Guide: Advanced Controller Mappings

MadHorse

@mediamogul
Thank you for your fast reply, it seems to disappear when i move the left stick and reappear always at the top left when i move back to center.
Yes you are right, if i map the left stick to --ui-axismap x1=KEY_LEFT:KEY_RIGHT,y1=KEY_DOWN:KEY_UP stop acting strange and work like the arrow keys.
You are also right, if i don't map the left stick under --evdev-absmap it disable the left stick.
I will use one of the solution as a workaround but i will try to investigate futher on why is acting like this.
Thank you very much

MadHorse

Hello again,
i have another questions about joypad configuration for individual emulators.
For emulators that start using a shell script like scummVM and amiga it's easy, but for others emulators like for example jzintv what should i do?
The emulators.cfg is

jzintv="/opt/retropie/emulators/jzintv/bin/jzintv -p /home/pi/RetroPie/BIOS -q %ROM%"
default="jzintv"

I should create a shell script like scummVM and change emulators.cfg to point the the script or there is an easy way ?
Thank you for any help.

mediamogul

@MadHorse

There's really no one right answer to that. Sometimes you can just add the xboxdrv command to the emulators.cfg and others by pointing to a shell script.

MadHorse

Hi all,

i'm just making some test but it's seems to work well.
Create a runcommand-onstart.sh

nano /opt/retropie/configs/all/runcommand-onstart.sh

the script will contain a casestatement where it will execute the xboxdrv configuration according to the emulator launched.
The following is just an example, everyone should change the configuration based on their own controller

#!/bin/sh
case $1 in
        fba)
                ;;
        daphne)
                ;;
        scummvm)
                sudo killall >/dev/null xboxdrv
                /opt/retropie/supplementary/xboxdrv/bin/xboxdrv \
                        >/dev/null \
                        --evdev /dev/input/event2 \
                        --silent \
                        --detach-kernel-driver \
                        --force-feedback \
                        --mimic-xpad \
                        --dpad-as-button \
                        --evdev-absmap ABS_X=x1,ABS_Y=y1,ABS_Z=x2,ABS_RX=y2 \
                        --evdev-keymap KEY_#302=a,KEY_#301=b,BTN_DEAD=x,KEY_#300=y,BTN_THUMB=tl,BTN_THUMB2=tr,BTN_BASE5=lb,BTN_BASE6=rb,BTN_TRIGGER=back,KEY_#720=guide,BTN_TOP=start,BTN_TOP2=du,BTN_PINKIE=dr,BTN_BASE=dd,BTN_BASE2=dl,BTN_BASE3=lt,BTN_BASE4=rt \
                        --calibration x1=-32767:0:32767,y1=-32767:0:32767,x2=-32767:0:32767,y2=-32767:0:32767 \
                        --axismap -Y1=Y1,-Y2=Y2 \
                        --ui-axismap x1=REL_X:10,y1=REL_Y:10 \
                        --ui-buttonmap b=BTN_LEFT,a=BTN_RIGHT,start=KEY_F5 \
                        --ui-buttonmap guide=void,x=void,y=void,lb=void,rb=void,tl=void,tr=void,lt=void,rt=void,back=void \
                        --ui-axismap x2=void \
                        &
                ;;
        intellivision)
                sudo killall >/dev/null xboxdrv
                /opt/retropie/supplementary/xboxdrv/bin/xboxdrv \
                        >/dev/null \
                        --evdev /dev/input/event2 \
                        --detach-kernel-driver \
                        --force-feedback \
                        --dpad-as-button \
                        --trigger-as-button \
                        --deadzone-trigger 15% \
                        --deadzone 4000 \
                        --silent \
                        --axismap -Y1=Y1,-Y2=Y2 \
                        --evdev-absmap ABS_X=x1,ABS_Y=y1,ABS_Z=x2,ABS_RX=y2,ABS_HAT0X=dpad_x,ABS_HAT0Y=dpad_y \
                        --evdev-keymap BTN_THUMB2=a,BTN_THUMB=b,BTN_TOP=x,BTN_TRIGGER=y,BTN_BASE3=back,BTN_BASE4=start,BTN_TOP2=lb,BTN_PINKIE=rb,BTN_BASE5=tl,BTN_BASE6=tr,BTN_BASE=lt,BTN_BASE2=rt \
                        --ui-axismap X1=KEY_S:KEY_D,Y1=KEY_E:KEY_X,X2=KEY_1:KEY_2,Y2=KEY_3:KEY_4,lt+X2=KEY_5:KEY_6,lt+Y2=KEY_7:KEY_8,rt+X2=KEY_9:KEY_0,rt+Y2=KEY_MINUS:KEY_EQUAL \
                        --ui-buttonmap a=KEY_LEFTSHIFT,b=KEY_HOME,x=KEY_LEFTCTRL,y=KEY_LEFTALT,lb=KEY_F1,rb=KEY_F12,lt=KEY_HOME,rt=KEY_HOME,tl=KEY_HOME,tr=KEY_HOME,du=KEY_E,dd=KEY_X,dl=KEY_S,dr=KEY_D,start=KEY_PAUSE \
                        --ui-buttonmap back=cycle-key:KEY_F6:KEY_F5 \
                        --ui-buttonmap guide=void \
                        &
                ;;
esac

