fatb0y60
11-12-2005, 22:06
I'll just get sraight to it!
Im going to call keys like the Shift, Ctrl and Alt keys alternate function keys for my question.
Buckshot or any other FO dev, I was wondering last night how to get full functionality (for this example the paddle switch on the F/A-18) out of a multi functional switch.
There are three functions that the paddle switch deos...
1: whith WOW the NWS id disengaged
2: with WoffW the autopilot is disengaged
3:with WoffW and the stick in its aft position, the paddle switch will disengage the G-limiter.
So how to do this without something like the cougar?...
with the help of a few on the VAAF IRC channel (thanks guys) there seems to be few solutions...
1:phidgets
2:have a differant switch for each function
3:What im about to explain below (there may be 2 ways to this which are similar)
So ruling out phidgets simply cause there has to be an easy way...and ruling out differant switches for each function (has to be done on the same switch)
I have an idea (or 2), which I hope may be able to be added into FO or somebody may know a better way...
1:can the sim take in a command (ie paddle switch depressed) and then take that command and go through all the variables such as WOW/WoffW and stick fully aft and then carry out one of the three paddle switch functions which fits in with the variables...(ie sim takes in paddle command and say 'ok theres WoffW and stick isnt fully back - perform autopilot disengage)
or
2:this refers to the alternate function keys i said first (up the top). This could be done by having each function assigned a differant alternate function key along with its actual key.
so if the paddle switch is = the key 'P' then
1:Shift + P
2:Alt + P
3:Ctrl + P
So that i could incorperate the WOW switch into the Gear switch...(ie. when the gear is down assume WOW)
HOWEVER...this presents a big problem when considering the fact that if i have the gear down then in effect the WOW or shift key for example is also down which will not only perform the paddle switch alternate function but anything else which may be mapped (i think is the word) to use the shift key...So my question/proposal is this...Could a few more alternate function keys be included (alt,shift,ctrl etc) so as to avoid this problem.
I dont know weather it is possible to just assign 2 keys myself or if i need the sim to support it (ie can i just saw that if paddle switch = 'P' and if WOW = X for example then 1: P + X keys = disengage NWS...)
However even if this is possible, the huge amount of functionality in the sim may require almost all the keys on the keyboard to be used, therefore in my example 'X' could already be used for (for example) the cycle A2A weapons function. So I think for this way to work, FO would need to have an other 2/3 alternate function keys that on their own dont perform any task when pressed...
Hope i have explained this properly, if not, and any Q's then hopefully i can clear it up a bit...sorry bout length took a bit of explaining...
Fatb0y
Im going to call keys like the Shift, Ctrl and Alt keys alternate function keys for my question.
Buckshot or any other FO dev, I was wondering last night how to get full functionality (for this example the paddle switch on the F/A-18) out of a multi functional switch.
There are three functions that the paddle switch deos...
1: whith WOW the NWS id disengaged
2: with WoffW the autopilot is disengaged
3:with WoffW and the stick in its aft position, the paddle switch will disengage the G-limiter.
So how to do this without something like the cougar?...
with the help of a few on the VAAF IRC channel (thanks guys) there seems to be few solutions...
1:phidgets
2:have a differant switch for each function
3:What im about to explain below (there may be 2 ways to this which are similar)
So ruling out phidgets simply cause there has to be an easy way...and ruling out differant switches for each function (has to be done on the same switch)
I have an idea (or 2), which I hope may be able to be added into FO or somebody may know a better way...
1:can the sim take in a command (ie paddle switch depressed) and then take that command and go through all the variables such as WOW/WoffW and stick fully aft and then carry out one of the three paddle switch functions which fits in with the variables...(ie sim takes in paddle command and say 'ok theres WoffW and stick isnt fully back - perform autopilot disengage)
or
2:this refers to the alternate function keys i said first (up the top). This could be done by having each function assigned a differant alternate function key along with its actual key.
so if the paddle switch is = the key 'P' then
1:Shift + P
2:Alt + P
3:Ctrl + P
So that i could incorperate the WOW switch into the Gear switch...(ie. when the gear is down assume WOW)
HOWEVER...this presents a big problem when considering the fact that if i have the gear down then in effect the WOW or shift key for example is also down which will not only perform the paddle switch alternate function but anything else which may be mapped (i think is the word) to use the shift key...So my question/proposal is this...Could a few more alternate function keys be included (alt,shift,ctrl etc) so as to avoid this problem.
I dont know weather it is possible to just assign 2 keys myself or if i need the sim to support it (ie can i just saw that if paddle switch = 'P' and if WOW = X for example then 1: P + X keys = disengage NWS...)
However even if this is possible, the huge amount of functionality in the sim may require almost all the keys on the keyboard to be used, therefore in my example 'X' could already be used for (for example) the cycle A2A weapons function. So I think for this way to work, FO would need to have an other 2/3 alternate function keys that on their own dont perform any task when pressed...
Hope i have explained this properly, if not, and any Q's then hopefully i can clear it up a bit...sorry bout length took a bit of explaining...
Fatb0y