Bit confused with the hotkey combination

busywait

@chris3535 You will be able to use Hotkey+Joystick left, or Hotkey+Joystick right instead (as one example) if you change the hotkey assignments.

One way to do that is by editing the global retroarch.cfg file to "hard code" new hotkey combinations: /opt/retropie/configs/all/retroarch.cfg

Maybe all the info you need is in the page linked underneath the table that you referred to? In case you didn't see it: [https://retropie.org.uk/docs/RetroArch-Configuration/#hotkeys](link URL)

Chris3535

@busywait thanks. This looks way to complicated to me. I just wanted to set this up for my dad so he could save games, exit games etc. He will have a pi 400 with keyboard so can this be done using the keyboard?

Isn't there an easier way to configure joystick than what that page says? It's literally like a different language to me

Chris3535

Basically all I want to be able to do is set it so he can play games.. Save and load games and exit games by using either the joystick or keyboard. Is that possible without having to edit that config file?

mitu

@chris3535 said in Bit confused with the hotkey combination:

Save and load games and exit games by using either the joystick or keyboard.

You didn't mention the keyboard - you can use the keyboard to exit/save/load/etc, without configuring a hotkey on the gamepad.

Chris3535

@mitu thats great. What are the keys that will do this? Is there a list of what keys do what?

mitu

@chris3535 For RetroArch based emulators (which should cover most of the emulated systems) - see here.

Chris3535

@mitu thank you so much.. This will definitely help.. Just one more thought.. The joystick I have got him has 4 buttons.. So given that he will only need one button as he is only interested in 8 bit and 16 bit games..

If I mapped one of the spare buttons as the hotkey. And one of the other spare buttons as the start key.. Would this mean if he pressed them both that it would exit out of the game?

Meaning that he could use the keyboard F2 and F4 for saving and loading?

Chris3535

And finally am I right in thinking that if by any chance a game needs for example f2 to be pressed you can still press f2 and it will be OK as you actually need to hold down f2 to enable save state?

mitu

For that, you can press Scroll Lock on the keyboard and RetroArch will enter 'Game focus mode', which disables any hotkeys and sends all input directly to the game being run. Press again to toggle back the hotkeys.
The Pi 400 keyboard doesn't have the aforementioned key present, but you can re-configure it in the configuration file by setting input_game_focus_toggle to another key.

Chris3535

@mitu said in Bit confused with the hotkey combination:

For that, you can press Scroll Lock on the keyboard and RetroArch will enter 'Game focus mode', which disables any hotkeys and sends all input directly to the game being run. Press again to toggle back the hotkeys.
The Pi 400 keyboard doesn't have the aforementioned key present, but you can re-configure it in the configuration file by setting input_game_focus_toggle to another key.

Thanks again how do I get to the configuration file to re configure it?

I am guessing it's important that I do this as if for example he plays a game where he has to enter his name.. If he hits a hotkey while doing this then that would be a problem.

Sorry to be a pain about this.. Is there a step by step guide in how to reconfigure in game focus toggle to another key?

busywait

@chris3535 said in Bit confused with the hotkey combination:

The joystick I have got him has 4 buttons..
...
If I mapped one of the spare buttons as the hotkey. And one of the other spare buttons as the start key.. Would this mean if he pressed them both that it would exit out of the game?

Yes. A typical combination is that the two buttons Select and Start together exit the game. You could configure two of your buttons as Select and Start and choose Select as the Hotkey Enable button aka "the Hotkey button". Then you can quit with that default Select+Start hotkey combination.

There are plenty of older games that use 2 or 3 buttons (jump+throw, fire+shields, fire+thrust+hyperspace, ...) I'd expect that mapping your joystick to the Start, A, B and Y buttons could be sensible. Either rely on the keyboard hotkey controls to quit, or if you're feeling brave then select one of those to be the Hotkey Enable when you configure the controller, and edit the config file to configure which button you want to be the exit (hot)key.

Chris3535

@busywait Thanks for your reply but i am getting myself more and more confused !

So he has 4 buttons, i know what your saying about some games have more than one button but for the majority if not all he will only need one button.

So lets assume we keep on button spare (just in case lol)

So what your saying is i map one button as Select and one button as start. Then i also choose select as the hotkey button. This means when he presses these 2 buttons it will exit out and he can select another game? is this right?

Also i need to know how to edit the config file as i need to change the Input_game_focus_toggle to another key as the retro pi keyborad does not have scroll lock. How do i do this?

Again im really sorry for being a pest with all these questions i am just trying to make tomorrow as easy as possible

busywait

@chris3535 said in Bit confused with the hotkey combination:

@busywait
So what your saying is i map one button as Select and one button as start. Then i also choose select as the hotkey button. This means when he presses these 2 buttons it will exit out and he can select another game? is this right?

Yes.

@chris3535 said in Bit confused with the hotkey combination:

Also i need to know how to edit the config file as i need to change the Input_game_focus_toggle to another key as the retro pi keyborad does not have scroll lock. How do i do this?

Quit Emulation Station (Start button, choose quit, choose quit)
You should see a command line.

Type

nano /opt/retropie/configs/all/retroarch.cfg

Change the text that you need to change, and press Ctrl+O
Press Enter to accept the file name
Press Ctrl+X to edit the editor

Type

emulationstation

(Hint, type emu and press the Tab key).
Press Enter

Chris3535

@busywait You are a star, thank you so so much for this !!!

busywait

@chris3535 said in Bit confused with the hotkey combination:

I am guessing it's important that I do this as if for example he plays a game where he has to enter his name.. If he hits a hotkey while doing this then that would be a problem.

If you are playing old games in RetroArch where you enter your name you will be using the joystick, not a keyboard I think, so no need to worry about accidentally hitting a hotkey.

busywait

@chris3535 said in Bit confused with the hotkey combination:

the retro pi keyborad does not have scroll lock

Why do you think that the Pi400/Pi Keyboard does not have a scroll lock?

Is there anything similar written in red near the top right of the keyboard?

mitu

@busywait said in Bit confused with the hotkey combination:

Why do you think that the Pi400/Pi Keyboard does not have a scroll lock?

See the product brief, I don't see such key in the available layouts.

Chris3535

@mitu @busywait Thank you all so much for your help with this, i am going to try and get it all setup tomorrow, i have put a full day aside as i think i may need it lol

No doubt i will have more questions as and when i get stuck but i wanted to thank you all again.

busywait

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busywait

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