Make the script exacutable

sudo chmod +x /opt/retropie/configs/all/runcommand-onstart.sh

Now we need to create the onend script to kill the xboxdrv, otherwise when we exit the emulator the driver remain active

nano /opt/retropie/configs/all/runcommand-onend.sh

#!/bin/sh
sudo killall >/dev/null xboxdrv

sudo chmod +x /opt/retropie/configs/all/runcommand-onend.sh

I have to do some more test, and maybe create a more complex script with a base configuration for all the emulators and the just the different configuration specific for every emulators.
Also i think it will be possible to create a specific configuration not only for the emulator used but also for the games.
Will share any new info, maybe next week.
Now i need to rest, it was a very long day.

mediamogul

@MadHorse

What a great idea! It's a mark improvement over editing each run command. I look forward to trying this out later.

Pyjamarama

You guys are making wonders here. You take ES to next level of functionality

MadHorse

Hello everybody,

i made some more test and it seems to work very well.
All the xboxdrv parameters are assigned to variables, this way the case statement is more readable.
Create the runcommand-onstart.sh

nano /opt/retropie/configs/all/runcommand-onstart.sh

This is my configuration used for test

#!/bin/sh
## Uncomment one or all of the following if you need to find some information about the emulator or roms
## Name of the emulator
#echo $1 >> /dev/shm/runcommand.log

## Name of the software used for running the emulation
#echo $2 >> /dev/shm/runcommand.log

## Name of the rom
#echo $3 >> /dev/shm/runcommand.log

##Executed command line
#echo $4 >> /dev/shm/runcommand.log


### The FUN begins
#Get ROM name striping full path
rom="${3##*/}"

### Set variables for your joypad and emulator
### Basic Configuraions - Standard controller mappings 
basicPS3="/opt/retropie/supplementary/xboxdrv/bin/xboxdrv >/dev/null \
	--evdev /dev/input/event2 \
	--silent \
	--detach-kernel-driver \
	--force-feedback \
	--mimic-xpad \
	--dpad-as-button \
	--trigger-as-button \
	--evdev-absmap ABS_X=x1,ABS_Y=y1,ABS_Z=x2,ABS_RX=y2 \
	--evdev-keymap KEY_#302=a,KEY_#301=b,BTN_DEAD=x,KEY_#300=y,BTN_THUMB=tl,BTN_THUMB2=tr,BTN_BASE5=lb,BTN_BASE6=rb,BTN_BASE3=lt,BTN_BASE4=rt,BTN_TRIGGER=back,BTN_TOP=start,BTN_SOUTH=guide,BTN_TOP2=du,BTN_PINKIE=dr,BTN_BASE=dd,BTN_BASE2=dl
	--calibration x1=-32767:0:32767,y1=-32767:0:32767,x2=-32767:0:32767,y2=-32767:0:32767"


