Guide: Advanced Controller Mappings

mediamogul

I'm afraid that may mean it's not going to work. Usually, if there's an issue, xboxdrv will simply refuse to create the virtual controller and throw an error. The fact that it is created, but has no response likely means there's nothing to troubleshoot and that the two are just not compatible.

javisousa20

@mediamogul
Well, thanks for the answer, I'll try to do some tests even though we can not do anything. The best way to test the changes is as follows?

sudo killall xboxdrv
sudo /opt/retropie/supplementary/xboxdrv/bin/xboxdrv ((...changes...))
reboot

Thanks for the help!

mediamogul

@javisousa20 said in Guide: Advanced Controller Mappings:

The best way to test the changes is as follows?

On something like this, the best advice I can give is to keep throwing ideas at the problem as you have them. Whenever I find myself in uncharted territory, trial and error is often the mother of resolution.

javisousa20

@mediamogul
Hi, I think the problem is when I reboot to initialize xboxdrv. I have tried to use the following code

sudo /opt/retropie/supplementary/xboxdrv/bin/xboxdrv 
 --evdev /dev/input/event1 
 --evdev-debug 
 --evdev-keymap BTN_LEFT=LB,BTN_RIGHT=RB

It give me this back when I press the BTN_LEFT, also with BTN_RIGHT

EV_KEY BTN_LEFT 1
X1:     0 Y1:     0  X2:     0 Y2:     0  du:0 dd:0 dl:0 dr:0  back:0 guide:0 start:0  TL:0 TR:0  A:0 B:0 X:0 Y:0  LB:1 RB:0  LT:  0 RT:  0
EV_KEY BTN_LEFT 0
X1:     0 Y1:     0  X2:     0 Y2:     0  du:0 dd:0 dl:0 dr:0  back:0 guide:0 start:0  TL:0 TR:0  A:0 B:0 X:0 Y:0  LB:0 RB:0  LT:  0 RT:  0
EV_KEY BTN_LEFT 1
X1:     0 Y1:     0  X2:     0 Y2:     0  du:0 dd:0 dl:0 dr:0  back:0 guide:0 start:0  TL:0 TR:0  A:0 B:0 X:0 Y:0  LB:1 RB:0  LT:  0 RT:  0

It seems that the emulation to the LB button works, but when I restart to initialize xboxdrv, the result is lost:

sudo /opt/retropie/supplementary/xboxdrv/bin/xboxdrv 
 --evdev /dev/input/event1 
 --evdev-debug
EV_KEY BTN_LEFT 1
X1:     0 Y1:     0  X2:     0 Y2:     0  du:0 dd:0 dl:0 dr:0  back:0 guide:0 start:0  TL:0 TR:0  A:0 B:0 X:0 Y:0  LB:0 RB:0  LT:  0 RT:  0
EV_KEY BTN_LEFT 0
X1:     0 Y1:     0  X2:     0 Y2:     0  du:0 dd:0 dl:0 dr:0  back:0 guide:0 start:0  TL:0 TR:0  A:0 B:0 X:0 Y:0  LB:0 RB:0  LT:  0 RT:  0

There may be something that I am doing wrong, Do I have to write it in rc.local?

mediamogul

@javisousa20

I believe you're right. xboxdrv is allowing the map to happen without error, but when the virtual controller is produced, those buttons don't seem to be communicating as they should. If I had to guess, it may be because you're mapping a mouse event. I've never done that myself and while it's technically possible and xboxdrv doesn't complain, it's just not communicating for some reason.

javisousa20

@mediamogul
Is there any way to start xboxdrv without rebooting? Or what is the way to start the configuration of xboxdrv at start? Is it to write the code in rc.local? Because I'm having troubles in that case

mediamogul

@javisousa20

You can always kill it at any time with

sudo killall xboxdrv

When testing, you can just created a script, say in your home folder and launch it to see if it's working. If not, kill it, alter it and launch it again.

javisousa20

@mediamogul said in Guide: Advanced Controller Mappings:

@javisousa20

You can always kill it at any time with
sudo killall xboxdrv
When testing, you can just created a script, say in your home folder and launch it to see if it's working. If not, kill it, alter it and launch it again.

