space navigator: how to invert rotation/tilt axis?

Questions and answers about 3Dconnexion devices on Windows.

Moderator: Moderators

UncleRotten
Posts: 4
Joined: Thu Mar 27, 2014 1:33 am

space navigator: how to invert rotation/tilt axis?

Post by UncleRotten »

Hello, i just installed the newest version of the drivers, coming from a very old one (like 6.something...). I'm using the space navigator with creo 2.0. Now i have a problem... with the older software, changing the zoom direction was also changing the rotation axis of the mouse with the tilting one. Pratically, now when i rotate the mouse, the object on screen will tilt left and right, i need (because i ever used it this way and i find more confortable) that with thi movement of the mouse, the object on screen will rotate on the axis perpendicular to the screen, and tilting left and right the mouse will tilt the object the same way.
How is that possible? With the old software version i just need to change the type of the zoom...
Thanks in advance to everyone!
Andrea
jwick
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 3331
Joined: Wed Dec 20, 2006 2:25 pm
Location: USA
Contact:

Re: space navigator: how to invert rotation/tilt axis?

Post by jwick »

Hello Andrea,

Yes, we changed this behavior for the new driver. We had people complain that they didn't want to change the rotation direction when the GUI said it was just changing the zoom direction. So far, just as many people complain about it this way--exactly the opposite group. We can't win :)

You can set the axes any way you want, but you can't use the GUI. The GUI only does it "its way".
You have to edit the Cfg file for your application (Creo). The file is ProE.xml.

Change the zoom direction in the GUI, so you have a file that you can edit.
That file will be in %appdata%\3dconnexion\3dxware\Cfg. (ProE.xml).
You can use any XML editor, even notepad.

Find the section that contains <Name>SpaceNavigator</Name>
Under this you will see some <Axis> entries. Something like this:

Code: Select all

      <Axis>
        <Enabled>true</Enabled>
        <Input>
          <ActionID>HIDMultiAxis_Rx</ActionID>
          <Min>-512</Min>
          <Max>511</Max>
          <Deadband>0</Deadband>
        </Input>
        <Output>
          <ActionID>HIDMultiAxis_Rx</ActionID>
         <Reversed>False</Reversed>
        </Output>
      </Axis>
      <Axis>
        <Enabled>true</Enabled>
        <Input>
          <ActionID>HIDMultiAxis_Ry</ActionID>
          <Min>-512</Min>
          <Max>511</Max>
          <Deadband>0</Deadband>
        </Input>
        <Output>
          <ActionID>HIDMultiAxis_Ry</ActionID>
         <Reversed>False</Reversed>
        </Output>
      </Axis>
      <Axis>
        <Enabled>true</Enabled>
        <Input>
          <ActionID>HIDMultiAxis_Rz</ActionID>
          <Min>-512</Min>
          <Max>511</Max>
          <Deadband>0</Deadband>
        </Input>
        <Output>
          <ActionID>HIDMultiAxis_Rz</ActionID>
         <Reversed>False</Reversed>
        </Output>
      </Axis>
The above sample indicates that each Rx, Ry, Rz axis Input is set to the same Output. If you want the Ry Input to generate an Rz Output, change the Output/ActionID from HIDMultiAxis_Ry to HIDMultiAxis_Rz. Make sure to make he cooresponding change to the Rz Axis (HIDMultiAxis_Rz->HIDMultiAxis_Ry).

You can also reverse the direction of the Axis by changing <Reversed> from False to True.
UncleRotten
Posts: 4
Joined: Thu Mar 27, 2014 1:33 am

Re: space navigator: how to invert rotation/tilt axis?

Post by UncleRotten »

Thanks so much for your prompt reply! So now i will try this way, i just have to hunderstand how to do, because the xml file is located in a folder where i cannot write, unfortunately i'm not administrator on my machine due to company polytics.
Thanks again!
Andrea
jwick
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 3331
Joined: Wed Dec 20, 2006 2:25 pm
Location: USA
Contact:

Re: space navigator: how to invert rotation/tilt axis?

Post by jwick »

%appdata% is a directory for your personal files. It is under your username and it roams with you when you login to different machines (in an Active Directory environment). You should be able to edit it.
Don't try to edit the file under Program Files.
UncleRotten
Posts: 4
Joined: Thu Mar 27, 2014 1:33 am

Re: space navigator: how to invert rotation/tilt axis?

Post by UncleRotten »

In fact, just after have posted my last reply, i've noticed that i was looking at the wrong file :P Few minutes ago i finished the configuration and everything is working well!
Thanks a lot for your cooperation, have a nice day!
Andrea
smoke
Posts: 4
Joined: Thu Apr 17, 2014 11:24 pm

Re: space navigator: how to invert rotation/tilt axis?

Post by smoke »

hi, im trying to do this and i dont see any R axis in my file

im editing the cube3d demo file.
jwick
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 3331
Joined: Wed Dec 20, 2006 2:25 pm
Location: USA
Contact:

Re: space navigator: how to invert rotation/tilt axis?

