Duplicating keyboard Functions With Mouse

[wb2002]

Hello Pete - I would like to be able to duplicate the keyboard's Arrow keys with mouse inputs. While in VC or outside views, I can use the "Up" & "Down" arrow keys to move forward and back and I want to use my mouse wheel to duplicate this (NOT zoom as it presently does). I also want to use the mouse wheel's side-to-side switches to duplicate the keyboards's "Left" & "Right" Arrow switches. Is this possible using FSUIPC and can you assist me with this?

Thanks

[Pete Dowson]

Hello Pete - I would like to be able to duplicate the keyboard's Arrow keys with mouse inputs. While in VC or outside views, I can use the "Up" & "Down" arrow keys to move forward and back and I want to use my mouse wheel to duplicate this (NOT zoom as it presently does). I also want to use the mouse wheel's side-to-side switches to duplicate the keyboards's "Left" & "Right" Arrow switches. Is this possible using FSUIPC and can you assist me with this?

No, it is't possible in FSUIPC at present. What "forward and back" controls do you mean? Left and right arrow buttons do what, exactly? Are you Slewing?

Is it possible in FS? I only added some mouse "look" functions to FSUIPC because FS disables its own mouse look facility if you disable joystick controllers (which seems weird to me, but still ...) and I was trying to restore that facility for those using FSUIPC exclusively for axis and button assignments.

BTW what are "mouse wheel's side-to-side switches"?

It sounds like you want the mouse to be treated as a type of joystick insofar as all button-type inputs are assignable like buttons? If that so? If I went that far then shouldn't mouse movement be X and Y axes for assignment as well?

Regards

Pete

[wb2002]

Maybe I am making this sound more complicated than it really is. I am referring to the mouse wheel. At present, for most windows application functions, the wheel is used to scroll up and down. In FSX, it ns to zooms forward and back. (same as if I used the keyboard's "+" & "-" keys). I wish for it to move the point-of-reference forward and back instead. The mouse scroll also has 3 switches associated with it. It I press the wheel down, it activate a shitch (center mouse button) that allows me to move all arount the VC or any direction (up, down, left and right) while depressed and moving mouse around. The wheel can also be tilted right or left that activate swithes that can be program. I want to use this feature to move/slew left or right. I wanted to know if FSUIPC can interpret the default wheel movement to keyboard's up and down arrow keys and the wheel side movement to match keyboard's left and right arrows.

[Pete Dowson]

In FSX, it ns to zooms forward and back. (same as if I used the keyboard's "+" & "-" keys). I wish for it to move the point-of-reference forward and back instead.

I understood that, but I don't know what the controls are. I've never used them. Can you lease check and tell me what FS controls it is that do that? (Use FSUIPC event logging if you don't know).

The wheel can also be tilted right or left that activate swithes that can be program.

Oh, so it has! Do you know, I've never noticed that! How clever!

I want to use this feature to move/slew left or right.

Ah, I know about Slewing. Is the forward/back you want slewing too? Is the moving side-to-side possible in non-slew modes, and if so what controls?

I wanted to know if FSUIPC can interpret the default wheel movement to keyboard's up and down arrow keys and the wheel side movement to match keyboard's left and right arrows.

It cannot at present, as I already told you. The only mouse treatment in FSUIPC at present was added to replace "mouse look" which is disabled if you disable controllers in FS.

What you are really asking for is what I suggested, to treat the mouse buttons as assignable assets just like joystick buttons. Then you could do the assignment you are talking about yourself. Is that not so?

I'd still like to know what these FS controls are, that you activate using the arrow keys. Are these only in Viryual Cockpits? Maybe I don't know them nbecause I've never used a VC?

Either way it would be a complete new facility which I'd need to plan and implement as a project. I think I would only be inclined to do it in FSUIPC4, not FSUIPC3 which is really so old now I don't want to have to mess inside it any more.

BTW yours is the only request ever received for something like this. I wonder why? After all, FSUIPC has been going now for over 12 years. Maybe few really use the mouse so much?

Regards

Pete

[Robin]

Sorry to hop in here, but having the trim on the mouse wheel is great. Do forget about it at times, but very useful.

Mmmm, rocking the mouse wheel left & right for rudder trim? Just a ponder.

[Pete Dowson]

Sorry to hop in here, but having the trim on the mouse wheel is great. Do forget about it at times, but very useful.

Mmmm, rocking the mouse wheel left & right for rudder trim? Just a ponder.

Whatever I may do I'll have to be careful not to wreck existing facilities lke the trim.

