Joystick API

[CSX2057]

Great News!

I just spoke to Cadde who made this program joystick api and I asked him about putting his railworks API using mediafire and this is his reply!

Cadde As per my "License" you are free to do whatever you want. The files are hosted on a private server right now, they may go offline and back online depending on various factors and as such, having a mirror on Mediafire might be a good idea.
The only thing i don't wish for is links through ad sites and/or other moneymaking schemes. This is supposed to be as FREE as it can get and hopefully stay open source and available to the community as a whole and other communities. (not necessarily RailWorks / Train Simulator related)

I made it for myself personally primarily but shared for the greater good of all that could find it useful.

Surely this site is a mess in the forums and I was trying to locate his download. Now I can get to keep his software on my mediafire download

[gege21]

Hi CSX2057

I realy appreciate your Youtube video on Joystick API well done ! I use two Saitek Throttle Quadrant for TS2013 and it is better than Raildriver (I own also one but left it in the room corner).

With Throttle Quadrant the driving experience is more accurate on the different levers because the range of the levers is very large. I prefer that instead the Raildriver levers who are less accurate.

But as I'm not familiar with the spoken english language (I'm french) could you make another one version API video with written overlayed text (in english) that will make more understanding for users who don't understand well the spoken english like me.

If you have the time to make it if any ...

Thank you so much for your great video.

Best regards
Gerard

[CSX2057]

Hey Gerard!

Glad everything worked out for you. If my english was a little bad I apologize. What I'll do is to make a CC on that video so makes it easier to understand, txting is kinda mmm ok. But if that fails, I'll see what I can do to make it easier on my next video.

I'm also planning on buying another Saitek for the right hand. Felt bad I only have one but I should get another sometime this Spring or Summer.

Update:
Closed Caption Text is on! for letting me know.

[gege21]

RE :

Oh no your english is certainly very well understandable but for me if I could reduce the speed of your video, I should understand all you said into it. But as I can't do I don't understand all you said... For me it is the speed speaking that I can't follow...

If some overlayed text was able to read that would be very helpfull. See what you can do if you have the time but this is not very needed for english users

And yes with two Throttle Quadrant I can use 5 levers on them (or 6 if I need them) with the great Jostick API Cadde's soft. I shall say the driving experience with the TQ's levers are more accurate because these levers have a much more large range levers movement instead them on the Raildriver controler (which I own one and left it in the room corner because not enough accurate and not enough large range levers).

I encourage you to buy another one TQ in the future. The only error I got when installing two TQ's on W7 64 bit (I believe this happen also on other OS platform), was when calibrating the X and Y axis on the one of the two TQ's into Joystick API Debug tab : though in windows the calibrating test was perfectly set up, in Joystick API Debug tab selecting "All device listen" the X and Y axis on the one of the two TQ's began calibrating only from 32467 to 65595 (something like that). For the others axis all was begining from 0 to 65595 full range. What result into the programmable API interface : for the X and Y axis whose not fully calibrated on the full range movement, these axis jump from 0% to 50% abruptly and then move smoothly continousely from 50% to 100% as expected.

Whatever I done trying pluging the two Throttle Quadrant into different USB ports, changing the USB plug from the 1 USB port with the 2 and vice versa, nothing seemed to resolve the problem. I think it is how Windows handle two same identical controlers and don't give an identification attribut on each. They seem mixed and provide some strange behavior.

No worry I found a fix on the Saitek forum for that brought by UKSUPPORT mann tricking in the Windows registry : http://www.saitekforum.com/showthread.php?t=15478 (perhaps you must be registered to look at).

Now all 6 TQ's axis are fully set and run as expected : the calibrating into the Joystick API Debug tab is on the full range from 0 to 65595 (about) on the 6 axis (2 Throttle Quadrant).

Hope that can help some if any

Best regards
Gerard

[gege21]

Hey Gerard!

...

Update:
Closed Caption Text is on! for letting me know.

After watching again your tutorial video I don't see any change with the one before you updated it if any.

What change should be expected ? At the beginning of your vid some text appear in white and red background relating the thanks to Cadde and where we can find Joystick API soft plus some brief explannation how to download MacroWorks 3 on the PiEngineering site. That's all.

If you have add some part text along your video I don't see more than those appear at the beginning...

Oh another question : I use also FRAPS to make some ingame video but how do you use FRAPS to record Desktop display videos ? I'm very interesting with that but don't know how to make a record of desktop display like you done...
This should very instructive how you proceed with FRAPS to do so ...

Best regards
Gerard

[Chacal]

In the Youtube video player, you have to click on the little "CC" button on the bottom. This will display the closed caption text.