Post by jwick »

smoke wrote:hi, im trying to do this and i dont see any R axis in my file

im editing the cube3d demo file.
The axis isn't in the user file unless you've made some change to it. You can copy it from the default file, or, much easier, just make some change to the axis in the GUI. It will then be written into your appdata file.
smoke
Posts: 4
Joined: Thu Apr 17, 2014 11:24 pm

Re: space navigator: how to invert rotation/tilt axis?

Post by smoke »

jwick wrote:
smoke wrote:hi, im trying to do this and i dont see any R axis in my file

im editing the cube3d demo file.
The axis isn't in the user file unless you've made some change to it. You can copy it from the default file, or, much easier, just make some change to the axis in the GUI. It will then be written into your appdata file.
got it, thank you! :mrgreen:
smoke
Posts: 4
Joined: Thu Apr 17, 2014 11:24 pm

Re: space navigator: how to invert rotation/tilt axis?

Post by smoke »

more questions...

is there a way to make this change to be defaulted to every application?
without having to change every specific xml file?

you mentioned a default file... will this be the one that sets a system wide standard?
lastly... where is it located?

thanks
jwick
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 3331
Joined: Wed Dec 20, 2006 2:25 pm
Location: USA
Contact:

Re: space navigator: how to invert rotation/tilt axis?

Post by jwick »

The default files are in a read-only directory--typically, C:\Program Files\3Dconnexion\3DxWare\3DxWinCore64\Cfg.
If you change the Base.xml file, most of your applications will switch (unless there are Axis entries in the app-specific files).
smoke
Posts: 4
Joined: Thu Apr 17, 2014 11:24 pm

Re: space navigator: how to invert rotation/tilt axis?

Post by smoke »

jwick wrote:The default files are in a read-only directory--typically, C:\Program Files\3Dconnexion\3DxWare\3DxWinCore64\Cfg.
If you change the Base.xml file, most of your applications will switch (unless there are Axis entries in the app-specific files).
thank you, it worked!

if anybody else wants to do the same:
close the 3dconnexion software/driver
copy that base.xml file to your desktop
open it with notepad, ctrl+F and type in your model(mine was spacenavigator).
look for input "Ry" and change its output to "Rz". and the same for input "Rz" to output "Ry".
save it, and copy the file back to the original location and overwrite.
start up the 3dconnexion software/driver
test it out and reverse the axis in the 3dconnexion software as needed.
rod147
Posts: 1
Joined: Fri Apr 25, 2014 2:39 am

Re: space navigator: how to invert rotation/tilt axis?

Post by rod147 »

Hi I also want to invert my Spin and Roll functions for application Solid Edge.

My SolidEdge.xml file does not contain any Ry or Rz strings, the text is more like this:

<AxisFilter>Dominant</AxisFilter><Axis><Enabled>true</Enabled><Input><ActionID>HIDMultiAxis_Z</ActionID><Min>-512</Min><Max>511</Max></Input><Output><ActionID>HIDMultiAxis_Z</ActionID><Reversed>false</Reversed></Output></Axis><Axis><Enabled>true</Enabled><Input><ActionID>HIDMultiAxis_X</ActionID><Min>-512</Min><Max>511</Max></Input><Output><ActionID>HIDMultiAxis_X</ActionID><Reversed>false</Reversed><RepeatStyle>Auto</RepeatStyle></Output></Axis><Axis><Enabled>true</Enabled><Input><ActionID>HIDMultiAxis_Y</ActionID><Min>-512</Min><Max>511</Max></Input><Output><ActionID>HIDMultiAxis_Y</ActionID><Reversed>false</Reversed><RepeatStyle>Auto</RepeatStyle></Output></Axis></Device>
</Devices>
</AppCfg>

Please direct me as to what text strings need to be changed?

Thanks.
jwick
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 3331
Joined: Wed Dec 20, 2006 2:25 pm
Location: USA
Contact:

Re: space navigator: how to invert rotation/tilt axis?

Post by jwick »

Add the Axes, as shown here
tholden
Posts: 9
Joined: Fri May 16, 2014 7:17 am

Re: space navigator: how to invert rotation/tilt axis?

Post by tholden »

Hey all, im trying to invert the rotation/tilt for solidworks. (http://i.imgur.com/uG7d2Vf.png)

Ive tried to change the code using wordpad but its a mess (http://i.imgur.com/uG7d2Vf.png)

Does anyone have an existing file for 10.0.22 SolidWorks XML document that has this already inverted so i could just download it and paste it in my C:\Users\tholden\AppData\Roaming\3Dconnexion\3DxWare\Cfg folder?

Or is there any other easy way to get this to work?

Thanks much!!!!!!
tholden
Posts: 9
Joined: Fri May 16, 2014 7:17 am

Re: space navigator: how to invert rotation/tilt axis?

Post by tholden »

Meant to say

Ive tried to change the code using wordpad but its a mess <EDIT:> (http://i.imgur.com/uG7d2Vf.png)
Post Reply