SideWinder 3D Pro 1.0 for Macintosh Read Me File
ID: Q167342
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The information in this article applies to:
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Microsoft SideWinder 3D Pro for Macintosh, version 1.0
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)."
============================================================
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.
===================================
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.
======================================
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.
================================================================
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.
=============================================
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.
=======================
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:
* Turn on Virtual Memory. Virtual Memory allows you to increase the
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.
NOTE: Some games require that Virtual Memory be off. Check your
game's documentation before you turn Virtual Memory on.
* Run only one program at a time. If other programs are running,
close them and then re-start the Game Device Editor and your game.
* Reduce the amount of memory used by your system software. To do
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:
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.
========================
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.
========================
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.
***********
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.
***********
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.
***********
=======================
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