Atomic Systems

A much improved beta 2 version of CVK is now available. All rough edges are pretty much filed down in this one.

Now that I've had some time to actually play TS2014 using CVK, I'm quite confident it will serve me well as a TrackIR replacement... Yes, the CVK idea matured into a product just because the last TrackIR patch failed to work on my setup...!

Feedback in the form of more success/failure stories still wanted here. Have fun!

Download CVK from the link below (just 0.5 MB in size, so download should be instant), read about what it does below or in the included PDF manual.

http://pethu.se/cvk/files/CVK_1.0b2.zip




NEW IN 1.0 BETA 2:
=================

* Graphical user interface with loco list and PLAY / EDIT / SAVE buttons.

* EDIT mode to create your own views from within a TS2014 cab.

* Visually smoother switching between views in some circumstances.

* Now supports all TS2014 screen sizes (including the 800x600 missing before).

* Factory settings for 70 locos included.


CabViewKeys (CVK) is a utility that transforms your numeric keypad into a cab view control for TrainSimulator 2014 (TS2014), offering 8 different fixed cab views tailored to the cab of the loco you are driving. Right-clicking and dragging with the mouse to look around the cab is annoying, tedious and imprecise – let CVK do the pointing, leaving you to handle the cab controls!

This has only been verified in Windows 8 so far, but since it's based on AutoHotkey technology that has been around for more than 10 years, chances are it will work on most older OS versions too. Please give feedback in this thread: What works and doesn't work, OS version, monitor resolution, TS2014 screen mode -- all the usual stuff. I await your replys with trepidation...!

FEATURES AT A GLANCE:

No installation required: CVK resides in a single, self-contained folder. Just double-click the CVK.exe file to run the program. It works in the background, completely independent of TS2014 and RailWorks.exe version. (Considering where TrainSimulator is in its product life-cycle, I fully expect CVK will work for future TS versions too up until DTG switches to a new game engine.)

Switch locos in-game: You can load settings for a new loco at any time by pressing numpad 0 and entering a new loco code.

Add your own locos: CVK comes with settings for a fair number of locos. Adding support for a new loco can done "in-cab". Saved settings are stored in a separate .cvk configuration file for each loco, which can be distributed to other users.

Message box closing key: Numpad key - (minus sign) will acknowledge/close most standard-sized message boxes that pop up during scenarios.

A detailed, 9-page manual including instructions on creating and customizing views for your own locos included.

CVK is free(and also ad-free!) and will not go "beyond donationware" at any point.

Very cool mate, well done!

Looks like a superb piece of software and you can proud of what you've achieved up to now. Will download when I get the chance.

Great piece of kit, I can see me using this all the time! Well done, and thanks a million!

Thanks for the input, keep the reports coming!

I'm really getting into AutoHotkey scripting now! Today I've finally made keyboard keys do as I command in TS2014... So barring any unforeseen obstacles, I will also add a completely new funtion to CVK:

TapControl
Just like the CVK Numpad key views transforms the way you look at the Train Simulator world whilst driving, TapControl transforms the driving technique and feel when using the keyboard to control the throttle, train brakes, and reverser. Instead of having a fraction of a second of reaction time between getting a control in the position you want and not, TapControl means each tap of a key brings the control to a precisely defined position, making it blissfully easy to notch up or down, hit the neutral position on a combined throttle/brake handle, and so on.

I have one loco up and running with TapControl right now, but plenty more testing to be done for sure. (I think the ultimate test will be taming the power handle on the Class 86!...)

See ya!

I may be way off the mark here, but would TapControl affect joystick control in any way?

Natvander wrote:I may be way off the mark here, but would TapControl affect joystick control in any way?

I don't really think so, since it works by just "hijacking" the usual keyboard keys for throttle, brake and reverser and then replacing the actual keypresses the user did with ones of specific lengths, adapted to suit the loco you're driving. By using key modifiers, you'll also be able to go directly to important positions like "off" for a combined power/brake handle, or "running" for a steam engine brake.

BTW, TapControl will be completely optional -- each time you load a TapControl-equipped loco, you will be asked whether it should be enabled or not.

Tried it, created and saved a profile and all indicates working but keys having no effect at all.

Will try another time.Viewing the created file all co-ords are0.0000.

Re trying per instructions to set up example look left view - 'using numpad key 4 get to correct view' - pressing numpad 4 gives an outside view even when programme is in edit mode.

What am I missing?

chrisreb wrote:Tried it, created and saved a profile and all indicates working but keys having no effect at all.

Will try another time.Viewing the created file all co-ords are0.0000.

Re trying per instructions to set up example look left view - 'using numpad key 4 get to correct view' - pressing numpad 4 gives an outside view even when programme is in edit mode.

What am I missing?

Sounds very much like NumLock is off? With NumLock OFF Numpad key 4 could trigger the outside view just like the standard 4 key. (My keypad delivers a left-arrow key press instead, but i think different modifiers may also do different things on different keyboards when NumLock is off!)

I'll see if I can force NumLock mode ON in the CVK startup in the next version, should be possible with some virtual key trickery...

Num lock definately on - the application seems to work out of game as they numpad keys respond in unusual way when on desktop as expected. It just seem not to respond in game. Tried and existing profile for the Class 37 and that gave no response in game either - very puzzling

chrisreb wrote:Num lock definately on - the application seems to work out of game as they numpad keys respond in unusual way when on desktop as expected. It just seem not to respond in game. Tried and existing profile for the Class 37 and that gave no response in game either - very puzzling

Hi again,

Puzzling indeed, since you noticed desktop apparently responding to the numpad input. The keys are "caught" by the OS and this SHOULD be independent of the application screen/window in focus at the moment...! Some error-hunting questions:

1) Just to clarify, in edit mode did none of the Numpad keys pan the camera around the cab at all?

2) What OS are you running, and are you running fullscreen or windowed?

3) Also, when you tried to store settings in edit mode using Ctrl+Alt+Numpad key -- did you hear a beep confirming that settings had been stored?

4) (A very long shot:) In cvk.ini, are your screen size etc. set up to match how you run TS2014?

Thulin wrote:

chrisreb wrote:Num lock definately on - the application seems to work out of game as they numpad keys respond in unusual way when on desktop as expected. It just seem not to respond in game. Tried and existing profile for the Class 37 and that gave no response in game either - very puzzling

Hi again,

Puzzling indeed, since you noticed desktop apparently responding to the numpad input. The keys are "caught" by the OS and this SHOULD be independent of the application screen/window in focus at the moment...! Some error-hunting questions:

1) Just to clarify, in edit mode did none of the Numpad keys pan the camera around the cab at all?

2) What OS are you running, and are you running fullscreen or windowed?

3) Also, when you tried to store settings in edit mode using Ctrl+Alt+Numpad key -- did you hear a beep confirming that settings had been stored?

4) (A very long shot:) In cvk.ini, are your screen size etc. set up to match how you run TS2014?

Answers to above

1) Confirm that none of the keys worked
2) Running fullscreen Win7 Home Premium 64bit
3) Heard beeps at each step
4) Confirm cvk.ini has screesize 1680 x 1050 per In game and Win desktop

Hope this helps with our investigations - let me know if any further info reqd

Cheers

Short status update:

Going out of town for a while, but a new beta for CVK should be up in a couple of weeks.

Improvements will include forcing Numpad ON during startup, and doing away with the need for the cvk.ini file for most users. I'm also switching to a much more up-to-date version of AutoHotKey.

See ya!