Released: Multi-Throttle Support for IL-2

[MikkOwl]

http://hem.bredband.net/mikko.artist...by_MikkOwl.zip

Version 3.2 uploaded now.

A major reworking and effort to make it much faster, easier to set up and to understand, as well as special G940 support, defines this version.

- Added .ini free configuration of throttles. G940 recieved automatic configuration.
- Added 'reversal bug' fix for G940 throttles, and optionally also of elevator + rudder trims (which also have an optional range reduction to avoid overly sensitive trimming).
- Added ability to tweak G940 throttle output to match each other's position in-game if not matching.
- Cleaned up, reorganized and renamed files and folders to fool-proof even more.
- Changed launcher to display a pop-up with instructions, and clicking "OK" to enable instead of "ALT-G".
- Removed fuel mixture and radiator support (troublesome and not fool-proof; never heard of anyone using it either).

And I just remembered, I also tweaked some of the scanning intervals that might make it work better on a select few systems.

I can always add fuel mix and radiator back later if there's any demand for it. But for now, making all these things work in a more user friendly, auto-set up kind of way was complicated and time consuming enough - I was afraid I would simply not get this update out at all if I tried to include those features, due to being 'buried' with the amount things that needed to be updated.

[Sokol1]

MikkOwl,

A small request, as I fly many planes in IL-2, bombers, fighters, is possible include
WEP in end of throttle course, to help in old (game) planes like Spit?

I use this feature with NewView, but have this in only one software is nice.

Another useful feature: one joy button to press F10, to Teamspeak Push to Talk.

Sokol1

[Azimech]

Try JoyToKey.

http://www.electracode.com/4/joy2key...%20Version.htm

I use buttons 3 & 4 on my joystick to zoom in & out, it changes FOV with 25 steps per second. Really terrific program.

[MikkOwl]

Originally Posted by Sokol1

MikkOwl,

A small request, as I fly many planes in IL-2, bombers, fighters, is possible include
WEP in end of throttle course, to help in old (game) planes like Spit?

I use this feature with NewView, but have this in only one software is nice.

Another useful feature: one joy button to press F10, to Teamspeak Push to Talk.

Sokol1

It's certainly possible, but be advised that it doesn't know if you are flying or not, and all it could do is press the 'toggle WEP' key when you are within a certain top range of your throttle. It could get out of sync. The F10 key is also doable, easily.

However, it makes little sense to try to implement this into the software, because few people have the same requirements and preferences for keybinds for those functions.

As mentioned, there's tons of software you can use, including probably the basic profiler software for your controller, to just bind the joystick button to "F10" (I did the same with my pinky button on the G940, to talk on Teamspeak 2). As for the wep when throttle range, your profiler software might support this. Otherwise it is a bit trickier. In real life in spits, they could not run WEP with open throttle, had to reduce it a bit. Engines and planes are different and WEP affects them in different ways (Fw 190 D9 I think only really increases fuel consumption a lot when using it for many minutes, but after a set amount of minutes pass, the heat starts going up unreasonably). I suggest that you put your WEP button somewhere convenient, maybe even as obvious as where your weapon controls are on the main joystick (for the thumb etc). Easy to reach.

Originally Posted by Azimech

Try JoyToKey.

http://www.electracode.com/4/joy2key...%20Version.htm

I use buttons 3 & 4 on my joystick to zoom in & out, it changes FOV with 25 steps per second. Really terrific program.

Do you have the ability to make 'smooth' change in fov levels? Wings of Prey had this and it is such a nicer experience than the choppy experience of IL-2. The 6DoF mod 2.0 for IL-2 somehow provides fov change on an axis (leaning forward enough) and that looks great, but I can't fly like that. I'd like to have it button related somehow...

[Azimech]

Yes, I have the ability to change the FOV in a smooth way.

Download JoyToKey, here is my Config file:

[General]
FileVersion=37
NumberOfJoysticks=2
Use8Axes=0
UseDiagonalInput=0
UsePOV=0
Threshold=0
KeySendMode=0
[Joystick 1]
Axis1n=0
Axis1p=0
Axis2n=0
Axis2p=0
Axis3n=0
Axis3p=0
Axis4n=0
Axis4p=0
Axis5n=0
Axis5p=0
Axis6n=0
Axis6p=0
Axis7n=0
Axis7p=0
Axis8n=0
Axis8p=0
POV1-1=0
POV1-2=0
POV1-3=0
POV1-4=0
POV2-1=0
POV2-2=0
POV2-3=0
POV2-4=0
Up-Right=0
Up- Left=0
Dn- Left=0
Dn-Right=0
Button01=0
Button02=0
Button03=1, 4F:00:00, 25
Button04=1, 49:00:00, 25
Button05=0
Button06=0
Button07=0
Button08=0
Button09=0
Button10=0
Button11=0
Button12=0
Button13=0
Button14=0
Button15=0
Button16=0
Button17=0
Button18=0
Button19=0
Button20=0
Button21=0
Button22=0
Button23=0
Button24=0
Button25=0
Button26=0
Button27=0
Button28=0
Button29=0
Button30=0
Button31=0
Button32=0

(END OF FILE)

What this says is that it polls button 3, 25 times per second, and then inputs anywhere the letter "O" (zoom out), which in IL2 is configured to Increase Field of View.
Button 4 is inputs the letter "I" again 25 times per second, which gives Decrease Field of View.

