Controls.sii file changes to enhance the trucking experience. First post Updated 20/10/2024

[JHTrucker]

Controls.sii file changes to enhance the trucking experience. For ATS & ETS2

This is a start for a collection of the most useful ideas that add a bit of something extra to the game.
If you have an idea, post it and i'll see if it's possible to create and add to the list.
If you already use custom controls.sii changes, post them with a description and a how to setup and i'll add them to this list.

NOTE: Using steam controller support may cause problems with these edits. I've never used it and have it disabled, that way the game will use all control functions that are specified within the controls.sii file only.
To disable steam controller support:
In Steam Library - Right Click Game - Properties - Controller - Select from drop down - "Disable Steam Input"

Forum update September 2022:
You now have to register on this forum to download any attached file that might also be required in some cases.
I think, if you still can't see them after registering, you may need to post a reply to one of the topics so your account is approved.
Note: This isn't my forum or rule.

If you'd rather stand outside whilst refueling, instead of sat in the cab, then here's a quick and easy automated solution.
viewtopic.php?p=24745#p24745

At a toll booth that you have to stop at or a border control point, you have to hand over money or documents for checking. You should therefore open the window first.
viewtopic.php?p=24764#p24764

Use the in game zoom feature with head tracking instead of pressing a button.
viewtopic.php?p=24823#p24823 - Updated 26/11/2020

Pressing left and right indicator buttons at the same time will activate the hazard warning lights.
viewtopic.php?p=26057#p26057 - Updated 02/08/2020

Quick look back view for head tracking or my Analogue look left/right/up/down auto center solution - ATS & ETS2 1.38.
viewtopic.php?p=28304#p28304 - NEW 01/09/2020

TRACKIR - Use all 6 DOF in game - Yaw, Pitch, Roll, x, y, & z.
viewtopic.php?p=28597#p28597

One press access to mirror, light & seat adjustments for game version 1.40+ - NEW 01/04/2021
viewtopic.php?p=37825#p37825

In cab view 'look down at the dash button' when not using head tracking or mouse. 1.38/1.39/1.40. - Updated 08/07/2021
viewtopic.php?p=43705#p43705

CAM 1 Instant look left, right & down (dash) and re-centre with just 2 buttons. 1.38+ - NEW 15/07/2021 - Updated 08/06/2022
viewtopic.php?p=44305#p44305

Reduced Head Tracking Movement When Using Interior Zoom. - NEW 13/09/2021
viewtopic.php?p=46301#p46301

Cruise Control - Press & Hold to increase/decrease cruise control speed value rather than repeated key presses. - NEW 28/12/2021
viewtopic.php?p=48607#p48607

Auto pause the driving screen when ALT-TABing. - NEW 29/01/2022
viewtopic.php?p=49612#p49612

Control DEVCAM using analogue gamepad thumbsticks / triggers or Wheel/Pedals/Joystick/Shifter. - Updated 18/03/2022
viewtopic.php?p=50209#p50209

Walk Around Your Truck. - Updated 06/07/2024
viewtopic.php?p=50312#p50312

Driving Adjustments for keyboard & gamepad users - Adjust steering & throttle controls as you drive. - NEW 07/04/2022 - Updated 20/05/2022
viewtopic.php?p=50448#p50448

How to combine your key functions with shift, ctrl or alt. - NEW 25/04/2022
viewtopic.php?p=50566#p50566

Use Analogue controller Thumbstick to change sequential gears Up/Down. - NEW 10/05/2022
viewtopic.php?p=50698#p50698

CAM 1 Instant look left, right & back 'out of the window' and re-centre with just 2 buttons. 1.38+ - NEW 20/06/2022
viewtopic.php?p=51463#p51463

How to use one key/button to toggle game functions to reduce the number of keys/buttons used. - NEW 15/01/2023
viewtopic.php?p=56811#p56811

Adjust your mirrors using your analogue 'look' thumbstick / joystick etc. - NEW 17/08/2023
viewtopic.php?p=60167#p60167

Toggle interior camera zoom on/off. - UPDATED 20/10/2024
viewtopic.php?p=61365#p61365

Reversing warning lights - Game version 1.41+ - NEW 10/01/2024
viewtopic.php?p=63021#p63021

Easy swap between mouse driving and keyboard driving. - NEW 14/02/2024
viewtopic.php?p=63433#p63433

Control the retarder with a non-centering analogue lever - 1.41+ - NEW 22/03/2024
viewtopic.php?p=63783#p63783

More to come ? If I can think of any more or you would like to request something...

