SpacePilot with Max - Button Configuration missing

RobH · Post by **RobH** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 1:16 pm

I have a Space Pilot and the latest drivers installed (Release 3.15.2/Driver Version 6.15.2/Firmware 3.12). I no longer have the ability to set up Multiple Button Configurations. Not only that, I have a very limited set of keys to assign to the one button screen that I do have.

In the years past I was able to set up as many custom button configs as I wanted to. Has this functionality been removed from Space Pilot?

Barbara · Post by **Barbara** » Mon Mar 12, 2012 7:02 am

Hello RobH -

Are you are using the editor inside the 3DsMax? This is the editor opened from 'Customize buttons' on the pop-up menu that has all of the application-specific commands.

Are you finding the limited set of key assignments in this editor or in the button mapping in the 3Dconnexion Properties window? The commands on the button mapping tab are general so would be limited in comparison the editor in 3DsMax.

The Space Pilot still has the ability to have multiple profiles. It is possible that some type of data corruption in a registry key or profile has affected your 3Dconnexion software. You can use the clean install steps to remove the 3Dconnexion registry entries and profiles and re-install the software.

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Barbara

RobH · Post by **RobH** » Mon Mar 12, 2012 9:58 am

Hello Barbara,

I'm going where I've always gone. I right-click the icon next to my clock and select 'Open Window.' That presents me with the 3Dconnexion Properties panel which has 4 tabs (Device Configuration/App Configuration/Button Configuration/ Advanced Settings).

In 'Button Configuration' I can only change two groups of keys. The left-hand stack is " 1 thru 6 and T thru F" and the right-hand stack is "Esc thru Panel.' And, inside of those there are limited selections. For instance: "Select and Move" is the default for key #2. However, if I wanted to use "Select and Rotate" for key #2, that option is not even available in the list under Key #2's dropdown box.

I have a clean install and a new OS. This is a new machine. I followed the directions to do a clean install a few weeks ago and this is what I wound up with. I can try it again I guess.

Rob

Barbara · Post by **Barbara** » Mon Mar 12, 2012 12:50 pm

Hi Rob -

The editor you need to use is the 3Dconnexion editor inside 3DsMax. You can see a screenshot of it in the manual under Supported Applications- Autodesk 3ds Max- Customize Buttons. Choose Help-3DxHelp from the 3Dconnexion Properties window or Documentation from 3DMouseHome.

You will see this editor has the full set of 3DsMax commands.The internal button mapping editors are designed to have priority over the 3Dconnexion Control Panel. The button mapping tab there is intended for use with applications that do not have dedicated editors. Buttons mapped in the 3DsMax editor will be saved in your profile and you can have multiple configurations.

You should not need to do another install. See what your results are after mapping from the 'Customize buttons' editor in 3DsMax.

The default mapping for the SpacePilot has the pop-up menu with 'Customize buttons' mapped to the Panel button on the SpacePilot. If your Panel button does not open the pop-up menu, you can re-map to it or use Options-Restore all defaults to restore its mapping to the pop-up.

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Barbara

RobH · Post by **RobH** » Mon Mar 12, 2012 7:03 pm

Hi Barbara,

Thanks for the info. Sorry if it has seemed as if I'm a noob. I am not. I don't recall ever having set up the keys inside of Max. Maybe I'm just mistaken. I've found it and I think I'm OK now. Thanks for your understanding and patience.

Regards....

Rob

Barbara · Post by **Barbara** » Tue Mar 13, 2012 12:18 pm

Hello Rob -

You're right - if you were using the Space Pilot a couple of years ago, then you're remembering correctly. It's not you - it actually works differently than it did a couple of years ago. Until the pop-up menu was added [Release 3.11.2 from 07/22/10] when working in 3DsMax, the system tray icon would have opened the button mapping editor you're using now.

If you were working in an application that did not have an internal button editor, the system tray icon opened the 3Dconnexion Properties window. Having it work this way made sure that users were finding the editor that had their application commands. Unfortunately, it also caused some confusion since the same 3Dconnexion icon opened a different window if you were working in an application such as Google Earth or SketchUp that did not have an internal editor.

The pop-up menu and the 3DMouseNews window were added to make the button mapping available inside the application and leave the system tray icon to open only the 3Dconnexion Properties window.

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Barbara

RobH · Post by **RobH** » Tue Mar 13, 2012 12:32 pm

Thanks Barbara for your time. I know you probably get tired of saying the same thing over and over. Sorry I missed that with the modification upgraded driver.

However, life is good again.

Best,

Rob