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joymap / doc / config.tex
\documentclass{article}
\title{Joystick Mapper for Linux -- Configuration}
\author{Alexandre Hardy}
\parindent=0cm
\begin{document}
\maketitle
\section*{Introduction}
This document describes configuration files for
the joystick mapper for Linux. The joystick mapper
allows multiple joystick devices to be combined
into one or more joystick devices. Joystick 
events can also be mapped to mouse events
or keyboards events. The system is well suited
to applications that have limited configurability with
regard to joysticks. The joystick mapper kernel drivers
must be loaded before any joystick drivers to ensure
a consistent and sensible mapping.
\section*{Configuration file format}
The configuration file consists of several lines.
Each line is a mapping from some joystick event
to another event. Blank lines are ignored.
Comments are indicated by \#. The software
ignores everything from a \# until the end of a line.

Each line begins with a keyword describing the 
kind of mapping that will be performed. A number
of key-value pairs follows the keyword to describe
the mapping.

All axes and button values begin at 0. That is the first button
is button 0, the second button is button 2 etc.
\section{Mapping directives}
\subsection{Common keys}
\begin{itemize}
	\item {\bf id} -- Identifier of joystick for which the mapping is specified. This
			identifier corresponds to the mapper device allocated to this
			joystick (see {\tt /proc/bus/input/devices}).
	\item {\bf vendor} -- Vendor identification of the device for which the mapping
			is specified (see {\tt /proc/bus/input/devices}).
	\item {\bf product} -- Product identification of the device for which the mapping
			is specified (see {\tt /proc/bus/input/devices}).
\end{itemize}
Values are decimal/hexadecimal numbers, predefined keywords or strings.
Strings are indicated by placing the value in double quotation marks, eg. ''string''.
\subsection{{\tt axis}}
The {\tt axis} mapping directive maps a joystick axis event 
to another event. The allowed keys are 
\begin{itemize}
	\item {\bf id}
	\item {\bf vendor}
	\item {\bf product}
	\item {\bf src} -- This key specifies which axis of the joystick is to be mapped.
	\item {\bf target} -- This key specifies which device event will be triggered
				by an axis event on the specified axis. Valid
				options are {\tt mouse}, {\tt joyaxis}, {\tt joybtn} or {\tt kbd}.
	\item {\bf device} -- If the target event is a joystick, then the joystick 
				number can be specified with the {\tt device} key.
				The joystick number corresponds to 0 if js0 is selected, 1 if js1 is selected etc.
	\item {\bf axis} -- If the target has an axis, then the {\tt axis} key specifies
				which axis the event must be mapped to.
	\item {\bf plus} 
	\item {\bf minus} -- If the target has a button, then the {\tt plus} ({\tt minus})
				keys indicate which buttons/keys must be triggered
				if the axis is moved in a positive (negative) direction.
	\item {\bf flags} -- The {\tt invert} flag can be used to reverse the sense of the
				axis. i.e. positive becomes negative and negative becomes positive. The {\tt
                binary} flag can be used to trigger events only when the axis is moved
                completely in the other direction. The {\tt trinary} flag is similar to the binary flag
                but also triggers events when the axis is centered (the 0 input value resets state).
    \item {\bf min} -- The reported minimum value on the axis. Used for determining trigger levels.
    \item {\bf max} -- The reported maximum value on the axis. Used for determining trigger levels.
    \item {\bf deadzone} -- The deadzone for the axis.
    \item {\bf speed} -- for mouse axis targets, this is a speed setting from 0 (no movement) to 32767 (very fast and default)
\end{itemize}
Either the {\tt id} or the {\tt vendor} and {\tt product} keys must be specified to identify the
joystick. The {\tt kbd} target only supports button presses.

\strut\\
If {\tt min} and {\tt max} are specified, then the input will be remapped into the range $[-32767, 32767]$ using the
formula
$$
    o = \frac{65536\times(x-min)}{max-min} - 32767
$$
where $x$ is the input and $o$ is the reported axis position.
The value will be clamped if necessary. Note that if $min > max$ then the axis reporting is switched around by this formula.

\strut\\
If a deadzone is specified, then the deadzone is enforced {\bf after} mapping using the formula above so that any input $x$ such
that $-deadzone \leq x \leq deadzone$ will be reported as $0$.

\strut\\
{\bf Example.}\\
\strut\\
{\tt axis vendor=0x068e product=0x00f1 src=0 target=mouse axis=0}
\strut\\
\strut\\
This mapping maps from a CH Products PRO Throttle axis 0 to the $x$-axis of the mouse.