[Sokol1]

MikkOwl,

Thanks for explain, I think that implement these buttons are easy. Sorry.

As I use NewView to smooth Pan View, I continue use this for Spit WEP in end of throttle course.
My HOTAS is old gameport "USBified", dont have programming software, for Teamspeak PTT I use another software, SVMapper - that allow use toggles switchs, with one mapped function in press and another in release.

Do you have the ability to make 'smooth' change in fov levels?

Newview allow bind FOV change in axis, too.

BTW - Tested your new multi-throttle version, 3.2. Work fine.

My only problem is related Alt+E to easy the program, for years I use
Alt+E to start engine (cause is near to Alt+1, Alt+2, that previous used to select engines).
Now every time I hit refly, I unconscious end MikkOw Multi-Throttle when try start engines . now I use with Alt+I - (Alt is "swtich cover"), but my brain...
But it is a personal matter, solve with Alt+Tab.

BTW- Just to inform: Flying single engine aircraft (ie fighters) using Multi-Throttle (without axis assigned to power in IL-2 Controls>HOTAS) work like when you use one axis, or maybe better, cause with Multi-Throttle I have linear 1/2% increments in power.

Thank you.

Sokol1

[Ghost33]

Hi MikkOwl, I have something wonky going on with my throttles sometimes, If I take one throttle while both are at 0% and bring it up it works fine but if I park it at 100% and then bring the other throttle up, sometimes (most, but not all) it takes that one parked at 100% and brings it back down to just bring it up again. its like both throttles on the g940 only run one in game, but if I move them together they then separate again and I get left right movement respectively.

Seems to only do this when both are at 0% or both at 100%

Very odd, and Ideas, suggestions?

Thanks, Ghost33

[MikkOwl]

Originally Posted by Ghost33

Hi MikkOwl, I have something wonky going on with my throttles sometimes, If I take one throttle while both are at 0% and bring it up it works fine but if I park it at 100% and then bring the other throttle up, sometimes (most, but not all) it takes that one parked at 100% and brings it back down to just bring it up again. its like both throttles on the g940 only run one in game, but if I move them together they then separate again and I get left right movement respectively.

Seems to only do this when both are at 0% or both at 100%

Very odd, and Ideas, suggestions?

Thanks, Ghost33

You might have left one of them bound to 'power' in IL-2 which could cause some wonkiness. I suspect this because to control more than one engine in IL-2 seperately, one must tell IL-2 to 'switch' to the engine one wants to move (if not selected), and then give it the power setting we want to set it to. Assuming the theory is correct, see if you can follow:

Device link is probably not as intensely updatingly fast as IL-2's in-game native controller assignments. When you first move up the one that is not bound to power in IL-2 to 100%, all works as intended. But when you try to move the other one (which IS bound to power in IL-2), it will be read first by IL-2, giving IL-2 an instruction to change the power reading to whatever position it is in - but because the 'last' moved engine is still selected (the one moved to 100%) it moves instead! And mere milliseconds later, my software reads the one you are moving as usual, and tells IL-2 to switch engine selection and to set the power to whatever, as it should. And multi-throttle, not knowing that the 100% engine was moved by something else, does not try to update that engine back into the proper position (it only sends updates when you move your controller into a new position, not otherwise).

Go check if the suspicion was correct. If so, just unbind it (try binding power to elevator trim or something, then bind that axis back to elevator trim, that clears 'power' from any binds) and you can stop reading the stuff below . If not the case, you must read on.

The software has not used any kind of special 'moving them synced' method since it made the switch from keyboard emulation to device link.

I want to try to replicate the issue but your description is a bit unclear to me.

1. Which version are you using of Multi-Throttle?

2. What kind of plane was it - single engined, twin, triple, quad?

3. How did you go about configuring your G940 throttles for Multi-Throttle? Did you UNBIND them both from 'power' in IL-2 as well?

4. The two throttles behave absolutely normal in every other situation for the same engine configuration aircraft?

5. Assuming you have hud log enabled, what does it say about which engines are being selected when moving a throttle and it malfunctions?

6. From what you describe, you put one throttle at 100% and leave it there. Then when moving the other, only the one you are not touching moves? What about the one you are moving by hand, does that one move at all?