Some questions concerning Kolbe's Spreadsheet
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Hi all,
First I’d like to thank you all for all the time and patience helping us newbies out.
The informations in this forum have helped me a lot in understanding how commands in BMS work in general and how Kolbe’s spreadsheet works. Couldn’t have accomplished that without all the information given in this forum.
And of course thanks a lot to Kolbe for all his time and effort creating this ingenious tool, i cannot possibly imagine how much work you have put into it.
I just could need some clarifications on how to create my profile.- So if i want to create my own HOTAS-Setup, for the X52 i just enter the wanted callbacks in the corresponding lines in the X52 section of the Spreadsheet, and copy-paste it from the output sectio to whatever keyfile i like to use? And the Layout provided also gets updated and is print ready? Just sounds to good to be true
2)I am still a little bit curious about which keyfile to use. So i could just use the standard BMS.key and and copy-paste the DX commands created with Kolbe’s Spreadsheet at the end of it? Just curious if conflicts might occur with already assigned callbacks. Also in Kolbe’s readme within the editor it says:
“Now mark all code lines in the column D and copy them.
Open your key file with an editor and paste the code lines (Don’t forget to overwrite existing ones if necessary).”
Does that mean that i have too look up the existing key commands within the keyfile and manually replace them with the created DX-commands, or does it simply mean, that i have to overwrite the existing keyfile with my customized one?-
In Kolbe’s manual it states that POV-hats are set to default behaviors in his keyfiles. So if i want to edit the POV-hats, i look for the corresponding callbacks for the default behaviors of the POV-hats as preset in BMS, delete those lines and manually assign the desired DX-command for the desired callbacks? Or can i just use the DX-Generator for that as well?
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In his manual Kolbe also addresses some problems concerning cockpit sounds, which i don’t fully understand. So if i use Kolbe’s keyfiles i loose some cockpit sounds? Is there already a solution or fix for that problem? If not: Are those sounds essentials like sidewinder growl, warning sounds etc. or just the sounds that you here when you press / depress buttons rotate nobs etc. ?
Help would very much be appreciated
Greeting and many happy landings
D_Fens
Edit: 5) I don’t fully understand how to add further callbacks to the most wanted section, do i just look them up in Kolbe’s keyfile and then copy-paste them into the most wanted section of the Spreadsheet?
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1.) Yes, basically. For a comprehensive ‘re-write’ of your HOTAS to DX, it’s a great tool.
2.) You can work from whatever keyfile you normally use. It’s the one that is shown/named in the BMS–>SETUP–>CONTROLLERS screen.
As I understand it, the keyboard initiated commands are separate and independent from the DX commands. IOW, you don’t have to change, alter or overwrite the part of your keyfile that deals with keyboard presses. Only the DX lines in your keyfile get over-written when you copy/paste from Kolbe’s spreadsheet. The DX commands should be at the bottom of the keyfile.
However - very important - you must erase/delete any key commands you have assigned in the Saitek profiler software IF it’s being replaced with a DX command. Otherwise a HOTAS button press will be a DX command AND a key press which could be very messy.
3.) Use the DX generator for the POV hats. You can assign them as you would other buttons/switches on the HOTAS. In the Saitek profiler the hats should be set as 4-way, not 8-way.
4.) I don’t recall seeing that, but I have not lost or changed any sounds that I am aware of …. sidewinders, etc., all work as they should.
Have a look at some of the pics/instructions in the X52 & X52 Pro DX profiles ‘directions’ (such as they are … :oops: ) I posted in the Saitek sub-forum (https://www.benchmarksims.org/forum/forumdisplay.php?52-Saitek). Might be something there that helps you in your endeavor.
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With regard to your item 5.).
If you need to add a command that isn’t in Kolbe’s spread sheet, you need to first find the command. I usually look in keystokes.key or BMS.key. Copy the command (from notepad), then paste it in Kolbe’s spreadsheet under the "DEPRECATED & OWN’ header on the “Most Wanted” tab. Once there, put into the command list on the X52 tab as normal.
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Threads are doubled to give one directx call and one keypress call for those who dont have the stick buttons