PC Ts World Raildriver And Joystick Interface

By the way, can I confirm with you that the doing calibration in TSW is still effective when I'm using your interface under a mapped joystick mode (not RD mode)? What will happen if I calibrate the physical RD once in your program and once more in TSW? Do these two stages "multiply" one another sequentially (as if you divide an calibration into 2 steps)?

 

In short, Yes. My program looks for a Raildriver.ini file as explained in my last post, if it does not find one, it creates a default one which is fine for most users, but calibrating your joystick in TSW will give you a more accurate version.

At the moment, when using the Raildriver, you need to calibrate the Raildriver in both programs to get accurate results, the reason being, my program reads the Raildriver using the PieHid64Net.dll and TSW uses its own method which gives different results.
With my Raildriver, using the ThrottleAndBrake as an example, using the PieHidNet.dll I get
33, 130, 192, 247
This is because the Raildriver uses a single byte (0-255) for each lever.
In TSW the calibration values for the ThrottleAndBrake are
0.125490,0.498039,0.745098,0.956863 which, when multiplied by 255 equates to
32, 127, 190, 244
When using a joystick it is assumed in my code, one end will be 0 and the other end 1 with the mid point being 0.5. For the ThrottleAndBrake, my code breaks this down to 0, 0.45, 0.55, 1. which seems to work fine for most users.
I can also see that by actually reading the calibration from TSW for Joysticks it will allow users to move/resize the mid point (0.45 - 0.55)
to something like 0.49 - 0.51 or 0.6 - 0.7.
I am thinking now that I will go with option 1 and take all the readings from TSW and remove the need to calibrate the Raidriver in my program.
Chris

 

HI Chris,

Firstly, Thanks for producing and maintaining your awesome piece of code!

I've made a quick prototype of a custom controller (photo's included - uses an Arduino Pro Micro) that I knocked up in a weekend, to experiment with how everything works and get all the controls I want/need. As you will see from the photo, I'm using an Xbox/PlayStation style thumbstick for in-world movement, but would like to use a single thumbstick for both movement AND look axis, using a button (probably assigned as a joystick button?) to toggle between the walk forward/back and left/right to the look up/down and left/right axis. The thumbstick itself has a tactile style push button built in, which I could use to swap the thumb stick function and could assign it to a joystick button very easily via the Arduino code.

There has been a previous post about combining these functions, but I'm looking for something different from your previous request. Next to the control box, I'll have my mouse for the look, but it seems that when I go to the external view, the camera moves around under the "look" commands and the the direction is manipulated by the mouse. I hope this all makes sense! Please let me know if you'd like me to clarify anything.

What do you think? Is it something that you could easily implement? Even if you can't get to it immediately, knowing you could do (and would get around to it) I'd design the function into the hardware in anticipation of the change to your software.



Thanks in advance!

Dave.

 

Hi first, I'm currently in the process of building my own control panel for the TSW4. In order to read the control levers, I attached potentiometers to them, which are controlled with a microboard, similar to the Arduino Leonard (so I also operate it with the Arduino software). Now I'm not quite sure how I can "connect" my control panel to your software. How do I have to program my Arduino, or is it even possible? Can someone give me an overview of my next steps. Thank you.
Jo

 

Hi Jo. If you want the easiest and most cost effective solution then you should probably use a microcontroller with a HID interface built in, such as the Arduino Leonardo you mention or the Arduino Pro Micro (essentially the same as the Leonardo, but a smaller form factor - it has the same number of GPIO pins). Both of these can appear as a keyboard or joystick (using the correct libraries) so that you can use buttons on the digital pins to produce joystick buttons or keyboard keystrokes or potentiometers using the analog inputs to function as a joystick axis that appears in windows like any other joystick. Chris's software can then read the data.

You will need to read up on a couple of libraries to make it work;
Joystick.h - This is the essential library and it is well developed and pretty well documented too, it makes the arduino appear as a joystick to windows.
Keyboard.h - I didn't use this in my prototype, but you can use a button connected to digital pin to make keyboard keystrokes.
Keypad.h - a library that allows you to use a smaller number of GPIO pins to connect more buttons. I've used this to use 8 pins to connect 16 buttons to the board and therefore 16 buttons as a joystick - I also use two further buttons connected directly to two GPIO pins.