Also, FRAPS and Bandicam will record whatever your video card outputs. You should be able to select a specific window or the whole screen.

[gege21]

@ chacal : thank very much for this accuracy ... Sorry I had not very well understood how to do... so now is ok I go to do so...

For FRAPS I have found how to do also . I must to set my desktop display in aero mode and check the appropriate tick box into FRAPS General tab.

All is OK now.

I come back for the CSX2057 video report and let you know.

@+

PS : Yes with this Closed Caption tool enable now I have the whole video comments understood . thank very much to chacal for his help and CSX2057 for his nice guidance throught his video.

Best regards
Gerard

[miata54]

This is very interesting info as I already have a Saitek TQ for FSX.

Question:

Do you need the Raildriver hardware unit to use the API and the Macroworks3 software, in TS2013?

Thanks

[gege21]

This is very interesting info as I already have a Saitek TQ for FSX.

Question:

Do you need the Raildriver hardware unit to use the API and the Macroworks3 software, in TS2013?

Thanks

No you don't need the Raildriver controler hardware to use this API soft. Even the Raildriver controler is not recognized as a standard windows controler like others branded jotsticks in peripherals and printers windows section. Raildriver is recognized as a desktop controler only and apart of the others normal joysticks like wheel, pad, sticks and so on windows compatible. That is the cause it don't work with Joystick API soft.

Joystick API soft need the file Raildriver.DLL to work. I don't know if Raildriver.DLL is provided with TS2013 installation or come with MacroWorks 3 installation from PIEngineering staff. I believe it is provided by TS2013 game installation (to be verifyed)

In other hand if you want to use the Raildriver controler hardware, you need also to install Macroworks3 to get the functionnalities of this controler.

To resume : you can use Joystick API soft and Raildriver.DLL with any pad, wheel, joystick you have and MacroWorks3 and Raildriver.DLL if you plan to use a Raildriver controler unit

Best regards
Gerard

[peterhayes]

Gerard
I use the CH Products throttle quadrant which has 6 levers and these work fine with the joystick api as well as using either XPadder or the Pinnacle Game studios app in TS 2013. (No registry hack needed)
I have written quite a few times to PI Engineering asking them to develop a ntive windows interface so that the Rail Driver is recognised by Windows as a game controller - that would make it so much easier to use with TS2013. No response so far!
Thanks for this post.
pH

[gege21]

Hi Peter

Yes this is a shame that PIEngineering doesn't set their unit as windows interface compatible... Oh so yes they are compatible with windows sure they work but not recognised as game controler. They are specific hardware windows compatible only with PIEngineering program set up to be recognised into windows.

I have like you too used Xpadder and Pinnacle Game studio but with Xpadder I was able to set only one full range axis because it was mapped like a pad on the trigger. If I want to set two axis in a vertical direction on the sticks mapping as they return on their central point (cause the spring) each time moved upward or downward the Throttle Quadrant levers doesn't functionning as expected : through Xpadder on the vertical sticks mapping the Throttle Quadrant levers must to be pushed or pulled down back to the center spot to mimic a stick movement like a spring and that is not I want. If I leave the Throttle Quadrant lever pushed up only to 25% of his range, Xpadder believe I press continousely on the mapped key and ingame the result is a fully applied value and don't stay on the 25% value as expected.

Do you understand what I try explain ? However I didn't understood very well how to set up with Xpadder and some accurate explannation would be wellcome

Does Xpadder can use several controlers at the same time ? If so I don't know how to set up them...

With CH Quadrant as you have this is only one piece of unit with 6 axis and no twick is needed in the registry windows because the OS recognise this controler as a only one simple controler. With Saitek TQ's it is a little bit different thing cause if you want to use 6 axis you must have 2 TQ's and for windows they look as also 2 identical controlers and are not very well identifyed as two different controlers... And then strange behaviors occur. That is why it is needed to twick something in the windows registry... but no worry nothing really breaking by twicking following on a right way the advices.

Best regards
Gerard

[peterhayes]

Gerard
thanks for the reply.
I've only used xpadder for 1 x Saitek 3 throttle and the CH controller but it should work with 2 if you assigned different axes to each control so to speak.
With the CH throttle quadrant I did see reasonable full travel results using xpadder, but I recall have to use direct mode in the CH manager app and also set a null zone (as in FSX).
I had some limited success using the CH Manager software but not as good as via Windows, xpadder, the API or Pinnacle.
At present I've gone back to using the raildriver after using a Logitech F710 and Logitech G13 combination so when I go back to the CH quadrant - I''ll note down how I set up the various axes in XPadder (need to buy a licence) and Pinnacle game studios.
Somewhere in one of the long lost corners of my room I have a Logitech G940 system and I was going to try to use that except that it has captive rudder/brake pedals which I guess might function as brakes. The Logitech games software seems to work OK in TS2013 for keyboard commands and not too bad for axes if the F710 is anything to go by.
IN FSX the xpadder worked ok for a Saitek X52 and the throttles plus CH rudder pedals but I did not try that in TS 2013 - I find Xpadder explanations not to be very inuitive when you want to do something a little out of the ordinary.

