Please help with scripts helicopter command.

[willfred]

Hello everyone,
I am trying to use HID Macro to add induced torque on a helicopter model. What I am trying to do is the higher the throttle value a certain factor would be added to the right rudder pedal, and with a low throttle value the factor would be zero.

I have been messing around for a few days with the program, but my lack of any kind of programming knowledge is getting me nowhere.

First of all, I can assume since the macro section cannot recocgnize my joystick axis movement, I have to do everything on the script tab, correct?

On the website there is a scripting help page, under Game device axis, there is a code line that states,

Sub AxisXChange(dev, axis, val)
Dim Message
Message = "Axis " & axis & " of device " & dev & " moved, value is " & val
end sub

HIDMacros.RegisterAxisEvent "Saitek X52 Flight Controller", "X", "AxisXChange", 5

I understand the RegisterAxisEvent where the "AxisXChange" is the procedure that is being called, but I dont understand this line

Message = "Axis " & axis & " of device " & dev & " moved, value is " & val

what is it supposed to do? When I copy the line to the HID Macro and move the joystick I get no action.
I tried doing something simple just to see if I could call a message using axis control, but it didnt work.

dim Message
Message = HIDMacro.FSXtext("hello world")
HIDMacros.registerAxisEvent "USB JOYSTICK", "X", "Message", 5000

It should show a text message on FSX when I moved the joystick axis more then 5000 units, correct?

I hope someone can give me some light with this matter, because I am really lost.

Thanks for the help

Fred

[admin]

Hello Fred

Hmm, the example shows just how to read axis values, but you're right - there's no output in this example.
Try to add code:

Code: Select all

HIDMacros.SetBuffer Message

into the AxisXChange procedure and if you have "Show buffer content" checked in Settings, you should see the Message in window title or as notification in taskbar.

Back to your problem:
Yes, axis can be only scripted, so you need to use a little bit of programming.
As a first step you need to write script to control your throttle and rudder through HIDmacros. Or rudder is enough and you can just read throttle position as axis value or via SimConnect from FSX.
So once you have procedure that sets rudder position through SimConnect based on axis value, then you can easily extend this procedure to read throttle value and addapt final rudder as needed (add factor you mentioned).

Hope it helps. If you proceed, don't hesitate to share your code here, it can be nice demonstration of scripting possibilities for others.

[willfred]

Hello Petr
thanks for the fast reply.

one of the problems I am facing is that I can´t get HIDMacros to constantly read the throttle position and apply the rudder automatic.
I have the following code, which in its basic it does what I want. Low throttle position means no rudder, higher throttle position means rudder apply.

I am using the Y axis as throttle

Code: Select all

Dim colective
colective = HIDMacros.GetAxis ("USB JOYSTICK, "Y")
if colective >= 2000 then
HIDMacros.FSXEvent "RUDDER_RIGHT", 0
else
HIDMacros.FSXEvent "RUDDER_CENTER", 0
end if 

now using this code works only when I press compile It doesn´t work all the time.

I know that the RegisterAxisEvent command can call a procedure in HIDmacro. But I didnt quite understand how to use it. I didnt understand specially this part

Code: Select all

Sub AxisXChange(dev, axis, val)  
  Dim Message  
  Message = "Axis " & axis & " of device " & dev & " moved, value is " & val  
end sub  

what am I supposed to replace the "Axis", "of device" and "moved, value is" with?

I also didn´t quite understand your example 3.

Just one last thing, when using

Code: Select all

 HIDMacros.FSXEvent "RUDDER_RIGHT", 0 

the rudder position changed to abruptly,

I wanted to make more of a incremental change. So I tried to use

Code: Select all

HIDMacros.FSXEvent "AXIS_RUDDER_SET"

and

Code: Select all

HIDMacros.FSXEvent "RUDDER_SET"

but it seems that any change I made the rudder moves to the left, if I have -16000 or +16000 the left rudder is pressed. I can´t seem to get a value to move the right rudder. but the command "RUDDER_RIGHT" works like a charm, pressing the right rudder.

thanks again for the support.

Fred

[willfred]

Hello,

I thought I got the grasp with the RegisterAxisEvent, but maybe not so, I tried using it like this

Code: Select all

Sub throttle(dev, axis, val)
Dim colective
colective = HIDMacros.GetAxis ("USB JOYSTICK, "Y")
if colective >= 2000 then
HIDMacros.FSXEvent "RUDDER_RIGHT", 0
else
HIDMacros.FSXEvent "RUDDER_CENTER", 0
end if
end sub
HIDMacros.RegisterAxisEvent "USB JOYSTICK, "Y", "Throttle", 500

It compiles, but when I move the throttle axis it doesnt change the rudder automatic, actually it doesnt change the rudder at all.

