Space Navigator PE Driver Development Thread

[incudie]

If you could knock that out, I'd love your even more =P

Messed around with it the other day but didn't have much luck.

[cherrybomb]

Okay ladies and gents..

I've added LED support. But more than that, I've added the ability to send output reports to HID devices in a generic way.

This may not seem like a big deal, but in the context of this application as a "generic" framework for input from many different HID sources, it's significant.

Basically, in the config file, for any given HID device, you can now define several commands, which define an HID output report number, and the value you wish to send in that report.

For the SpaceNavigator, there is only one output report, and only two potential values. The output report controls the LED and the value is either 1 == On or 0 == Off.

Code:

<devices>
  <device type="hid" name="SpaceNavigator" vid="0x046D" pid="0xC626">
    <command name="Led On" report="0x0004" value="0x0001"/>
    <command name="Led Off" report="0x0004" value="0x0000"/>
  </device>
</devices>

Then, you can invoke these commands, by sending a window message to the SpaceNavigator Driver app, that is in this format.

HID;<Device Name>,<Command>

Where <Device Name> is the name of the device defined in the <devices> config node, and <Command> is the name of the command you wish to invoke. So an example to turn on the LED would be.

HID;SpaceNavigator;Led On

You can download the latest binary from the sourceforge page here.

The config.xml file in the zip contains the devices node shown above, as well as a context that turns the LED on or off based on the button you push on the SN. The zip also includes a README.txt file which mentions the dependency on xerces C++ and has a download link. It also links back to this thread for reference.

Now to get working on a configuration app. :-)

[incudie]

You, are wonderful.

Thank you ^_^

I'll give it a shot when I get home tonight and let you know how it worked.

[inh]

haha awesome work man! I guess it's time i start doin my part, eh?

[cherrybomb]

Quote: Originally Posted by inh

haha awesome work man! I guess it's time i start doin my part, eh?

Hah! At your leisure. It clearly too me FOREVER to get this stuff going.

Gonna try to knock out a config app next.

Got a baby coming in December, and I'm trying to get a lot of stuff out of the way. Gonna take 2-3 weeks off work to be home with the baby, depending on how things go, I might have some time to do some programming as well.

[inh]

Congrats man!

I'm more or less done with RRCam for awhile, while i research multiple camera support, so I want to try and get a config app done, but I've never worked wtih XML in VB6 before, so it should be interesting. I am definitely going to knock out a guide for it, however.

[cherrybomb]

It shouldn't take me more than a couple days to do a config app. I'll do it in C#, and you'll have to have .NET installed on the machine you run the config app on, but on the development side it's EASY to work with XML in C#/.NET.

I may actually have some time today. :-)

[inh]

Sounds good =] Im working on a standalone GPS app to work with RRCam so people without roadrunner can still get gps info to display on the screen =]

[cherrybomb]

Little teaser on the configuration app.

Just mocking up the UI, and starting to add actual functionality. :-)

[inh]

I like it =] Cant wait to see the finished product!

[incudie]

Quote: Originally Posted by inh

I like it =] Cant wait to see the finished product!

*agrees* ^_^

[HarryBash]

First of all, I would like to say Awsome work guys specially cherrybomb i have been reading this thread since it started (also read all other threads related to SN), but never actually posted anything. I was waiting for cherry to come out with a version that atleast had 90% functionality of what was being conceptulized. I ordered my SpaceNavigator 3 days ago and got it just today and have wasted so much time just playing around with it and configuring it to run with RR. And let me tell you it has been fun, exciting and frustrating all at the same time. But i am happy with what it can do, it is truely amazing.

I am basically using inh's config file with some of my own alterations, my first problem is that the taskbar icon for the SpaceNavigator app (i have version 0.2b latest) always stays blue no matter what. Even when i disconnect it, it stays blue and doesn't trun to red.

Second problem is with device contexts i am using two contexts one that simulates a mouse and one that does media controls i have set up the menu.skin, audio_player.skin and all other skin files needed with the line TMR,1 and added the appropriate lines to ExecTBL.ini as suggested by inh's guide. Now when i start RR on the menu skin i have it set to be used as a mouse and it works fine i can move the mouse pointer but when i click the buttons they don't work as mouse buttons, even tho i have them set to simulate as mouse buttons under the Mouse context. But they rather simulate a mute button(only the right one) which i have set up under the Media context. So basically moving the hat works as a mouse when it should(i.e in Mouse context) but no matter what context i am under the buttons always work as what is configured under the Media context (left one does nothing, right one mutes).