I've attached the code I've written for my prototype above (which uses a single Arduino Pro Micro) which you can look at for some guidance. I had to use the.txt extension, as the arduino .ino is not allowed to be uploaded to the forum. I suggest you get a single potentiometer and button to work as a joystick in windows before moving onto more complicated setups! I used a 4-way switch for the reverser. I was originally going to using resistors to create a pseudo-potentiometer, but in the end I had enough spare GPIO pins to hard code the 4-way switch to the Arduino, as the switch was a break-before-make type which caused issues; With hindsight, I'm just going to use a potentiometer for the reverser in my final design, but that's what the prototype was for; figuring out what works and what doesn't!

The last thing to do is to run the windows calibration on the joystick before trying to get it to work with Chris's software!

If you need more inputs that a keypad matrix permits (i.e. you run out of Arduino GPIO pins) there are other methods of expanding the GPIO capability of any arduino. The two main ways are to use 'shift registers' or there are dedicated I2Cor SPI boards that expand on GPIO. Both these methods can get significantly more inputs (>128 isn't too difficult) but there are other drawbacks to using these methods, do your research!

Another direct and easier alternative to Arduino boards are Leo Bodnar boards (choose the right number of inputs and axes you need from the products on offer). These are (much) more expensive than an Arduino but are simpler and easier to use, with minimal coding by yourself.

I hope this points you in the right direction!

Regards,

Dave.

 

Hi Dave,
First of all, thank you for answering Jo's post and for sharing your code with him. I couldn't have answered it any better myself.

Your welcome.

Very impressive, if that's your prototype, I can't wait to see the finished result

I have managed to implement your request by utilising the shift button feature for joystick buttons. The only downside is that you will have to hold the assigned button while using it. So you could assign walking forward/back/left/right to your unshifted thumbstick and the look up/down/left/right while holding the shifted button. You could implement the button hold in your arduino code.
I have to finish adding the code for my program to read the calibration data from TSW and then I should be ready for release.
Chris

 

Hey, first of all, thanks for the software Chris and thanks for the reply Dave. I just built and programmed everything and it worked. But now I have a question about the software and one, at least I think, about the Arduino code.
Software: At the moment it is the case that when I move my throttle forward, the power in the TSW is always increased in larger steps (so about steps of 8). So it's not quite as "smooth". Now I just wanted to ask if you can set it somewhere, it's up to me or maybe it's even related to my second question:
I use a potentiometer to read my lever, but I don't operate the full excursion but only have a smaller range that I move. So I only use the middle ~70% of the excursion (I hope that's kind of understandable). Is there any way I can set it in my code to stretch this range up to 100%?
Thank you very much, Jo

 

Awesome, thanks! I wasn't aware of the Joystick 'shift' button. I can easily implement the button to toggle the 'shift' on and off again, so your development will hit the mark!

Have you run both the windows joystick calibration AND the calibration of the 'rail-driver' in-game (settings > controls > advanced controls)? There is quite alot of discussion about the the necessary steps to get everything working, much earlier in this thread (pages 1 and 2). I could say it all again, but I'd recommend you read through this thread in it's entirety, as there is loads of discussion and help which will give you a more knowledge on how everything works!

There are ways to do this, but I think your problem lies with the various calibrations. Can I ask what value potentiometers you are using? The go to value for potentiometers with Arduino's is 10k-ohms. Lower value potentiometers will start (needlessly) using more power and larger potentiometers are more susceptible to noise.

I look forward to your next release, Chris!

