remapping keys to mouse buttons - forbidden ?

[BobJustBob]

is it just me or is it no longer possible to remap the walk forward/backward buttons to your mouse buttons ?? i can not do it. all previous gta games let you.

 

 

 

[Zach]

I'm starting to feel like a spam bot I post this reply so much, but oh well.

 

Use AutoHotkey. It's super easy to use.

[Zach]

Since so many people keep asking this, I figured I'd share the AutoHotKey script I'm using. I modified it for you to map the MMB to move forward and the RMB to move backwards. (I tested in-game for you, and it works fine.) You shouldn't map the LMB because you'll then lose your clicking ability in the game's menus.

 

Note 1: View the AutoHotKey's help file to get a full listing of the key and mouse button names used to define the remappings

Note 2: Be very careful and consider the consequences of remap keys. For instance, in the script below, I remapped Alt to function as the game's action key, i.e., whenever I press Alt, an 'E' is actually generated as far as GTA is concerned. Because of this, though, Alt-Tab will no longer work since it will now be interpreted as "E-Tab". (This can be overcome by writing a script instead doing a simple remapping, but that's more complicated and beyond the scope of this reply.)

 

 

 

;===============================================================================; AutoHotkey      Version: 1.0.47.6; Language:       English; Platform:       Win9x/NT/XP/Vista;===============================================================================;---------------------------------------;   Script Initialization Stuff (optional);---------------------------------------#SingleInstance force#InstallKeybdHook#InstallMouseHook#NoEnvSendMode, Input;---------------------------------------;   Create a timer to constantly check;   if GTA is the active process or not;   since we want our remapping to only;   be applied in-game, not outside the;   game.;---------------------------------------SetTimer, KeepRunningreturnKeepRunning: ; Get the process name of the active window (i.e. Notepad.exe)   WinGet szProcessName, ProcessName, A   if szProcessName = GTAIV.exe   {       Suspend, off   }   else   {       Suspend, on   }   return;---------------------------------------;   For now, just do some simple;   remapping.  To restore Alt-Tab;   functionality, for instance, we'll;   need to write a script later.;---------------------------------------MButton::w    ;;  map middle mouse button to move forward keyRButton::s    ;;  map right mouse button to move backward keyXButton1::f    ;;  map side button to vehicle enter/exitAlt::e        ;;  map Alt key to action key (WARNING:  Alt-Tab functionality             ;;      will be gone);===============================================================================

 

 

So install AutoHotKey. Copy the above to a text file and modify it to suit your needs. Save it as GTAIV.ahk to your desktop (the name is not important, but use the .ahk extension so you can just double-click it to run it). Double-click the GTAIV.ahk file (you then see a little green S icon in your system tray). Run the game.

 

 

For any further help with AutoHotKey, go to their forum and ask.

 

 

IMPORTANT EDIT: I just want to stress that I am supplying the above only as a template. It works as-is, sure, but don't use it without modifying it to suit your own needs first and before making sure remapping something doesn't affect something else in-game. For instance, remapping RMB above works fine, but you then need to make sure the RMB isn't being used for something else, like targeting, for instance. In other words, don't remap keys that are already being used in-game!!!

 

Edit #2: Added "#InstallMouseHook" back into the script.

Edited December 6, 2008 by Zach

[KingBulleT 8747]

The 'Enter' key is also not avaible, i evertime used it to get in a car, now i must use shift

[Zach]

 

The 'Enter' key is also not avaible, i evertime used it to get in a car, now i must use shift

That's odd. Then how are you sprinting?

 

And 'Enter' seems to be one of those hard-coded keys as it is used in the game for confirmations (overwritting a save game, accepting a date/get-together, taxi destinations, etc.). I wouldn't recommend remapping via AutoHotKey.

[torresno9]

that's a great help, but why cant i use all my buttons on my g9 as i can with nearly all my games, IN the game itself,

 

most pc gamers will have at least a 4 button mouse i would think and it should be implemented with all pc titles including gta 4, hope a patch will fix this

[Zach]

 

that's a great help, but why cant i use all my buttons on my g9 as i can with nearly all my games, IN the game itself,

Great question! Ask Rockstar.

 

Hopefully, they will resolve this in the upcoming patch and things like AutoHotKey will not be needed. *crosses fingers*

[WilderDK]

 

that's a great help, but why cant i use all my buttons on my g9 as i can with nearly all my games, IN the game itself,

 

most pc gamers will have at least a 4 button mouse i would think and it should be implemented with all pc titles including gta 4, hope a patch will fix this

i use all my buttons on my g9 mouse, i assign them to key board, via g9 software, there are build into mouse and when i need to change in-game, i just push the bottom i want it too.

