Guide: Advanced Controller Mappings

weirdocollector

Hi again.

I'm finally back to my RetroPie, ands I'm still struggling with the xboxdrv drive configuration, that continues to refuse to work as expected.

I've applied all the suggested syntax modifications to my /opt/retropie/configs/all/runcommand-onstart.sh, which is the now the following:

#!/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 Configurations - Standard controller mappings
XboxOne="/opt/retropie/supplementary/xboxdrv/bin/xboxdrv \
    --evdev /dev/input/by-id/usb-Microsoft_Controller_7EED8E7D89A9-event-joystick \
    --silent \
    --detach-kernel-driver \
    --force-feedback \
    --deadzone-trigger 15% \
    --deadzone 4000 \
    --mimic-xpad \
    --trigger-as-button \
    --evdev-absmap ABS_X=x1,ABS_Y=y1,ABS_RX=x2,ABS_RY=y2,ABS_HAT0X=dpad_x,ABS_HAT0Y=dpad_y \
    --evdev-keymap ABS_HAT0X-=du,ABS_HAT0X+=dd,ABS_HAT0Y-=dl,ABS_HAT0Y+=dr \	
    --evdev-keymap BTN_SOUTH=a,BTN_EAST=b,BTN_NORTH=x,BTN_WEST=y,BTN_TL=lb,BTN_TR=rb,BTN_TL2=lt,BTN_TR2=rt,BTN_THUMBL=tl,BTN_THUMBR=tr,BTN_MODE=guide,BTN_SELECT=back,BTN_START=start"

### Extended Configurations
### Specific emulator configuration or any other parameters you will need only for some emulators
atari800="--axismap -Y1=Y1,-Y2=Y2 \
	--dpad-as-button \
    --evdev-keymap ABS_HAT0X-=du,ABS_HAT0X+=dd,ABS_HAT0Y-=dl,ABS_HAT0Y+=dr \
	--ui-axismap X1=KEY_KP4:KEY_KP6,Y1=KEY_KP8:KEY_KP5 \
	--ui-axismap 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_KPASTERISK:KEY_EQUAL \
	--ui-buttonmap a=KEY_RIGHTCTRL,b=KEY_F2,x=KEY_EQUAL,y=KEY_KPASTERISK,lb=KEY_F9,rb=KEY_F5,du=KEY_KP8,dd=KEY_KP5,dl=KEY_KP4,dr=KEY_KP6,start=KEY_F4,back=KEY_F3,lt=KEY_HOME,rt=KEY_HOME,tl=KEY_HOME,tr=KEY_HOME \
	--ui-buttonmap lt+a=KEY_ENTER,lt+b=KEY_ESC,lt+du=KEY_UP,lt+dd=KEY_DOWN,lt+dl=KEY_LEFT,lt+dr=KEY_RIGHT,lt+start=KEY_F1 \
	--ui-axismap lt+X1=KEY_LEFT:KEY_RIGHT,lt+Y1=KEY_UP:KEY_DOWN \
	--ui-buttonmap guide=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

	atari800)
        $xboxkill
        joycommand="$XboxOne $atari800 &"
        eval $joycommand
    ;;
esac

As you may have noticed, I've uncommented some of the lines at the start of the script, in order to get the runcommand.log file, and getting some hints about what's wrong with it.

I've rebooted my Pi, but I got no runcommand.log file into the /dev/shm/ directory; I've also tried to run directly the script with ./runcommand-onstart.sh, and I got an empty runcommand.log file.

What am I doing wrong ?

Thanks for any help.

weirdocollector

Hi again!

I've made some progress.

Launching the script ./runcommand-onstart.sh atari800, I get the following error message:

-- [ ERROR ] ------------------------------------------------------ error: invalid argument '--evdev-absmap ABS_HAT0X-=du,ABS_HAT0X+=dd,ABS_HAT0Y-=dl,ABS_HAT0Y+=dr' string2axis(): couldn't convert string "du" to XboxAxis

The problem seems to be that I do not know how to map the Xbox One controller hat (that is considered an analog input), to the du, dd, dl, dr keys.