### Extended Configurations
### Specific emulator configuration or any other parameters you will need only for some emulators
scummVM="--axismap -Y1=Y1,-Y2=Y2 \
	--ui-axismap x1=REL_X:10,y1=REL_Y:10 \
	--ui-buttonmap a=BTN_LEFT,b=BTN_RIGHT,start=KEY_F5,back=KEY_ESC \
	--ui-buttonmap guide=void,x=void,y=void,lb=void,rb=void,tl=void,tr=void,lt=void,rt=void,back=void \
	--ui-axismap x2=void"

amiga="--axismap -Y1=Y1,-Y2=Y2 \
	--ui-axismap x2=REL_X:1,y2=REL_Y:1 \
	--ui-axismap x1=KEY_LEFT:KEY_RIGHT,y1=KEY_DOWN:KEY_UP \
	--ui-buttonmap du=KEY_UP,dd=KEY_DOWN,dl=KEY_LEFT,dr=KEY_RIGHT \
	--ui-buttonmap lt=BTN_LEFT,rt=BTN_RIGHT,start=KEY_ESC,back=KEY_LEFTCTRL,y=KEY_SPACE,a=KEY_LEFTCTRL,b=KEY_LEFTALT,x=KEY_LEFTSHIFT \
	--ui-buttonmap guide=void,tl=void,lt=void,rt=void,back=void \
	--ui-axismap x2=void"

fourway="--four-way-restrictor"

invert="--ui-buttonmap du=KEY_DOWN,dd=KEY_UP"

### Kill Command
xboxkill="sudo killall >/dev/null xboxdrv"

### Execute the driver with the configuration you need
# $1 is the name of the emulation, not the name of the software used
# it is intellivision not jzintv
case $1 in

	mame-libretro)
	;;

	fba)
		case $rom in
			"amidar.zip"|"atetris.zip"|"puckman.zip") # Configuration used only for these ROMs
				$xboxkill
				joycommand="$basicPS3 $fourway &"
				eval $joycommand
			;;
			*) # Configuration for every other ROMs on this emulator
				$xboxkill
				joycommand="$basicPS3 &"
				eval $joycommand
			;;
		esac
	;;

	daphne)
	;;

	scummvm)
		$xboxkill
		joycommand="$basicPS3 $scummVM &"
		eval $joycommand
	;;

	amiga)
		$xboxkill
		joycommand="$basicPS3 $amiga &"
		eval $joycommand
	;;

	intellivision)
	;;
esac

We assign to the joycommand variable, the list of variables that contains the parameters we need for example joycommand="BasicVAR var1 var2 var3 $". The Basic variables must be the first, and & must be the last.
Make the script executable

sudo chmod +x /opt/retropie/configs/all/runcommand-onstart.sh

For some emulators we could face some problem, i have a PS3 controller recognized as input device event2, when i execute xboxdrv the controller is recognized as input device event3. The system now see 2 controller device, the PS3 as controller with id 0 and an Xbox360 controller with id 1, for the emulator you are now using the controller for player2 and this will cause some problem, for example you can only start a 2 players game, you can't quit the emulation pushing select+start. To solve the problem we have to specify on retroarch.cfg the id of the controller used by player1 and player2.
This is the configuration for Final Burn Alpha, we have to add input_playerx_joypad_index = "x" for every controller between input_remapping_directory = "/opt/retropie/configs/fba/" and #include "/opt/retropie/configs/all/retroarch.cfg" where the first X is the player number, and the secon X is the controller ID


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

input_remapping_directory = "/opt/retropie/configs/fba/"

input_player1_joypad_index = "1"
input_player2_joypad_index = "0"
input_player2_analog_dpad_mode = 1

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

If you want this configuration for every retroarch emulators, you have to edit nano /opt/retropie/configs/all/retroarch.cfg

Now we need to kill xboxdrv when we exit from the emulator, we do this with the onend script

nano /opt/retropie/configs/all/runcommand-onend.sh

#!/bin/sh
sudo killall >/dev/null xboxdrv

and make it executable

sudo chmod +x /opt/retropie/configs/all/runcommand-onend.sh

Sorry for my english, let me know if something is unclear, i will try to explain better, and if you are trying it, please let me know if it's working.
Hope you find it usefull.

@mediamogul
If you think it could be of help, maybe you could add it to the first post.

mediamogul

@MadHorse

This is fantastic! I added an introduction and link in section 3 that directs right to your post. This way you can maintain control if anything needs to be changed or you think of any other improvements. Again, this is really streets ahead!

meleu

@MadHorse just sharing a runcommand-onstart.sh info to simplify your script:

All the error messages from these scripts (onstart and onend) will be logged in runcommand.log. If you want to log something more you just have to redirect the output to the standard error. This way:

echo "message to log" >&2

I've just updated the runcommand wiki with this info. ;-)

meleu

@MadHorse
Oh! I've just realized that you suggest the use of runcommand.log to get infos about emulator/roms. But all these infos are already available at /dev/shm/runcommand.info.

