I did it this way as combining all the devices as one controller didn't work for me for whatever reason.
Ill have to play around with that option a bit more. One question though, when using that feature would I still be able to be in mode 1 on throttle and mode 2 on stick if I choose? Or is it one mode for all devices since its using them all as one device?

I'm no pro with ch cm... I was just posting what I found worked for me after hours of wtf moments heh.

control manager doesnt 'run in the background' per se. you use the control manager to literally program functions onto the stick.

as an example. ch managers uses 3 files. name.map, name.cmc, and name.cms

lets use cod as an example. when you click on the map wizard you then select your controls, combine all the controllers into one logical device, 8 axis/32 buttons, add script functionality, then click finish.

now you have a raw un programmed device with 8 axis and 32 buttons (more if you have the fighter stick i have the combat).

now on this raw map click on the program settings ta and on the lower right hand side where it says command file in that box type in il2cod or whatever.

now click on the CM editor at the top of the toolbar. click on the command file (cmc) tab. in here you can map any in game function you want. here, i'll use IL2 46 as an example. this is my cmc file from il2
now you'll notice on the left side the name of the in game function. on the right side is the default key map for that function.

all you need to do now is go to the control tab you, click the button you want to assign a function to, uncheck dx mode, and copy paste the function into the box.

example, i want to map the Weapon_1 function. i click combat stick, click the trigger (button 1), uncheck dx mode, and copy/paste Weapon_1 into the top "Press" box. You'll notice the sifted action box below which i could map anything to as well if i wanted. I use the pinky stick button as a global shift button which doubles every button in my logical device for any given mode.

once you have all your functions mapped you then click the download button on the toolbar and this programs your controller. so where the trigger defaults to DX button 1, once you program the stick trigger is now the enter key.

the cmc file also allows for basic macros. here is one from my ww2ol cmc file
what that does is first hits the secondary fire button 'b' then it hits the toggle weapon button to switch to the wing sc50 bombs 'BKSPC' and then hits the secondary fire button 4 more times. it does all that with a single key press.

I then copy/paste Stuka_Nuke into the "shifted action" thumb button on my combat stick and i have a single button macro to release all bombs on m stuka.

this may sound confusing but i promise you it is much easier to manage all your maps this way. as it makes mapping large complex configs much easier especially when you get into different mode states. again using ww2ol as an example i have mode one set for fighters and jabo. mode 2 for multi engine bombers, and mode 3 for tanks/ground etc. i can change entire function sets on the fly just by mode switching and if i want to change a function while i am in game for some reason i can just remap the function and redownload the map and it updates on the fly. no need to log out of game or back to the lobby.

www.ch-hangar.com is a great resource. lots of friendly folks in those forums. the mini stick rotary trim function i found there many moons ago and there are a ton of other great scripts already written.

when they're all combined the mode is global afaik. however, i'm not sure why you would want different mode states.

if you can detail why you like/want/prefer alternate mode states i may be able to figure out a better solution using the global modes. keep in mind you get 3 modes, and each mode can have unique shifted states per key via the pinky button.

a note on modes is mode 2 and 3 inherit mode 1's function unless otherwise stated.

lets use the trigger button one as an example.

if you have Weapon_1 in the "Press" normal action box and you want Weapon_1 also in mode 2 and 3 then you don't need to specify anything in mode 2 and 3.

however, if you want mode 2 to have some other function, but you want mode 3 to have Weapon_1 then you have to specify that in each mdoe box.

if you want mode 1 and 2 to have the same function, but mode 3 to ahve a different function then you only need to change mode 3 as mode 2 will inherit mode 1's function.

the same goes for the shifted state btw ;).

Its all down to personal preference but in my opinion leaving the devices separate is the way forward. Combining the devices limits you to what DirectX will support and thats 8 axis and 32 buttons. When separate you get three devices with all their axis and buttons at your disposal. You can take things even further should you want to and use a little CMS script as I did in one of my IL-2 profiles that swapped the X and Y axis from my stick to my yoke and back again at the touch of a button if I wanted to change and fly bombers instead of fighters without having to remap controls in IL-2 options or leave the sim to load a new profile.

Whatever mode you are in on the stick is the same mode the other devices will be in. The LED light will cycle when you press the mode button on the stick but will not cycle the lights on the throttle as they are not linked in any way. In fact even if you press the mode button on the stick the LED will still cycle as its hard wired to do so.

You're limited to 32 buttons and 8 axis for one Direct X device whatever CH Controller you have, its Direct X that limits that not the hardware or the Control Manager software. Thanks for the plug :) there are a number of existing IL-2 profiles and .cmc files available for download there as well as many other WWII sims.

thanks guys,thats a lot to think about and try shall get a good nights sleep 1st then see how it goes :)

lol, Q="Whats the first thing you will do in COD?"

A= "Spend 4 days trying to to set up my friggin hotas"

LOL Yeah it would be nice if developers could release a key chart just a week or so before release to give us time to prepare :)

LOL +10 on this one :)

Don't have a specific reason why I want that, I'm just trying to wrap my head around how it all works with the different options available in setting up the CH hotas :)

does it limit even if not using DX buttons? i have never had the fighter stick and the combo with combat stick is exactly 32 buttons.