Do someone know how the correct mapping can be done ?

I've looked at the xboxdrv documentation, but I couldn't extrapolate anything useful.

mediamogul

@weirdocollector

The error is from du, dd, dl, dr being used in --evdev-absmap. du, dd, dl, dr can only be used with --ui-buttonmap alongside --dpad-as-button.

Pyjamarama

@mediamogul You do a terrific job. I have gone through your guide many times but without success.

I think I mess up in the rc.local

The evtest displays lots of entries when a press a button and lots lots lots :) when I move a stick or analog trigger.

So I think my problem lies in how to populate the rc.local from the results of evtest

Can you post me your rc.local ?

I think I can get an idea reading yours and evtesting my retropie.

Thank you!

weirdocollector

@mediamogul

Hi,

I've tried the following:

--ui-buttonmap du=ABS_HAT0X-, dd=ABS_HAT0X+, dl= ABS_HAT0Y-, dr=ABS_HAT0Y+

preceded by alongside --dpad-as-button, but it still get an error.

How can I map the hat (seen as an analog input) to the dd, du, dl, dr keys ?

Thanks for any help.

mediamogul

@Pyjamarama said in Guide: Advanced Controller Mappings:

The evtest displays lots of entries when a press a button and lots lots lots

This also happens with one of my controllers. In my case it meant that the axis input was so sensitive that it was being activated whenever any button was pressed. To prevent this from carrying over to the virtual controller, I had to add the --deadzone 4000. However, you'll still need a way to discern the actual button information from all the extra information you're given in evtest. This takes a bit of work, as you'll have to barely tap each button and then scroll up to the very top of the resulting input and see what the first listing was before all the garbage.

mediamogul

@weirdocollector said in Guide: Advanced Controller Mappings:

How can I map the hat

Mapping the dpad hatswitch from a physical controller to the xboxdrv virtual controller is done as follows:

--evdev-absmap ABS_HAT0X=dpad_x,ABS_HAT0Y=dpad_y

From there you would normally map keys to it like any other axis:

--ui-axismap dpad_x=KEY_LEFT:KEY_RIGHT,dpad_y=KEY_UP:KEY_DOWN

However, if you want to the dpad to be seen as button presses rather than an axis with the new virtual controller, you would add:

--dpad-as-button

Once this has been added you can now key-map the dpad with --ui-buttonmap such as:

--ui-buttonmap du=KEY_UP,dd=KEY_DOWN,dl=KEY_LEFT,dr=KEY_RIGHT

weirdocollector

@mediamogul

Thanks mediamomogul!

Now the script works, but I have another problem.

If I enter the Atari5200 emulator, the controller commands doesn't work, but if I go to my SSH console and I type (in the /opt/retropie/configs/all directory) ./runcommand-onstart.sh atari800 + Return, while the emulator is running, the controller starts working as expected (yay!).

It seems that the script is finally correct, but it doesn't seem to start when the atari emulator il launched.

Am I forgetting something ?

mediamogul

@weirdocollector

I'm afraid I'll have to defer this question to @MadHorse, who has a better understanding of this area. In the mean time, go ahead and post the full contents of your runcommand-onstart.sh file and I'll see if anything jumps out.

weirdocollector

@mediamogul

Thanks !

