Stupid Trackball Question

[FrizzleFried]

OK...so I have a USB HAPP trackball.   I am building a new CP.   It will currently fit one way bit not the other.   I can route it to fit the other way if necessary (meaning it will fit one way,  but not 90 degrees or 180 degrees...only one way.

I just thought of this...what happens when I go plug in my trackball and I push it forward...and the friggin cursor goes sideways or down!??   Is there software that modifies the direction of the trackball or do I have to route the damn thing out,  test which way is which,  then attach it accordingly to the CP?

Thanks!

[sfrascella]

There should be an arrow that say's monitor on the trackball. Mount it with the arrow pointed toward the monitor and you will have no problems.

[FrizzleFried]

Well...it's official...I am a "CERTIFIED" dumbass.   Before reading sfrascella's response I went out to the garage and inspected the trackball unit...and sure enough...there is the arrow as described by sfrascella embossed on the housing....with the words "MONITOR" inside.

The shame is that the BLEEPin' hole I sawed is 90 degrees from the orientation that I need....ARRRRRGH!   All is not lost as I can simply cut a little from each corner that isn't already cut (essentiall creating a boxed opening) and the cover plate will cover this mistake nicely.

I also now wish I had positioned the trackball about 1/2" further from the edge...

...the things we learn the first time through...

Thanks though sdrascella.

[u_rebelscum]

You can mount it in an orientation different than suggested.  Especially if you use an optipac or mouse hack.

If you're only going to use the TB in mame, you can remap the axes (general/default) and/or set the axes to analog (each game) as needed.

However, it's better if you change the wiring.  Not only do you not need to remap and software reverse axis, but it will work as is in windows and other applications.  If you rotated 90 or 270 from what the TB expects, hook the "X" TB axis to the optipac Y axis, and same with the Y axis.  If the pointer goes the opposite direction than you roll, then switch the "X+" & "X-" (or "Y+" & "Y-") wires.

The rewiring is harder if you have one of the TBs that come with a PC hook up, but you can swap the cards.

The other problem is the rollers are positioned so the ball works the best for most games & most CPs (but not all) if you mount as suggested.  Rotated 90 degrees one way is basically the same, but 90 the other or 180 and the TB is probably better for GoldenTee type games on flat CPs.

[FrizzleFried]

Bah...too much work...much easier just to cut the CP.   Thanks for the suggestion though.

Expect more pix soon.