Checking 6 & IL-2 JoyControl | Forums

[LBurke6652]

I've played Aces High 2 for a year, but I'm an IL2 noob and am still dealing with the basics.

Fist question: In AH2 you can look directly back at the 6 o'clock position to check your 6. I note in setting up my snap views in IL2 that the closest I can come to checking my 6 is with "look back right"/"look back left". There is no "back", so I basically can't see whats behind me in the (roughly) 4:30 to 7:30 o'clock zone. Is there a way to look directly back to check 6 that I am overlooking or is it intended that we not see directly behind?

My other issue relates to my controllers. I have CH Figherstick/Pro Throttle/Pro Pedals. Although I love the controllers, I just can't deal with Control Manager and avoid it like the plague (I'll leave it at that to keep this as short as I can). Fortunately, I don't need CM to get great performance from my controllers in AH2; they operate very crisply and precisely, giving me excellent control of my plane. So far in IL2, its just the opposite. Controller operation is very loosey-goosey and imprecise. I know from AH2 that it doesn't have to be that way. The alternative sensitivity curves found in the manual didn't make any difference (assuming I was doing it right, which I may not have been). Giving up on that, while researching this forum for an answer to my problem, I came across some threads that mention "IL2 JoyControl". It seemed to me that it might do the trick, so I downloaded it. The next challenge was to figure out how to use it (I'm kinda low tech in that regard). So far, I have failed to meet that challenge. I found a thread by MaXMhZ dated 1/23/07 that explains how to use IL2JC. The explanation, while helpful in many ways, appears to be missing some info that I apparently need and don't already know. I'm stuck at "The first thing you need to do is point Joy Control at the conf.ini file." How do I do that and at what point in the process do I do that? After unzipping but before running setup? After running setup? MaXMhZ's description tells me that I should see a red block and a green dot in the axes to be set but, going about it as I have been (i.e., the wrong way), I get the IL2JC window with the red blocks in the axes but no green dot. I see the green dots in the picture of the window you see in the unzipped IL2JC file, so its clear they're supposed to be there. I would greatly appreciate it if someone could fill in the informational gaps for me so that I can get my controllers working the way I know they can and start enjoying this game.

[LBurke6652]

I've played Aces High 2 for a year, but I'm an IL2 noob and am still dealing with the basics.

Fist question: In AH2 you can look directly back at the 6 o'clock position to check your 6. I note in setting up my snap views in IL2 that the closest I can come to checking my 6 is with "look back right"/"look back left". There is no "back", so I basically can't see whats behind me in the (roughly) 4:30 to 7:30 o'clock zone. Is there a way to look directly back to check 6 that I am overlooking or is it intended that we not see directly behind?

My other issue relates to my controllers. I have CH Figherstick/Pro Throttle/Pro Pedals. Although I love the controllers, I just can't deal with Control Manager and avoid it like the plague (I'll leave it at that to keep this as short as I can). Fortunately, I don't need CM to get great performance from my controllers in AH2; they operate very crisply and precisely, giving me excellent control of my plane. So far in IL2, its just the opposite. Controller operation is very loosey-goosey and imprecise. I know from AH2 that it doesn't have to be that way. The alternative sensitivity curves found in the manual didn't make any difference (assuming I was doing it right, which I may not have been). Giving up on that, while researching this forum for an answer to my problem, I came across some threads that mention "IL2 JoyControl". It seemed to me that it might do the trick, so I downloaded it. The next challenge was to figure out how to use it (I'm kinda low tech in that regard). So far, I have failed to meet that challenge. I found a thread by MaXMhZ dated 1/23/07 that explains how to use IL2JC. The explanation, while helpful in many ways, appears to be missing some info that I apparently need and don't already know. I'm stuck at "The first thing you need to do is point Joy Control at the conf.ini file." How do I do that and at what point in the process do I do that? After unzipping but before running setup? After running setup? MaXMhZ's description tells me that I should see a red block and a green dot in the axes to be set but, going about it as I have been (i.e., the wrong way), I get the IL2JC window with the red blocks in the axes but no green dot. I see the green dots in the picture of the window you see in the unzipped IL2JC file, so its clear they're supposed to be there. I would greatly appreciate it if someone could fill in the informational gaps for me so that I can get my controllers working the way I know they can and start enjoying this game.