Here is my runcommand-onstart.sh script:

#!/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 Configurations - Standard controller mappings
XboxOne="/opt/retropie/supplementary/xboxdrv/bin/xboxdrv \
    --evdev /dev/input/by-id/usb-Microsoft_Controller_7EED8E7D89A9-event-joystick \
    --silent \
    --detach-kernel-driver \
    --force-feedback \
    --deadzone-trigger 15% \
    --deadzone 4000 \
    --mimic-xpad \
    --trigger-as-button \
    --evdev-absmap ABS_X=x1,ABS_Y=y1,ABS_RX=x2,ABS_RY=y2,ABS_HAT0X=dpad_x,ABS_HAT0Y=dpad_y \
    --evdev-keymap BTN_SOUTH=a,BTN_EAST=b,BTN_NORTH=x,BTN_WEST=y,BTN_TL=lb,BTN_TR=rb,BTN_TL2=lt,BTN_TR2=rt,BTN_THUMBL=tl,BTN_THUMBR=tr,BTN_MODE=guide,BTN_SELECT=back,BTN_START=start"
	
### Extended Configurations
### Specific emulator configuration or any other parameters you will need only for some emulators
atari800="--axismap -Y1=Y1,-Y2=Y2 \
	--dpad-as-button \
	--ui-axismap X1=KEY_KP4:KEY_KP6,Y1=KEY_KP8:KEY_KP5 \
	--ui-axismap 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_KPASTERISK:KEY_EQUAL \
	--ui-buttonmap a=KEY_RIGHTCTRL,b=KEY_F2,x=KEY_EQUAL,y=KEY_KPASTERISK,lb=KEY_F9,rb=KEY_F5,du=KEY_KP8,dd=KEY_KP5,dl=KEY_KP4,dr=KEY_KP6,start=KEY_F4,back=KEY_F3,lt=KEY_HOME,rt=KEY_HOME,tl=KEY_HOME,tr=KEY_HOME \
	--ui-buttonmap lt+a=KEY_ENTER,lt+b=KEY_ESC,lt+du=KEY_UP,lt+dd=KEY_DOWN,lt+dl=KEY_LEFT,lt+dr=KEY_RIGHT,lt+start=KEY_F1 \
	--ui-axismap lt+X1=KEY_LEFT:KEY_RIGHT,lt+Y1=KEY_UP:KEY_DOWN \
	--ui-buttonmap guide=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

	atari800)
        $xboxkill
        joycommand="$XboxOne $atari800 &"
        eval $joycommand
    ;;

esac

Thanks for any help !

weirdocollector

Ok, I've found the problem...

The runcommand-onstart.sh script passes as first parameters ($1) the string atari5200, and not the string atari800, making the case into the script to skip the execution of the driver.

In my script I've changed all the occurrances of atari800 into atari5200and it now works !!

Thanks to everybody for all the help !

mediamogul

@weirdocollector

Well done sir! Case scripting is an area that I haven't had time to fully explore yet, so these posts are always very informative.

meleu

@mediamogul sorry for acting like a lazy guy here, but can you share with us a way to set only one button to act like pressing two buttons?

The goal is to put a button on a bartop to do "exit emulator" function (usually start+select).

Thanks in advance.

mediamogul

@meleu

Not a problem. Let's say that the keyboard key you're looking to map to 'start+select' is the 'Escape' key. Also, we'll assume that 'Back' is being used as a stand-in for 'Select', due to the lack of a 'Select' button option on the virtual XBox controller. The mapping would read as:

--ui-buttonmap back+start=KEY_ESC

If you ever run into software that uses a key combination to exit, such as 'ctrl+escape', the alteration is nothing more complicated than:

--ui-buttonmap back+start=KEY_LEFTCTRL+KEY_ESC

or possibly:

--ui-buttonmap back+start=KEY_RIGHTCTRL+KEY_ESC

PolluxNL

-Is it possible to use xboxdrv with a PS3 controller?
-Should I disable/remove PS3 Bluetooth driver?
-Should I try configuring it wireless or connected?

And "ls /dev/input/by-id/" doesn't work.

Any help is welcome.

Thanks in advance!

mediamogul

@PolluxNL said in Guide: Advanced Controller Mappings:

-Is it possible to use xboxdrv with a PS3 controller?

It is indeed.

-Should I disable/remove PS3 Bluetooth driver?

I can't really say, but it's likely that it will conflict otherwise.

