Microsoft KB Archive/167342

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SideWinder 3D Pro 1.0 for Macintosh Read Me File

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ID: Q167342

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft SideWinder 3D Pro for Macintosh, version 1.0

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SUMMARY
This article contains a copy of the information in the Read Me file included with Microsoft SideWinder 3D Pro for Macintosh.

MORE INFORMATION


Read Me File for Microsoft SideWinder 3D Pro for the Macintosh

March 1997

(c) Microsoft Corporation, 1997. THIS COMPUTER PROGRAM IS PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT LAW AND INTERNATIONAL TREATIES. UNAUTHORIZED REPRODUCTION OR DISTRIBUTION OF THIS PROGRAM, OR ANY PORTION OF IT, MAY RESULT IN SEVERE CIVIL AND CRIMINAL PENALTIES, AND WILL BE PROSECUTED TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT POSSIBLE UNDER THE LAW.

This document provides late-breaking or other information that supplements the printed and online information that came with your Microsoft SideWinder 3D Pro for the Macintosh.

To print this Read Me file, open it with SimpleText or another word processor, and then use your word processor's print command.

- Where to Find Information

The Online User's Guide, located in the SideWinder 3D Pro Joystick folder on your hard drive, is a comprehensive online Help system containing conceptual and step-by-step information, as well as troubleshooting suggestions.

To learn more about the SideWinder 3D Pro for the Macintosh, other Microsoft hardware products and updates, visit our World Wide Web site at http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/.

- CONTENTS

IMPORTANT NOTES--THE SIDEWINDER GAME DEVICE EDITOR 1.1 The SideWinder Game Device Editor Must Be Running During Game Play 1.2 Running a Profile Automatically When You Start a Game 1.3 Playing InputSprocket Games NOTES ON CREATING PROFILES 2.1 Assigning Keystrokes to the Throttle--Updated Information 2.1.1 Working with the Sample Profiles 2.1.2 Using the Set All button 2.1.3 Using Buttons 3 and 4 for Throttle Control 2.2 The Command Key 2.3 Keyboard Uses U.S. Virtual Keyboard Map 2.4 Diacritic Characters/Accent Marks on European Keyboards 2.5 Keyboard Numbers and Keypad Numbers Look the Same In          Keystroke Assignment Box GENERAL COMPATIBILITY ISSUES 3.1 SideWinder Game Device Editor Is Not Compatible with Some Desktop Management and Security Programs GAMES-NOTES ON COMPATIBILITY WITH SIDEWINDER 3D PRO 4.1 Using the Pre-set Profiles 4.2 Some Profiles Do Not Work with the Game's Default Settings 4.3 Notes on Other Games APPLE GAME SPROCKETS INPUTSPROCKET 5.1 About InputSprocket 5.2 Disabling the InputSprocket Extension on System 7.5.5 and Earlier Systems MEMORY ISSUES MISCELLANEOUS 7.1 Removing the SideWinder 3D Pro Software 7.2 Removing Extra Copies of SimpleText to Create More Disk Space 7.3 The Test Utility Freezes After Extended Use TROUBLESHOOTING 8.1 Mouse-click Doesn't Work When I Switch from Mouse Mode to          Joystick Mode 8.2 My Mouse Pointer Snaps to Center After I Quit My Game CORRECTIONS 9.1 Online User's Guide: Correction to Example 1 in "Create a dead zone on the Slider (Throttle)."

9.2 Online User's Guide:  Correction to Note in          "Create a dead zone on the Slider (Throttle)."

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=============================================== Part 1: IMPORTANT NOTES--THE SIDEWINDER GAME DEVICE EDITOR

1.1 The SideWinder Game Device Editor Must Be Running During Game Play

In order for the SideWinder 3D Pro to work in your game, the SideWinder Game Device Editor must be open. Open the SideWinder Game Device Editor and then open your game application. Make sure to keep the SideWinder Game Device Editor open while you play your game. If your game works with InputSprocket, see Section 1.3.

1.2 Running a Profile Automatically when You Start a Game

If you want a profile to run automatically when you start your game, make sure there is a profile for that game in the SideWinder Profiles alias. The alias is located in the SideWinder 3D Pro Joystick folder. Then, make sure the SideWinder Game Device Editor is open, and then start your game. If your game works with InputSprocket, see Section 1.3.

NOTE: Autorun uses the following rules to determine which profile to use when the game starts:

* If there is more than one profile for the same game in               the SideWinder Profiles folder, the profile that comes first in alphabetic order runs automatically.