It would not work for what I try to get, xboxdrv does not modify the first virtual event (ex: event2, js0) if I have not used killall before, either through rc.local or a script or directly from the xboxdrv command, but that creates a new event (and new js) that does not appear in /dev /input because it always exceeds the limit of defined controllers for the driver. The problem was that I could not run xboxdrv after I had used the killall command, only if I rebooted... or I don't know how.
But I think I've got it, I should try a script like you said, but for now I've managed to make it work by making the following change in rc.local:


sudo /opt/retropie/supplementary/xboxdrv/bin/xboxdrv \
 --evdev /dev/input/event1 \
 --silent \
 --mimic-xpad \
 --trigger-as-button \
 --evdev-keymap BTN_LEFT=LB,BTN_RIGHT=RB,KEY_CONFIG=LT,KEY_SEARCH=RT,KEY_PLAYPAUSE=A,KEY_PREVIOUSSONG=X,KEY_NEXTSONG=B,KEY_VOLUMEUP=Y,KEY_VOLUMEDOWN=back

"/opt/retropie/supplementary/xboxdrv/bin/xboxdrv" --daemon --detach --dbus disabled --detach-kernel-driver --id 0 --led 2 --deadzone 4000 --silent --trigger-as-button --next-controller --id 1 --led 3 --deadzone 4000 --silent --trigger-as-button

exit 0

The first call is my design for xboxdrv and the second one is the default one when enabling the driver from retropie config.
The problem with this method now comes from that to include that code in rc.local, when loading backpieces at the beginning, instead of entering emulationstation runs xboxdrv as expected from command line, but remains stopped in its last sentence:

Your Xbox/Xbox360 controller should now be available as:
 /dev/input/js0
 /dev/input/event2

Press Ctrl-C to quit

But I can't do nothing to quit, skip or enter in emulationstation directamente. (Or I may not know how)
I can only enter emulationstation using SSH. There I can map all the keys and buttons without problems (although I still have to try the touchpad as a joystick).
It is an advance, I would like to take advantage of your knowledge in programming that I don't have to finish polishing it, there may be more interested people.

javisousa20

@javisousa20 said in Guide: Advanced Controller Mappings:

But I can't do nothing to quit, skip or enter in emulationstation directly. (Or I may not know how)

Ok sorry, I forgot the &. Now it's working well!
When I want to use lxde desktop I can't use the keyboard or mouse, how can I end the xboxdrv process automatically when I want to access the desktop and restart it when I go back to retropie?

mediamogul

@javisousa20

So the virtual controller is preventing you from using a mouse and keyboard in lxde?

javisousa20

@mediamogul
Yes, if I run killall xboxdrv, I can control it normally again

mediamogul

@javisousa20

Well, as you know, the guide covers a method for starting and stopping xboxdrv maps using the runcommand-onstart/end scripts, but I don't think they come into play for lxde. I've never enabled lxde on my own setup, but I assume a script is created to launch it, located in the RetroPie menu. Making sure to work from a copy of that, you could try altering it to kill xboxdrv at the beginning of the script and relaunching it at the end.

javisousa20

@mediamogul
Thanks, I got what I wanted!
This is for runcommand-onstart.sh

#!/bin/sh

### Set variables for your joypad and emulator
### Basic Configuraions - Standard controller mappings

minikbd="sudo /opt/retropie/supplementary/xboxdrv/bin/xboxdrv \
--evdev /dev/input/by-id/usb-6901_2701-if01-event-mouse \
--silent \
--mimic-xpad \
--trigger-as-button \
--evdev-keymap BTN_LEFT=LB,BTN_RIGHT=RB,KEY_CONFIG=LT,KEY_SEARCH=RT,KEY_PLAYPAUSE=A,KEY_PREVIOUSSONG=X,KEY_NEXTSONG=B,KEY_VOLUMEUP=Y,KEY_VOLUMEDOWN=back \"

### 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
        emulationstation)
                $xboxkill
                joycommand="$minikbd &"
                eval $joycommand
        ;;
        kodi)
                $xboxkill
        ;;

        lxde)
                $xboxkill
        ;;

esac

And this one for runcommand-onend.sh

#!/bin/sh
sudo /opt/retropie/supplementary/xboxdrv/bin/xboxdrv >/dev/null \
--evdev /dev/input/by-id/usb-6901_2701-if01-event-mouse \
--silent \
--mimic-xpad \
--trigger-as-button \
--evdev-keymap BTN_LEFT=LB,BTN_RIGHT=RB,KEY_CONFIG=LT,KEY_SEARCH=RT,KEY_PLAYPAUSE=A,KEY_PREVIOUSSONG=X,KEY_NEXTSONG=B,KEY_VOLUMEUP=Y,KEY_VOLUMEDOWN=back \
&

