IPac - SHIFTed keys via toggle switch?

[Brad Lee]

My current setup is an IPac which is mapped pretty clsoe to the mame defaults, i.e. p1 buttons 1-4 are ctrl/alt/space/shift. I was playing some regular PC games and a couple had problems mapping funtions to these keys. What I did was jsut reprogram the ipac to use A/B/C/D for the buttons and was able to use them

While I was poking around in winipac i played with shifted keys a little bit. RIght now I dont have anything assinged for a shift button or shifted keys. How exactly is hte shifted key handled? If I wire P2button8 to a toggle(or other on/off button, not a momentary contact) and flip the switch so that circuit is closed, If i hit p1button1, I assume it sends whatever is programmed to the pc. Does the ipac stay shift-ed for as long as the circuit is closed?
Is this an effective way to do on-the-fly remapping?

Also since p2button8(or maybe 7?) is the 3rd led output, and if I wire my toggle to that line, when it's closed, the led should light, right?

[SirPoonga]

Also since p2button8(or maybe 7?) is the 3rd led output, and if I wire my toggle to that line, when it's closed, the led should light, right?

Yep, you would be correct there.

Not sure about the rest.

[Distortion]

That's quite an interesting idea, I never would have thought of it, but why not just use a few different schematics in the software?

[Tiger-Heli]

My current setup is an IPac which is mapped pretty clsoe to the mame defaults, i.e. p1 buttons 1-4 are ctrl/alt/space/shift. I was playing some regular PC games and a couple had problems mapping funtions to these keys. What I did was jsut reprogram the ipac to use A/B/C/D for the buttons and was able to use them

While I was poking around in winipac i played with shifted keys a little bit. RIght now I dont have anything assinged for a shift button or shifted keys. How exactly is hte shifted key handled? If I wire P2button8 to a toggle(or other on/off button, not a momentary contact) and flip the switch so that circuit is closed, If i hit p1button1, I assume it sends whatever is programmed to the pc. Does the ipac stay shift-ed for as long as the circuit is closed?
Is this an effective way to do on-the-fly remapping?

Also since p2button8(or maybe 7?) is the 3rd led output, and if I wire my toggle to that line, when it's closed, the led should light, right?

Short answer is you are using a non-standard application of the shift function.  It's main function is to allow you to use extra functions (admin functions - enter, tab, etc.) without having extra buttons on the keyboard.

Shift key explanation is here http://www.ultimarc.com/ipac3.html

I think your idea would work, except that the I-PAC will send the keycode on key release in shifted mode.  Probably not a problem for buttons, but it will be bad for buttons - what you want to do is the following -

Save your standard configuration in the WinIpac software as mame.ipc.  Save your other confiq as pcgame.ipc.

Write a batch file (yes they still work in windows) as follows.  (You might need to add cd commands to change directories and/or include full paths).

winipac.exe pcgame.ipc
pcgame.exe
winipac.exe mame.ipc

Make a shortcut to this batch file to launch your pc game.  The batch file will load the custom codeset, launch the PC game, and then load the mame codeset back when you quit.

(I think you also have to change the MAME/ALT jumper setting as well).

[Brad Lee]

OK I was curious about using winipac from a commandline(or in a batch)

I've got saved copies of mame.ipc, nfs.ipc, quake.ipc and such so that's not a problem to attach a batch to the games


When you say the shifted keys operate on key release, if I hold a button down it'd just send once, when i let go    ?     If thats the case that'd definitely be not good for shooters that have repeat fire, or a run button. If I read that correctly.



Once I had Need for Speed installed I barely even fired up mame this weekend.. even was playing splitscreen with a buddy since I got 2 sticks on my cab. Now I jsut need to convince the wife that I *NEED* 2 sitdown cockpit cabs side by side linked together

[Tiger-Heli]

When you say the shifted keys operate on key release, if I hold a button down it'd just send once, when i let go    ?     If thats the case that'd definitely be not good for shooters that have repeat fire, or a run button. If I read that correctly.

That's how I read it from the Ultimarc text.  You could try it out with your I-PAC/2 yourself if you wanted to verify.

[Brad Lee]

I'll give it a shot cuz I'm re-wiring my entire CP anyway. Like most of the rest of the questions, the best way to find out is to try it

From re reading the ultimarc page linked above it seems that the shift key itself works on release to avoid unwanted keys, but that when shift is held down, your normal keys fire as expected

[AndyWarne]

Yes, only the shift key itself works on release, the others are normal when the shift key is held down.

There is a new version of the WinIPAC program on the way which gets rid of the "OK" box after a batch mode program and corrects a couple of other issues. I will be testing it tomorrow and then upload it.

Andy

[Brad Lee]

Thanks

I did some testing of multiple configs, notwith a toggle but a heavy book keeping the shift button pushed:) and it worked flawlessly
I also did some playing with batch files and that works pretty good too

and cool about the winipac prog, I'll keep an eye out for it

[_Iz-]

Andy - I don't seem to be able to find any version numbers or date posted on the WinIpac download page for the utility. Makes it difficult to see if you have the current version without downloading it again.

[_Iz-]

Yes, only the shift key itself works on release, the others are normal when the shift key is held down.

There is a new version of the WinIPAC program on the way which gets rid of the "OK" box after a batch mode program and corrects a couple of other issues. I will be testing it tomorrow and then upload it.

Andy

Has this new version been released yet?