joy2key_sdl.py doesn't support my controller

rhester72

From a debug run:

2025-04-04 14:32:34,816 DEBUG  Joystick #0 Retro Games LTD THEGamepad added
2025-04-04 14:32:34,816 DEBUG  Un-configured device "Retro Games LTD THEGamepad", mapped using generic mapping

The "generic mapping" definitely isn't working for the device as the entire dpad is unrecognized and x is mapped to l.

/opt/retropie/configs/all/retroarch-joypads has a properly-formed (if awkwardly named, containing a leading space and multiple spaces, like so:)

' Retro Games LTD   THEGamepad .cfg'

configuration file that works properly in Retroarch.

strace shows that the Python script is indeed properly opening the device configuration file (wonky spaces and all), so naming isn't an issue. Why is it claiming "un-configured"?

mitu

@rhester72 said in joy2key_sdl.py doesn't support my controller:

Why is it claiming "un-configured"?

Because it doesn't recognize the .cfg file to be related to your controller.

rhester72

@mitu How is that determined? I see joy2key_sdl.py open the config file. It contains the correct path and filename:

/opt/retropie/configs/all/retroarch-joypads/ Retro Games LTD   THEGamepad .cfg

and said config file contains all the expected elements of other configs (like USB Gamepad.cfg) with a proper input_vendor_id and input_product_id.

Sadly, my Python skills aren't great, so it's a bit difficult for me to follow it to determine exactly what elements in there that it's not finding...any guidance there would be appreciated.

rhester72

It may also be helpful to note that sdl2-jstest recognizes the controller GUID:

Joystick Name:     'Retro Games LTD THEGamepad'
Joystick GUID:     0300f445591c00002600000010010000
Joystick Number:    0
Number of Axes:     2
Number of Buttons:  8
Number of Hats:     0
Number of Balls:    0
GameControllerConfig:
  Name:    'THEGamepad'
  Mapping: '0300f445591c00002600000010010000,THEGamepad,a:b2,b:b1,back:b6,leftshoulder:b4,leftx:a0,lefty:a1,rightshoulder:b5,start:b7,x:b3,y:b0,platform:Linux,'

and all input responds normally. I wondered that this being a sort-of-newish controller whether the RetroPie copy of gamecontrollerdb.txt might be stale and in need of refresh, but I couldn't find it at all in RetroPie (and thus I'm very unclear on whether the actual controller DB is derived from).

mitu

Please add the info requested in https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/3/read-this-first.

Run the following command and post the output:

cat /proc/bus/input/devices

and also provide the contents of the RetroArch profile file ( Retro Games LTD THEGamepad .cfg).

rhester72

Pi Model or other hardware: (B, B+, 2 B, 3, X86 PC etc..): 500
Power Supply used: (If using a Pi): Supplied
RetroPie Version Used (eg 3.6, 3.8.1, 4.1 - do not write latest): Unsure how to determine, installed from source and updated 2 days ago
Built From: (Pre made SD Image on RetroPie website, Berryboot, or on top of existing OS etc.. - please provide the filename of any image used): Stock 64-bit Bookworm install plus https://retropie.org.uk/docs/Manual-Installation/
USB Devices connected: Gamepad and supplied HID mouse
Controller used: Retro Games LTD THEGamepad
Error messages received: As indicated in initial post
Verbose log (if relevant):
Guide used: (Mention if you followed a guide)
File: (File with issue - with FULL path)
Emulator: (Name of emulator - if applicable)
Attachment of config files: (PLEASE USE PASTEBIN.COM FOR LARGE LOGS)
How to replicate the problem: As indicated in initial post

pi@retropie:~ $ cat /proc/bus/input/devices 
I: Bus=0003 Vendor=093a Product=2510 Version=0111
N: Name="PixArt USB Optical Mouse"
P: Phys=usb-xhci-hcd.0-2/input0
S: Sysfs=/devices/platform/axi/1000120000.pcie/1f00200000.usb/xhci-hcd.0/usb1/1-2/1-2:1.0/0003:093A:2510.0001/input/input0
U: Uniq=
H: Handlers=mouse0 event0 
B: PROP=0
B: EV=17
B: KEY=70000 0 0 0 0
B: REL=903
B: MSC=10

I: Bus=0019 Vendor=0001 Product=0001 Version=0100
N: Name="pwr_button"
P: Phys=gpio-keys/input0
S: Sysfs=/devices/platform/pwr_button/input/input1
U: Uniq=
H: Handlers=kbd event1 
B: PROP=0
B: EV=3
B: KEY=10000000000000 0