[Tully__]

First question: It is intended that you can't see directly behind you without turning the aircfraft a bit (just like in real life).

Second question: I've not used JoyControl so can't comment.

[Bearcat99]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by LBurke6652:
I've played Aces High 2 for a year, but I'm an IL2 noob and am still dealing with the basics.

Fist question: In AH2 you can look directly back at the 6 o'clock position to check your 6. I note in setting up my snap views in IL2 that the closest I can come to checking my 6 is with "look back right"/"look back left". There is no "back", so I basically can't see whats behind me in the (roughly) 4:30 to 7:30 o'clock zone. Is there a way to look directly back to check 6 that I am overlooking or is it intended that we not see directly behind?

My other issue relates to my controllers. I have CH Figherstick/Pro Throttle/Pro Pedals. Although I love the controllers, I just can't deal with Control Manager and avoid it like the plague (I'll leave it at that to keep this as short as I can). Fortunately, I don't need CM to get great performance from my controllers in AH2; they operate very crisply and precisely, giving me excellent control of my plane. So far in IL2, its just the opposite. Controller operation is very loosey-goosey and imprecise. I know from AH2 that it doesn't have to be that way. The alternative sensitivity curves found in the manual didn't make any difference (assuming I was doing it right, which I may not have been). Giving up on that, while researching this forum for an answer to my problem, I came across some threads that mention "IL2 JoyControl". It seemed to me that it might do the trick, so I downloaded it. The next challenge was to figure out how to use it (I'm kinda low tech in that regard). So far, I have failed to meet that challenge. I found a thread by MaXMhZ dated 1/23/07 that explains how to use IL2JC. The explanation, while helpful in many ways, appears to be missing some info that I apparently need and don't already know. I'm stuck at "The first thing you need to do is point Joy Control at the conf.ini file." How do I do that and at what point in the process do I do that? After unzipping but before running setup? After running setup? MaXMhZ's description tells me that I should see a red block and a green dot in the axes to be set but, going about it as I have been (i.e., the wrong way), I get the IL2JC window with the red blocks in the axes but no green dot. I see the green dots in the picture of the window you see in the unzipped IL2JC file, so its clear they're supposed to be there. I would greatly appreciate it if someone could fill in the informational gaps for me so that I can get my controllers working the way I know they can and start enjoying this game. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Pointing it to the conf file is simply telling it where IL2 is.. usually that is

C:\Program Files\Ubisoft\IL-2 Sturmovik 1946

If you go there you will see a text file called conf. It has a lot of the settings of the sim in there.

I know it is hard to do but forget about AH2. This sim is a totally different animal... also.. consider givng the CH manager a whirl again.. it can be of benifit to you and there are lots of die hard CH users here who could help you get rolling with that.

AS for the views... think about it... being able to look back at your 6 from say... 5-7 oclock inless you were in a plane that had tyhat kind of canopy was not p[ossible without kicking rudder.. and even then you still had tp slip a bit because you had the seat back and you were strapped in.

Enjoy the sim.... being an experienced simmer... once you get acclimated to the differences you will really come to appreciate them.

[x6BL_Brando]

As Tully said, the ability to have a full 360 view is considered inauthentic and is coded out. This coding was hardened quite a few years ago to prevent early TrackIR users from exploiting a weakness that allowed them all-round vision. In real life there were very few cockpits that allowed the kind of 360 view that is part of AH. You have to remember that a pilot was usually strapped in quite tightly, especially during combat, and that turning the head to see around the armoured headrest was not that easy, even with the vision that a bubble canopy affords.

As far as the CH Hotas and setting input sensitivities is concerned - there is a set of steps you need to take if you aren't wanting to use the CHCM. You may have already gleaned a fair amount of understanding of these, but I'll repeat them anyway.

