Microsoft sidewinder and FSUIPC

[Dixinae]

Hi,

I am a recently registered user of FSUIPC since I loaded FS9, although have used as necessary with BAV, swquawkbox etc. I am eternally grateful for all that this allows.

I am currently frustrated because not all of the buttons on the Joystick work.

I can control:-

Throttle

Turn brakes off 1 but not brake

Trim (poorly) 3&4

Hat

Nothing else works, please would you help.

When I go to the Sidewinder controls all the assignments are working. It is only since I registered for FSUIPC that I have this problem.

I can see there that there are assignments that can be made in FSUIPC but I cannot make head nor tail of how to go about it or have the understanding that you guys do,

Many thanks, :?:

Kindest regards,

Tony.

[hm]

Hi Tony,

First: What you need is the "FSUIPC for Advanced Users" manual and "FS2004controls", the first can you find in the "modules" folder of fs2004, the latter you have to download it here: http://www.schiratti.com/dowson.html

The rest I will explain with the configuration I am using with the sidewinder:

First you have to open the FSUIPC.INI file with notepad. This file is also located in the Modules folder. I hope you can handle the most common commands of notepad like "copy" and "paste" etc. ? To start copy the next rows at the end of the FSUIPC.INI file, so you have already something to do tests with:

[buttons]

0=CR(-0,6)(-0,7)0,0,C65588,0

1=CP(-0,6)(-0,7)0,1,C65570,0

2=CR(-0,6)(-0,7)0,2,C65607,0

3=CR(-0,6)(-0,7)0,3,C65615,0

4=CP(-0,6)(-0,7)0,4,C65758,0

5=CP(-0,6)(-0,7)0,5,C65759,0

6=CP(+0,6)(-0,7)0,0,K192,1

7=CP(+0,6)(-0,7)0,1,C65751,0

8=CR(+0,6)(-0,7)0,2,C65771,0

9=CR(+0,6)(-0,7)0,3,C65769,0

10=CP(+0,6)(-0,7)0,4,C65589,0

11=CU(+0,6)(-0,7)0,4,C66391,0

12=CP(+0,6)(-0,7)0,5,C66224,0

13=CP(-0,6)(+0,7)0,1,C65858,0

14=CR(-0,6)(+0,7)0,2,C65777,0

15=CR(-0,6)(+0,7)0,3,C65775,0

16=CP(-0,6)(+0,7)0,4,K83,8

17=CP(-0,6)(+0,7)0,5,K83,1

First of all each row is numbered in increasing order. I am using compound commands, and as such I can assign to button 1 to 6 up to 4 functions and with a little trick even more. I am using a combination of button 7 and 8 (both buttons off, 8 on and 7 off, 7 on and 8 off, 7 and 8 on, but not used yet in my configuration) to select which of the four commands is executed for the rest of the buttons at a certain moment. One remark, however: the buttons on the joystick are numbered from 1 to 8, in FSUIPC.INI from 0 to 7, so button 0 in FSUIPC.INI is button 1 on the joystick and so on. Let us start with my configuration on row 16 and 17:

16=CP(-0,6)(+0,7)0,4,K83,8

17=CP(-0,6)(+0,7)0,5,K83,1

We use the command "CP" for "compound" and "pulse", which means that the command is only executed once, when the button goes down. Between the parentheses is the first button of the compound combination, here (-0,6), button 6 (7 on the joystick) from joystick 0 (you can attach more than one joystick at your computer, so your second will be numbered 1, your third 2 and so on). The minus sign defines that this button must be up. The next button definition between parentheses (+0,7) defines that button 7 (8 on the joystick) of joystick must be down or pushed. After the closing parenthesis is the button defined that activates the command, namely on row 16, button 4 (5 on the joystick) and in row 17, button 5 (6), both of joystick 0). The next value "K83" defines that the button combination simulates a key hit on the keyboard and you can find in the "FSUIPC for Advanced Users"manual a table with the numbers, in this case key "S", the command used to change to the next view. You can also find in the manual that the next value in the row defines which key combination is used together with the "S" and the value "8" in row defines that it is only "S", so in this case if I push key 8 and key 5, the flight simulator shows me the next view, example from 2D-cockpit to VC. In row 17, the last value 1 defines that the command simulates "shift-S", so to switch to the previous view (from VC to 2D-cockpit by example) I hold button 8 down and push button 6.

Let us take now row 10 and 11:

10=CP(+0,6)(-0,7)0,4,C65589,0

11=CU(+0,6)(-0,7)0,4,C66391,0

Well, first of all you see here that it is a combination of button 6(7) down and button 7(8) up). Now Peter has made a fine job here: I am also a fan of the CS MIG21 which has a air break (spoiler) and a dragshute. I have used both commands on a single key. Now if you look to the FS2004controls you can find that command 65589 is "SPOILERS_TOGGLE", and command 66391 is "TOGGLE_TAIL_HOOK_HANDLE". We use both commands and like before CP is executed when button 4(5) goes down (the Spoiler activates) and CU is executed when button 4(5) goes up again. This command activates on the CS Mig21 the dragshute. So when I hold button 6(7) down and I push button 4(5), the spoiler activates. I wait until the speed is decreased a bit and I release button 4(5) again and the dragshute opens. When the speed is as low as the taxi speed, I do this again and the spoiler deactivates and when button 4(5) goes up again, the dragshute is released.

Another plane I love to fly with is the Marchetti SF260 from RealAirSimulations:

2=CR(-0,6)(-0,7)0,2,C65607,0

3=CR(-0,6)(-0,7)0,3,C65615,0

8=CR(+0,6)(-0,7)0,2,C65771,0

9=CR(+0,6)(-0,7)0,3,C65769,0

14=CR(-0,6)(+0,7)0,2,C65777,0

15=CR(-0,6)(+0,7)0,3,C65775,0

If you look at the previous rows, you see that I use the command "CR", which means that the command will be repeated until the command button is released. If you check the command list, you will find that 65607 is ELEV_TRIM_DN, 65615 is ELEV_TRIM_UP, 65771 is PROP_PITCH_DECR and 65769 PROP_PITCH_INCR, 65777 is MIXTURE_DECR and 65775 is MIXTURE_INCR. Now as long as I push button 2(3), without 6(7) or 7(8), I am trimming down, with button 3(4) I am trimming up, If I hold button 6(7) down then as long as I push button 2(3), I am decreasing the propeller pitch but with button 3(4), I am increasing it. (You can nicely watch the handles in the VC :-) ). The same is thrue for the mixture in combination of button 7(8).

Of course this is a small part of the combinations that are possible. I hope this "small explanation" makes "button programming" more comprehensible for you. The manual shows you a lot more details.

Oh yeh, I forgott: you have to dissable in FS2004 the joystick button assignements of the buttons programmed in FSUIPC.INI to avoid double commands. I have deleted all assignements except the ones of the hat switch.

My excuses for my bad english.

Regards,

hm

[Pete Dowson]

When I go to the Sidewinder controls all the assignments are working. It is only since I registered for FSUIPC that I have this problem.

Delete your FSUIPC.INI file then -- if FSUIPC is assigning buttons for you it is because you have told it to at some time. It does not touch joystick buttons at all of its own volition, those are all user facilities. If you dete the INI file it will delete all such erroneous assignments you made before.

Regards,

Pete