I: Bus=0003 Vendor=1c59 Product=0026 Version=0110
N: Name=" Retro Games LTD   THEGamepad "
P: Phys=usb-xhci-hcd.1-1/input0
S: Sysfs=/devices/platform/axi/1000120000.pcie/1f00300000.usb/xhci-hcd.1/usb3/3-1/3-1:1.0/0003:1C59:0026.0002/input/input2
U: Uniq=
H: Handlers=event2 js0 
B: PROP=0
B: EV=1b
B: KEY=ff00000000 0 0 0 0
B: ABS=3
B: MSC=10

I: Bus=0003 Vendor=2e8a Product=0010 Version=0111
N: Name="Raspberry Pi Ltd Pi 500 Keyboard"
P: Phys=usb-xhci-hcd.1-2/input0
S: Sysfs=/devices/platform/axi/1000120000.pcie/1f00300000.usb/xhci-hcd.1/usb3/3-2/3-2:1.0/0003:2E8A:0010.0003/input/input3
U: Uniq=
H: Handlers=sysrq kbd leds event3 
B: PROP=0
B: EV=120013
B: KEY=1000000000007 ff9f207ac14057ff febeffdfffefffff fffffffffffffffe
B: MSC=10
B: LED=1f

I: Bus=0003 Vendor=2e8a Product=0010 Version=0111
N: Name="Raspberry Pi Ltd Pi 500 Keyboard Mouse"
P: Phys=usb-xhci-hcd.1-2/input1
S: Sysfs=/devices/platform/axi/1000120000.pcie/1f00300000.usb/xhci-hcd.1/usb3/3-2/3-2:1.1/0003:2E8A:0010.0004/input/input4
U: Uniq=
H: Handlers=mouse1 event4 
B: PROP=0
B: EV=17
B: KEY=ff0000 0 0 0 0
B: REL=1943
B: MSC=10

I: Bus=0003 Vendor=2e8a Product=0010 Version=0111
N: Name="Raspberry Pi Ltd Pi 500 Keyboard System Control"
P: Phys=usb-xhci-hcd.1-2/input1
S: Sysfs=/devices/platform/axi/1000120000.pcie/1f00300000.usb/xhci-hcd.1/usb3/3-2/3-2:1.1/0003:2E8A:0010.0004/input/input5
U: Uniq=
H: Handlers=kbd event5 
B: PROP=0
B: EV=1b
B: KEY=c000 0 0 40000001000000 1200000000 0 100000800000000 40000010cc00 10168000000000 0
B: ABS=10000030000
B: MSC=10

I: Bus=0003 Vendor=2e8a Product=0010 Version=0111
N: Name="Raspberry Pi Ltd Pi 500 Keyboard Consumer Control"
P: Phys=usb-xhci-hcd.1-2/input1
S: Sysfs=/devices/platform/axi/1000120000.pcie/1f00300000.usb/xhci-hcd.1/usb3/3-2/3-2:1.1/0003:2E8A:0010.0004/input/input6
U: Uniq=
H: Handlers=kbd event6 
B: PROP=0
B: EV=1f
B: KEY=33fff 0 0 483ffff17aff32d bfd4444600000000 1 130ff38b17c000 677bfad9415fed 19ed68000004400 10000002
B: REL=1040
B: ABS=100000000
B: MSC=10

I: Bus=0003 Vendor=2e8a Product=0010 Version=0111
N: Name="Raspberry Pi Ltd Pi 500 Keyboard"
P: Phys=usb-xhci-hcd.1-2/input1
S: Sysfs=/devices/platform/axi/1000120000.pcie/1f00300000.usb/xhci-hcd.1/usb3/3-2/3-2:1.1/0003:2E8A:0010.0004/input/input7
U: Uniq=
H: Handlers=sysrq kbd leds event7 
B: PROP=0
B: EV=120013
B: KEY=1000000000007 ff98007a000007ff febeffdfffefffff fffffffffffffffe
B: MSC=10
B: LED=1f

I: Bus=001e Vendor=0000 Product=0000 Version=0001
N: Name="vc4-hdmi-0"
P: Phys=vc4-hdmi-0/input0
S: Sysfs=/devices/platform/soc@107c000000/107c701400.hdmi/rc/rc0/input8
U: Uniq=
H: Handlers=kbd event8 
B: PROP=20
B: EV=100017
B: KEY=ffffc000000000 3ff 0 400000320fc200 40830c900000000 0 210300 49d2c040ec00 1e378000000000 8010000010000000
B: REL=3
B: MSC=10

I: Bus=0000 Vendor=0000 Product=0000 Version=0000
N: Name="vc4-hdmi-0 HDMI Jack"
P: Phys=ALSA
S: Sysfs=/devices/platform/soc@107c000000/107c701400.hdmi/sound/card0/input9
U: Uniq=
H: Handlers=event9 
B: PROP=0
B: EV=21
B: SW=40