* If a profile is open (active), it will run automatically. Your game will run any profile that is open before it              will run the default profile in the SideWinder Profiles folder. If you want your game to use the default profile you have created, close any open profiles before starting your game.

* If you have more than one profile open, the one in the top window is the active profile.

1.3 Playing InputSprocket Games

If your game works with Apple Game Sprockets InputSprocket, you do    not need to create a profile for your game or have the SideWinder Game Device Editor open during game play. The joystick will work automatically with your game. For more information about InputSprocket, see Part 5: Apple Game Sprockets InputSprocket.

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====================== Part 2: NOTES ON CREATING PROFILES

2.1 Assigning Keystrokes to the Throttle--Updated Information

2.1.1 Working with the Sample Profiles

The SideWinder Profiles alias in the SideWinder 3D Pro Joystick folder contains sample profiles that illustrate how to assign keystrokes to the Slider (Throttle).

The sample profiles are located in the Sample Profiles folder in the SideWinder Profiles alias.

* Example #1--FA18 shows how to set up the throttle in a game that has "throttle off" in the Slider (Throttle)'s center position, "throttle up" when you push the Slider (Throttle) all the way forward (toward the             front of the joystick) and "throttle down" when you push the Slider/Throttle all the way back.

* Example #2--X-Wing shows how to set up the throttle in a              game that uses incremental throttle settings (For example, no throttle, 1/3 throttle, 2/3 throttle,             full throttle.)

Use the sample profiles as a guide when assigning keystrokes to the Slider (Throttle). You can copy, rename, and alter the sample profiles as necessary to use them in other games. For more information about working with profiles, see the Online User's Guide.

2.1.2 Using the Set All button

If you use the Set All button to assign keystrokes to the Slider (Throttle), your profile may not work correctly. For better results, use one of the following procedures. Refer to the "Create a dead zone on the Slider          (Throttle)" topic in the Online User's Guide for an           illustration of the throttle's zones.

Before trying the below procedures, open the SideWinder Game Device Editor, and in the Configure Joystick for Game dialog box, click "Throttle."

Example 1 =========          For games that use Group B as the dead zone, moving the throttle to Group C increases throttle, moving the throttle to Group A decreases throttle, and in Group B,          there is no throttle.

To set Group B as the dead zone

1  Type the keystroke for "throttle down" in the Throttle Up box and in the Throttle Down box for button 1 only. 2  Type the keystroke for "throttle up" in the Throttle Up box and in the Throttle Down box for button 14 only.

NOTES: * For more precise throttle control, do not assign keystrokes to buttons 2-13. * See Example #1--FA18 in the Sample Profiles folder for an            example of the above method of assigning keystrokes to the throttle.

Example 2 =========

For games that use incremental throttle settings, (for           example, "throttle off," "one-half throttle,"            and "full throttle"), you should make Group A the dead zone. In this case, the throttle is idle in Group A.           When you move it to Group B, the throttle gains half power, and when you move it to Group C, the throttle gains full power.

To set Group A as the dead zone

1 Do not assign any keystrokes to buttons 1-4 (Group A). 2 Type the keystroke for the game's "throttle off" command in the Throttle Down box for button 5 (in Group A). 3 Type the keystroke for "one-half throttle" in the Throttle Up box and in the Throttle Down box for buttons 6-9 (Group B). If you do not enter the keystroke in the Throttle Down box, the throttle will have no power as you move it from Group C down to Group A.           4 Type the keystroke for "full throttle" in the Throttle Up              box and in the Throttle Down box for buttons 10-14 (Group              C). If you do not enter the keystroke in the Throttle Down box, the throttle will have no power as you move it             from Group C down to Group B.

NOTE: The sample profile, Example #2--X-Wing, is an example of a game that uses incremental throttle control. In the X-Wing profile, the throttle is divided into four groups, as           follows: Assigned to                    Keystroke for                 Throttle Buttons =============                ================                     No throttle (dead zone)          1-4 1/3 throttle                    5-7 2/3 throttle                    8-10 Full throttle                   11-14

2.1.3 Using Buttons 3 and 4 for Throttle Control

If you experience problems with your profile when you assign keystrokes to the throttle, assign throttle functions to buttons 3 and on the joystick handle instead. First, delete any keystrokes you have assigned to the throttle.

2.2 The Command Key

In the Modifier Keys list box for keystroke assignment, the Command key refers to the Apple key located on either side of    the space bar on the Macintosh keyboard.

