Accessing panel functions with keyboard?

[JBaymore]

Is there any way to access a function that a custom panel has WITHOUT displaying the panel on the screen and clicking on the virtual "control" with a mouse?

I want to assign a key press to a panel function.

best,

....................john

[WebbPA]

Yes, but you need to be a little more specific.  Throttle, flaps, mixture, autopilot, etc. and popup windows are all accessible via keyboard controls.

[JBaymore]

Webb,

Thanks for the reply... but the key issue here is from a "custom" panel.

[WebbPA]

That's why I asked you to be more specific.

Your problem is a little over my head.  If you are designing your own gauge you may be able to find a way to work these into it.  If you are using an existing gauge you could try editing the default keypad options (like adding a tailhook), but, of course, that would only work on your machine and no one else's.  One problem is that most key commands are already assigned so you will need to find an unused one or 2 or 3.

[Gary R.]

Also what might be handy and certainly cheaper than buying goflight controls.  There are USB keyboards that are PC/Xbox, and PS2 compliant just for gamers.  Usually sold in most game software chains like EB and Game Spot here in the States.  If you plug one of them in it will be recognized as a USB controller and everything you would do on the main keyboard can be mapped and since it isn't the main keyboard labels cou;d actually be made for the keys using plastic labels and print templates available in most Office warehouse stores IE Office Max, Office Depot, Staples here in the States.  Also, a Company called Belkin produces a very useful controller called the Nostromo X32 with a mini keypad.

[JBaymore]

Webb and Gary,

Thanks for the input on the matter.  Yes... it is "over my head" too a tad.     I am thinking it may not be possible.  

I am pretty familiar wih many of the hardware controls available.... being a simpit builder.  I have a bunch of Goflight units and am planning on a Hagstrom KE72 keyboard encoder and a Phidget 8/8/8 to interface most of the switch inputs in the simpit that aren't already covered by the CH yoke and pedals.

The issue is "accessing" a mouseclick only event without using the screen itself.   It seems so close ..... but so far away.  "Key -to -Mouse" is almost what I need...... but it requires the panel be displayed on the screen when the key that is linked to the mouse click is pressed.

I need a "Key-To-Mouse" that somehow "remembers" the screen coordinates of where it was on the screen that it is supposed to work on AND accesses that screen as "active" and having Windows focus, even though it isn't.

For the GPWS guage.... I have the written documentation that shows what events trigger the various modes to "go off".  That info should allow me to write a custom guage (as a stand alone program) in VB6 that can run on one of the secondary computers in the pit.  But that coding will take a LOT of time to write na de-bug.  Hoping to avoid that.  ;)

Anyway...... thanks again.

best,

..................john

[Gary R.]

With a complete hardware control set-ip, what aircraft control functions are only available by mouse??  I would think certain SIM functions only but as far as I've studied just about every control possible can be mapped to a key or button, even for up to four engine birds.

[JBaymore]

With a complete hardware control set-ip, what aircraft control functions are only available by mouse??

Gary,

I am building a simpit based (somewhat) on a custom freeware aircraft... the BAe-146-200 by Jon Murcheson of Aircraft Repaints of New Zealand http://arnz.myhost.co.nz/.