I would like to start from Kodi or Desktop, but if I delete the xboxdrv configuration in rc.local, I can not start xboxdrv when I press exit to enter in emulationstation. It does not work either leaving it in rc.local because it starts desktop/kodi with xboxdrv and does not allow me to use normal controls. Is there any chance of making a change in autostart.sh or in runcommand-onstart.sh to autostart running through runcommand?

On the other hand, I can't emulate the axes of the joystick, the REL_X / Y events go approximately from -60 to 60 depending on the speed with which I move on the touchpad, but I can not get them to work either by calibration, can it be a problem defining them using --ui-axismap?

Thank you very much!

mediamogul

@javisousa20 said in Guide: Advanced Controller Mappings:

I can not start xboxdrv when I press exit to enter in emulationstation.

I suppose you could create a script that can be selected from within lxde that would kill the desktop environment and launch xboxdrv, as well as Emulation Station if necessary. The same can actually be done from within Kodi but it's not as straightforward. You'll need to do some research on script addons, or even ways to add scripts as menu items.

On the other hand, I can't emulate the axes of the joystick, the REL_X / Y events go approximately from -60 to 60 depending on the speed with which I move on the touchpad, but I can not get them to work either by calibration, can it be a problem defining them using --ui-axismap?

I believe defining the outer deadzones as defined in the guide should take care of that. Have you given that a go?

javisousa20

@mediamogul said in Guide: Advanced Controller Mappings:

I believe defining the outer deadzones as defined in the guide should take care of that. Have you given that a go?

Yes, I tried to do it but I do not get anything
This is the code I use

sudo /opt/retropie/supplementary/xboxdrv/bin/xboxdrv \
--evdev /dev/input/by-id/usb-6901_2701-if01-event-mouse \
--mimic-xpad \
--dpad-as-button \
--trigger-as-button \
--deadzone 3
--evdev-keymap BTN_LEFT=LB,BTN_RIGHT=RB,KEY_CONFIG=LT,KEY_SEARCH=RT,KEY_PLAYPAUSE=A,KEY_PREVIOUSSONG=dl,KEY_NEXTSONG=dr,KEY_VOLUMEUP=du,KEY_VOLUMEDOWN=dd,KEY_MAIL=back,KEY_HOMEPAGE=start,KEY_MIN_INTERESTING=B,KEY_WWW=guide \
--ui-axismap x2=REL_X,y2=REL_Y \
--calibration x2=-150:0:150,y2=-150:0:150 \
--evdev-debug

