Released: Multi-Throttle Support for IL-2

[MikkOwl]

Multi-Throttle 4.0 is done.

http://hem.bredband.net/mikko.artist...by_MikkOwl.zip

I'm working on writing the updated forum text, edit first post etc (not just this but several forums) but I'm so incredibly exhausted from trying to get it done so it may be a bit slow. But the link is here at least. I thought I would post it here first.

Bug fixes:
- Fixed a bug where the brakes would not release fully when having used the toe brakes.
- Fixed a bug where if both toe brakes were pressed completely the brakes would set to zero.

Changes & Tweaks & New stuff:
- Can now close all windows it creates when exiting (ALT-E).
- Can now detect if user is in an aircraft and at the controls. Does not try to send any commands if escaped, not in control of the aircraft's flight controls, bailed out, main menu (being alt-tabbed does not count).
- Toe brakes no longer manipulate the rudder (for differential braking function) if either the tail-wheel is locked or the landing gear is retracted (no more accidents for some of you and landings should be much be more stable).
- Added ability to detecting button presses for setting up individual engine key controls (start & feather prop).
- Added support for trims (in order to make new trim tweaking possible). Assign any axis to any trim.
- Added ability to limit the range of trims for a much smoother, accurate, realistic and relaxed trim experience (all IL-2 aircraft have an enormous trim range in all directions, but our controllers do not = hypersensitive trimming).
- Added feature to off-set the trims to either side (most aircraft only need to trim the rudder/ailerons in one direction, meaning the other 50% is wasted movement range on our controllers and making trimming twitchier).
- Replaced the dozens of individual config executables with a single, graphical user interface setup program (phew.......). The Setup folder is also gone. G940_tweaks.ini merged into mikkonfig.ini and moved to DATA folder.
- Ability to assign any of the G940 trim wheels to any trims in-game instead of just R1 and R2 to Rudder-Elevator. With reversal bug removal extended to these other trims.
- Radiator support is back (the code is revised but no full setup program support - edit the .ini file if you really want to use it).
- Dual Prop. pitch support.
- Support for G940 throttle button LEDs for IL-2! (Am I the man or what? Logitech owes me a paycheck and you G940 users especially owe me a donation ).
- Bonus: As information from devicelink and IL-2 is limited, wrote program functions to 'guesstimate' certain functions in order to provide more realistic LED behaviour.
- Bonus: One of the extra functions is a flap position indicator light, like the one in the Ju-88 A-4.
- Bonus: Like the real world Pe-2 and Pe-3, a LED button can now light up when the rudder trim is centered. (Knowing when the important rudder trim is centered can be difficult, especially on the G940 and even more with the new trim tweak abilities. Especially important for take-off).

[MaD88]

Originally Posted by MikkOwl

- Support for G940 throttle button LEDs for IL-2! (Am I the man or what? Logitech owes me a paycheck and you G940 users especially owe me a donation ).

You ARE the man
Have to try it this evening... Thanks for your work... donation is on the way!
You made my day!!!


Edit: Really great everything- I'm just missing the option to change behavior of the LEDs.
For Example: Flaps in=LED off, Combatflaps=Green, Takeoff=Orange, Landing=Red

[335th_GRSwaty]

Thanks MikkOwl!

GUI is a great advantage!

[MikkOwl]

I wish there was more info that could be gotten by devicelink to be used to control the G940 leds. Most of what is allowed to be read when in multiplayer is added... but I want to add more. I have some ideas on how to figure out ways to make very accurate guesses on the state of some systems. Like nav-lights for example. There's no way to read if nav-lights are on or off. But I have found ways to check if someone is in control of an aircraft or not (already implemented), but also a check on if the plane type can be read or not. If it cannot be read, it means that the player has not even selected or loaded up a plane. Soo, using a combination of the two above, I could make it, for example, switch nav lights only when allowed to, and reset the guessed state of the navlight system to off each time it is clear the player restarted the flight. I don't know if this makes any sense to anyone, but it does to me, and it can probably add many more systems.

The current wishlist for 4.1 (definitely not adding the whole list!) is:

1. Separate engine-off button for each engine (requested by sokol - I just didn't have the time to do it and get the release out with all the other things I added)

2. Add more systems for the G940 leds, through guesstimation.

3. Make the LED assignments also trigger the function they were assigned to. For example, WEP button triggers WEP, gear triggers gear. Now they only assign the lights inside the buttons, not the function itself. It could save time if people can just assign the function directly through multi-throttle (quick to change between planes, just alt-tab, close M-T, run setup, etc).