Thanks,

Dave,

 

Hi, I was able to fix my problem, but now another one has appeared. Even when I have my throttle in the middle position, the software shows me the value 0.4666 for ThrottleAndBrake. However, in the game that is already 5% braking power. If I move the throttle forward, the game is only in zero position when the ThrottleAndBrake value is 0.6470. If I now move my zero point on the controll panel (potentiometer), then I have the zero point in the game, but the path to full power is much shorter than the path to full brake. Am I doing something wrong now? I just use my Arduino Leonard and the software. I can also attach my Arduino code below.
Jo
(Ignore the int throttle2 in the code)

 

Jo,

You can delete the following code from your file; throttle1 = map(throttle1, 0,234,0,255);

There should be no need to do any mapping in the arduino code. Once you've removed the above from your sketch and uploaded it, run the windows joystick calibration as per this video;

Once you have done that, you'll need to then run the in-game calibration in TSW4 (settings > controls > advanced controls > calibrate). Once you have done that you need to setup the axis properly in Chris's software. I recommend you read through the manual for Chris's software carefully and read the entire of this thread. It can be a little confusing at first, but you'll get there!

The only other thing is check you have wired the potentiometer correctly; can you post a schematic or diagram of how you have connected everything? I'm away this weekend (just got some 4g signal!) so I might not be able to respond promptly.

Dave.

 

This does not seem to work with the steam locos. Well most things work, You can assign axis to every thing but the regulator no matter what I tried could not get it to move in game .Had not had problems with any other loco. I am using x-55 rhino throttle.

 

Are you aware that with the steam trains, the regulator is controlled by the loco brake and not the throttle.
Create a new lever map just for steam trains and assign the LocoBrake to the ThrottleAndBrake.
When asked if you wish to remove the other assignment, say Yes. The lever map should look like this

Chris

 

I'll be damned, of course its the the one i did not try. It was getting late.

 

I made the same mistake! I nearly gave up, but went through each control and I tried all the other analogue axes before trying the Loco Brake right at the end

Here's a sneak peak of the final design. I need to do all the CAM now to 3D print and laser cut the parts out, but it'll look pretty much like the CAD model. To give you scale it is 400mm wide and about 180mm deep. The front is 45mm high and the back is 80mm. It's footprint on a desk is slightly smaller than an average keyboard (with number pad).



There are two big differences from my prototype; The first is that I've used linear rails for the controls to slide on (instead of rotary potentiometers).


The second big difference are the two plates nestled in-between the controls. These plates can be 3D printed and swapped out (3 bolts) for each train, giving custom detents, friction and end stops for each train. The sprung plunger in each carriage mates with the track on the detent block. Also, because my 3D printer can do multi-colours, I can inlay the detent blocks with a scale, decals or other information using black and white filament.



My 3D printer is going to be working overtime for the next week!

Dave.

 

That's amazing, your obviously very talented, now comes the rush of requests for you to sell it
Chris

 

Please can you re-upload this, the download links are disabled.

Thank you

 

Hi Adam
It appears the download limit for my dropbox account has been exceeded, so they have suspended my account for 24 hours.
With the file sizes as they are at the moment (126 MB), then only 158 downloads a day are allowed.
I am going to go through the files and remove the offline install option for net 4.8 which will then reduce the file size to 3MB and allow approx 6,000 downloads a day. I am also going to replace the download for directx which is 96MB and replace it with a link to the download from Microsoft. This then should stop any further suspension.
Chris

 

All links now updated and back up and running.
adam#7861 Here is the new link to V2.0.0.2
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/lnma....0.2.zip?rlkey=oxq7q16wjcr47c1cptz63mtjm&dl=1
Chris

 

Hello, is it supported with the Microsoft Store version? Getting "unable to connect to TSW - retrying connection" message

 

The program assumes you are using the steam version but let's see if we can get it working for you. Can you see if you have the following or similar folder, replace YOUR_USER_NAME with the name you are logged in with in windows.
C:\Users\YOUR_USER_NAME\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Train Sim World 4_8wekyb3d8bbwe

if so, navigate to that folder and then see if you can get to
WindowsNoEditor\TS2Prototype\Binaries\ThirdParty\PieHid\Binaries

If you can and you have a PieHid64.dll with a file size of 71KB, rename it to PieHid64_bk.dll.
Next using another window in file explorer go to the folder containing my program and from the DefaultSettings folder, copy the PieHid64.dll to the Binaries folder you opened above.

