This small utility is written mainly for Flight Simluator (with extra feature for FSX Deluxe version), but can be also usefull if you want to activate keyboard macros from special keyboard(s). With latest version 1.4 mouse support was added (see below).
Key features
- manage multiple keyboards/mouses connected to one PC
- different key on different keyboard has assigned it's own command
- mouse buttons on different mouses can be also used as macro trigeer - including mouse wheel
- when a key activates macro, it's own beahvior (e.g. sending letter code to windows) is deactivated
- macro can send another keyboard keys, launch application or send command to FSX via SimConnect
- when no macro is assigned, keyboard/mouse works as usual
Limitations
- still beta - no warranty
- works only under XP or Vista
- admin rights probably required
Download
This utility is freeware. Author provides no warranty.
Current version: 1.4
News - current development
Some of you asked for toggle switch option. It is not a good idea to use keyboard button, because
once the key is pressed keyboard driver keeps sending key-down messages to windows. However with Direct Input
I'm able to manage various gamepads and joysticks. Buttons of game devices can be easily used for toggle
switches. Having pressed e.g. gamepad button for a long time doesn't cause any processing in windows.
So you can have some cheap gamepad with 8 buttons and connect those buttons as light switches, gear control etc.
This version is still being tested, but you can download it from this location.
After some time it will be used as current version.
For the future I think about scripting possibilities, interface to Xplane and FSUIPC. Depends on time,
will and your feedback.
New features in version 1.4
On user requests (thanks for your input) mouse support was implemented. Macro can be activated by mouse button press/release or mouse wheel scroll. Again default windows behavior is deactivated when mouse event has some macro assigned.
Especially mouse wheel can be used for various actions in FS - tuning the radios, trim aircraft, set heading knob etc.
Mouse button can have different macro for press and release. This was intended for toggle switches in simple home cockpit, however windows mouse driver provides some control on HW level so it brings only limited functionality. But it's perfectly usable for simple clicks.
Also another macro action was implemented. You can launch different application when macro is activated.
FS usage example - the cheapest home cockpit
Take any old keyboard, connect it to USB (PS2 - USB covnertor cost a few Euros) and just stick paper labels with FS buttons. Then you define macro commands just for this keyboard. It means e.g. "A" on this old keyboard can turn autopilot on/off, but "A" on your regular keyboard will work just as before. The command can be either keyboard shorcut sent to FS window or SimConnect event (see FSX SDK for available events and their description).
Screenshots
Detected keyboards
Macro definitons
My keyboard
Currently I use this tool to fly with L-410 in FSX. Here's my first design of keyboard:
I can control autopilot (including heading bug, height and vertical speed), ADF frequency,
NAV1, NAV2 frequencies and stdby switch, QNH setting for altimeter,
aircraft lights, master battery, pitot heat, gear, flaps, parking brakes and all 2D cockipt panels.
All is controlled by SimConnect events, ini file for this layout can be downloaded here. To use it as it is, just
rename you keyboard to "FS".
Download archive
- version 1.1 bugs fixed, final version with keyboard support only
- version 1.02 dynamic SimConnect loading, no need for 2 versions any more
- version 1.01 for computer with Flight Simluator X with SimConnect (Deluxe) installed
- version 1.01 for computer without FSX (SimConnect features disabled)