Joystick programming wows. Can someone point me in the right direction please?
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So, I got a reply from Saitek customer care as follows . .
“Thank you for getting back to me.
As previously explained, the pinky button is by default assigned as a Shift key in the programming software. Therefore, it is masked from all other software (such as the FSX) except the test panel (as that needs to show you it works),
The way to get the Pinky regonized in-game is to not use it as a Shift key in the software.
Can you either Delete all the Mode x +Pinky or right click in the section where the Pinky button is mentioned and choose another button?
I believe that by doing that you will get the Pinky button recognized in the game.
Yes, when the test window or programming software are running, the ministick (which is the mouse) will not work as it’s actions are strictly limited to the test window/programming software.”So, I take it from that, the pinkie-shift key is intended only for use when using a Saitek profile. I am not using a Saitek profile, I am using stick to game via DX. I guess they didn’t expect that use-case!
I can get the pinkie-shift to show up by running the Saitek joy.cpl (AKA control panel AKA Test Panel). I think from Saitek’s perspective the defect is that I can actually use the control panel to make the pinkie-shift show up in-game. I am worried that a later release will kill my pinkie-switch now.
Why would the ministick be strictly limited to showing movement on the test-panel? That is of no use whatsoever (unless the game gets ministick input there is no point having it).
Terry
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So, I got a reply from Saitek customer care as follows . .
“Thank you for getting back to me.
As previously explained, the pinky button is by default assigned as a Shift key in the programming software. Therefore, it is masked from all other software (such as the FSX) except the test panel (as that needs to show you it works),
The way to get the Pinky regonized in-game is to not use it as a Shift key in the software.
Can you either Delete all the Mode x +Pinky or right click in the section where the Pinky button is mentioned and choose another button?
I believe that by doing that you will get the Pinky button recognized in the game.
Yes, when the test window or programming software are running, the ministick (which is the mouse) will not work as it’s actions are strictly limited to the test window/programming software.”So, I take it from that, the pinkie-shift key is intended only for use when using a Saitek profile. I am not using a Saitek profile, I am using stick to game via DX. I guess they didn’t expect that use-case!
I can get the pinkie-shift to show up by running the Saitek joy.cpl (AKA control panel AKA Test Panel). I think from Saitek’s perspective the defect is that I can actually use the control panel to make the pinkie-shift show up in-game. I am worried that a later release will kill my pinkie-switch now.
Why would the ministick be strictly limited to showing movement on the test-panel? That is of no use whatsoever (unless the game gets ministick input there is no point having it).
Terry
The game HAS ministick input, you simply need the ministick to be declared as a pair of DirectX axes.
the ministick can be set up using a saitek .pro file to activate keypresses when you move the ministick, but this is I think pointless. I far prefer the DirectX option.
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Hi Blu,
At the moment, I have the test-panel running to enable the pinky-shift functions. The test-panel somehow stops the ministick getting through to the game. Because of this, when not using a profile, I can use pinky or ministick but not both. The test panel is an effective exclusive OR. . . .
I’ll get stuck into some profile development soon. I am sure I can get both working (pinky + ministick). At the moment, I am having such fun developing the keyfile generator spreadsheet to import an existing keyfile.
Terry
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I worked extensively in software development methods and also software quality assurance. I must have been a real pain in the 4rse. For me it would have been a bug to restrict the number of DX controls “sensed” on an input device on such an arbitrary basis. For me that should be totally dynamic. You can probably see why I don’t get employed much these days. . .
TerryW - If I had been your boss I would have been behind you 100% <g>> I know a current space sim that needs someone who understands this concept and they are hiring <g>. They limited the number of controls to four and you can not pick which four. They scan the list of controllers given by Windows, pick the first four and that’s it. In my case I have two MFD Cougars and two other items that push my CH controllers to the top so only one of them gets seen. Hard to fly a spaceship with a Cougar MFD. Of course they may not appreciate your input so the gig would not last long <g>. I’ve filed a ticket and who knows what the status is. Still can’t do more than four.</g></g></g>
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I go back 35 years in software. I was lucky enough to work on the first high-level language compilers as a youngster and went on to develop structured and object oriented software design methods (mainly for real-time systems houses). The software industry in the UK (I only know about the UK) started to mature in the 90s with ISO 9000, tickIT and CMMI and then started sprinting backwards until now. I could write a book. The only way I survive these days is by laughing at the crass stupidity I observe on a daily basis. My current fits of laughter are caused by a client outsourcing changes to an Oracle ebusiness application with absolutely no idea that they need to write a requirements specification (and will they listen to me - you guessed it).