And here part of the test

EV_REL REL_X 10
EV_REL REL_Y -26
X1:     0 Y1:     0  X2:     0 Y2:     0  du:0 dd:0 dl:0 dr:0  back:0 guide:0 start:0  TL:0 TR:0  A:0 B:0 X:0 Y:0  LB:0 RB:0  LT:  0 RT:  0
EV_REL REL_X 6
EV_REL REL_Y -14
X1:     0 Y1:     0  X2:     0 Y2:     0  du:0 dd:0 dl:0 dr:0  back:0 guide:0 start:0  TL:0 TR:0  A:0 B:0 X:0 Y:0  LB:0 RB:0  LT:  0 RT:  0
EV_REL REL_X 2
EV_REL REL_Y -6
X1:     0 Y1:     0  X2:     0 Y2:     0  du:0 dd:0 dl:0 dr:0  back:0 guide:0 start:0  TL:0 TR:0  A:0 B:0 X:0 Y:0  LB:0 RB:0  LT:  0 RT:  0
EV_REL REL_X 4
EV_REL REL_Y -4
X1:     0 Y1:     0  X2:     0 Y2:     0  du:0 dd:0 dl:0 dr:0  back:0 guide:0 start:0  TL:0 TR:0  A:0 B:0 X:0 Y:0  LB:0 RB:0  LT:  0 RT:  0
EV_REL REL_X 2
EV_REL REL_Y -4
X1:     0 Y1:     0  X2:     0 Y2:     0  du:0 dd:0 dl:0 dr:0  back:0 guide:0 start:0  TL:0 TR:0  A:0 B:0 X:0 Y:0  LB:0 RB:0  LT:  0 RT:  0
EV_REL REL_X 2
EV_REL REL_Y -2
X1:     0 Y1:     0  X2:     0 Y2:     0  du:0 dd:0 dl:0 dr:0  back:0 guide:0 start:0  TL:0 TR:0  A:0 B:0 X:0 Y:0  LB:0 RB:0  LT:  0 RT:  0
EV_REL REL_Y -2
X1:     0 Y1:     0  X2:     0 Y2:     0  du:0 dd:0 dl:0 dr:0  back:0 guide:0 start:0  TL:0 TR:0  A:0 B:0 X:0 Y:0  LB:0 RB:0  LT:  0 RT:  0
EV_REL REL_X -2
X1:     0 Y1:     0  X2:     0 Y2:     0  du:0 dd:0 dl:0 dr:0  back:0 guide:0 start:0  TL:0 TR:0  A:0 B:0 X:0 Y:0  LB:0 RB:0  LT:  0 RT:  0
EV_REL REL_X -2
EV_REL REL_Y 4
X1:     0 Y1:     0  X2:     0 Y2:     0  du:0 dd:0 dl:0 dr:0  back:0 guide:0 start:0  TL:0 TR:0  A:0 B:0 X:0 Y:0  LB:0 RB:0  LT:  0 RT:  0
EV_REL REL_X -4
EV_REL REL_Y 4
X1:     0 Y1:     0  X2:     0 Y2:     0  du:0 dd:0 dl:0 dr:0  back:0 guide:0 start:0  TL:0 TR:0  A:0 B:0 X:0 Y:0  LB:0 RB:0  LT:  0 RT:  0
EV_REL REL_X -4
EV_REL REL_Y 10
X1:     0 Y1:     0  X2:     0 Y2:     0  du:0 dd:0 dl:0 dr:0  back:0 guide:0 start:0  TL:0 TR:0  A:0 B:0 X:0 Y:0  LB:0 RB:0  LT:  0 RT:  0
EV_REL REL_X -8
EV_REL REL_Y 30
X1:     0 Y1:     0  X2:     0 Y2:     0  du:0 dd:0 dl:0 dr:0  back:0 guide:0 start:0  TL:0 TR:0  A:0 B:0 X:0 Y:0  LB:0 RB:0  LT:  0 RT:  0

It can be seen that in this case xboxdrv is not reading the REL axes, but I don't know why

spud11

@mediamogul Hi. I thought you might be interested in something I've just found out with xboxdrv. Not sure if you've already discovered this. It is possible to use the $3 case in runcommand-onstart.sh to make an xboxdrv script that works just for one game. I've been messing around with SimCoupe trying to see whether it has any standardised controls either for keyboard or joystick. It doesn't seem to have any, so, as I only want to play a couple of Sam Coupe games, I thought that it would be a good idea to try to create xboxdrv scripts for individual games. I've got one to work with the extract from my runcommand-onstart.sh file as follows:

I've included some case $1 scripts just so you can see it in context and, at the bottom , you will see the case $3 script for Manic Miner. This works for me.

#!/bin/sh

### Code begins
### Game/ROM full path
rom="${3##*/}"

### SAM COUPE - 
Player1_SAM="sudo /opt/retropie/supplementary/xboxdrv/bin/xboxdrv > /dev/null 2>&1 \
--silent \
--detach-kernel-driver \
--deadzone=4000 \
--deadzone-trigger 15% \
--force-feedback \
--mimic-xpad \
--trigger-as-button \
--ui-buttonmap tl=void,tr=void,guide=void \
--evdev /dev/input/by-path/platform-3f980000.usb-usb-0:1.3.3:1.0-event-joystick \
--device-name "Player_1" \
--evdev-absmap ABS_X=y1,ABS_Y=x1 \
--evdev-keymap BTN_THUMB2=a,BTN_PINKIE=b,BTN_TRIGGER=x,BTN_THUMB=y,BTN_TOP2=lb,BTN_TOP=rb,BTN_BASE3=back,BTN_BASE6=start,BTN_BASE2=lt,BTN_BASE5=rt \
--ui-axismap X1=KEY_Q:KEY_W,Y1=KEY_UP:KEY_DOWN \
--ui-buttonmap a=KEY_SPACE,b=KEY_X,x=KEY_C,y=KEY_UNKNOWN,lb=KEY_UNKNOWN,rb=KEY_UNKNOWN,back=KEY_UNKNOWN,start=KEY_UNKNOWN,lt=KEY_UNKNOWN,rt=KEY_ENTER,rt+back=KEY_F10,back+rt=KEY_LEFTCTRL+KEY_F12"