2.3 Keyboard Uses U.S. Virtual Keyboard Map

When you assign a keystroke to a joystick control, the SideWinder Game Device Editor uses the U.S. virtual keyboard map regardless of what language the keyboard is set to in the Keyboard Control Panel. For example, if you enter a "y" on the German keyboard, the SideWinder Game Device Editor will interpret it as a    "z." Use the U.S. virtual keyboard map to assign keystrokes to    joystick controls.

2.4 Diacritic Characters/Accent Marks on European Keyboards

On European keyboards, if you want to assign a diacritic character (such as tilde, circumflex, umlaut, or accent mark) to a joystick control, you have to enter that character twice in the keystroke assignment box for the SideWinder Game Device Editor to recognize it. If you enter another keystroke in the keystroke assignment box after the diacritic character, that character will appear twice. Delete the second instance of the keystroke if you don't want to    include it as part of your profile.

2.5 Keyboard Numbers and Keypad Numbers Look the Same in Keystroke

Assignment Box

Some games assign different functions to numbers you press on the keypad and numbers you press on the keyboard (above the top row of    letters). The SideWinder Game Device Editor recognizes the difference between numbers pressed on the keypad and numbers pressed on the keyboard. Your keystroke will play correctly in    your game, but both types of numbers look the same way in the Keystroke Assignment box.

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========================= Part 3: GENERAL COMPATIBILITY ISSUES

3.1 SideWinder Game Device Editor Is Not Compatible with Some Desktop

Management and Security Programs

Some desktop management and security programs allow only one application to run at a time. To use the SideWinder Game Device Editor with your game, it must be open at the same time as your game. Before you start a gaming session, first close your desktop management or security program. Then, open the SideWinder Game Device Editor, and start your game.

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=================================================== Part 4: GAMES--NOTES ON COMPATIBILITY WITH SIDEWINDER 3D PRO

4.1 Using the Pre-set Profiles

The SideWinder 3D Pro for the Macintosh software comes with pre-set profiles for many games. The pre-set profiles are located in the SideWinder Profiles alias in the SideWinder 3D Pro Joystick folder.

These profiles were designed to work with your game's default settings. Before using a pre-set profile, make sure that the game's settings are in their default state. Many games have a    "restore default" option in the game's control panel. Or, consult the manual that came with your game to find out what the default settings are.

If a profile already exists for your game, all you have to do    is open the Game Device Editor, and then start your game. The pre-set profiles can be modified, copied, and deleted, just like the profiles you create on your own.

4.2 Some Profiles Do Not Work with the Game's Default Settings

Most of the pre-set SideWinder Profiles work with the game's    default settings. However, in the following games, you must first change a setting within the game software for your profile to    work.


 * Al Unser, Jr. Arcade Racing (Mindscape)

Autorun does not work with this game. You must select your profile before you start the game. In addition, you must set the steering wheel control to "Mouse" in the game's    Settings page.

To start the game

1 Open the SideWinder Game Device Editor. 2 Open the SideWinder Profiles alias, then open the Al Unser, Jr. profile. 3 Start your game.

NOTE: You will need to follow the above procedure every time you start the game.

To change the steering wheel control to "Mouse"

1 Open the Control Settings page in the game application (the panel in the bottom right of the screen). 2 Click the text box next to the top steering wheel icon. 3 Click the text box again to toggle to "Mouse." Both of the steering wheel text boxes should now say "Mouse." 4 Click "Menu" to return to the main menu.

NOTE: You only need to change the game setting the first time you use the SideWinder 3D Pro to play your game.


 * IndyCar Racing II (Sierra On-line, Inc.)

To configure your profile for the game

1 Open the SideWinder Game Device Editor and start the game. The IndyCar Racing II profile in the SideWinder Profiles alias will run automatically. 2 On the Options menu in the game, click Set Controls. 3 Click the Modify button for steering. 4 When the game prompts you, move the joystick to the left, and then to the right. 5 Click OK.

NOTE: You only need to change the game setting the first time you use the SideWinder 3D Pro to play your game.


 * NASCAR Racing (Sierra On-line, Inc.)

To configure your profile for the game

1 Open the SideWinder Game Device Editor and start the game. The NASCAR Racing profile in the SideWinder Profiles alias will run automatically. 2 On the Options menu in the game, click Set Controls. 3 Click the Modify button for steering. 4 When the game prompts you, move the joystick to the left, and then to the right. 5 Click OK.

NOTE: You only need to change the game setting the first time you use the SideWinder 3D Pro to play your game.


 * Rebel Assault 1 (LucasArts Entertainment Co.)

To configure your profile for the game

* In the Game Options screen, click Control Device and then click Joystick.