It won't be any time soon in any case.

Regards

Pete

[wb2002]

I understood that, but I don't know what the controls are. I've never used them. Can you lease check and tell me what FS controls it is that do that? (Use FSUIPC event logging if you don't know).

Don't know if I am using this Multiquote feature correctly but bear with me.

VC=Virtual Cockpit - 3d cockpit. While in VC view, if you press the keyboard's "+" key, your point of view moves you closer to the panel and, back from the panel if you press the keyboard's "-" key. If you are in outside spot view, the same effect except you move closer or back from the aircraft.

Oh, so it has! Do you know, I've never noticed that! How clever!

This is not a new feature - it has been around for awhile. I am using a Microsoft cordless Multimedia desktop which includes the mouse that has the wheel capable of rocking side-to-side to accomplish side scroll in appropriate applications, like Microsoft Office apps, Internet Explorere and etc.

Ah, I know about Slewing. Is the forward/back you want slewing too? Is the moving side-to-side possible in non-slew modes, and if so what controls?

I am Not really referring to slewing as when you go into FSX slew mode by pressing the "y" key on the keyboard. I am talking about the slewing effect when in various view modes. I am using a program called DBS Walk & Follow, which allows me to view FSX scenery any direction from an initial point of reference. In other words, I can walk all over an entire airport and even outside areas by pressing the "Up" keyboard arrow key to move forward or "Down" arrow key to move back OR move left or right by depressing the keyboard's "Left" and "right" arrow keys.

It cannot at present, as I already told you. The only mouse treatment in FSUIPC at present was added to replace "mouse look" which is disabled if you disable controllers in FS.

What you are really asking for is what I suggested, to treat the mouse buttons as assignable assets just like joystick buttons. Then you could do the assignment you are talking about yourself. Is that not so?

I'd still like to know what these FS controls are, that you activate using the arrow keys. Are these only in Viryual Cockpits? Maybe I don't know them nbecause I've never used a VC?

Virtual Cockpit - 3d cockpit.

Either way it would be a complete new facility which I'd need to plan and implement as a project. I think I would only be inclined to do it in FSUIPC4, not FSUIPC3 which is really so old now I don't want to have to mess inside it any more.

As I mentioned - perhaps you are not really understanding what I am requesting - It is most likely my fault.

BTW yours is the only request ever received for something like this. I wonder why? After all, FSUIPC has been going now for over 12 years. Maybe few really use the mouse so much?

As I mentioned - Maybe is seems more complicated than what it actually is.

Using the mouse in FSX is a very common event amoung Flightsimmers. While in 2D and 3d cockpit view and using the left mouse button, the radio freqs can be changed, the altitudes settings can be inputed, other cockpit addons can be activated and etc. Using the mouse is very common to use for this.

Regards

Pete

[Pete Dowson]

Don't know if I am using this Multiquote feature correctly but bear with me.

No, it's a mess i'm afraid. But I'll deal with it nonetheless.

While in VC view, if you press the keyboard's "+" key, your point of view moves you closer to the panel and, back from the panel if you press the keyboard's "-" key. If you are in outside spot view, the same effect except you move closer or back from the aircraft.

Okay, but you don't know what FS controls they are? You see, I would deal in the underlying FS controls, not the keypresses assigned to them. But never mind. Either I can find out, or I can let you assign to any controls you like -- but in the latter case you'd need to identify them. You can do this using FSUIPC event logging as I suggested.

I am using a program called DBS Walk & Follow, which allows me to view FSX scenery any direction from an initial point of reference. In other words, I can walk all over an entire airport and even outside areas by pressing the "Up" keyboard arrow key to move forward or "Down" arrow key to move back OR move left or right by depressing the keyboard's "Left" and "right" arrow keys.

Ah, but is that add-on using FS controls? It may simply be intercepting the keyboard. If so, then even if I added facilities you might not be able to use them! Perhaps it is now even more important for you to idntify the FS controls involved, or confirm there are none?

As I mentioned - perhaps you are not really understanding what I am requesting - It is most likely my fault.

No, I understand, but I need more information, as i keep saying -- the names of the actual controls, not the keypresses assigned to them.

The alternative is simply to allow you to assign mouse functions just like assigning joystick functions. But you still need to know what the controls are that you want to use.

When I get time I'll load up an aircraft with a VC and see what the controls are. Maybe that will be quicker than expecting you to identify them for me. But I don't know if or when I'd be able to add facilities, and I'd have to find a way to avoid negating the current mouse facilities, trim and mouse look/zoom.