case $1 in

	crvision)
		$xboxkill
		joycommand="$Player1_CreatiVision  &"
		eval $joycommand
	;;

	crvision2)
		$xboxkill
		joycommand="$Player1_CreatiVision2  &"
		eval $joycommand
	;;

	pop1)
		$xboxkill
		joycommand="$Player1_POP1 &"
		eval $joycommand
	;;

	pop2)
		$xboxkill
		joycommand="$Player1_POP2 &"
		eval $joycommand
	;;
esac

case $3 in

	"/home/pi/RetroPie/roms/samcoupe/Manic Miner (1992) (Revelation Software).sad")
	$xboxkill
		joycommand="$Player1_SAM &"
		eval $joycommand
	;;
esac

mediamogul

@spud11 said in Guide: Advanced Controller Mappings:

Not sure if you've already discovered this. It is possible to use the $3 case in runcommand-onstart.sh to make an xboxdrv script that works just for one game.

I'm glad you posted this and I really should have put it into the guide by now. Individual game mapping comes in handy so often that it needs to be documented. A great example are all the Atari 2600/5200, Intellivision and Colecovision games that use unique keypad controls. Mapping them to something more sane on a modern controller increases their playability so much. Another good example is the Atari 2600 games that originally made use of two joysticks for extra buttons. I just recently made a map for the 2600 port of 'Stargate', that moves 'smartbombs', 'inviso' and 'hyperspace' alongside the normal 'fire' button on the same controller and it plays great.

spud11

@mediamogul That's interesting. I'd just been setting up Defender for the Sam Coupe and had been doing the same - hyperspace and smart bombs alongside the fire button. If you have enough buttons, you can even make reverse and thrust work with buttons.

The other thing that I just checked before you replied was that you can retain a standard $1 or $2 configuration for a system whilst the specific $3 will override for the individual game only, and you've confirmed that that works too.

As you said, the Colecovision (which I set up about a month ago) will really benefit from this. I was finding that, despite having about 12 buttons on my arcade cabinet, it was getting pretty hard to create a standardised control scheme. It'll be much easier now that I know I can just do per-game schemes while maintaining a standard default scheme for those games that just require the default.

No sweat on changing the guide, but I must admit both this individualised process and the "launch executable" process you discovered a couple of months ago probably should end up being documented. (Also, I can't recall whether the "launch macro" process is also covered in the guide, but suspect not).

guydot

Is there any performance impact to using xboxdrv for all games? My need for xboxdrv is only for 4-way restriction - for arcade. I use Controlblock and I found that the following logic works to use xboxdrv only for restricted games and Controlblock for the rest:

One time:

Using Joystick Selection (https://github.com/meleu/RetroPie-joystick-selection) I mapped the xboxdrv #1 to player 1 and #2 to player 2 for "arcade" only. I used the "by-name" method, which seems to have some logic for "not connected"

Scripts:

launch xboxdrv/restricted (for player 1 + player 2) when emulationstation starts
a runcommand-onstart.sh script checks if launched rom is in RestrictedArcade list. If it is - do nothing. If it is not in the list - kill xboxdrv.
(the Controlblock joystics are automatically mapped if xboxdrive is killed)
*runcommand-onend.sh checks if xboxdrv is running. If not - launches for each player/restricted.

Thoughts?

Disclaimer: newbie, limited programming skills, haven't tested it for long enough :-)

mediamogul

@guydot said in Guide: Advanced Controller Mappings:

Is there any performance impact to using xboxdrv for all games?

None that I've noticed. I usually launch two instances for player one and two controls and have never had a problem.

Thoughts?

No, not really. That's more or less how I use it myself.

Disclaimer: newbie, limited programming skills, haven't tested it for long enough :-)

You're doing pretty good. Most people, including myself, struggle with this in the beginning. It really does pay off though. Games like Pac-Man just can't be played well with more than four available directions. Sure, you can boot them up and show them off, but you'll never get very far without the restriction.