Thanks

[admin]

Fred,

forget RUDDER_RIGHT and other events, you need to control rudder precisely.
So as I wrote: first step, control rudder through HIDmacros
In FSX, unmap you axis assigned to rudder as rudder postion will be set by HDM through SimConnect.
Then in HidMacros script use something like:

Code: Select all

Sub RudderProc(dev, axis, val) 
  Dim lRudder
  lRudder = HIDMacros.Axis2Float(val, -1, 1)
  end if
  HIDMacros.SetFSXVariable "RUDDER POSITION", "Position", lRudder
end sub

HIDMacros.RegisterAxisEvent "Saitek Pro Flight Rudder Pedals", "Rz", "RudderProc", 10

Adapt name of your joystick and axis.

Then you should be able to control rudder as usually.
Now add modification you need before SetFSXVariable code. You can read actual throttle axis position and apply some tuning.
Just an example I tried: apply double rudder on right side:

Code: Select all

Sub RudderProc(dev, axis, val) 
  Dim lRudder
  lRudder = HIDMacros.Axis2Float(val, -1, 1)
  if (lRudder > 0) then
    lRudder = lRudder * 2
  end if
  'HIDMacros.SetBuffer lRudder
  HIDMacros.SetFSXVariable "RUDDER POSITION", "Position", lRudder
end sub

HIDMacros.RegisterAxisEvent "Saitek Pro Flight Rudder Pedals", "Rz", "RudderProc", 10

Hope it helps

[willfred]

Hello,
Its been a long time, but I think I have managed to write the script.
Basically, when the throttle position is at a certain point the script will remap the rudder so that the center of the rudder is slightly to the right.

Code: Select all

Sub FSXThrottle(val)
  HIDMacros.SetFSXVariable "RUDDER POSITION", "PERCENT", val
end sub

Sub R1(dev, axis, val)
  Dim FinalThrottle, throttle
  HIDMacros.RegisterFSXVariable "GENERAL ENG THROTTLE LEVER POSITION:1", "PERCENT"
  throttle= HIDMacros.GetFSXVariable("GENERAL ENG THROTTLE LEVER POSITION:1")

  if ((throttle> 10) and (throttle< 20)) then
    FinalThrottle = HIDMacros.AxisRemap(val, 0, 1, -90, 100, 0) 
  else
    if ((throttle> 20) and (throttle< 30)) then
      FinalThrottle = HIDMacros.AxisRemap(val, 0, 1, -80, 100, 0)
    else
      if ((throttle> 30) and (throttle< 40)) then
        FinalThrottle = HIDMacros.AxisRemap(val, 0, 1, -70, 100, 0)
      else
        if (throttle> 40) then 
          FinalThrottle = HIDMacros.AxisRemap(val, 0, 1, -60, 100, 0)
        else
          FinalThrottle = HIDMacros.AxisRemap(val, 0, 1, -100, 100, 0)

        end if
      end if  
    end if
   end if
   call FSXThrottle(FinalThrottle)
end sub

HIDMacros.RegisterAxisEvent "Saitek ST290 Pro", "Rz", "R1", 1000

Now, the only problem I am having, is that the AxisRemap will only take effect if I make a input change to the pedals. For example, I am on the runway, my feet are off the pedals, they are straight. If I put full power the pedals are not going to be remaped to the right until I add a input to the pedal. As soon as I make a small change on the pedal, the AxisRemap will kick in. Is there a solution for this?

Thanks for all the help, and I hope this code help other home builders.

[admin]

2 comments:
- you need to register FSX variable only once, then you can read values. So the call of RegisterFSXVariable can be moved to the same level as RegisterAxisEvent
- yes, you can add RegisterAxisEvent also for throttle axis, calling the same routine R1. Then it's called also when you move throttle. You can even keep throttle controlled in FSX by assigning the axis in simulator (as you have today). By the additional RegisterAxisEvent call HIDmacros will just "listen" to throttle change and addapt rudder accordingly (but warning: will not work if you change throttle not using the joystick - by some autothrottle, mouse or key shortcut).

Hope it helps.

[willfred]

Hello, Petr
Is it possible to increase sensitivity of a control, for example the x or y axis, via HIDMacros? Becasue I dont want to use the FSX settings, as the sensitivity is not big enough for my applications.

By the way, I have been taking a little break on my project. But as soon as I return I´ll post my code here so others can use it as needed.

Thanks for the great support.

Sincerely
fred

[willfred]

Ok never mind I think I got it, when using the HIDMacros.Axis2Float i just increased the range and it increased the sensitivity.

From
HIDMacros.Axis2Float(val, -100, 100)
to
HIDMacros.Axis2Float(val, -120, 120)

fred