TIP: After editing your controls.sii file, save it but don't close it, then run the game. This prevents the game resetting your controls.sii file if you made an error.
Open the console, if you see one of your lines in red text, you need to check that line again for a typo or a bad copy/paste. Save the controls.sii file but don't close it and then run the game to check again.
Once you are happy there are no red error's you can keep the controls.sii file closed.
Here's an example of an error in line "mix headtrx `........ as indicated in the red box. The green box is how it should look when correct.

Example errors in your game.log.txt file and how to fix them:
This error will prevent edits from working all together. It's caused by missing a " from the end of one of the line edits. Be careful when copy/pasting as this error can cause the game to reset the whole file back to game defaults.
00:00:04.454 : <ERROR> [unit] File '<C:/Users/TEST/Documents/American Truck Simulator | /home>/profiles/xxxx/controls.sii', line 519:
00:00:04.454 : <ERROR> Expecting string value, found '"'
00:00:04.454 : <ERROR> load_unit_tree() - Failed to load unit tree from file (/home/profiles/xxxx/controls.sii)
To locate the problem subtract 6 from the line number stated. For example: 519-6=513
So the error is caused by the line starting "config_lines[513]:..."
Re-copy/paste the matching "mix name..." line edit from your line 513 into your controls.sii file.

This error will allow some functions to work but the function associated to this line won't. The game will reset this line to game default.
00:00:04.453 : <ERROR> [inp] line "mix name...`" is malformed
Re-copy/paste the matching "mix name..." line edit into your controls.sii file.

[JHTrucker]

If you'd rather stand outside whilst refueling, instead of sat in the cab, then here's a quick and easy automated solution.

Game controls:
Cam1 - button 1 & engine (add this existing button).
Cam5 - button 5 & Fuel button (add this new button).
Activate - Activate button & Fuel button (add this new button).

When i stop for fuel, switch off engine and press and hold fuel button (instead of activate).
The view changes to view 5, i'm now stood next to the drivers door and fuel pump looking back a the truck fuel tank.
When filling is complete, press engine button to turn on electric and view changes to view 1 and i'm back in the cab.
Press engine button again to start the engine and drive off.
We still have to pay whilst driving away.

Here's what my controls.sii looks like (line numbers correct for game version 1.38):
I use nummultiply for the new fuel button and joy.b4?0 for engine start.

config_lines[173]: "mix cam1 `keyboard.key1?0 | joy.b4?0 | semantical.cam1?0`"
config_lines[177]: "mix cam5 `keyboard.key5?0 | keyboard.nummultiply?0 | semantical.cam5?0`"
config_lines[278]: "mix activate `joy.b19?0 | keyboard.nummultiply?0 | semantical.activate?0`"
config_lines[280]: "mix engine `joy.b4?0 | semantical.engine?0`"


Go back to the first post for the full list of what's available: viewtopic.php?p=24744#p24744

[JHTrucker]

At a toll booth that you have to stop at or a border control point, you have to hand over money or documents for checking. You should therefore open the window first.

For head tracking only:
Press and hold "open driver side window button".
Turn your head towards the booth (>80 degrees) and it'll activate.
You can now stop pressing "open driver side window button".
Drive off whilst closing your window.

Add the highlighted part to your "mix activate" line (line number correct for game version 1.38).
config_lines[278]: "mix activate `keyboard.enter?0 | sign(deadzone(abs(headtryaw), 0.4)) & (lwinopen | rwinopen) | semantical.activate?0`"

Note: For example, this does mean that if you are parked ready to sleep you will activate sleep if you do the above sequence. But you won't, probably, so you just press your normal activate button to sleep.

For button look users (standard game analogue isn't suitable here):
Press and hold "open driver side window button".
Press your button to look towards the booth and it'll activate. (lookleft/lookpos5/lookright/lookpos4).
You can now stop pressing "open driver side window button".
Drive off whilst closing your window.

Add the highlighted part to your "mix activate" line (line number correct for game version 1.37).
config_lines[278]: "mix activate `keyboard.enter?0 | (lookleft | lookpos5 & lwinopen) | (lookright | lookpos4 & rwinopen) | semantical.activate?0`"


Back to the first post for the full list of what's available: viewtopic.php?p=24744#p24744

[JHTrucker]

Use the in game zoom feature with head tracking instead of pressing a button - UPDATED 26/11/2020

This is already part of my "TRACKIR Closed window block solutions" and therefore you shouldn't use this if already using one of them.

Feels right to lean forward to read up coming signs. One less button to press!
It's much easier now to look at the passenger mirror while reversing without having to keep pressing the zoom button on my wheel at the same time as steering.

As standard, when you lean forward you get closer to the dash.
This adds to that feature by allowing you to lean further forward and thereby trigger the in game zoom.

