Microsoft KB Archive/259362

Knowledge Base

SideWinder: How To Map Keyboard Commands to Buttons on Your SideWinder Game Controller

Article ID: 259362

Article Last Modified on 1/27/2007

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APPLIES TO

• Microsoft SideWinder 3D Pro
• Microsoft SideWinder Dual Strike
• Microsoft SideWinder Force Feedback Pro
• Microsoft SideWinder Force Feedback 2
• Microsoft SideWinder Force Feedback Wheel
• Microsoft SideWinder Freestyle Pro
• Microsoft SideWinder Game Pad 2.0
• Microsoft SideWinder Game Pad Pro
• Microsoft SideWinder Precision Pro
• Microsoft SideWinder Precision 2 1.0
• Microsoft SideWinder Precision Racing Wheel
• Microsoft SideWinder Game Device software
• Microsoft SideWinder Game Device software
• Microsoft SideWinder Game Controller software 4.0
• Microsoft SideWinder Game Controller software 4.0
• Microsoft SideWinder Force Feedback Wheel

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This article was previously published under Q259362

SUMMARY

This article describes how to use the Microsoft SideWinder Game Device software or the Microsoft SideWinder Game Controller software to map keyboard commands to buttons on the Microsoft SideWinder game controllers listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

SideWinder Profile Activator (SideWinder Game Device Software 2.0 and SideWinder Game Controller Software 3.0)

You can use the SideWinder Profile Activator to create multiple profiles for a game. To do so, repeat these steps to create each new profile.

To use the SideWinder Profile Activator to map keyboard commands for a game to the buttons on your SideWinder game controller:

1. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Microsoft Hardware, point to Sidewinder Game Devices, and then click Sidewinder Profile Activator.
2. In the Controller pane, click to select the SideWinder game controller that you want to use.
3. To modify an existing profile for a game, double-click it under Profiles for your SideWinder device, and then proceed to step 4.
   
   To add a profile for a game:
   1. On the toolbar, click the PLUS SIGN (+).
   2. Click the game profile that you want to add, and then click Add.
      
      If no profiles for the game appear in the list, type *.* in the File name box, click Add, click the game profile that you want to add, and then click Add again.
   3. Under Profiles for your SideWinder device, double-click the profile that you added, and then proceed to step 4.
   To create a new profile, click New Profile (the first button on the left) on the toolbar, and then proceed to step 4.
4. In the SideWinder Profile Editor, press a button on the game controller or click the button on the screen, and then type a name for the button.
5. Click Record.
6. Press the key, key sequence, or key combination that you want to assign to the button on the game controller, and then click Stop.
   
   Note You cannot use the SideWinder Profile Editor to assign the Windows key to a button on your game controller.
7. Repeat steps 4 through 6 for each button that you want to customize.
8. On the File menu, click Save as.
9. In the File name box, type a name for the game profile, and then click Save.
10. On the File menu, click Exit.

The Game Controllers Tool in Control Panel (SideWinder Game Controller Software 4.0 for USB-Only devices)

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
2. Double-click Game Controllers.
3. Click the SideWinder game controller that you want to use, then click Properties.
4. In the Selected Scheme box on the Schemes tab, click a scheme for your game. If no scheme exists for your game, create a new profile:
   1. Click Save As.
   2. In the File name box, type a name for the new scheme, and then click Save.
   Note To create multiple profiles for a game, repeat this step.
5. Click the Recorder tab.
6. Press a button on the game controller or click the button on the screen, and then type a name for the button.
7. In the Game Action column, click the green box to the right of the button that you want to customize.
8. On the Keystrokes tab, click the black box.
9. Press the key, key sequence, or key combination that you want to assign to the button on the game controller, and then click OK.
   
   Note You cannot use the Game Controllers tool to assign the Windows key to a button on your game controller.
10. Repeat steps 4 through 6 for each button that you want to customize.
11. Click OK.
    
    When you are prompted to save the changes, click Save over existing to save the changes in the current scheme, or click Save as new to save the changes in a new scheme, and then click OK.
12. Click OK.
13. Close Control Panel.

Additional query words: 1.00 1.50 2.00 3.00 4.00 side winder joy stick gamepad

Keywords: kbhowto kbhardware kbui KB259362

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