Raspberry PI Retropie 4.8, first setting, buttons mapping issue (no encoder)

[Jdanster]

Hi all, I build up an arcade and now I need support to program it.

It runs on Raspberry PI 4 (Genuine Raspi pwr supply, retropie-buster-4.8-rpi4_400.img copied on the Sandisk SD formatted with Win32diskimager), with the buttons directly to the GPIO port (no encoder).

When I power up the system, Emulation Station loads and shows the page to configure the inputs.
None of the buttons is recognized, any idea why?
In the section Retropie/Docs/Controllers there are only commercial controllers, not single buttons config. I couldn’t find any specific topic in the forum.

Connecting a USB keyboard the system enters in the config menu, but at the last button configuration nothing happens. I can’t select “OK” at the bottom, actually I can’t do nothing. Then, probably due to the long waiting time without input the system crash.

I specify that I didn’t connect any USB stick with the ROMs as the First installation guide says to configure the controller before adding the Roms.

My IT skills are limited, I hope someone can help me 😊

Many thanks, JDanster

[mitu]

@Jdanster said in Raspberry PI Retropie 4.8, first setting, buttons mapping issue (no encoder):

None of the buttons is recognized, any idea why?

Just because you wired the buttons doesn't mean they will automatically work - you'd need a driver to implement an input device based on the GPIO inputs. Something like https://github.com/mholgatem/GPIOnext or https://github.com/recalbox/mk_arcade_joystick_rpi (which is included in RetroPie, in the drivers' section).

If you're just starting up and have limited time and beginner computer skills, I'd recommend you get an USB encoder and use it, instead of wiring the buttons to the GPIOs directly.