NOTE: You only need to change the game setting the first time you use the SideWinder 3D Pro to play your game.

4.3 Notes on Other Games

* Microsoft Flight Simulator 4.0 (Microsoft)

This game is not compatible with the SideWinder 3D Pro for the Macintosh.

* Sensory Overload (Reality Bytes, Inc.)

This game does not recognize two navigation commands sent at once. For example, if you press the joystick control you assigned to "move forward" and the joystick control you assigned to "move left" at the same time, the game may respond incorrectly. The game is fully playable, however, it may take some experimenting to gain precise control in your game.

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================================ Part 5: APPLE GAME SPROCKETS INPUTSPROCKET

5.1 About InputSprocket

The SideWinder 3D Pro for the Macintosh works with InputSprocket games. During Setup, the file "InputSprocket SideWinder 3D Pro" is    installed into your Extensions folder. This file is used in    combination with the file "InputSprocketLib," which is provided by     Apple or your game manufacturer. Both files need to be in the your System's Extensions folder in order to function.

If your game is InputSprocket compatible, you don't need to create a profile; the joystick will automatically work with your game. Make sure the Joystick Switch (on the back of the joystick) is in    position 1, and then start your game.

Future versions of the SideWinder 3D Pro InputSprocket driver will be included with Apple's Game Sprockets release. Many games will include the updated SideWinder 3D Pro InputSprocket driver in their software and will install the updated version on your hard drive.

Apple Computer, Inc. is responsible for providing Technical Support for the InputSprocket technology. If you have questions about InputSprocket, contact Apple Computer, Inc., or your game's    manufacturer. Consult the manual that came with your computer or    your game software for technical support telephone numbers.

5.2 Disabling the InputSprocket Extension on System 7.5.5 and Earlier Systems

The Extension Manager does not detect the InputSprocket extension on versions 7.5.5 and earlier versions of the system software. You cannot disable the InputSprocket extension from the Extension Manager. Instead, open the Extensions folder in the System folder and drag the extension you want to disable out of the Extensions folder.

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========== Part 6: MEMORY ISSUES

The SideWinder 3D Pro for the Macintosh software will run on any Macintosh with 4 MB of RAM. However, if 3,584K of memory is not free when you launch the application, a warning message will be displayed indicating there is insufficient memory available.

NOTE: These memory requirements are for running the Game Device Editor only, and do not include the amount of memory that is required by your game. Total memory requirements will vary depending on the game you want to play. Consult your game's documentation regarding system requirements.

Tips on freeing memory

Most users with 4 MB of RAM will not experience problems, but if your system software takes more than 3,584K, you may need to adjust memory usage to make the SideWinder 3D Pro software run properly. Some general suggestions follow:

amount of available memory by using space on your hard disk to  simulate RAM. Although using virtual memory may slow down overall performance, the extra available memory will allow applications to be  allocated more memory on launch or allow more applications to run simultaneously. To turn on Virtual Memory, open the Memory control panel, switch the Virtual Memory radio button to On, and then restart your computer.
 * Turn on Virtual Memory. Virtual Memory allows you to increase the

NOTE: Some games require that Virtual Memory be off. Check your game's documentation before you turn Virtual Memory on.

close them and then re-start the Game Device Editor and your game.
 * Run only one program at a time. If other programs are running,

this, return to the Finder and select About This Macintosh from the Apple menu. The Largest Unused Block needs to be greater than 512K (to run the SideWinder Game Device Editor) in addition to the amount of free memory required by the game that you want to run with the SideWinder Game Device Editor. If the only item listed in the About This Macintosh dialog is System Software and the Largest Unused Block is less than the total amount of memory required by the SideWinder Game Device Editor and your game, you need to reduce the amount of  memory consumed by your system software. Refer to your Macintosh documentation for details on how to do this, but some general suggestions follow:
 * Reduce the amount of memory used by your system software. To do

a. Open the Memory Control Panel and check the Disk Cache setting. To maximize the memory available to the SideWinder 3D Pro software and other applications, reduce the cache to 96K or      less.

b. Remove unused fonts and sounds. Be careful when removing fonts however, as some applications may not work properly if the correct fonts are not available.

c. Third-party system extensions such as screen savers, fax software, desktop pictures, menu-modifying utilities, and other system enhancements increase the amount of memory used by your system software. Removing some or all of these extensions will increase the amount of memory available to programs. Make sure you save any files you remove from your System Folder and place them in a separate folder on your disk so that you can replace them later. Apple's Extension Manager (included with System 7.5      and later) or an equivalent third-party utility can be useful for this purpose. You must restart your computer for changes of this type to take effect.