If this works, can you let me know so I can add this to the next update.
If the location is slightly different, can you let me know the full path.
Chris

 

Hi guys,

In case any of you were wanting to follow the build of my controller, I've started a new thread, so I don't hijack the purpose this this thread for Chris's software:

https://forums.dovetailgames.com/threads/a-new-dlc.79995/#post-816662

Thanks,

Dave.

 

Hello Chris,

My game is installed under a secondary disk so the path was a little bit different not sure if this would change if its under the main system disk: D:\XboxGames\Train Sim World- 4\Content\TS2Prototype\Binaries\ThirdParty\PieHid\Binaries

But it did work! If you need any additional info from me regarding the Microsoft Store version let me know.

Thank you

 

Thank you

 

CobraOne I can't seem to make the Raildriver Wipers control work on version 2.0.0.5 - rolling back to 2.0.0.4 and it starts working again. Anyone else experience this?

 

Just tried the wipers and lights myself and they don't work. I am working on the next update and will fix them for that release.
Chris

 

Amazing once again, can't thank you enough for this piece of software. Being able to remap the Raildriver loco brake lever to be the power lever for trains like the class 142 and class 158 is a real immersion boost!

 

https://forums.dovetailgames.com/th...d-joystick-interface.61440/page-9#post-816320,https://forums.dovetailgames.com/th...d-joystick-interface.61440/page-9#post-816927

Hi, i have 2 controllers that i was hoping to edit to use better in TSW4,but your program isn't detecting them when i run it? i've copy the binary file.. Can we do a screen share? CobraOne[/QUOTE]

 

Unfortunately the TS Controllers are not joysticks. They communicate with TS Classic using the makers proprietary software. They do not have a version for TS World and as I don't know what the protocol is, I can't make it work with my software. As they are a commercial company, I would not be interested in making it work either as I would then be obliged to keep updating my software every time they changed or added any hardware.
Chris

 

ah i see. i thought you worked with him to add better TSW4 support using your api/software? CobraOne

 

I didn't realise you bought them from Dan Sewell who was the original creator of the controller. You are right, I did liaise with him and gave him a copy of my code for the two dll's that talk to TSW
I believe he was creating his own version of my program, you need to contact him for help.
Chris

 

ok,np

 

This works amazing with my logitec heavy equipment side panel. The only issue im having is with the Class 323. once i use the throttle/brake, i cant get the setting ingame back to "off" and goes to "B1" when my joystick is in neutral. Is there a fix for this?

 

Can you edit the following file, replacing YOUR_USER_NAME with your actual user name:-
C:\Users\YOUR_USER_NAME\Documents\My Games\TrainSimWorld4\Saved\Config\WindowsNoEditor\Raildriver.ini

Look for the section:-
(ControlIndex=1,CalibrationPointValues=(0.000000,0.478431,0.529412,1.000000)),
Your values may be different to mine. Make sure that the second value is at least 0.01 below 0.5 and the third value is at least 0.01 above 0.5 i.e. 0.49, 0.51
If that hasn't fixed it then try 0.48 and 0.52 and so on. You need this, because the Raildriver that my software emulates, has a gap in the middle of the ThrottleAndBrake lever.
Chris

 

Cobra One: Love your program, particularly the button remapping. Running 2.0.0.2 and wondering when a fix for the wiper and lights might be coming?

 

So did the CN GP38-2 on the Oakville subdivision lose its rail driver profile in game for TSW4 ? I went to set up the route to use with my HOTAS it would not work and i cant even find the profile for the loco in the game any more.

 

Hopefully not too long now, maybe by the end of the weekend but no promises. I'm working as quick as I can, with the very little spare time I have
Chris

 

I don't own that loco so can't comment. but I do have the GP38-2 YN3b and that works fine.
Chris

 

yes other gp38-2 in the game work fine and have raildriver profiles. this one seems to have gone missing.

 

Well I found out it was the new Toronto commuter time table mod that was breaking raildriver for both locos found in the the oakville subdivision dlc.