4. I would like to have separate trim tweak profiles for different planes available. This is planned for Storm of War, but I already have some neat trim tweaks implemented - just need to add the (quite large and complicated) infrastructure for loading them in multi-throttle, the setup program, and editing them, and saving them. I think that limiting the amount of profiles and all the variants of the planes can be done by reading keywords of the aircraft's name. Like one profile can be 'spitfire', and includes all spitfire models. Another is 109, another is 110, another B-17, another P-51, P-47, P-38, LAGG, Pe-2, Fw-190, Ju-88 and so on. That will allow us to have our trims tweaked just right for different planes.

5. If I add profiles for aircraft, then maybe also be able to add LED button assignments saved in the profiles. Means the buttons could change their LED light display, as well as their function, depending on the type of aircraft.

6. Perhaps integrate some of my previous work. For example:

I made a music player that allows you to play pre-defined tunes for what is going on around you (to match the setting) by the use of one top hat. I tried this myself, thinking it would be cool. It was cool. But I am already too nervous online and this made it crazy nervous. Need all my concentration just on flying.

A smooth fov switcher that can use a single button to zoom in and out between wide and realistic fov, and if held for just a moment it zooms in maximum (and also makes TrackIR go into super smoothing mode, making the view very stable). This function was quite useful, as it takes up only my S4 (middle left) thumb button on the G940 and controls all my viewing and does it in a logical, fast and easy to control way. I had many different versions for viewing in the past until I arrived at this configuration. Before I had smooth fov switching, I would lose sight of enemy aircraft when zooming in maximum, because the zoom is the 'middle' of the screen and sometimes I was not centering the enemy aircraft in the middle properly. Zoom being instant, I saw an empty sky and could not determine where the enemy was. With smooth zooming it was easy to see where I was looking.

Made a stay-in-cockpit-view-when-bailing-out, with a sound effect of trying to jettison the canopy and loud wind noise. In fact, I also flew online with this and added the feature of muting teamspeak completely as soon as I bailed out. This meant no one could hear me after I bailed, and I could not hear them either.

Safety switch for weapons. Can be a master-arm button for all weapons, or individual (it's not complicated). In this way, a single joystick button (the trigger) can be made to fire MGs or cannons, or both, by arming and disarming the weapon systems individually.

Scroll in-game map by using a top-hat. I made it and it works, but only on my monitor display resolution. Uses mouse emulation to click drag the map around. And I don't think it was practical. Reaching for the mouse was much faster and better, sadly.

Function not yet made, but possible to do: Read the log file generated by IL-2 (in real time when flying). And using that data, I can make the rear gunner in planes like the Bf 110 and bombers speak a little bit in multiplayer. Only some of the things they can say in single player.. But even that is better than complete silence. They can scream if wounded or killed, and they can comment on when targets are destroyed or aircraft was shot down "Target destroyed, great hit!". And only if they are still alive. Not really anything else. I most of all wish that they could speak if they see an enemy plane but that's not possible to do.

[Qpassa]

I have tested it ,it's great also is easier to configure.
I would like that you show(in the throttle) when you have the acrobatic gas,the prop pitch of all the engines,manual pitch.
Thanks!

[MikkOwl]

Originally Posted by Qpassa

I have tested it ,it's great also is easier to configure.
I would like that you show(in the throttle) when you have the acrobatic gas,the prop pitch of all the engines,manual pitch.
Thanks!

Good to hear!

I am not 100% sure I understand what you are asking for. "Acrobatic gas"... funny. Do you mean 100% throttle? If so, what is the use of that? I think we can already see and feel easily on the G940 dual throttle handles (and the RPM gauge, manifold gauge and the throttle levers, in the game cockpit).

The prop pitch of all engines.. This you can also see on the RPM gauge in the aircraft. But yes, many of us don't have the extra levers to watch. If using the G940 trim wheels to set prop pitch for different engines, it is not as easy.

Button to show if we have manual or auto pitch? There is no such function in IL-2 to find out if it is automatic or manual. Buuut, I might be able to make the program look at what plane we are flying, if the plane is just starting fresh (refly etc) and then make a button show if we have manual pitch or not (and make it toggle manual/auto). I already had this idea on my to-do list for future versions, because I think it would be useful.

[Qpassa]

Well ,let's train to explain XD
In my throttle I have set this configuration:

1 toogle wingtip smoke
2 Wing fold (OK in the program)
3 Feather Prop
4 Manual Pitch

5 Tail wheel lock
6 Select Engine #1
7 Select Engine #2
8 All Engines




Acrobatic Gas=Wigtip Smoke ,sorry for the translation XD
In Spain we are playing a competition where if you want to make a Supply you have to use them over the cities(And you really need to know if they are ON/OFF,they also penalize.)

Wingfold OK

Feather Prop. Aww dude,its complicated to use your program when you have problems.

In my opinion would be great if you create some Turn ON/OFF of twin engine control

I just want to disable it and control the Engines individually,that' s why I also set the
#Engine1 #Engine2. I think I have to change #All Engines,here it 's useless.

Also the individually Pitch,let me a better control over my airplane.
I hope you have undertood it