashboard till I have confirmed just what it can do, if anything in Elite. I have the initial free test version loaded up on an old Samsung Galaxy tablet and can make designs, but it only allows 3 buttons. I'd really like to use multiple tablets.

Any other button box products work with Elite?

Thanks!

 

[aRJay]

The Player Tools and API forum might be a good place to look.

 

[CMDR Lefty Jackson]

The Player Tools and API forum might be a good place to look.

Yep, I looked it over, did some searches, nothing specific to Sim Dashboard. From what I've read it seems telemetry not being available is the issue. That section seems more appropriate, but I figured since it does say here "Newcomers: Questions...", then this would have more eyes on it than the geeky technical section.

 

[CMDR Lefty Jackson]

I received an email reply from the Sim Dashboard developer Christian Hausmann...

"...Elite Dangerous does not provide real time telemetry data to drive gauges and other info, at least the last time I looked into that game.
What you can do however is to create a button box that executes keystrokes on your PC to control the game..."

Short answer...Sim Dashboard does work with Elite Dangerous, partially. Buttons can be created to mimic keyboard bindings, but any real time telemetry data items like speed, fuel, etc. is not possible without telemetry from the game.

I have a test button box started, but not tested in-game yet. I'll post how that goes. This app really could use a better "How to" and a video that covers how to make the button box designs, it's very basic from what I've found.

The problem is that you don't get full functionality unless you buy the "Pro" version. The free initial version only allows you to create 3 buttons, that's it. I suspect a lot more features are available once you pay, but so far, I haven't found anything that describes what features are unlocked besides being able to make more than 3 buttons. I'm going to see what videos are available for the app in racing sims, maybe they reveal more details.

Frontier could make this SO much better...HINT HINT.

 

[the100thmonkey]

The game does write a status.json file which can be used to make some commands/apps context aware.

The status.json includes things like landing gear and cargo scoop deployment, whether your ship is under attack or your reputation with the faction controlling a station. However I don't think this is a plug-and-play solution.

There is an app for the Elgato Stream Deck that reads the status.json and changes the displayed icons based on the state of the function they control. At the very least, you might find the icon pack useful. There is a Stream Deck touchscreen app, but I don't know if it will work with the app for Elite.

 

[Ashnak]

If you really want to dive into that rabbit hole, here's your link: https://elite-journal.readthedocs.io/en/latest/

--- edit
I once fiddled with that (and still am using the script), so if you want to go there, I also have most of the status.json definitions already in my autohotkey script on Github. I use this script (mainly) to use a couple of toggle switches on my joysticks to control momentary inputs in ED.

 

[Fnord Velkor]

.... using tablets for touch screen buttons with labels. A tablet seems so appropriate for a space game, versus analog buttons and switches.
...

Elite Dangerous Discovery has such a facility (I use EDD with the display on my iPad whenever I run Elite). Basically it incorporates (amongst a plethora of other features) a Roccat Style Grid, have a look at the wiki page for that:

EDD Web Server (Roccat Style Grid)

Captains log and 3d star map for Elite Dangerous. Contribute to EDDiscovery/EDDiscovery development by creating an account on GitHub.

github.com

The EDD thread on here is at:

Release - EDDiscovery 18.X is now out! New modules panel upgrade and Engineering

ED Discovery is a Windows/Linux application which assists you in piloting in the Elite Dangerous universe. Started by Commander Finwen, it has been greatly expanded in the last few years by a team of programmers who have added many features. Major Features: History of your journey through...

forums.frontier.co.uk

 

[Hugh Jardon]

Many games out there, especially space and racing games, use DIY button boxes to map various keys to, including using tablets for touch screen buttons with labels. A tablet seems so appropriate for a space game, versus analog buttons and switches.

So far, I have not found any videos or info on using Sim Dashboard for Elite Dangerous. I sent Sim Dashboard an email for clarification. it's not listed in their list of approved games. However, there are several designs in the Community section of their website to download and use. Seems strange those designs are there if Sim Dashboard won't work with Elite.

Apparently, Frontier doesn't make available telemetry like racing games do?

Can anyone clarify the situation?

I don't want to pay to get the Pro version of Sim Dashboard till I have confirmed just what it can do, if anything in Elite. I have the initial free test version loaded up on an old Samsung Galaxy tablet and can make designs, but it only allows 3 buttons. I'd really like to use multiple tablets.

Any other button box products work with Elite?

Thanks!

Those Chinese programmable keypads from Aliexpress are really cheap, and you can program the keys how you want , including macros - much easier than a tablet. If you must use a tablet, Gameglass works very well for ED.

 

[CMDR Lefty Jackson]

The game does write a status.json file which can be used to make some commands/apps context aware.

