Idea Mouse control for the joystick-less

[Jarvitä]

With the widespread adoption of addons that feature atmospheric flight and therefore allow a much greater degree of control with a joystick - such as the various space shuttle addons, the X-15, the XR series and the DGIV, I believe an addon that would allow for mouse control of flight control surfaces and RCS/BCS thrusters would greatly benefit those of us too cheap to get a joystick.

 

[Jake]

A mouse control add-on would definitely be nice. I play Orbiter entirely from the keyboard (but then again I don't do much atmospheric flight, just climbing out of it and reentering when the job is done). If it can be done then it will surely be of help.

 

[Dambuster]

This would definitely be nice, however bear in mind that trying to use RCS with a mouse might quickly turn messy...

 

[Jarvitä]

This would definitely be nice, however bear in mind that trying to use RCS with a mouse might quickly turn messy...

True, the primary use for this would of course be aerodynamic surface control, possibly with RCS assist in the upper atmosphere, to allow for more precise atmospheric flight and re-entry.

 

[RisingFury]

You could only control pitch and roll, but not yaw, since you have only two axis on your mouse.

 

[n122vu]

There's a utility that just might do the trick. It's called Mouse Raider. It converts mouse movements to keystrokes. Originally designed for use with the old Tomb Raider games, but it might just work for Orbiter. Haven't tested it though.

You can get it here;
http://mouseraider.homepage.t-online.de/

 

[Tschachim]

Also, you can try PPJoy: http://www.geocities.com/deonvdw/PPJoy.htm

 

[Dambuster]

You could only control pitch and roll, but not yaw, since you have only two axis on your mouse.

Well Flightgear does get around that issue. In that sim, if you hold down your left mouse button, and move your mouse left/right, that controls the rudder (and holding down the middle mouse button whilst moving mouse up/down controls throttle). A bit clumsy perhaps, but still effective.

 

[computerex]

Quick and dirty: Dump the .dll in the modules\plugin folder, activate it in the launch pad. Press ALT+M to toggle between mouse input/keyboard input. Only supports rotational RCS mode+Atmospheric control surfaces. Hold down left mouse button for yaw.

#define STRICT
#define ORBITER_MODULE

#include <orbitersdk.h>

HWND hwnd = 0;
float width, height;
bool enable = false;
NOTEHANDLE title;

DLLCLBK void opcOpenRenderViewport(HWND hWnd, DWORD w, DWORD h, BOOL fc)
{
	hwnd=hWnd;
	width=(float)w;height=(float)h;
	title = oapiCreateAnnotation(false, 0.8, _V(0.0, 1.0, 0.0));
	oapiAnnotationSetPos(title, 0.84, 0.06, 1.0, 0.3);
	oapiAnnotationSetText(title, "Attitude: Standard");
}

double lpt = 0;
DLLCLBK void opcPreStep(double simt, double simdt, double mjd)
{
	if ( GetAsyncKeyState(VK_MENU) && GetAsyncKeyState(0x4D) && simt > lpt){
		enable = !enable;
		if ( !enable )
		{
			VESSEL * v = oapiGetFocusInterface();
			DWORD cnt = v->GetThrusterCount();
			THRUSTER_HANDLE th;
			for ( unsigned int i = 0; i < cnt; i++ )
			{
				th = v->GetThrusterHandleByIndex(i);
				v->SetThrusterLevel(th, 0);
			}
			v->SetADCtrlMode(7);
			oapiAnnotationSetText(title, "Attitude: Standard");
		}else oapiAnnotationSetText(title, "Attitude: Mouse");
		lpt = simt+0.2;
	}
	if ( !enable ) return;
	RECT rect;
	POINT cpos, crpos;
	GetWindowRect(hwnd, &rect);
	GetCursorPos(&cpos);

	if ( cpos.x > rect.right  || cpos.x < rect.left ) return;
	if ( cpos.y > rect.bottom || cpos.y < rect.top  ) return;

	crpos.x = cpos.x-rect.left;
	crpos.y = cpos.y-rect.top;

	float cx = width/2.0f, cy = height/2.0f;
	float pi = (crpos.y-cy)/cy;
	float bi = (crpos.x-cx)/cx;

	bool mbd = GetAsyncKeyState(0x01);
	VESSEL * v = oapiGetFocusInterface();

	int atmode = v->GetAttitudeMode();
	v->SetADCtrlMode( 7 );
	v->SetControlSurfaceLevel(AIRCTRL_ELEVATOR, pi);
	v->SetControlSurfaceLevel((mbd?AIRCTRL_RUDDER:AIRCTRL_AILERON),  bi);
	
