[HowTo] Use Gamepads to control MediaPortal (3 Viewers)

[zombiepig]

(I have Logitech Rumblepad 2)

dammit! i'm jealous i've had two of these on order for the last month...
anyway, when they finally arrive i'll be in the same situation you are, so while i can't help yet please let me know how you go!

 

[dcwp]

Yeah, the Rumblepad 2 is a great little pad, I'm really glad I decided to spend the extra 10 bucks and spring for it!

But I'm still having trouble with the 'end process' combination. I uninstalled MP and wiped the remaining folders to get a clean install on 0.2.2.0.

I set the end process combo in the "Direct Input" section of the Remotes dialogue in setup.exe. I use the four front triggers simultaneously to end process - I think it maps as 02,03,04,05 but I might be off on that. It works fine for a while, but eventually quits responding. When I go back to the "Direct Input" dialogure, the end process field is blank and I have to teach it the combo again. Then the cycle begins anew.

I haven't been able to isolate what's causing this, but I have been messing with the configuration a lot lately trying to get 0.2.2.0 set up like I had 2.1. Once in a while, when setup.exe is started I get the "MP is not shutdown" dialogue even though I asked it to shutdown. I always click the "ok, shut it down and continue" button and the end process combo is always dead after this.

Aside from avoiding the "MP is not shutdown" dialogue, any thoughts on how to retain my end process combination?

Thanks in advance.

 

[zombiepig]

i think you're gonna need to get some logs together - wait for mp to drop the setting, then upload the mediaportal and configuration logs. maybe we'll be able to track this down together!

 

[dcwp]

Yep, sounds good zombiepig. Unfortunately I have to out of town next week for an unexpected research trip, so the next few days I'll be frantically getting things together. I'll put together some logs when I get back though. Thanks for the offer!

 

[chefkoch]

Hi guys

The bug you described is disappointing me since a few months. Now i used baretail to watch the MediaPortal.xml "live".

Following i have found out:
Start config > fill in a kill and/or close combo > now immediately press OK > Start config again >> combos should be still active, so all is okay

BUT if you go to another section, NOT direct input , (i think no remote general) for example go to general or movies, and press ok, now the combos are not saved correctly.

If you can confirm this, perhaps you can catch the bug a bit better then we can create a bug report or perhaps waeberd, you can check this? I think no one changed there too much since you have introduced the stuff.

regards
chefkoch

 

[dcwp]

Hi again,

I'm back from a successful trip.

While I was away, a friend turned me on to some software called joy2mouse3. I'm using this now and it's actually much simpler than trying to use the directInput plugin. I do still have directInput activated and surprisingly enough, I've used the kill switch a few times and it seems to be lingering. Problem solved?

If you're interested in using joy2mouse3, here's how I set it up so there aren't conflicts between the joypad and mouse functions:
The program includes three "shift" keys that allow multiple operations for each button. So I simply set one of the trigger keys (button 7) to be a shift key and all mouse functions require that shift key. So while I'm using nestopia, it's a joypad; when I want to use the mouse, I simply hold button 7 and all the controls switch over to mouse functions. It's also useful for using windows explorer, messing around in MediaPortal Setup, etc.

Thanks again for the offer to help, but I think I've found a nice solution.

 

[tuco]

Is there any way to disable the "kill-process" combos again once you've assigned them?

 

[dcwp]

You should just be able to go back to the dialogue where you entered it in setup.exe and delete the line.

No?

Or failing that enter some combination that is difficult or impossible to actually press...

 

[CHACAL]

I still have one question and one problem though. Is there any way to make the analog stick control mouse movement?

I use a program called Joystick-To-Mouse which allow me to use the gamepad to control the mouse pointer and left/right mouse button clicks.

Heres the link: http://www.imgpresents.com/joy2mse/jtmdemo.htm
down the bottom of the page is a 'download demo' link.


Heres the description:
[
Joystick-To-Mouse is a Windows software program that allows any joystick to point & click just like a mouse. Joystick-To-Mouse allows the joystick to position the mouse cursor and enables the joystick buttons to operate as mouse buttons. Joystick-To-Mouse has been widely acclaimed in the Assistive Technology community because it provides computer access and control via joystick to physically challenged users on a Windows platform. Joystick-To-Mouse has been widely accepted by children, recreational users, and other users who prefer the joystick over the mouse or trackball.
]

It works great! especially with media-portal! Although, if you have the direct input device option ticked in the MP configuration there can be some 'double-handling' of events. So i just leave it unticked and navigate around asthough i'm using the mouse. Most options are available with a (gamepad) right-click.

Does anyone know of any other software that does this... makes a gamepad control the pointer in windows?

 

[tuco]

I've had a problem with using my gamepad to control MP lately, it suddently stopped working and when i click 'control pan' in Setup i get this message:

"Unhandled exception has occured in your application. If you click Continue, the application will ignore the error and attempt to continue. If you click Quit, the application will close immediately.

Object referance not set to an instance of an object."

And when i click for details i get the log in the attachment.

The pad works flawless with all other applications. I tried uninstalling MP and reinstall (with the same database), but the pad still doesn't work. Don't know exactly when the problem started, or if it's related to the the SVN. It's a pain in the ass to have to control MP with the keyboard again, so any help is appreciated.
If there's any relevant logs i can post i'd be happy to.

MediaPortal Version: 0.2.2.0
SVN: 14.19.07
Windows Version: Windows XP Pro, SP2
Gamepad: Saitek P380