I: Bus=001e Vendor=0000 Product=0000 Version=0001
N: Name="vc4-hdmi-1"
P: Phys=vc4-hdmi-1/input0
S: Sysfs=/devices/platform/soc@107c000000/107c706400.hdmi/rc/rc1/input10
U: Uniq=
H: Handlers=kbd event10 
B: PROP=20
B: EV=100017
B: KEY=ffffc000000000 3ff 0 400000320fc200 40830c900000000 0 210300 49d2c040ec00 1e378000000000 8010000010000000
B: REL=3
B: MSC=10

I: Bus=0000 Vendor=0000 Product=0000 Version=0000
N: Name="vc4-hdmi-1 HDMI Jack"
P: Phys=ALSA
S: Sysfs=/devices/platform/soc@107c000000/107c706400.hdmi/sound/card1/input11
U: Uniq=
H: Handlers=event11 
B: PROP=0
B: EV=21
B: SW=40

pi@retropie:~ $ cat "/opt/retropie/configs/all/retroarch/autoconfig/ Retro Games LTD   THEGamepad .cfg"
input_device = " Retro Games LTD   THEGamepad "
input_driver = "udev"
input_vendor_id = "7257"
input_product_id = "38"
input_left_axis = "-0"
input_left_axis_label = "D-Pad Left"
input_state_slot_decrease_axis = "-0"
input_right_axis = "+0"
input_right_axis_label = "D-Pad Right"
input_state_slot_increase_axis = "+0"
input_r_btn = "5"
input_r_btn_label = "Z"
input_save_state_btn = "5"
input_down_axis = "+1"
input_down_axis_label = "D-Pad Down"
input_l_btn = "4"
input_load_state_btn = "4"
input_y_btn = "3"
input_x_btn = "0"
input_menu_toggle_btn = "0"
input_b_btn = "2"
input_b_btn_label = "B"
input_reset_btn = "2"
input_a_btn = "1"
input_up_axis = "-1"
input_up_axis_label = "D-Pad Up"
input_select_btn = "6"
input_start_btn = "7"
input_start_btn_label = "Start"
input_exit_emulator_btn = "7"
input_enable_hotkey_btn = "6"

rhester72

Solved.

I had to hand-create the autoconfig based on another config and didn't realize that the input_device string is normalized vs. the filename. More specifically, the file name is:

 Retro Games LTD   THEGamepad .cfg

however, the input_device string inside the file is/should be:

Retro Games LTD THEGamepad

Retroarch seems to only care that the VID/PID matches, but joy2key_sdl.py needs extra spacing removed in the device name.

Sorry for the confusion and hope it helps someone in the future!

mitu

@rhester72 said in joy2key_sdl.py doesn't support my controller:

Retroarch seems to only care that the VID/PID matches, but joy2key_sdl.py needs extra spacing removed in the device name.

Hm, joy2key should also cover this case. What I don't understand why the device name is normalized in the script, but was not normalized when the config was saved, both cases involved libsdl2 producing the device name.

Did you copy the .cfg file from another installation ?

EDIT: ok, so the matching by PID/VID is not implemented, but it will be. The question remains though - was the .cfg file copied from another (older) installation ?

EDIT2: This PR should fix your issue without modifying the input_device_name in the RetroArch .cfg file. Now that it has been merged, just update RetroPie-Setup and you can have the new/fixed version.

rhester72

@mitu

Not copied from another installation, but created somewhat strangely nonetheless. I already had a "USB Gamepad" configured previously before introducing a new controller.

When I attempted to initially configure the controller clean, ES would configure it, but only store the config in es_temporaryinput.cfg (perhaps because I already had another controller defined? ES would lose the config on each restart, so I eventually ended up hand-merging es-input.cfg and es_temporaryinput.cfg. But that's an aside...). It wouldn't mirror the configuration to Retroarch at all.

To make RA happy, I had to hand-configure the controller in Retroarch (GUI) itself and save from there, which produced the "not-normalized" device name in the configuration file.

Thank you for the "fix" (and the inspiration)!

mitu

@rhester72 said in joy2key_sdl.py doesn't support my controller:

To make RA happy, I had to hand-configure the controller in Retroarch (GUI) itself and save from there, which produced the "not-normalized" device name in the configuration file.
[..]

OK, so the other possibility of a device name mismatch is the configuration being created outside of EmulationStation's scripts - in this case via RetroArch itself. In any case, this kind of setups will hopefully be better supported by joy2key in the future.