	if ( atmode == ATTMODE_ROT ){
	v->SetThrusterGroupLevel((pi>0?THGROUP_ATT_PITCHUP:THGROUP_ATT_PITCHDOWN), (pi>0?pi:-pi));
	v->SetThrusterGroupLevel((mbd?(bi>0?THGROUP_ATT_YAWLEFT:THGROUP_ATT_YAWRIGHT):
							 (bi>0?THGROUP_ATT_BANKRIGHT:THGROUP_ATT_BANKLEFT)), (bi>0?bi:-bi));
	}else
	{
		
		v->SetThrusterGroupLevel(THGROUP_ATT_PITCHUP,  0);
		v->SetThrusterGroupLevel(THGROUP_ATT_PITCHDOWN,0);
		v->SetThrusterGroupLevel(THGROUP_ATT_YAWLEFT,  0);
		v->SetThrusterGroupLevel(THGROUP_ATT_YAWRIGHT, 0);
		v->SetThrusterGroupLevel(THGROUP_ATT_BANKLEFT, 0);
		v->SetThrusterGroupLevel(THGROUP_ATT_BANKRIGHT,0);
	}

	if ( !mbd ) {
		v->SetControlSurfaceLevel(AIRCTRL_RUDDER, 0);
		if ( atmode == ATTMODE_ROT ){
		v->SetThrusterGroupLevel(THGROUP_ATT_YAWLEFT, 0);
		v->SetThrusterGroupLevel(THGROUP_ATT_YAWRIGHT, 0);
		}
	}else
	{
		v->SetControlSurfaceLevel(AIRCTRL_AILERON, 0);
		if ( atmode == ATTMODE_ROT ){
		v->SetThrusterGroupLevel(THGROUP_ATT_BANKLEFT, 0);
		v->SetThrusterGroupLevel(THGROUP_ATT_BANKRIGHT, 0);
		}
	}
	v->SetADCtrlMode(0);

}

 

[RisingFury]

Well Flightgear does get around that issue. In that sim, if you hold down your left mouse button, and move your mouse left/right, that controls the rudder (and holding down the middle mouse button whilst moving mouse up/down controls throttle). A bit clumsy perhaps, but still effective.

Yea, I though of click-n-hold method... but you'd lose control of the axis while you're doing that.



I don't have a joystick... I'll try interfacing my RC radio though...

 

[Jarvitä]

Quick and dirty: Dump the .dll in the modules\plugin folder, activate it in the launch pad. Press ALT+M to toggle between mouse input/keyboard input. Only supports rotational RCS mode+Atmospheric control surfaces. Hold down left mouse button for yaw.

Works. Could use some kind of indicator of the current "position" of the joystick (could be something as simple as a square with an X to indicate the pitch/bank position), and a button to move the controls to the central position.

 

[computerex]

Works. Could use some kind of indicator of the current "position" of the joystick (could be something as simple as a square with an X to indicate the pitch/bank position), and a button to move the controls to the central position.

There is no easy way to draw on the HUD with a plug-in like this. It could be done with an MFD, but I don't think it makes sense to have an MFD just for this purpose. If anyone wants I can put this up on OH....(BTW as for an indicator for the 'position of the joystick', the mouse pointer in the Orbiter window does just that)

 

[Bitmag]

DG XR-1 repeatly says "on, on, on, on..." when activating mouse control...

DG XR-1 repeatly says "on, on, on, on..." when activating mouse control...

 

[Ripley]

I just found this page, maybe it helps others.

http://sites.google.com/site/hristotodorov/mousetojoystick

 

[Donamy]

Sorry, I know this is an old thread, but I was wondering, if there was a way to go the other way with this, to allow hat-switches to mimic mouse movement, to allow head movement(look around) in cockpit, so you don't have to take your hands of the stick.

 

[Ripley]

What brand/model is your joystick?

 

[Donamy]

A CH throttle USB

 

[Ripley]

CH? Well, you're lucky then, CH Control Manager software is well known for its power.
I don't see a reason why it wouldn't be able to accomplish such an easy task.

http://www.chproducts.com/retail/tech_control_manager.html

The only issue I see (but there must be a way to circumvent it) is that Orbiter's view system needs the mouse button to be pressed down and dragged.

http://www.ch-hangar.com/forum/show...o-Throttle-ministick-operate-the-mouse-cursor

For example, IL-2's view system is simpler, you move the mouse and you rotate pilot's head.

 

[Donamy]

Could you elaborate on this. I got how to set up the micro stick for the mouse, but how do you use it with Orbiter.

 

[Ripley]

I don't have CH hardware, so it's just theory...

If you already mapped "something" (be it a microstick, a coolie, castle switch, etc...) to act as a mouse, you need to map another button as Right Mouse Button.

I guess that you move this "mouse" control with your left thumb, so it would be ideal to have a spare button at the index finger.
You keep this button pressed and it simulates the RMB being held down.
This way you move the "mouse" and the Orbiter view rotates.

Well...at least it should...

Map another button to the "home" key, so you can reset the central view.