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I go back 35 years in software. I was lucky enough to work on the first high-level language compilers as a youngster and went on to develop structured and object oriented software design methods (mainly for real-time systems houses). The software industry in the UK (I only know about the UK) started to mature in the 90s with ISO 9000, tickIT and CMMI and then started sprinting backwards until now. I could write a book. The only way I survive these days is by laughing at the crass stupidity I observe on a daily basis. My current fits of laughter are caused by a client outsourcing changes to an Oracle ebusiness application with absolutely no idea that they need to write a requirements specification (and will they listen to me - you guessed it).
I so know where you are coming from :rolleyes:
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I go back 35 years in software. I was lucky enough to work on the first high-level language compilers as a youngster and went on to develop structured and object oriented software design methods (mainly for real-time systems houses). The software industry in the UK (I only know about the UK) started to mature in the 90s with ISO 9000, tickIT and CMMI and then started sprinting backwards until now. I could write a book. The only way I survive these days is by laughing at the crass stupidity I observe on a daily basis. My current fits of laughter are caused by a client outsourcing changes to an Oracle ebusiness application with absolutely no idea that they need to write a requirements specification (and will they listen to me - you guessed it).
Boy can I relate. My experience is US. I started on an IBM 1620, then worked with Burroughs B5500. I started with Fortan (no numbers version) in my Chemical Engineering classes and moved on to Algol and others. I did Assembly on Perkin Elmer 7/32s and Honeywell 4010 for Process Control at a Paper Mill, then on to Bailey, Fisher-Provox. The last twelve years I worked for a University handling the Windows Servers such as SQL Server, Payroll, Purchasing, etc. I like your “sprinting backwards” description. That is what it is. Stuff we did that made things work well and right is forgotten in the wave of “the next new thing”. Both in industry and at the University those who knew not were in charge. At the University I ended up working for a guy who knew nothing about computers (he just started working with them) and had the title Senior Computer Engineer/Supervisor. Those in his group had the title Technician but we had forgotten more than he knew. Wouldn’t have been so bad if he had admitted it and listened but he knew better. You would have thought at an Institution of Higher Learning but no. I retired but still do SQL and some programming (Windows, Linux) for my own projects.
I used Falcon 4 (still have the MicroProse CD from then) on Windows 95 back when I beta tested MS software and on OS/2 (it ran better on OS/2 Windows emulation then on Windows!) and in the CH Hanger forums I helped someone with some control scripting and found out about BMS so I’m back in. I’m looking forward to scripting missions so I’ll have to dig into that.
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Scariest thing I see in software today is the move toward using a series of loosely integrated 3rd party components and the constant bowing at the altar of agile. If I am lucky I do 2000 lines of coding in a month at the last 3 companies I have worked at and one of those was EA sports. In a project I did back in '98 I wrote and tested over 100000 lines of code in a month or so. I feel these days like I am losing my edge as I get bogged down in so much process that I can’t tie my shoes without a code review.
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Scariest thing I see in software today is the move toward using a series of loosely integrated 3rd party components and the constant bowing at the altar of agile. If I am lucky I do 2000 lines of coding in a month at the last 3 companies I have worked at and one of those was EA sports. In a project I did back in '98 I wrote and tested over 100000 lines of code in a month or so. I feel these days like I am losing my edge as I get bogged down in so much process that I can’t tie my shoes without a code review.
I know what you mean. In my last years that was the rage - buy stuff and IT can make it work together. The purchase was done without IT’s input so we had lots of money spent on some app that would revolutionize our business but then when it was implemented (by IT) they found out to make actually it work would cost some millions more! Or they bought the app and if they had asked me I could have told them we already had SQL server and that functionality was included and we were not yet using it so it’s free, dummy! If the University had had a process (they had none - the few devs did whatever they wanted and our business databases showed it - ugggh) they would have run after agile and scrum, and whatever was the buzzword. Our CEO and his minions would read the trade journals and then buy it. I’m glad I’m out of that nonsense now.
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Oddly though, with a command on that 1st shifted DX button, my pinky switch now works like it’s ‘supposed’ to …. momentary, dual-function based on time held (i.e. short press = exp veiw; long press = DX shift).
could you explain how to get proper functionality from your profile please as i too have problems with pinky shift.
the problem is one press and release turns shifting on and to turn it off i have to press the pinky switch again
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could you explain how to get proper functionality from your profile please as i too have problems with pinky shift.
the problem is one press and release turns shifting on and to turn it off i have to press the pinky switch again
found the solution the pinkie switch was latched in the sst software