The status.json includes things like landing gear and cargo scoop deployment, whether your ship is under attack or your reputation with the faction controlling a station. However I don't think this is a plug-and-play solution.

There is an app for the Elgato Stream Deck that reads the status.json and changes the displayed icons based on the state of the function they control. At the very least, you might find the icon pack useful. There is a Stream Deck touchscreen app, but I don't know if it will work with the app for Elite.

Yeah, I read a little bit about that end of things. I have a background in hardware, software not so much! I understand basic stuff but that's it. Funny you mention icons being useful, seeing I have a degree in multimedia and messing with graphics for gaming, and 3d modeling and texturing is what I focused on. Lots of graphics work. That said, I do understand the stance of artists that make those icons wanting their credit (copyright), so I typically use other designs for inspiration to make a new design I feel I can call my own. Thanks for the tip. I like looking at other people's work to see other ways of doing things.

For me, I really want something that I can label what each button is. With a button box, it has to be illuminated somehow, LED backlit, etc. Those ways basically place a translucent text on say a plexiglass sheet, kind of a silk screen effect so the text glows and is easy to read in low light. Then there is the issue of if you change the button, how would you change the label? Make a whole new plexiglass sheet with new labels. NOPE, not a solution!

A tablet is perfect because you can make all kinds of shapes and colors as a button, with a label that can be changed fast, with ZERO alterations to your hardware. And you may be able to make some changes to the font itself.

 

[CMDR Lefty Jackson]

If you really want to dive into that rabbit hole, here's your link: https://elite-journal.readthedocs.io/en/latest/

--- edit
I once fiddled with that (and still am using the script), so if you want to go there, I also have most of the status.json definitions already in my autohotkey script on Github. I use this script (mainly) to use a couple of toggle switches on my joysticks to control momentary inputs in ED.

Thanks, I'll give it a look.

 

[CMDR Lefty Jackson]

Elite Dangerous Discovery has such a facility (I use EDD with the display on my iPad whenever I run Elite). Basically it incorporates (amongst a plethora of other features) a Roccat Style Grid, have a look at the wiki page for that:

EDD Web Server (Roccat Style Grid)

Captains log and 3d star map for Elite Dangerous. Contribute to EDDiscovery/EDDiscovery development by creating an account on GitHub.

github.com

The EDD thread on here is at:

Release - EDDiscovery 18.X is now out! New modules panel upgrade and Engineering

ED Discovery is a Windows/Linux application which assists you in piloting in the Elite Dangerous universe. Started by Commander Finwen, it has been greatly expanded in the last few years by a team of programmers who have added many features. Major Features: History of your journey through...

forums.frontier.co.uk

Oh yeah, I've seen that, and it definitely is on my radar for using tablets. I prefer not to be clicking various things to get to important info, so being able to display those things is great.

Thank you!

 

[CMDR Lefty Jackson]

Those Chinese programmable keypads from Aliexpress are really cheap, and you can program the keys how you want , including macros - much easier than a tablet. If you must use a tablet, Gameglass works very well for ED.

Take a look at my reply to 100th Monkey. Label changing of each button is the issue. Yes, hardware-type "analog" buttons have their advantages for sure, but I personally feel a digital tablet touch screen is more appropriate for a space/technical type game. For sim racing I get it, I used to drive stock cars in iRacing. Even then, labeling a button box was the issue.

Thanks!

EDIT...

I just took a look at a GameGlass video on how to use it. Very nice! Button creation is MUCH more polished than Sim Dashboard. Love the text and font editing. That's the best button box software I've seen yet for designing buttons. Thanks for the tip!

That product should have a thread in the tech section, pinned.

 

[the100thmonkey]

Yeah, I read a little bit about that end of things. I have a background in hardware, software not so much! I understand basic stuff but that's it. Funny you mention icons being useful, seeing I have a degree in multimedia and messing with graphics for gaming, and 3d modeling and texturing is what I focused on. Lots of graphics work. That said, I do understand the stance of artists that make those icons wanting their credit (copyright), so I typically use other designs for inspiration to make a new design I feel I can call my own. Thanks for the tip. I like looking at other people's work to see other ways of doing things.

For me, I really want something that I can label what each button is. With a button box, it has to be illuminated somehow, LED backlit, etc. Those ways basically place a translucent text on say a plexiglass sheet, kind of a silk screen effect so the text glows and is easy to read in low light. Then there is the issue of if you change the button, how would you change the label? Make a whole new plexiglass sheet with new labels. NOPE, not a solution!

A tablet is perfect because you can make all kinds of shapes and colors as a button, with a label that can be changed fast, with ZERO alterations to your hardware. And you may be able to make some changes to the font itself.

IIRC, the icons are in a pack alongside the app and are distributed under an open license.