Can't save fsx control settings

[peterc]

Help. I need help to make fsx remember my control settings

This topic has arguably been done to death on many web sites and I have tried probably in excess of 20 suggested solutions from various forums and help sites. None has fixed the problem. The difficulties that I cannot overcome are so general and widespread that I wonder if fsx Gold + acceleration pack has different programming/folder structure to earlier fsx developments which make past fixes unworkable in the gold + acceleration issue.

Here’s what I know.

FSX Gold has buttons on the fsx\settings page to save and load settings, but my control settings ( sensitivity, null zones, stick buttons, hardware calibration, axis allocations) just don’t get reloaded on command. And I believe that they don’t get saved either

If I look at the settings file which is saved by fsx using the above sequence, then that file has sections for {GRAPHICS},{SCENERY}, {DISPLAY},{PANELS},{TERRAIN}, {WEATHER}, {Traffic Manager} but nothing for {CONTROLS}. It looks very much like the control settings are not included in the save package programming. Loading a saved file does restore the settings which are included in the above categories {GRAPHICS},{SCENERY}, {DISPLAY},{PANELS},{TERRAIN}, {WEATHER}, {Traffic Manager}. But just those settings, the visuals, and no others.

 

The Standard.xml file that fsx automatically creates and maintains is visible in the C:\Documents and Settings\user name\Application Data\Microsoft\FSX\Controls folder and seems to contain all the control/calibration/button allocation/axis allocations (and a bunch of other data) that I need to be able to save and recall on command, so I know that the data is there and that it can be saved.

 

Once saved it needs to be in a form that I can identify and reload so that it can then be used with the aircraft, or groups of aircraft, to which the data applies. Is there a (simple) way to do this? For example, can the ‘save’ function which is already built into the program fsx/settings/save be extended to save all settings instead of just the visuals. That save and load function is user friendly and works well for the extent of data actually saved.

 

The FSX program has been uninstalled and reinstalled once to try and fix this problem. It hasn’t made any difference, so the program is presumably doing what MS intended it to do.

 

What I need help with is a way to save, and be able to retrieve, control ‘settings’ files for any chosen aircraft, or aircraft group.

I’d add that I have not (yet) tried FSUIPC.

 

My setup:

O/S XP SP3

Software MS FSX Gold+Acceleration pack

Hardware Flight Link Heli package: Anti Torque Pedals, cyclic, collective, throttle. All work fine when calibrated and assigned to their respective axes and all work just as well for fixed wing as for rotary wing aircraft.

[pvarn]

Don't panic. FSX is not at fault nor borked so no need to re-install it. Worst case, on a properly operating computer, the "repair" feature will restore FSX to default condition without re-installing and do so in a portion of the time.

 

I cannot say this enough. 99.99% of all problems can be fixed without re-installing FSX which is a waste of time and can cause you more problems than you had previously.

 

You indeed located the correct Standard.xml file where FSX saves controller information.

 

Some things to understand:

Since you are on XP the problem is likely not administrator permissions which is where most people get hung up.

 

The SAVE/LOAD options in the "Settings" menu of the intro screen saves the graphics options and game play options but does not save Controls. Controls are saved automatically when FSX EXITS just like all the other settings are also saved to the default CFG on exit. The settings save allow you to creat different game play and graphics settings so you don't have to keep editing your CFG. Controller settings however usually don't change once you get them set how you like them.

 

If something prevents FSX from exiting normally (a crash or you task managed a kill on the application) your updated settings will not get saved, but instead, your last saved settings will continue to be used.

 

If the files FSX needs to save are protected or you have some kind of backup/restore program running automatically which keeps reverting the files, it may appear your settings are not getting saved.

 

If you or an errant mouse click selects the "restore defaults" on the game/graphics options or the controller options, your custom settings will be lost.

 

If you are trying to back up your cfg and xml files while FSX is running or you have those files open so FSX cannot write to them, you'll lose your custom settings because they are all being held in memory only and not written until FSX properly exits.

 

One or more of the stickies above has instructions for removing FSX so you'll have less trouble re-installing.

 

-Pv-

[pvarn]

Now I'll add something you are wanting to do, have different controller configs for different aircraft.

 

There is a better way to do this than using the in-sim controller key mapping:

 

1) If you have a controller with a customizable key mapper software, then saving and loading profiles from there is the preferred method and you'll have a lot less trouble.

 

2) The payware version of FSUIPC has a custom key mapper built into it which can detect the aircraft you are flying and assign different custom key assignments on the fly without user interaction. FSUIPC has long been considered one of the must useful and flexible FS add-ons for many many years. Most of us cannot live without it in one way or another.

 

-Pv-

[peterc]

Now I'll add something you are wanting to do, have different controller configs for different aircraft.

 

There is a better way to do this than using the in-sim controller key mapping:

 

1) If you have a controller with a customizable key mapper software, then saving and loading profiles from there is the preferred method and you'll have a lot less trouble.

 

2) The payware version of FSUIPC has a custom key mapper built into it which can detect the aircraft you are flying and assign different custom key assignments on the fly without user interaction. FSUIPC has long been considered one of the must useful and flexible FS add-ons for many many years. Most of us cannot live without it in one way or another.

 

-Pv-

 

Your comment 'controller with a customizable key mapper software,' is worth following up. If I luck out there, then FSUIPC seems the only solution.

Thanks

Peter