If you ever find out what keyboard command(s) is/are mapped to on the XBOX 360's "B" key then please let me know its the only button/key that I cannot map effectively on the F710/G13 combo.

Hope this is useful.
PeterH

[miata54]

This is very interesting info as I already have a Saitek TQ for FSX.

Question:

Do you need the Raildriver hardware unit to use the API and the Macroworks3 software, in TS2013?

Thanks

No you don't need the Raildriver controler hardware to use this API soft. Even the Raildriver controler is not recognized as a standard windows controler like others branded jotsticks in peripherals and printers windows section. Raildriver is recognized as a desktop controler only and apart of the others normal joysticks like wheel, pad, sticks and so on windows compatible. That is the cause it don't work with Joystick API soft.

Joystick API soft need the file Raildriver.DLL to work. I don't know if Raildriver.DLL is provided with TS2013 installation or come with MacroWorks 3 installation from PIEngineering staff. I believe it is provided by TS2013 game installation (to be verifyed)

In other hand if you want to use the Raildriver controler hardware, you need also to install Macroworks3 to get the functionnalities of this controler.

To resume : you can use Joystick API soft and Raildriver.DLL with any pad, wheel, joystick you have and MacroWorks3 and Raildriver.DLL if you plan to use a Raildriver controler unit

Best regards
Gerard

Thanks Gege21 for the info. I asked the question about needing a Raildriver or not because I just sold my unit to GSkid! Glad it is not needed. Seeing I already have a Saitek TQ, I'm going to download the Macroworks3 and the Joystick API and see if I can get the TQ to function on the 3 axis's before I commit to buying another TQ just for TS2013.

I just found the original post about the Joystick API and saw that it was dated back in 2011! Just scratching my head wondering how I missed all of this?

Best regards,
Chris

[gege21]

Thanks Peter for the infos

I don't know CH throttle product as I never bought one.

The F710 is it not the wireless form of the F510 pad ? As I have the F510 also with usb plug cable. This work like a X360 and can be used in TS2013 very well. I had allready tested it but now I prefer my Throttle Quadrant because the levers movement are more accurate.

I don't know what is mapped on the "B" button on the X360 controler; sorry... commonly ingame you have a picture who describe the mapped button on a x360 pad; you should be able to find what function is mapped on the B button. But for the X360 equivalent controler like your F710 and my F510 I don't know. Perhaps instead X Y A B likes on the X360 you must inverted as Y X B A or something like that for your F710. Sorry I can't give you wrong advice...

About Xpadder mapping how do you map six axis with full range movement on six levers ? If I set one lever mapped as a stick Xpadder provide two axis X and Y (inverted if needed) some more with RX and RY but the goal with Xpadder is to map a keyboard press ... As long as the stick mimic the key press by pushing the stick on the Y axis up or down the result is a mapped key press as we can do on the keyboard...But when releasing the stick it come back to his center spot cause the spring and stop the mimic key press. What I want to obtain with my lever is when I set this lever physicaly to 25% or 50% of his course and leave it at this steady value I want to reach the about same value in game holding this value. I don't want to push back my lever to his center physical spot to stop the mimic keypress as Xpadder do.

I don't know if I am enough clear.

Oh yes the G940 is a great piece of flight controler . you are a lucky boy Peter with all these rubbish joystick

I feel I will go at your home to play

Best regards
Gerard

[gege21]

Thanks Gege21 for the info. I asked the question about needing a Raildriver or not because I just sold my unit to GSkid! Glad it is not needed. Seeing I already have a Saitek TQ, I'm going to download the Macroworks3 and the Joystick API and see if I can get the TQ to function on the 3 axis's before I commit to buying another TQ just for TS2013.

I just found the original post about the Joystick API and saw that it was dated back in 2011! Just scratching my head wondering how I missed all of this?

Best regards,
Chris

I can confirm you that 2 Throttle Quadrant are fully functionning with Raildriver.DLL file (brought by MacroWorks 3 seeming) and the Joystick API soft from Cadde author. I have the two TQ's from saitek and the necessary files and soft... all is running fine for me.

Another important thing : Joystick API run only with W7 because his author (Cadde) had written for himself this program to run specificaly on W7 OS. That's the only restriction.

Best regards
Gerard