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=========== Part 7: MISCELLANEOUS

7.1 Removing the SideWinder 3D Pro Software

To remove the SideWinder 3D Pro software from your computer

1 Close any programs that are running. 2 Insert the compact disc in the CD-ROM drive. 3 Double-click the SideWinder 3D Pro compact disc icon, and then double-click the SideWinder 3D Pro Installer icon. 4 In the introductory screen, click Continue. 5 Under the Easy Install drop down menu, select Remove. 6 Click Remove.

NOTES: * When you remove the SideWinder 3D Pro software, the Installer moves the SideWinder Profiles folder to the Desktop. The pre-set profiles that came with the SideWinder 3D Pro software, and any profiles you have created, will be retained in this folder. To    remove your profiles, drag the SideWinder Profiles folder to the Trash.

* If you have saved any profiles to a folder other than the SideWinder Profiles, the Installer will not move them. They will remain in their respective folders after the Remove is complete.

* If other applications are running during the Remove process, the Installer will not be able to complete the remove properly.

7.2 Removing Extra Copies of SimpleText to Create More Disk Space

If you are running out of hard disk space, you can delete extra copies of SimpleText to free space on your hard drive.

To remove extra copies of SimpleText

1 On the Apple menu, click Find. 2 Select your hard drive from the drop-down list box at the top of the Find dialog box. Then, select "name" from the next drop-down list box, and "contains" from the next drop- down list box. 3 Type "SimpleText" in the empty text box. The resulting search should be "Find items on HARD DRIVE whose NAME       CONTAINS SIMPLETEXT." 4 Click Find. 5 Check the version number and date with the Get Info command from the File menu and remove. 6 Drag the older versions of SimpleText to the Trash. You need only one version of the SimpleText program on your hard drive.

7.3 The Test Utility Freezes After Extended Use

The SideWinder Test Utility may stop responding to joystick input after extended use. If the Test Utility freezes while you are testing your joystick's controls, click your mouse anywhere on the desktop to restore the Test Utility's functionality.

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=========== Part 8: TROUBLESHOOTING

This section contains answers to specific questions you may have. For additional troubleshooting information, see the Troubleshooting section of the Online User's Guide.

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8.1 QUESTION: I moved the Joystick Switch from mouse mode (position 2) to joystick mode (position 1) and now when I use the mouse-click command, nothing happens.

ANSWER: If you were pressing any of the joystick buttons when you switched into joystick mode, your game may not respond to the joystick's mouse-click command. To fix this problem, move the joystick switch back to position 2 (mouse mode) and then back to   position 1. Make sure that you don't touch the joystick's handle or   press any of the joystick's buttons while you move the Joystick Switch.

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8.2 QUESTION: My mouse pointer snaps to center after I quit my game.

ANSWER: If your mouse pointer snaps to center when you're using another program, it is most likely because you have been using the joystick in absolute mode. To fix the problem, try the following:

* Move the Joystick Switch to position 2. * Move the joystick handle to the center position. * Close any open profiles that are set to absolute mode. * Close the SideWinder Game Device Editor.

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========== Part 9: CORRECTIONS

9.1 Help:    SideWinder 3D Pro Online User's Guide

Topic:  Create a dead zone on the Slider (Throttle)

The procedure described in Example 1 will work, however, for more precise joystick control, it is best to assign keystrokes only to button 1 and button 14 as follows:

To set Group B as the dead zone

1  Type the keystroke for "throttle down" in the Throttle Up              box and in the Throttle Down box for button 1 only. 2  Type the keystroke for "throttle up" in the Throttle Up              box and in the Throttle Down box for button 14 only.

NOTE: For more precise throttle control, do not assign keystrokes to buttons 2-13.

9.2 Help:    SideWinder 3D Pro Online User's Guide

Topic:  Create a dead zone on the Slider (Throttle)

Substitute the Note at the end of the topic with the following:

NOTE: See the Sample Profiles folder in the SideWinder Profiles alias in the SideWinder 3D Pro Joystick folder for additional information about how to assign keystrokes to the throttle. The Sample Profiles folder contains two sample profiles: Example 1 Shows how to set Group B as the dead zone, and Example 2 shows how to set Group A as the dead zone. Additional query words: 1.00 side winder readme mac kbimu

Keywords : kbhw kbreadme 3dpromac kbimu

Version : MACINTOSH:1.0

Platform : MACINTOSH

Issue type : kbinfo

Technology :