Using Saitek Pro Flight Yoke Mode Switch: Difference between revisions

Jump to navigation Jump to search

Using Saitek Pro Flight Yoke Mode Switch (view source)

Revision as of 13:38, 16 November 2012

583 bytes removed ,  16 November 2012
m
no edit summary
mNo edit summary
mNo edit summary
Line 1: Line 1:
To use the Mode Switch you need to install The Smart Technology software that came on the CD with your yoke. Install it ''after'' installing the drivers.
== Before you start ==


To use the Mode Switch you need to install the Smart Technology software that came on the CD with your yoke. Install it ''after'' installing the drivers.
== Running the Profile Editor ==
If the Profile Editor does not run after installation, you can run it from the Start Menu - Start - All Programs - Smart Technology (folder) - Profile Editor.
If the Profile Editor does not run after installation, you can run it from the Start Menu - Start - All Programs - Smart Technology (folder) - Profile Editor.
 
If you have the rudder pedals as well as the yoke you will have to select the yoke in the first dialog box that appears.
 
At the top right is ''Product Programming Support''. Click on 'Programming'. Here is the top left corner of the page that appears:
                                                                             


== Creating a blank safety profile ==
== Creating a blank safety profile ==
The first thing to do is create a profile that does nothing, i.e. does not interfere in any way with the current working of the yoke.
The first thing to do is create a profile that does nothing, i.e. does not interfere in any way with the current working of the yoke. This is your "safety" backup. Click on (Create) Profile. This generates the file that will be saved and opens the Save as dialog. Give the profile a suitable name (such as Blank) and save it.
 
In the 2nd. row below the Toolbar, make sure that the fallback shiftstate for bath Mode 2 and Mode 3 is Mode 1. Click the Profile button (blue X). Then click Save. Give this (blank) profile a suitable name, such as Standard or Blank.
 
You now have an emergency profile to use if you have problems.
 
 


==  What the software does ==
==  What the software does ==
It simulates keystrokes. You can assign different keystrokes to a specific yoke button for each mode. If you don't assign a keystroke to a yoke button in a particular mode, then the keystroke assignment in the Fallback Mode will be used. If there is no keyboard assignment at all, then the button action will be according to the yoke's xml file.
It simulates keystrokes. You can assign different keystrokes to specific yoke buttons for each mode. Then, when you select a mode and press a button, that/those keystroke(s) are sent to Flightgear. Just as if you had typed them at the keyboard.
 
But this does have the limitation of only being able to use commands that exist on keyboard.xml and multikey.xml. And that also means no 'repeatable' actions, such as 'Trim' Elevator'.  So we will not discuss it.
This is why we have created the emergency profile - select it and your yoke will behave according to the xml file.
 
 


== Mod-Key style of use ==
== Mod-Key style of use ==
In this style of use you make Mode 1 behave as if you are not pressing any of the '''Shift, Ctrl or Alt''' keys. Then you assign Mode 2 and 3 to simulate using the keyboard '''Shift, Alt or Ctrl''' keys ''while you activate a yoke button''.
What we are going to do is make the Mode Switch act as if we are pressing the Shift, Ctrl or Alt keys while pressing a yoke button - emulating <mod-shift>, <mod-ctrl> and <mod-alt>. Choose which two you will use - Mode 1 i9s none of the above pressed. In this article we will use Shift and Ctrl. It really doesn't matter unless you already have your yoke programmed with mods.
 
To make Mode 2 press the Shift key, hold your mouse pointer in the large blank rectangle under Mode 2, and then click on the little arrow that appears.
Let us assume that you assign Mode 2 to '''Shift''' and Mode 3 to '''Ctrl'''. If you are in Mode 1 and you press the T1 button, FG will respond to whatever you have coded in the yoke xml file. If you are in Mode 2 and press the T1 button, FG will respond to whatever you have coded in the yoke xml file for the <mod-shift> state. '''If you have nothing coded, nothing will happen'''.
                                                           
 
A popup menu appears. Click on "New Key Presses...". You now see this:
This is important. If you use this style of operation you must code '''ALL''' the <mod-shift> and <mod-ctrl> operations, even if they are just copies of the unmodded code. This makes for a lot of copy and paste, with the possibility of an error
                                                             
 
Ignore where the cursor is (this is just for a name) and click in the bigger rectangle. Then give the Shift key a tap. An icon of the Shift key will appear in the rectangle. Click on the little green tick mark. (If you got it wrong, click on the little red cross and try again.
Note that you only have to do the 2 shiftstates that you have assigned. Here it was '''Shift''' and '''Ctrl''', if you use say '''Shift''' and '''Alt''' you will have to code the <mod-shift> and <mod-alt> actions.
You will have this, if you got it right:
 
                                                         
If you want to avoid all the coding, to use '''Shift-T1''', you select Mode 2, press T1, and then immediately go back to Mode 1.
If it doesn't look like that, click on one of the keys. You will be taken back to the point before you clicked the green tick. You can then right-click on any incorrect keys and select Cut. And redo tapping the Shift key if needed.
 
 
 
=== Programming this style ===
Create a new profile - click the '''New''' button on the toolbar.
 
To assign Shift, Ctrl ar Alt to a mode,in the column for that mode, in the row where it says '''Click to add shift command (optional)''', which is the 3rd. row,  click the little right-arrow in the top of the cell and select '''New key presses...'''. It will take you to the top row, of that column where you can rename the column from Mode x to whatever you want. Ignore it and click in the big cell below it (which is actually the 3rd. row.) Now tap the key that you want - Shift, Ctrl or Alt. Then click the green tick. Repeat for the other mode.
 
You '''MUST''' now click Profile.
 
Then you can save, giving this profile a suitable name.
 
In many ways, this is the preferred style of use, as it gives you so many more options, such as being able to do actions which require a repeatable button.
 
 
 
== Individual key style of use ==
Here you assign different keyboard short-cuts to buttons for each mode. Don't touch Mode 1, leave it to behave according to the yoke xml file. Read the documentation about how to program. Remember, the keyboard short-cut must exist in either the keyboard.zml or multikey.xml files. You can assign a string of keypresses.
 
This style is not suitable for any action which requires a repeatable button.
 
'''Don't forget to create a new profile before fiddling, and don't forget to click the Profile button'''.
 


Now go to the column for Mode 3, and repeat all the ablove actions, except using the Ctrl key, instead of Shift.
Now you need to create the profile. Click on (Create) Profile. The profile will be created and the Save As dialog will open. Choose a suitable name for the profile and save it.
You will now need to edit your joysticks's xml file. There is plenty of information on that. You will of course need to program <mod-shift> and <mod-ctrl> sections for the buttons.


== Very Important ==
== Very Important ==
Macnab
224

edits

Retrieved from "https://wiki.flightgear.org/Special:MobileDiff/55654"

Navigation menu