Mala and the second controller

[Zobeid]

Is there any way to get Mala to read the second of my two U360s?

The way it is now, I can navigate using the first U360 and its buttons, but there doesn't seem to be any way I can access the second stick and its buttons.  So basically half the control panel is dead to Mala.  It's severely limiting the options I can use without resorting to a keyboard.

I tried the option to "Use second joystick."  It didn't do anything.  I think it means use the second joystick on controller number one (like a PS2 gamepad), so that's no help when I need to read controller number two.

[csa3d]

Ha.  Just went though this, and the threads I found on here were confusing.

You need to enable the second joystick by checking the checkbox in the joystick controller panel.  Set the joystick to Set 1, and only set the shortcuts you want to use for the left joystick (joy1).  Be certain you only use j1up, j1down, j1left, j1right in this dialog.  Delete any key references to j2.  Now set the joystick to Set 2 using the dropdown, and assume this is for the right stick (joy2).  Instinct will have you wanting to set shortcuts for this stick using j2up, j2down, etc.. but THIS IS WRONG!  You instead, STILL WANT TO USE j1up, j1down, j1left, and j1right.  Again, remove any references to j2 anything in the shortcut dialog.

I don't *think* you need to set anything in the cocktail dialog, but to be safe, I set the bottom joystick definition to be Set1.

I finally got mine working, but figuring this out took some time and much irritants.  I believe MaLa assumes j1 is a dpad on a gamepad and j2 is the analog control on the SAME gamepad (think ps2 controller).  I'm not sure how one would word this to make it clearer, but it's fairly confusing at face value.

Let me know if this doesn't do it for you.  I'll assume you've got your mame.ini set up to use joysticks and your issue is MaLa only.

-csa

[loadman]

Cool 

If it does work please update the WiKi too please?

http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/wiki/Mala_Wiki

Just use your forum login and password

[dgame]

Could we get support for more Joysticks in Mala? I will have 4 sticks on my control panel and I want to be able to selectively use them all. For example the 1st stick U/D = scroll by 1, the 2nd stick U/D = scroll by X, The 3rd stick U/D = scroll by letter, The 4th stick U/D = change lists, or any combinations of buttons, sticks and functions.

Judging from the 'check' tab it appears that Mala can do joystick polling, so why not have it like MAME where you press the button for the desired function instead of using the drop down menu?

I just got Mala up and running and it is a very good front end, love the features and video support. ROMLister is the best thing since raisin toast.

[slsimon]

Ah, very interesting.  I was actually looking at those settings today and trying to figure them out.  It's nice to know that joystick two has to match the settings for joystick one.  Thanks for the update.  Does this mean that joystick two will have the option to duplicate settings such that joystick one left - right switches emulators, joystick one up - down scrolls through game lists and joystick left - right plus button one switches gamelists?  I can see where I may need the second joystick have duplicate functions.  Not sure if that is possible, but I may look into it.  Thanks, Shane

[loadman]

Greater Joystick support is on the list...  Eventually   

But if you find a work-around please post it here