Please help below are my files:

config.xml

Code:

  <deviceContexts>
    <deviceContext name="Mouse" device="SpaceNavigator">
      <axe threshold="200" type="binary" posAction="" negAction=""/> <!-- axe 0 pan left/right -->
      <axe threshold="200" type="binary" posAction="" negAction=""/> <!-- axe 1 pan foreward/back -->
      <axe threshold="500" type="binary" posAction="" negAction=""/> <!-- axe 2 push/pull -->
	  <axe simulateMouseMove="y"
        threshold="50"
        divisor="30" />
	  <axe simulateMouseMove="x"
        threshold="50"
        divisor="30" />
	  <axe threshold="200" type="binary" posAction="" negAction=""/> <!-- axe 5 twist -->
	  <buttons>
		<button simulateMouseButton="left" />
		<button simulateMouseButton="right" />
	  </buttons>
    </deviceContext>
    <deviceContext name="Media" device="SpaceNavigator">
      <axe threshold="200" type="binary" posAction="" negAction=""/> <!-- axe 0 pan left/right -->
      <axe threshold="200" type="binary" posAction="" negAction=""/> <!-- axe 1 pan foreward/back -->
      <axe threshold="300" type="binary" posAction="RR Play/Pause" negAction="RR Exit"/> <!-- axe 2 push/pull -->
      <axe threshold="200" type="binary" posAction="" negAction=""/> <!-- axe 3 tilt foreward/back -->      
      <axe threshold="200" type="binary" posAction="RR Prev" negAction="RR Next"/> <!-- axe 4 tilt left/right -->
	  <axe threshold="100" 
        type="exponential"
        startPulse="1"
        endPulse="20"
        posAction="RR Volume Up"
        negAction="RR Volume Down" /> <!-- axe 5 Twist -->
	<buttons>
        <button downAction="" upAction=""/>
        <button downAction="RR Mute" upAction=""/>
      </buttons>
    </deviceContext>
  </deviceContexts>

  <contexts>
    <context name="Default"
      deviceContext="Media" />
	<context name="Mouse"
      deviceContext="Mouse" />
	<context name="Media"
	  deviceContext="Media" />

  </contexts>

<actions>
    <sendWindowMessage name="Context Up"
      type="CopyData"
      window="SpaceNavigatorDriver"
      message="CONTEXT;Up"/>
    <sendWindowMessage name="Context Down"
      type="CopyData"
      window="SpaceNavigatorDriver"
      message="CONTEXT;Down"/>
    <sendWindowMessage name="RR Volume Up"
      type="CopyData"
      window="RoadRunner"
      message="VOL+"/>
    <sendWindowMessage name="RR Volume Down"
      type="CopyData"
      window="RoadRunner"
      message="VOL-"/>
	  <sendWindowMessage name="RR Mute"
      type="CopyData"
      window="RoadRunner"
      message="MUTE"/>
	  <sendWindowMessage name="RR Play/Pause"
      type="CopyData"
      window="RoadRunner"
      message="PLAY"/>
	  <sendWindowMessage name="RR Next"
      type="CopyData"
      window="RoadRunner"
      message="NEXT"/>
	  <sendWindowMessage name="RR Prev"
      type="CopyData"
      window="RoadRunner"
      message="PREV"/>
	  <sendWindowMessage name="RR Exit"
	type="CopyData"
      window="RoadRunner"
      message="EXIT"/>
	  <!--
	  "BYVAR;VISURUNNING;RUNVISU<<STOPVISU",@FULL_VISU@
	  -->
	  <sendWindowMessage name="RR FullVisu"
      type="CopyData"
      window="RoadRunner"
      message="Full_Visu"/>
    <keyPress name="Copy">
      <key>17</key>
      <key>67</key>
    </keyPress>
    <keyPress name="Paste">
      <key>17</key>
      <key>86</key>
    </keyPress>
  </actions>
</snConfig>

ExecTBL.ini

Code:

