U360-strictly users - questions on admin functions, etc

[Ummon]

I have two U360s. I'm used to having an IPAC and digital sticks, so it's easy in Mame to access the TAB menu, take snapshots, reset the game, pause it, etc because of the 'shift' function of the IPAC (in this case on the P1 game start button). How do you handle these things with a U360 populated panel?

I have tried to set keypresses with joy2key, but got no response in notepad, let alone that it doesn't seem to allow multiple simultaneous keypresses. (Interestingly, I got similar behavior when using a JPAC GPWiz, so maybe I just don't get how to do it??)

[DaveMMR]

Personally, I just remapped the MAME UI to shifted-button presses (e.g. Button 13 - shifted 5 - acts as TAB, etc.).  If that's an option for you, I found that to be the easiest way.

BTW - Button 8 on the U360 (assuming you're using the harness) acts as the shift-button. 

[u_rebelscum]

Probably like Dave, but I just remap mame to use multi-button combos, and forget (in fact, disable if possible) shift feature.  (Forget joy2key, too.)

IMO, the first step is to stop thinking "tab", "enter", "esc", etc, and instead what they do and are called in mame: "Config Menu", "UI Select", and "UI Cancel" ("exit").  Which just happen to be mapped to those respective keys by default.  Then map these "newly named" but same functions to whatever key/button/(s) you want.  For example, IMO "UI Select" should be mapped to whatever is p1b1 and/or p2b1, instead of adding another button to the CP.

This is weighted toward mame/mess, though; other games/emus might need keypresses or can't remap to multi-button per action.


Possible actions:
- Remap mame, including dual and triple button presses.
- Remap mame, including shifted buttons and dual and triple buttons presses.
- Remap/rewire encoder to match mame's defaults, one key per. (only works for keyboard encoders if you want mame's default admin buttons)
- Remap encoder to match mame's default, using shift key (only works for keyboard encoders)
- Use joy2key or similar app to convert joy signal to key presses.  IMO, adds extra steps, increases input latency, and app needs to be RawInput aware to work with mame.  IOW, IMO a PITA.  However, needed for some non-mame emus not currently upkept.
- Some combo of the above

You're used to the #3 & #4 with the ipac, but with the u360 they aren't options any more.  I prefer the first one, ipac or u360, and IMO #5 should be the last course.

[Ummon]

(Note above I corrected my mention of JPAC with GPWiz.)

Dave: I couldn't remember if the U360 had a shift function. I dimly remembered someone asking about it, maybe seeing it as a new feature later on, but didn't (and don't now) see anything on it at Ultimarc.

I've thought of phasing out the IPAC in the panel, in which case the shifted function is moot, because I have no 'enter' via the panel in Windows. If I keep the IPAC and connect the stick(s) to it (of course keeping the usb connected for stick mapability), then they register as keypresses and I can continue as before, right?


u_reb: Yes, I see what you mean. I've thought of remapping in mame. I just messed around with it some and it'll take a little getting used to. Interesting that it requires the opposite in procedure: instead of holding the button down and pushing the stick, I need to push the stick in whichever direction is mapped then press the [player 1] button.

Having been using an IPAC for years, I'm used to that keycode set. Morever, I'm used to it being applicable in Windows, which is handy sometimes especially as my rig isn't set up in 'cab' mode. Or if I get some kind of error when loading a game, etc, that requires an 'enter' command...although I do have a trackball w/ buttons so I guess I could do it that way too. So I guess that's my main issue - which points at number 5. Hmmm.

[Ummon]

To update, I was able to figure out (or unconfuse myself, not sure which) joy2key and get keypresses in notepad - however, it doesn't solve the issue of having an 'enter' in Windows, because it's not a 'shifted' option. Joy2key is pretty straightforward and hence any direction or gamepad button can be assigned something in Windows. However, unlike in Mame, you can't assign such that the command desired is DEPENDENT upon mulitple simultaneous keypresses. Hmmm. Perhaps it'll be best and easiest to connect the sticks to my IPAC in 'input' mode.

[u_rebelscum]

...I couldn't remember if the U360 had a shift function. I dimly remembered someone asking about it, maybe seeing it as a new feature later on, but didn't (and don't now) see anything on it at Ultimarc....

Check the bottom of this page at Ultimarc.

... I'm used to it being applicable in Windows, which is handy... - which points at number 5. Hmmm.

Sounds like it.

FWIW, you can change your physical P1B1 to output enter, and remap mame so enter is seen as both "UI Select" (what's default enter) and "Player 1 Button 1" (what is default left ctrl).  Assuming you don't need left ctrl for something else. 

[Ummon]

Actually, it occured to me that if button 8 is the shift button, then I have shift functions just like an IPAC, but use is contingent upon joy2key. The only drawback is if I'm using the keyboard, which I often am given this rig is multi-purpose, assigning a gamepad key to some keyboard press makes Windows not recognize the corresponding keyboard key. Ah well.