Using the Map Wizard

Using the Map Wizard

Using the Map Wizard is the easiest way to start creating a new map. It leads you step-by-step through the creation process and explains the various options along the way. If there's a map currently visible in the GUI and it's been modified, you'll get a chance to save it before the Wizard actually starts. See the Map Wizard section for info on how to use the Map Wizard.

When the Wizard starts, you'll get a screen that looks something like this:

On this screen, you need to highlight the controllers you want to include in the map by clicking them with the mouse. If you don't include a controller here, than it will not be active when the map is running. This means that you have to add all controllers even if you don't plan on assigning a function to them. If you're using a FighterStick, ProThrottle, and ProPedals, for example, but only want to program a character to a button on the FighterStick, you still need to select all three devices. Any device not selected will be "turned off" when the map is active.

Once all the Controllers that you want to include have been highlighted, click "Okay". The next screen you see will look like this:

This screen is where you need to indicate whether you want the Wizard to generate a "Direct Map" or a "Combined Map".

A Direct Map is one in which, initially, each controller you add will result in a device being created for Windows which looks essentially identical to the controller it represents except that it will have a name like "Control Manager Device 1". The difference between doing this and simply running the Control Manager in Direct Mode is that you will be able to program the button and axes to send characters or control the mouse. In Direct Mode, this isn't possible.

A Combined Map is one in which the controls from several controllers are combined to form a single Control Manager Device that Windows will see. This is useful for games which only recognize a single controller, it allows you to combine a FighterStick, ProThrottle, and ProPedals into a single 4-Axis controller for example.

Click the "Yes" or "No" button depending on what you want to do. If you click the "Yes" button, you'll be presented with a screen that looks like this:

This lists the various configurations that the Map Wizard can shoot for in a Combined Map. The selection refer to the maximum number of axis and buttons that the combined controller will have. The Map Wizard may or may not create as many axes and buttons as are indicated, but it will not create more axes or buttons than the selection shows. If you only have a yoke and a set of pedals, for example, there is no way that the Map Wizard can actually create a 32-button controller, but setting it to 32-buttons will allow it to assign all the available buttons to the Control Manager Device. It does no harm to specify more than are available, normally the selection is for a 6-Axis/32-Button configuration.

The other selections are primarily for older games and simulations that may not respond correctly when presented with a lot of axes and buttons. If you run into problems with a particular game using the 6-Axis/32-Button configuration, going to a lower axis and button count will often clear the problems up. MechWarrior is probably the most common example of this. It will crash if presented with a 32-button joystick. Use 16-button instead.

Once you've made the selection and click "Okay" (or if you chose not to have the Map Wizard combine your controllers at the previous step) you'll get a screen that looks like this:

The CMS Scripting facility is a text-based system that allows advanced users to create complex functions that cannot be implemented using the normal GUI functions. Most of the normally-needed functions can be set up using just the GUI without the use of CMS scripting. If you're new to the Control Manager, it's probably best to "just say no" at this point. You can add CMS capability to the map later should the need arise. See the CMS Programming Guide for more information on the CMS and how it is used.

Either choice will bring you to this screen:

You can click "Okay" and the Map Wizard will create the basic map based on your previous responses. If you click "Cancel", the Map Wizard will exit without creating the map at all.

It's worth noting that the maps created by the Map Wizard are nothing special. It's just an aid in making the basic assignments for you automatically. You can change any of the assignments manually once the Map Wizard has run its course, assigning buttons, moving axes around, etc. The assignments made are the most common assignments for the basic axes and buttons, but nothing is cast it stone as a result of running the Map Wizard.