 

TSW Raildriver & Joystick Interface V2.0.0.6 Released

Main Full Program
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/6tz1....0.6.zip?rlkey=pim1jqjfusslq5nhv5gld5gm1&dl=1

Quick Start Guide v2.0.0.0 English
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/usv1....0.0.pdf?rlkey=r9up8ze24xtp49yyj5g4bcg5k&dl=1

Quick Start Guide V2.0.0.0 French
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/qm7n...e-FR.pdf?rlkey=pnrq2jjzawjxzu05wx779v2rm&dl=1

Directx
https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/download/details.aspx?id=8109

If you are updating from an earlier version, simply extract the zip file into your current folder, otherwise extract the zip file into a folder of your choice.

1. Wipers and lights now work on the Raildriver.
2. Added the option to use one of the two Shift Buttons you assign using 'KeyMaps\Button Map\Assign Shift Buttons' when assigning a lever for movement and looking around. This allows you to use the same joystick levers for both.

I am still working on a solution to read the calibration values from TSW and hoping to improve the accuracy of the Advanced Notches., but I seem to be going round in circles at the moment.

Chris

 

Hello all,
I am trying to program an arduino based controller with this software but I am getting a little stuck when it comes to notches. I have placed the following notch stipulations:

0.97:1.00:1.00,
0.94:0.96:0.85,
0.91:0.93:0.75,
0.88:0.90:0.65
(These are representative of the Metro North M3A positions P4,P3,P3,P1.)
​

After saving lever map I get the following error:

Any advice?

Also attaching screen of configuration setup:

 

Hi idwdeveloper
You are inputing Advanced Notches into the Standard Notches form.
If you hold down the shift key and right click on the NotchValues box you will get this window:-



Chris

 

Hi All,

I've just dropped the first version of the design guide and files for my controller in a new thread: LINK.

Please head over there and grab the files!

Cheers,

Dave.

 

Hi, first of all great piece of software, its really made tsw more enjoyable.

Just a quick question though, I'm trying to set up some advanced notches because the throttle i have has 9 detents, one centre and 4 either side for brake and throttle but the issue im having is when I try to set up advanced notches some are being skipped and I think ive narrowed it down to the following:

Say you have a notch that is 0.20:0.30:0.28 this will work as intended but if you have one where the value you want sending to tsw is outside of the range you've set for the detent on the joystick axis, for example: 0:20:0.30:0.36, it gets ignored by the code completely, the "data sent to tsw" section of the ui is saying its sending the next highest valid notch, in this case the one at 0.50. I've included and example below to illustrate the issue.

B4 - 0.00:0.05:0.00 <- works
B3 - 0.08:0.18:0.13 <- works
B2 - 0.20:0.30:0.36 <- doesnt work, sends 0.50
B1 - 0.32:0.42:0.45 <- doesnt work, sends 0.50
IDLE - 0.45:0.55:0.50 <- works
T1 - 0.57:0.67:0.55 <- works despite being outside the range, possibly because its lower than the range?
T2 - 0.69:0.79:0.68 <- works despite being outside the range, possibly because its lower than the range?
T3 - 0.82:0.92:0.84 <- works despite being outside the range, possibly because its lower than the range?
T4 - 0.95:1.00:1.00 <- works

I hope i've explained this well enough.

 

TSW Raildriver & Joystick Interface V2.0.0.6 Patch 1 Released
Download from:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/c8uz...ey=91inro09ge91p20qv16jqabmu&st=0l4nsrtl&dl=1

This is an interim patch to V2.0.0.6 to fix the error with the Advanced Notches while I am working on V2.0.0.7.
Simply extract the single exe file from the download into your existing program folder replacing your current version.

jksn Could you test it for me and report back.
Chris

 

Wow, that was quick, just tested it and everything seems to be working fine now. The notches in my post above work as intended. Thanks.

 

Is there any way to get your Raildriver mod working with Train Sim World 2020 ?

That would be Train Sim World 1.

 

Unfortunately not, Raildriver support was not added to TSW until V2 and it's that code that my program talks to.
Chris

 

Thank you.