/, This (OPTIONAL) file contains translation commands.
/, RR will accept the commands defined on the LEFT
/, and execute them as expressed on the RIGHT
/, you can use this to create or redefine any command
/, (or to add functionality to any syandard command).
/,
/, The Format of this file is (by choice): 
/,
/, "<COMMAND>","<EXEC COMMAND>"
/, "<COMMAND>","<EXEC COMMAND>",filename.skin
/, 
/, Examples:
/, "AUDIO","LOAD;audio_player.skin;Audio Player"
/, "RESTARTSONG","SEEKTO;00:00",audio_player.skin
/,
/, Extas:
/, XM, FM and MM can be used instead of a skin file
/, to be translated when XM, FM or MM is turned ON.
/,
/, PLAY, PAUSE and STOP can be used instead of skin
/, file name so it executes commands based on MP3 or
/, Video playback status.

"QUIT","SendMsg;RRCDRip;showplugin||bye"
"BYE","QUIT"

/, Set Bellow the Path to the CDRip plugin (if used)
"CDRIP","PLUGIN;RRCDRip;D:\VBStuff\Road Runner\CDRip\CDRip.exe"

/, You can add commands to execute before suspend
/, and after resume, using the codes bellow:

"ONSUSPEND",""
"ONRESUME",""
"ONFILECLICK",""
"ONDIRCLICK",""
"ONPLCLICK",""
"ONDLCLICK",""
"ONPBCLICK",""


/,ADDED BY CONFIG
"IGPAUSE","!PRESET;IG3;WINAMP||SETVOL;WINAMP;100"
"IGRESUME","PRESET;IG3;WINAMP"

"TIMER","SENDMSG;SpaceNavigatorDriver;CONTEXT;Media",audio_player.skin
"TIMER","SENDMSG;SpaceNavigatorDriver;CONTEXT;Mouse",menu.skin
"TIMER","SENDMSG;SpaceNavigatorDriver;CONTEXT;Mouse",menu2.skin
"TIMER","SENDMSG;SpaceNavigatorDriver;CONTEXT;Mouse",game.skin

[cherrybomb]

Quote: Originally Posted by HarryBash

I am basically using inh's config file with some of my own alterations, my first problem is that the taskbar icon for the SpaceNavigator app (i have version 0.2b latest) always stays blue no matter what. Even when i disconnect it, it stays blue and doesn't trun to red.

This is actually by design at this point. When the project first started out, it was strictly for the SN, however I've started to expand the app to be able to accept input from other devices. So, it doesn't consider the SN the "only" device it can talk to. There is actually no action that will cause the systray icon to change. I could probably enhance this later on.

Quote: Originally Posted by HarryBash

Second problem is with device contexts i am using two contexts one that simulates a mouse and one that does media controls i have set up the menu.skin, audio_player.skin and all other skin files needed with the line TMR,1 and added the appropriate lines to ExecTBL.ini as suggested by inh's guide. Now when i start RR on the menu skin i have it set to be used as a mouse and it works fine i can move the mouse pointer but when i click the buttons they don't work as mouse buttons, even tho i have them set to simulate as mouse buttons under the Mouse context. But they rather simulate a mute button(only the right one) which i have set up under the Media context. So basically moving the hat works as a mouse when it should(i.e in Mouse context) but no matter what context i am under the buttons always work as what is configured under the Media context (left one does nothing, right one mutes).

From what I can see, everything should be working. I'll try your config file on my system, and see what happens. My only suggestion would be to remove the "Default" context, since it is a duplicate of the "Media" context. Right now, the app sets the context with the lowest (alphabetical) value as the default context. That's another fix I need to put in.

Thanks for the kind words. :-)

[cherrybomb]

I'm still working on the config app. It's taking a bit longer than I had expected. I probably could have thrown something together quicker, but I'm starting to work with some (new to me) stuff for XML serialization from an XSD schema.

As a result, the format of the config file will probably change (slightly) again with the release of the config app. But on the bright side, you'll be able to configure with a nice UI app, and the schema of the config file will be robustly documented in the XSD file!

More to come. Hopefully soon.

[Shadow72]

Hi guys,

I follow this intersting thread and I have a question: any chance to have the source code for trying to porting it to my mac mini?

Thanks Cherrybomb!