For Trackir etc only. Tobii Eye test at bottom.
All line numbers correct for game version 1.38 & 1.39.
Replace this line: (I used wheel button joy.b22?0 to zoom before changing to this way)
config_lines[187]: "mix camzoom `joy.b22?0 | semantical.camzoom?0`"
With this line: ***Amended 26/11/2020***
config_lines[187]: "mix camzoom `sign(clamp(deadzone(-trackir.device.position.z?0, 0.95), -0.0, 1.0)) * ! cam5 * trackiron * ! sign(abs(deadzone(trackiryaw, 0.11)))`"

You can set the area to the left & right that "triggering zoom view" is active to prevent unwanted head zoom at higher head angles. Just change the highlighted 0.11 in line 187 to one of the following examples:
1.00 = Up to 180 degrees left/right (head zoom always on).
0.5 = Up to 90 degrees left/right.
0.25 = Up to 45 degrees left/right (prevent head zoom when looking around at junctions etc).
0.11 = Up to 20 degrees left/right - Default - (good for head zooming to just read upcoming signs in front of you).

Pic 1 - Sitting normally.
Pic 2 - Standard lean forward to move closer to the dash.
Pic 3 - With this change - Lean further forward to zoom the view, with your head instead of the standard button.

zoom.png

.
If, like me, you only use TIR yaw (left/right) you can still use this zoom method by disabling in game "z" movement.
Enable "z" in your head tracking software.
Then do the following:

Replace this line:
config_lines[256]: "mix headtrz `clamp(sel(trackiron, trackirz, 0) + sel(eyeposon, eyeposz, 0), -0.2, 0.05) + sel(hmdon, hmdz, 0)`"
With this line:
config_lines[256]: "mix headtrz `clamp(sel(trackiron, trackirz, 0) + sel(eyeposon, eyeposz, 0), 0, 0) + sel(hmdon, hmdz, 0)`"

Your in game head won't move back and forward anymore but it will still trigger zoom when you lean far enough forward.

============================================================================

Tobii Eye may work as well. I don't have one to test but this is my best guess.

Replace this line:
config_lines[187]: "mix camzoom `joy.b22?0 | semantical.camzoom?0`"
With this line: ***Amended 26/11/2020***
config_lines[187]: "mix camzoom `sign(clamp(deadzone(-eye_track.head_position.z?0, 0.95), -0.0, 1.0)) * ! cam5 * ! sign(abs(deadzone(eyeposyaw, 0.11)))`"

You can use line 256 above if you want to disable "z" movement. Read the description with it.
Feel free to say if this works with your Tobii Eye.


Go back to the first post for the full list of what's available: viewtopic.php?p=24744#p24744

[JHTrucker]

Pressing left and right indicator buttons at the same time will activate the hazard warning lights.
Now no need to waste an extra button on hazard warning lights.

Note: When you press left and right indicator buttons at the same time again to switch off, either left or right indicator will be flashing. Just cancel it in the normal way.

Line number correct for game version 1.38:
config_lines[328]: "mix flasher4way `lblinker & rblinker | semantical.flasher4way?0`"

UPDATE: Or you can try this way... its doesn't leave an indicator flashing when you switch off the hazard warning lights... most times anyway, as long as you let go of both buttons at the same time.

I use the flappy paddles on my G27 wheel to indicate left/right. joy.b6?0 & joy.b5?0.

Just copy & add your left/right buttons for lines 324/326/328 like i have highlighted below:

config_lines[324]: "mix lblinker `your left button & ! your right button | semantical.lblinker?0`"
config_lines[326]: "mix rblinker `your right button & ! your left button | semantical.rblinker?0`"
config_lines[328]: "mix flasher4way `your left button & your right button | semantical.flasher4way?0`"

And here are my lines 324/326/328 for your reference:

config_lines[324]: "mix lblinker `joy.b6?0 & ! joy.b5?0 | semantical.lblinker?0`"
config_lines[326]: "mix rblinker `joy.b5?0 & ! joy.b6?0 | semantical.rblinker?0`"
config_lines[328]: "mix flasher4way `joy.b6?0 & joy.b5?0 | semantical.flasher4way?0`"


Go back to the first post for the full list of what's available: viewtopic.php?p=24744#p24744

[BenganJ]

@JHTrucker

Damn, you are creative! Thanks for this too!

[JHTrucker]

@BenganJ - If you used the hazards mod... check the update out.

[BenganJ]

@JHTrucker

Oki!

[pinapari]

Just wanted to say thanks for these edits. I really like the added immersion of getting out to fuel up etc.

[JHTrucker]

@pinapari - Yes, the little things can make all the difference. I haven't refueled in cab for the last 2 months! Thanks.