\subsection{{\tt button}}
The {\tt button} mapping directive maps a joystick button event 
to another event. The allowed keys are 
\begin{itemize}
	\item {\bf id}
	\item {\bf vendor}
	\item {\bf product}
	\item {\bf src} -- This key specifies which button of the joystick is to be mapped.
	\item {\bf target} -- This key specifies which device event will be triggered
				by an axis event on the specified axis. Valid
				options are {\tt mouse}, {\tt joyaxis}, {\tt joybtn} or {\tt kbd}.
	\item {\bf device} -- If the target event is a joystick, then the joystick 
				number can be specified with the {\tt device} key.
				The joystick number corresponds to 0 if js0 is selected, 1 if js1 is selected etc.
	\item {\bf button} -- If the target has a button, then the {\tt button} key specifies
				which button the event must be mapped to.
	\item {\bf axis} -- If the target has an axis, then the {\tt axis} key specifies
				which axis the event must be mapped to. The button
				will trigger a move in the positive direction on the axis.
	\item {\bf flags} -- The {\tt invert} flag can be used to reverse the sense of the
				axis. i.e. the button will trigger a move in the negative 
				direction on the axis.

				The {\tt autorelease} flag specifies that the pressed button or key
				must be released immediately after pressing, even if the joystick
				button is held in.

				The {\tt release} flag specifies that the mapping only applies
				to a release of the joystick button.

				The {\tt press} flag specifies that the mapping only applies
				to a button being pressed, and not to a button being released.

				If neither {\tt press} nor {\tt release} is specified then
				two mapping entries are created, one for press and one for
				release so that pressing the button on the joystick will
				press the target button which will only be released when
				the joystick button is released.
			
				The {\tt shift} key specifies that this mapping is only
				applied when in a shifted state (see the {\tt shift} statement below).
    \item {\bf speed} -- for mouse axis targets, this is a speed setting from 1 (slow) to 1000 (very fast). 8 is the default.
\end{itemize}
Either the {\tt id} or the {\tt vendor} and {\tt product} keys must be specified to identify the
joystick. The {\tt kbd} target only supports button presses.

If the target is {\tt kbd}, then a string can be provided which specifies a series
of keyboard events that must be executed.
{\bf Example.}\\
\strut\\
{\tt button vendor=0x068e product=0x00f4 src=2 target=kbd button="b REL b a REL a n REL n g REL g leftshift 1 REL 1 REL leftshift"}
\strut\\
\strut\\
This mapping maps from a CH Products Combatstick, button 2, to the key sequence {\sl bang!} (see the file {\tt keys.map}
for recognized keys). {\tt REL} indicates that the next key must be released.
\subsection{{\tt shift}}
The joystick mapper supports a {\sl shifted} mode in which the operation of buttons and axes
are modified. A single button on a joystick can be designated the shift button. If
this button is pressed then the joystick is in {\sl shifted} mode. Allowed keys are
\begin{itemize}
	\item {\bf id}
	\item {\bf vendor}
	\item {\bf product}
	\item {\bf src} -- This key specifies which button of the joystick is to be the shift button.
\end{itemize}

{\bf Example.}\\
\strut\\
{\tt shift vendor=0x068e product=0x00f1 src=5}
\strut\\
\strut\\
This mapping designates button 5 on the CH Products PRO Throttle as the shift button.
\subsection{{\tt code}}
A program can be specified that is executed at regular intervals and can generate
joystick and keyboard events. The joystick events generated by the program can be remapped  
through the joystick mapper device. The code joystick is identified by vendor 0x00ff and
produce 0x0000. The syntax of programs is described in a separate document.

{\bf Example.}\\
\strut\\
{\tt code "myprogram"}
\strut\\
\strut\\
The joystick mapper will read and attempt to compile the program in the file {\tt myprogram}.
If all mapping statements are correct, then the program will be communicated to 
the kernel driver along with the other mappings.

\subsection{{\tt script}}
The program refers to existing joysticks in the system. To prevent the
program from failing to function correctly due to changes in the
joystick allocation (allocation to js0, js1, mapper0, mapper1 etc.),
for example if the joysticks have been unplugged and reinserted,
joysticks can be numbered based on vendor and product identifiers. Allowed
keys are
\begin{itemize}
	\item {\bf id}
	\item {\bf vendor}
	\item {\bf product}
	\item {\bf device} -- Specify the joystick number in the program file.
\end{itemize}
{\bf Example.}\\
\strut\\
{\tt script vendor=0x068e product=0x00f4 device=0}
\strut\\
\strut\\
This mapping specifies that the CH Products Combatstick will
be referred to as joystick 0 within the program specified
by the {\tt code} statement.

\end{document}