This file has the following structure:

line #1 - the system (eg: atari2600, nes, snes, megadrive, fba, etc).
line #2 - the emulator (eg: lr-stella, lr-fceumm, lr-picodrive, pifba, etc).
line #3 - the full path to the rom file.
line #4 - the full command line used to launch the emulator.

To get a specific line from a file I'm used to use this sed trick:

sed '1!d' file # to get the 1st line
sed '2!d' file # 2nd line
sed '3!d' file # 3rd line
sed '4!d' file # 4th line

meleu

@mediamogul This guide would be really nice on the wiki, huh? ;-)

mediamogul

@meleu

I originally thought it might be a bit too long and involved for a wiki entry, but maybe it should go there.

meleu

@mediamogul I think it is a bit too long and involved for a forum topic. LOL! :D

I think it fits nice in the "Advanced Configuration" section.

mediamogul

@meleu

I might try to pair it down to something more manageable at some point and post it as a wiki.

jrmymllr

Great guide. I'm getting more comfortable with xboxdrv and it should work well.

I'll have two different types of controllers, either one (not both) may be connected. How will xboxdrv and ES handle this? I'm hoping that when the controller mapped to xboxdrv is attached, xboxdrv will run, and ES will see the virtual Xbox controller and use that, and when the other controller is attached, xboxdrv will fail, and ES will see the non-Xbox controller and use that. Is that basically accurate?

mediamogul

@jrmymllr

xboxdrv can't detect when a controller is connected when used in the way this guide details, so the command must be executed after the controller is connected. Even when the configuration command is added to /etc/rc.local, your controller must be connected at startup or it will fail. Provided that you've mapped both your xboxdrv controller and the secondary controller you mentioned, Emulation Station should have no problem reading either.

jrmymllr

@mediamogul
Right, I'd have to reboot then immediately change controllers. That was my thought too.

mediamogul

@jrmymllr

There are ways to create a daemon that would see when a controller is connected and execute a command like you would need for xboxdrv, but all information I've found on the subject is either conflicting or outdated. If successfully implemented, it could also tell when a controller is disconnected and stop xboxdrv.

jrmymllr

@mediamogul

I'm getting close. I want to map the D-pad to arrow keys, but it's not working. Just for testing, if I run this (how do you display text as code???):

/opt/retropie/supplementary/xboxdrv/bin/xboxdrv
--evdev /dev/input/by-id/usb-0079_USB_Gamepad-event-joystick
--silent
--detach-kernel-driver
--force-feedback
--deadzone-trigger 15%
--deadzone 4000
--mimic-xpad
--evdev-absmap ABS_X=dpad_x,ABS_Y=dpad_y
--evdev-keymap BTN_THUMB=a,BTN_THUMB2=b,BTN_BASE3=back,BTN_BASE4=start
--dpad-only
--ui-axismap lt=void,rt=void
--ui-buttonmap tl=void,tr=void,guide=void,x=void,y=void,lb=void,rb=void,back=KEY_ESC,a=KEY_1,b=KEY_2 &

Then run "evtest", the D-pad responds as ABS_X and ABS_Y with values -1 to 1. But if I add this to --ui-axismap:

dpad_x=KEY_LEFT:KEY_RIGHT,dpad_y=KEY_UP:KEY_DOWN

it runs with no errors, but now in "evtest" the D-pad causes no response at all. If instead I use:

X1=KEY_LEFT:KEY_RIGHT,Y1=KEY_UP:KEY_DOWN

The D-pad in "evtest" responds not with arrow keys, but the same ABS_X and ABS_Y. Any ideas?

mediamogul

@jrmymllr said in Guide: Advanced Controller Mappings:

how do you display text as code?

https://github.com/adam-p/markdown-here/wiki/Markdown-Cheatsheet#code-and-syntax-highlighting

Everything looks to be correct. You say you're running evtest a second time, but which controller event are you testing at that point? Is it the original physical controller event, or the new virtual controller event? If it's the prior, that event is rendered inert while xboxdrv is running to avoid conflicts. If it's the latter, xboxdrv creates both a new virtualized joystick event, along with a virtualized keyboard event. If your looking to see if the keyboard is being activated with button presses, you'll want to look at the new keyboard event. However, if it's running without errors as you say, it's probably fine. You may just want to fire up an emulator that supports arrow keys and see what shakes loose.