Pete

[wb2002]

I understand and thanks for responding. Let me also say that I was NOT expecting you to change anything with FSUIPC. I just thought you perhaps already knew what the signals were that were generated by the keyboard key presses in FSX in regards to functions already designated. I must also tell you that I appreciate your concern and interest in dealing with problems/situations outside the scope of what you designed your product to do - and, Thanks.

I will continue to see what I am able to do with this and pass it on to you just in case somewhere down the line it may also be os use to someone else with a similar setup/configuration.

[Pete Dowson]

I understand and thanks for responding. Let me also say that I was NOT expecting you to change anything with FSUIPC. I just thought you perhaps already knew what the signals were that were generated by the keyboard key presses in FSX in regards to functions already designated

I am planning to look at it later today, or maybe tomorrow. I'll add it if it is easy, but first I need to investgate what it is actually doing. This will be for the default FSX. I really cannot do things for that walking add-on, but maybe it uses the same fS controls.

Regards

Pete

[Pete Dowson]

Okay, we have to go back to basics on this:

I would like to be able to duplicate the keyboard's Arrow keys with mouse inputs

The arrow keys in my install of FSX operate Elevators and Ailerons. They are used for flying the aircraft without a joystick.

Therefore I must assume either that the add-on you are using interprets them differently for its own actions, or that you have reassigned these standard keyboard functions to other FSX controls.

I have investigated the mouse programming side of it, and it is easy, no problem. If folks had this "move" facility enabled and the mousewheel trim option both selected I would probably implement the centre mouse button (mouse wheel click) as a request to toggle from one to the other.

However, I simply do not know which controls, if indeed there are FSX controls, to program to get the results you are asking for.

Please therefore enable Event logging in the FSUIPC Logging tab, and use the four arrow keys, and either tell me what it shows, or paste the resulting Log file into a message here. Then I'll see about adding the functions.

[LATER]

Aha! It's okay, don't bother. The FS controls are Eyepoint Forward, Back, Left and Right. I tried assigning them to the arrow keys, and they work fine in VC and VC Slew mode, but do nothing in 2D Cockpit mode.

Question, though: how do you regain your original position, or don't you care? There is an Eyepoint Reset control. I should really implement that, maybe on mousewheel press, but that gets a little complicated for the user if I also use that fr mousewheel trim toggle. What did you have in mind?

Maybe centre button double-click = toggle, single click = reset?

Regards

Pete

[Pete Dowson]

I will continue to see what I am able to do with this and pass it on to you just in case somewhere down the line it may also be os use to someone else with a similar setup/configuration.

Okay, try version 4.801, now available in the Download Links subforum. Here's a summary of the new facility:

-- added "mouse wheel move" option, in Miscellaneous tab. This enables

use of the mouse to change the eyepoint, using the mouse wheel. Forward/back on the

wheel, left/right if you have a left/right enabled wheel and are using Vista or Win7.

Note1: pressing the wheel (middle) button in wheel move mode resets the eyepoint.

Note2: if wheel trim AND wheel move modes are both enabled, trim mode defaults, and

you can swap between them by double-clicking the wheel (middle) button.

Note3: if mouse look mode is in use then the wheel operates the zoom as usual.

The left/right facility on the Wheel is actually only available on a number of modern mice, and only owrks in Vista or later, not in XP it seems. I think this modern addition is one reason I was initially puzzled.

Regards

Pete

[wb2002]

I am also aware of the fact that the view options within FSX depends on the view mode you're in such as Virtual Cockpit or 3D view or slew mode. Here is the manual for the particular program. Perhaps this will give some idea of what the developer is using to accomplish the features I was referring to. I believe this program intercepts some of the keyboard and mouse inputs and changes them to do what needs to be done to create the desired effect.

Thanks . . . . .

DBS WalkAndFollow User Guide.pdf

[Pete Dowson]

I am also aware of the fact that the view options within FSX depends on the view mode you're in such as Virtual Cockpit or 3D view or slew mode. Here is the manual for the particular program. Perhaps this will give some idea of what the developer is using to accomplish the features I was referring to. I believe this program intercepts some of the keyboard and mouse inputs and changes them to do what needs to be done to create the desired effect. Thanks . . . . .

Best ask them, then, to support the mousewheel as you wish, because i'm not hacking into third party programs. They probably use SimConnect object manipulation facilties in any case, which is an application not an interface function.

Have you not even tried the facilities I put into FSUIPC4 yesterday at your request? :-(

Pete