hotkey not recognizing

[Draven28]

<controls>
I am using a 8bitdo new30 pro controller, and have had no issues using it with my current raspberry pi 3 b+. however I recently decided to wipe my version of retro pie (not entirely sure how old it was, but I've been using it for years now), and install the new version so as to provide better support and such. unfortunately, I'm now having issues with the controllers using the hotkey while in games. all buttons seem to work on any game, as well as in emulationstation, and I've tried reconfiguring multiple times, with leaving the hotkey unassigned and giving it my usual "select" button option, but while in games it does not recognize any hotkey+button combos, and I cant understand why. I cant quit out without hard resetting the system, and I cant pull up the menu, even with a plugged in keyboard. Please help.

There were files in /opt/retropie/configs/all/retroarch/autoconfig, however when perusing the internet I saw a post that suggested trying to delete these, restart, and try setting the gamepads up again, but no new files are being generated. I suspect something is being read from a different location, though Ive found no traces of where that would be. Please note that the issue did not change from before I did this file deletion, nor did it make things any worse (seemingly)

[mitu]

@Draven28 said in hotkey not recognizing:

but no new files are being generated

Did you also delete EmulationStation's input configuration file ? Did you disable EmulationStation's auto-configuration option (from RetroPie-Setup) ?

Please add some info about your setup, as requested in https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/3/read-this-first.

[Draven28]

@mitu I did delete the emulationstations input config file as well, and disable the auto config option with no changes.

Pi Model or other hardware: pi model 3 B+
Power Supply used: Belkin 12 watt power adapter (output 5v 2.4A)
RetroPie Version Used : 4.8
Built From: retropie-buster-4.8-rpi2_3_zero2w
USB Devices connected: when trying to use hotkey in game, none, but will use keyboard as needed.
Controller used: 8bitdo nes30 pro
Error messages received: none, hotkey combos/functions just do not work, despite all other buttons working

If you want any logs or anything specifically let me know what youd like to see and I can provide. Ive tried following the guides posted on site, as well as googled a few attempted work arounds, but very few of any describe the specific problem I'm seeing, since the controllers are technically working fine, just the hotkey function isnt.
How to replicate the problem:

[mitu]

You shouldn't have deleted the input configuration file for EmulationStation, the right procedure to reset your controller settings is to use RetroPie-Setup and then go to Manage Packages >> Manage Core Packages >> EmulationStation >> Configuration / Options >> Clear / Reset EmulationStation Input Configuration.

Re-create the file with the contents below:

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<inputList>
  <inputAction type="onfinish">
    <command>/opt/retropie/supplementary/emulationstation/scripts/inputconfiguration.sh</command>
  </inputAction>
</inputList>

then re-enable the auto-configuration option and restart.
By removing the config file, you've removed the ability for EmulationStation to create the configuration profile for RetroArch. Same thing happens when you disable the input auto-configuration - you'll need to configure the controller manually in RetroArch if you do so.

Re-configure your input again after the restart and see if the hotkey is working.

[Draven28]

@mitu I'm sorry I used the wrong terminology... I did not delete the file, but rather cleared it using Manage Packages >> Manage Core Packages >> EmulationStation >> Configuration / Options >> Clear / Reset EmulationStation Input Configuration.. I can reenable the auto config, however it was enabled when the issue began as well. However as I stated I'm not sure the issue lies here, as the controller works fine, only the hotkey combo does not work.

[Draven28]

reenabled the auto config and restarted, hotkey combos still not working :/

[sleve_mcdichael]

@Draven28 does select button work on its own? Not as a hotkey but as "select"?

Can we see your controller autoconfig, global retroarch.cfg, and a system retroarch.cfg for one that's not working?

Can you SSH into the system? You can shutdown RetroArch with kill $(pidof retroarch); this would allow you to create and retrieve a verbose log without powering off. Can we see that log too?

[Draven28]

@sleve_mcdichael I would have to find a game that uses select to test that... I was still in the middle of setup and was going through games to verify the roms were correctly named, so was getting to title screen and (attempting) to quit out and move to the next one. when the select + start combo wasnt working obviously I was concerned.
I tried launching a rom with verbose logging but am getting no file in dev/shm. Also, following my deletion of the file as explained earlier, I no longer have a file appearing in /opt/retropie/configs/all/retroarch/autoconfig... its just a blank folder. As for the other logs, I will place below in code blocks or links to paste bin. I've been testing with dragonwarrior 1+2 rom on gbc since the start of the issue. Now I apologize for not know which of these are the config files you want, but I am providing all of them just in case. Let me know if you need more or something different.

/opt/retropie/emulators/retroarch/retroarch : https://pastebin.com/35ERyaET

/opt/retropie/configs/all/retroarch.cfg : https://pastebin.com/JfQWrY9M

/opt/retropie/configs/all/retroarch-core-options.cfg :

cap32_autorun = "enabled"
cap32_Model = "6128"
cap32_Ram = "128"
cap32_combokey = "y"
fbneo-diagnostic-input = "Hold Start"
fuse_machine = "Spectrum 128K"
gambatte_gb_colorization = "custom"
mame2003_skip_disclaimer = "enabled"

/opt/retropie/configs/gbc/retroarch.cfg :

# Settings made here will only override settings in the global retroarch.cfg if placed above the #include line

input_remapping_directory = "/opt/retropie/configs/gbc/"

#include "/opt/retropie/configs/all/retroarch.cfg"

[Draven28]

