Vanishing Keybinds (Post-3.3)

[Ceitidh]

Does anyone know if there's a way to stop the game wiping my post-3.3 keybinds at random intervals? These are the controls for HUD mode switching, the FSS and the surface scanner. I've set them up countless times and they'll work for a while but sooner or later I'll log in and they're gone. And sometimes, like the last few days, it'll be three sessions in a row. Copying in saved .binds files corrects it for that session (or rather, the session after I restart when it loads the new file), but it'll happen again before too long.

Note it doesn't happen every time - I wondered if maybe there was some flag set stopping the game saving changes to files in that folder, but there doesn't seem to be, and the problem doesn't seem consistent with that.

I'd appreciate any non-abusive thoughts.

 

[Ceitidh]

Oh, for... FSS.

In the time it took for me to type that OP out, the keybinds have come back. I have no idea why. But the problem obviously isn't as described above. So please ignore, delete, whatever.

 

[Ceitidh]

I mean frak it. How can a game I love be so utterly clunky and frustrating and annoying and yet I keep on loving it? [blah]

 

[thistle]

The only times I have had bindings disappear and reappear is when one of the devices I have connected through usb is removed or stops working. Plug it back in and the bindings work again. I'm not even sure it's down to usb devices that are used for elite, just that the usb devices are different between sessions, not sure.

I wonder if one of your usb slots or controllers is playing up?

 

[Stigbob]

Ditto to thistles post, I've had it once in four years as I'd unplugged the hotas. Plugged it back in exit and restart and they were back. Someone mentioned elsewhere that your system assigning different controller numbers would probably also do it. You can always copy and save the bindings elsewhere as a backup, but I've never needed to so don't know the location you want.

 

[Franc Kaos]

Not sure it'll work, not lost my bindings since 2.3 when I started playing, but maybe make the file read-only?

 

[Ceitidh]

Not sure it'll work, not lost my bindings since 2.3 when I started playing, but maybe make the file read-only?

That's a fair thought. And just unlock it when I need to make a change... Hmm.

 

[Ceitidh]

The only times I have had bindings disappear and reappear is when one of the devices I have connected through usb is removed or stops working. Plug it back in and the bindings work again. I'm not even sure it's down to usb devices that are used for elite, just that the usb devices are different between sessions, not sure.

I wonder if one of your usb slots or controllers is playing up?

Could be. Honestly at this point most of the machine is playing up. I'm well overdue for an upgrade, but sadly I'm well overdrawn, too, so it's not happening any time soon. :/

 

[Para Handy]

Copy then edit your binds file - change the name to something other than "custom" and change the <Root PresetName> in line 2 of the file (that is the important thing).

Only "custom" binds file ever seems to get mucked-up, renamed ones never have in my experience.

BTW don't keep copies in the same directory as the game looks at line 2 for the name and if there is more than one file with the same name there it can throw a wobbly.

 

[GreyAreaUK]

If you have multiple input devices configured in your controls, and one of them isn't on when you load the game, this happens. Switching it on should instantly correct the issue. Thankfully, switching that device off during play won't break stuff. Weird.

As an example, I have a throttle, a stick, an MFD (basically just a lot of buttons) and an Xbox360 joypad. If the joypad isn't switched on at load, my controls are messed up until I switch it on. If I then switch it off again everything stays fine until I exit the game.

I'm going to try Para's suggestion above though - if it works then it'll be ideal.

 

[Watcher]

Do you keep backups of your binding files in your bindings file directory?
If so this seems to massively confuse the system and prevent it writing out changes you make correctly - get rid of those backups (well, move them somewhere else) and the problem seems to go away.
I was getting annoyed about this myself until I came across that little info-nugget and everything was fine again.

 

[Misty_Dark]

Also, there is a "BindingLoadingErrors.log" file (in same location where your bindings are stored) , I myself have a fair amount of this error of "Failed to find GUID for device: 068EC011". Sadly FDev forgot to add timestamps in the file, but we have last modified to check, when it last wrote something here...

So this can be used to get an indication of what might be wrong, then there is the how to figure out what device it means, instead of something like "068EC011" is another matter.



If you have problem finding where your bindings are located, on Windows this is the universal path:

%LOCALAPPDATA%\Frontier Developments\Elite Dangerous\Options\Bindings

Just paste the above path to a Run dialogue box, shortcut: Win-R

 

[VerticalBlank]

Copy then edit your binds file - change the name to something other than "custom" and change the <Root PresetName> in line 2 of the file (that is the important thing).

Only "custom" binds file ever seems to get mucked-up, renamed ones never have in my experience.

BTW don't keep copies in the same directory as the game looks at line 2 for the name and if there is more than one file with the same name there it can throw a wobbly.

This is the right answer. The game won't wipe named bindings files.

 

[Ceitidh]

I'm sorry I'm not replying. I appreciate the suggestions and I'll look through them ASAP.

 

[Ralph Vargr]

Copy then edit your binds file - change the name to something other than "custom" and change the <Root PresetName> in line 2 of the file (that is the important thing).

Only "custom" binds file ever seems to get mucked-up, renamed ones never have in my experience.

BTW don't keep copies in the same directory as the game looks at line 2 for the name and if there is more than one file with the same name there it can throw a wobbly.

I doubt there are too many people using *all* the standard presets, so they modify them to custom regularly.

 

[Para Handy]

I doubt there are too many people using *all* the standard presets, so they modify them to custom regularly.

Which is why they get miffed when the game overwrites the "Custom" binds file. (I was not referring to any of the inbuilt presets.)

By renaming your file, you get a named "Preset" in the drop-down list which you change all you like, when you click "apply" those changes get written to your named binds file. (Remembering the line 2 entry is what counts.)

You can even have different named presets (binds files) for different setups / uses (I have an exploration and a bubble set these days).

Honestly, I really don't know why F D can't include a "Save As" button in the Options / Controls page - it would save all this mucking about and people having grief over the game deleting their settings in "Custom".