1) Although IL-2 supports the use of up to four controllers, only the first one listed in the Windows Game Controllers applet can be set up in the IL-2 Controls Input sensitivities window. Unfortunately this usually tends to be the rudder pedals! It's impossible to adjust this arbitrary decision process in XP. So the only adjustment you can make in IL-2 is to rudder input.
It gets worse if you have any kind of game-pad as a supplementary controller - because that is Window's favourite default device!

2) It is possible to adjust control settings manually in the conf.ini file (found in the main game folder). When opened with Notepad you can see the relevant text, e.g.....
[rts_joystick]
X=0 1 4 9 16 25 36 49 64 81 100 0
Y=0 1 4 9 16 25 36 49 64 81 100 0
Z=0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
RZ=0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 0
FF=0
U=0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 0
V=0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 0
1X=0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 0
1Y=0 50 56 61 67 72 78 83 89 94 100 0
1Z=0 20 23 27 33 40 49 59 71 85 100 0
1X1=0 46 46 46 51 58 67 76 84 92 100 0
1Y1=0 42 43 46 53 61 69 77 84 92 100 0
1Z1=0 0 4 9 16 25 36 49 64 81 100 0
1X2=0 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 0
1Y2=0 50 56 61 67 72 78 83 89 94 100 0
1Z2=0 56 61 66 71 76 80 85 90 95 100 0
1RY=0 100 100 100 100 100 99 99 99 99 99 0
1RZ2=0 10 14 18 24 33 42 54 68 83 100 0
1V=0 20 29 38 47 56 64 73 82 91 100 0
1U=0 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 0
1RX2=0 0 11 22 33 44 56 67 78 89 100 0

That's just an example (do not use it!). I use CH gear too, with Elevator, Aileron, Rudder, Throttle and Brakes mapped - plus Pitch trim, Yaw trim and Roll trim given input curves also - all done with IL-2 Joycontrol. Flaps and prop-pitch can also be controlled by rotaries, and have input sensitivities applied, if you have the required number of pots.

3) Set-up of Joy Control. Joy Control must not be installed in the IL2 folder. Install it into Program files.
After installation is finished & the first time you launch the program, a window will open asking directions to the conf.ini file. In the drop-down, "Look in" box, you need to navigate to your game folder - e.g. C:\Program Files\Ubisoft\IL-2 Sturmovik 1946 - then click "Open" - select the folder called "conf" - and click "Open" again. The window will then close, job done, file path selected.

Go to Program Files and open up the folder JoyControl. Right-click on the paper-dart icon and click Send to &gt; Desktop (create shortcut), job done, close out of Program Files.

4) Set-up of sensitivities. JoyControl has the ability to edit the figures in that conf example I showed above. It's 'just' a text editor with a graphical interface. Note that you need to select and highlight the axis you want to adjust, each time, as you work through the procedure. Note that the red squares represent the movement of the physical axis, while the green squares represent the input curve, i.e. the signal received by the game.

When you have set up the curves you require - see the "Presets" box for a useful shortcut method - you then click the box at the lower left called "Save to Conf.ini". An "Are you sure?" applet will appear, click OK to save your new settings. Job done.

5) It worth recalling that the translation of controller movement to game functions is filtered by the game code anyway. Oleg Maddox explained recently that the code has been re-vamped to represent/ translate the effect of a long-stroke, floor-mounted joystick through the movements of a desktop-mounted PC equivalent. So, even if you set all your inputs to 100%, you will feel the not-quite-electronic-sharpness coded into the game. That is the norm for IL-2.

I hope this will help. IL-2 requires quite a lot more controls/keypresses than AH2 or any of the Warbirds genera. If you are having difficulties with using the CHCM I suggest using the CH Hangar forum to get concise and friendly help in setting up your stick functions. I also have problems with the stick input section of the Control Manager, hence I use IL-2 JC, but I really appreciate being able to use the Shift function and the 3 Modes available through the software.

cheers

B

[x6BL_Brando]

Ah, "snap" BC!
The curse of one-hand typing, it just takes so long!

B

[LBurke6652]

Thanks for the replies, ya'll They are very helpful.