just thinking out loud (but read carefully, again and again, then print it for future reference):
i hope i havn't forgotten anything
keyboard:
arrow keys should move cam position left, right, forward, backwards (not implemented yet).
page up/down move down or up your eye position (is implemented).
Tab ATC Menu
° toggle free (free view with mouse, when pressing view freezes)
pc mouse:
base agreement: scrolling allows fluid change of sequential values (softly tuneable),
while a click is a very hard and decisive dual value set (on or off, in or out knob, that's it).
general rule 1: Never assign a mousewheel for something that in the cockpit is not a wheel* either or has 2 values only like ON/OFF.
if you hear a "click" ("tiggg/taggg") it is done with a mouse-click.
if you hear a "chrrchrrchrrrr" it is done by a mouse-wheel.
(currently light switches interact with mouse scroll, which to my understanding is a complete nogo)
*exception: Levers (see below) or Safety Cover Plates (see below).
general rule 2: Left Click always means ON. (universal standard, no matter what direction that switch looks at, no exceptions)
relieving (cut off) autopilot = mouse right click (2-way decision)
relieving altitude button to level off = right click (2-way decision)
or in described scenario Jan:
pull means go off = right click,
push means turn that thing on = left click.
if it is a 2-way decision.
pushing or pulling mixture is not a 2-way decision, it can vary in its density.
So adding mixture simply requires scrollwheel up. That way you push/roll the stab away from yourself into the panel.
A) Overview of scrollable wheels or knobs in the cockpit, which should be controlled with the respective scroll wheel on the computermouse:
trim1 (middle console up-down/forward-backward), rotating knobs autopilot, atc freq. changer ,
dynamic panel or dome lighting, nav and display modes, mixture, prop angle, manifold, etc.
1trimwheel agreement:
direction of mousewheel rotation is identical to trimwheel rotation,
other than the trimwheel, many knobs rotate horizontally not vertically. See Conflict Description below.
B) Overview of clickable switches or buttons in the cockpit:
Lighting, alarm, engine controls, messaging, Magnitos, ALT set or off, etc.
C) Levers
Levers are not so decisive like switches or the ALT set button, as they have a range of values, or lets say a rather smooth tranistion.
So if you assign speed brake, flaps or fuel cut off with the mouse scrollwheel instead of a click,
that is perfect. In the sim this is assigned correctly as i recall.
It gets critical when deciding which direction you turn the know for pulling up respetively laying down the speed flaps.
The critical aspect is whether you feel with the flaps or with the lever. Probably the lever.
Pulling the lever is done with a mousewheel down rotation - equal to the trimwheel rule, and that raises the speed flaps.
putting back the lever in its default position requires a mousewheel up rotation as a consequence.
D) Anything that does not fit to A, B or C:
The funniest challenge is for example a hook lever in an F/A-18. That thing needs a hard rotation (unlock) and a pull.
Going with above definitions that would consequently be done with a short right mouse click and a mousewheel down to extend it,
and a simple right click (and optionally mousewheel up) to get it back into its hub. The pullback is automatic so save the mousewheel to set it back in.
Another fine challenge is a master arm switch which is covered by a safety plate. Correct: Open/close the plate by mousewheel up/down,
where as opening is wheel up. The switch is done by click left for ON, click right for OFF.
Why scrollwheel for the plate? Cause you associate it with a transition, not with a decision. A transition is not so decisive like the click-clack of the metal switch.
The plastic cover's mechanics is supported by a spring to get a solid movement when opening or closing it. It is exactly this movement that differentiates from
an ON/OFF hard position and therefore the click-rule would fail. scroll is correct.
A remaining dispute hangs over the autopilot knobs that might rotate the wrong way in the sim in some cases
(most users have a conflict with this as you watch them doing it, let me describe the conflict carefully):
Situation:
autopilot values (the numbers), dynamic cockpit lighting or the display's brightness in most aircraft types are controlled
with clockwise or counterclockwise rotating knobs. However, rotating these knobs with a vertically rotating mouse scroll wheel at home
leads to the question, is left up and right down? or is up related to the numbers instead of the knob?
general rule 3: Rotating counterclockwise lowers the value**, rotating clockwise increases the value.
** describes the exception at V/S DESC
so let's check some examples to find out whether this fits or where misleads appear:
- turning up the dome light would require mousewheel down, as the knob turns to the right.
- increasing ALT requires mousewheel up, if you feel the rising value. mousewheel down, if you feel the clockwise turn. (unsolved issue)
- turn the HDG line in the display clockwise and the value of direction in the numbers case going upwards,
would require mousewheel up if the rising degree of heading is in mind, but down if the knob turn to the right priotizes. (unsolved issue)
- increasing vertical speed climb+ (rotate clockwise) requires mousewheel up, while
- **increasing value of vertical speed on descent requires a mousewheel down
(that is against general rule 3
but perfectly solves the overall question for an intuitive quick action set that really works when controlling
a wide body airliner at fast pace approach manoevers and an ATC controller who chases you around headings
and flight levels.)
Now the final
general rule 4: Rotating a knob counterclockwise (left) requires mousewheel upwards,
Rotating clockwise (increasing the value, right) requires mousewheel downwards, as a reflection of the physical experience we know from
music volume wheels on handheld analogue sound devices before the iphone age - which we rotated upwards for louder and many
other hardware applications.
(in the sim it is the other way i believe)
Everybody i observed (6 people with no exception i swear), scrolled down the mousewheel for rotating the autopilot knobs leftwards.
but in the sim is the other way round. If i had the choice i would do it very much the way people do it in their automatism, and
i would do it for myself, since i feel left is down and right is up.
if things dont feel right, they most probably should change or made available as personal settings option.