-Should I try configuring it wireless or connected?

I believe problems arise when configured wirelessly, due to the bluetooth connection being dropped when sleeping.

And "ls /dev/input/by-id/" doesn't work.

you can also use it's joystick event number at /dev/input/jsX, where x is likely to be 0.

Capt_MorganCreek

Hi mediamogul!
Your guide is really comprehensive, thank you!

I got the basics, but xboxdrv gives me trouble using the calibration parameter.

If I don't calibrate my controller the output from the control stick is to low to be useful.

If I use --calibration x1=40:128:207,y1=50:128:207 \ (in my case an adapted N64 controller) the stick returns higher values, but it almost behaves like a button jumping between the min and max values (32767/-32767) with nothing inbetween.

Is there another way to increase the analog output? Maybe just multipling the original values by a factor of 2 would do the trick but I have no idea how to approach this idea and I can't get my head around the filtering concept.

I'm really looking forward to a solution, this is really a showstopper for my usecase.

These are my settings:

sudo /opt/retropie/supplementary/xboxdrv/bin/xboxdrv
--evdev /dev/input/event2
--silent
--detach-kernel-driver
--force-feedback
--deadzone-trigger 15%
--deadzone 15%
--device-name "N64 Player 1"
--evdev-absmap ABS_X=x1,ABS_Y=y1,ABS_RZ=x2,ABS_Z=y2,ABS_HAT0X=dpad_x,ABS_HAT0Y=dpad_y
--evdev-keymap BTN_THUMB=a,BTN_THUMB2=b,BTN_BASE=lb,BTN_BASE2=rb,BTN_BASE3=tl,BTN_BASE4=start
--ui-axismap lt=void,rt=void
--ui-buttonmap tr=void,guide=void,back=void,x=void,y=void
--calibration x1=40:128:207,y1=50:128:207 \

mediamogul

@Capt_MorganCreek

Unfortunately, this is a situation I've never run into personally. The few controllers that I've had to use this on seemed to come into line immediately. I like your idea about multiplying the values and I'm curious myself to see what effect that would have. Also, it might be worth trying the widest possible range of values as well by adjusting the config to:

--calibration x1=-32768:0:32767,y1=-32768:0:32767 \

Definitely keep me updated.

Capt_MorganCreek

@mediamogul

Thanks for pointing me to a solution!

I tried this calibration before, but the values were still too low. The x and y output needs to be in the 30000 range to be correctly registered. With this calibration they were around 18000 which is much better than the former ~200.
Through trial and error I figured out if you use

--calibration x1=-16384:0:16384,y1=-16384:0:16384 \

you get really usable results in the 32000 range and everything works fine in the emulationstation controller-configuration GUI and retroarch.

So my configuration for a real N64 controller using the HiuJia usb adapter looks like this (the deadzone probably still needs some tweaking) :

sudo /opt/retropie/supplementary/xboxdrv/bin/xboxdrv \
	--evdev /dev/input/event2  \
	--silent \
	--detach-kernel-driver \
	--force-feedback \
	--deadzone-trigger 15% \
	--deadzone 15% \
	--device-name "N64 Player 1" \
	--evdev-absmap ABS_X=x1,ABS_Y=y1,ABS_RZ=x2,ABS_Z=y2,ABS_HAT0X=dpad_x,ABS_HAT0Y=dpad_y \
	--evdev-keymap BTN_THUMB=a,BTN_THUMB2=b,BTN_BASE=lb,BTN_BASE2=rb,BTN_BASE3=tl,BTN_BASE4=start \
	--ui-axismap lt=void,rt=void \
	--ui-buttonmap tr=void,guide=void,back=void,x=void,y=void \
	--calibration x1=-16384:0:16384,y1=-16384:0:16384 \

Thanks again for the awesome controller guide!

mediamogul

@Capt_MorganCreek

Not a problem. Thank you for posting your findings. I'm glad it's working well now.