@sleve_mcdichael and just now while I was sitting here the SSH disconnected and reconnected and the auto config file appeared... very strange if you ask me... but still no change in the issue of the button not working... here is the auto config file : /opt/retropie/configs/all/retroarch/autoconfig/8Bitdo NES30 Pro.cfg

input_device = "8Bitdo NES30 Pro"
input_driver = "udev"
input_enable_hotkey_btn = "21"
input_r3_btn = "25"
input_r_y_minus_axis = "-3"
input_r_y_minus_axis_label = "RS Up"
input_l_btn = "19"
input_load_state_btn = "19"
input_r_y_plus_axis = "+3"
input_r_y_plus_axis_label = "RS Down"
input_up_btn = "h0up"
input_up_btn_label = "Dpad Up"
input_left_btn = "h0left"
input_left_btn_label = "Dpad Left"
input_state_slot_decrease_btn = "h0left"
input_select_btn = "21"
input_r2_btn = "18"
input_r_x_minus_axis = "-2"
input_r_x_minus_axis_label = "RS Left"
input_l_y_plus_axis = "+1"
input_l_y_plus_axis_label = "LS Down"
input_l_x_plus_axis = "+0"
input_l_x_plus_axis_label = "LS Right"
input_right_btn = "h0right"
input_right_btn_label = "Dpad Right"
input_state_slot_increase_btn = "h0right"
input_l2_btn = "17"
input_l_x_minus_axis = "-0"
input_l_x_minus_axis_label = "LS Left"
input_r_x_plus_axis = "+2"
input_r_x_plus_axis_label = "RS Right"
input_l3_btn = "24"
input_r_btn = "20"
input_save_state_btn = "20"
input_l_y_minus_axis = "-1"
input_l_y_minus_axis_label = "LS Up"
input_y_btn = "15"
input_x_btn = "14"
input_menu_toggle_btn = "14"
input_down_btn = "h0down"
input_down_btn_label = "Dpad Down"
input_start_btn = "22"
input_exit_emulator_btn = "22"
input_b_btn = "12"
input_reset_btn = "12"
input_a_btn = "11"

[sleve_mcdichael]

@Draven28

Line 1017 in /opt/retropie/configs/all/retroarch.cfg:

input_enable_hotkey = "nul"

Mine doesn't have that. Try temporarily disabling it by putting a # in front of it, and test your hotkey functions.

[Draven28]

@sleve_mcdichael no good :/

[Draven28]

I did go fully into the dragon warrior game and realized though that I was wrong about all buttons working inside an emulation... it appears that the direction buttons are working, and the start button is functioning as the "A" button, but I am not getting a response out of any other buttons.

All the buttons work on emulationstation, but inside a rom not the case... apologies for the confusion on my part.

I've verified the hotkey issues transfers to all emulators, but I'm going to check a few other games/emulators to see if I can narrow down which buttons arent working specifically. It could be that you were on the money about the select button just not being recognized at all.

[sleve_mcdichael]

@Draven28 I'm looking at the specs for your NES30 Pro controller. Are you using it wired or Bluetooth? Are you starting it up in X-input mode with power + "X"?

[Draven28]

@sleve_mcdichael I use the bluetooth mode, and no just regular powerup, no input mode

[sleve_mcdichael]

@Draven28

appears that the direction buttons are working, and the start button is functioning as the "A" button, but I am not getting a response out of any other buttons.

So, I'm looking here:

https://github.com/libretro/retroarch-joypad-autoconfig/blob/master/udev/8Bitdo_Pro_N30_USB.cfg

And I see:

input_start_btn = "11"

...but then in your file you have:

input_a_btn = "11"

...and then you said that "start" is functioning as the "A"button, and here they're both button "11" so this seems like it might be related.

You also have h0up, etc. for directional buttons, which the other file also has, and your analog sticks (axes +/- 0..3) match up too. Nothing else matches up though. You could try entering the values from that file and see if it helps anything.

I still don't know why your auto-config file would be messed up in the first place but it does seem odd that your buttons go from 11 and up instead of 0 to whatever.

You said it works in EmulationStation. In the ~/.emulationstation/es_input.cfg, does it look more like the values from your auto-config or more like that one online?

[Draven28]

fyi I did a fresh install (same version and hardware) and this time the hotkey function is working... this is the third install I did, but the only difference this time was that I did not run the updates on core and optional packages. I plan to go through my roms as planned, and after I'm done I can check the updates to see if the issue returns then. but for now I at least am able to do what I intended.

[Draven28]

quick update. I finished my rom updates and then performed the update to all core and installed optional packages as I did before. This time however my controls were not messed up, and everything appears to be working as expected. Not sure what happened the last install, but it appears it was a one off situation. Sorry to have bothered everyone, but thanks for the help anyway :)

[sbn]

In my case, the issue seems to origin from the fact that only player 1 can use hotkeys, but for some reason my controller's driver xarcade2jstick is by default reversing the sides of X-Arcade Tankstick, when retroarch is getting input. As a result, the lift side of the stick, recognized as Controller 1, is controlling player 2 in games and vice versa.

I guess that this prevented the Select as hotkey enabler from working. I made it work by fiddling around with the retroarch settings, and reversed the controllers, and not everything seems to be good.

I had my tankstick configured with the default mapping.

What I ended up doing was just adding these lines to the bottom of /opt/retropie/configs/all/retroarch.cfg and everything worked great after launching another game.

input_player1_joypad_index = "1"  
input_player2_joypad_index = "0"  

Here's the mapping I use