 

 

 

regards

 

 

 

<---------

[Gibsmoker]

Absolutly fantastic Zach!...Followed your script DL'd Auto-hotkey, changed it so Rmouse moves forward and it works a treat...Removed the other lines as i only really needed to run with Right Mouse...

 

Once again your help is very much appreciated, can't tell you how awkward it was, trying to run using a different key than the one youve been used to for 16 years

 

Thanx pal...

[Zach]

Oh, and since some may feel daunted by my above script, it can be much simpler. For instance, if you just want to utilize your extra mouse buttons, here's all you really need:

 

 

XButton1::e    ;;  map side button 1 to action keyXButton2::f    ;;  map side button 2 to vehicle enter/exit

 

 

That's it. Save that and launch it, and until you exit or suspend the script, your forth MB (thumb button) will generate an 'e' and your fifth MB (little thumb button) will generate an 'f'.

[jimnms]

Everyone who wants to be able to remap mouse and other keys, please contact Take2 support and tell them. You won't get a straight answer, but hopefully if they get hammered with enough complaints about it, they will fix it. The first time I contacted them, all I got was a reply with a list of the default control mappings. I replied back telling them that didn't help, and the 2nd reply I got was:

 

Hello,

 

Unfortunately, you cannot customize the keyboard / mouse controls within the game. That feature is not available on GTA IV. Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause you.

 

 

Best Regards,

 

Rockstar Games Tech Support

[Zach]

That's got to be the best tech support response ever. I mean, come on, admit it. The stupidity of that response has to crack you up on some level.

[torresno9]

That's got to be the best tech support response ever. I mean, come on, admit it. The stupidity of that response has to crack you up on some level.

lol agree, like we don't already know

[Jah.Volunteer]

maybe i'm missing something, by why in the world would anyone want to use the MMB to move forward and the RMB to move backwards?

 

seems odd to me.

[Zach]

That's how I used to play all FPS and TPS (third-person shooter, which GTA is) games for years. Then about five years ago, I guess, developer after developer started dropping support for mouse button remapping for some unknown reason, and after much frustration, I finally bit the bullet and retrained myself to use the standard WASD method for movement. Now I can't imagine playing any other way.

 

But anyway, I don't recall why I used to prefer using the mouse buttons to move, but I can certainly relate to the OP's plight since I used to be in the same boat.

[franchy]

Cool thanks a lot Zach...

 

Every third person or first person game I play I always set my LMB & RMB to move forward & backwards, respectively.

 

You can imagine my frustrations when I finally get a hold of GTA IV and can't even set my controls so I can start playing the damn game.

 

I'll give the autohotkey program a go right now...

[Vicetopia]

I always use RMB for Forward, but I just gave up and learned to use WASD.

[Varelse]

I've used the left and right mouse buttons to move forward and back since way back in like Dark Forces II. Just felt right having all of my movement and looking centered on one hand. Been using Autohotkey for the last few days and it works great until/if Rockstar releases a patch. Here's the script I am using:

 

RButton::Down

LButton::Up

PgUp::Click

PgDn::Click right

XButton1::End

 

Mapped Down Arrow to move backwards

Mapped Up Arrow to move forwards

Mapped Page up and Down to be left and right mouse clicks so that I can still click on stuff that my mouse pointer is over after I run the script

I also mapped the thumb button on my Logitech mx518 to be the melee lock on

 

Hope that helps someone.

[jimnms]

 

That's got to be the best tech support response ever.    I mean, come on, admit it.  The stupidity of that response has to crack you up on some level. 

The first reply I got from them was just a copy and paste of the default keys. I only got that response after I replied back telling them that didn't have anything to do with what I posted.

 

As far as WASD controls go, I don't see how that has become the "standard." I've tired to use it, but it's so awkward and clumsy feeling. I've use the following basic controls for all games since the Quake days:

 

LMB = Shoot

RMB = Forward

S = Strafe Left

D = Strafe Right

SPACE = Backward

F = Jump

V = Crouch

G = Use

L SHIFT = Run/Walk

L ALT = Reload

 

This leaves the QWERT and ZXCB keys easily accessible for other functions. With this setup I can have my fingers on the move keys while being able to press other keys at the same time. If I move my hand from those keys (to scratch my nuts or press some other key) it's easy to move back without looking because the F key on most keyboards has a little notch on it so you can feel when your fingers are lined up on the primary typing keys. Using the WASD keys as your movement keys, you have to take one of your fingers off a movement key in order to press another key.

[torresno9]

i don't know why, pc games always have wasd as the default movement keys, ive never used them in over 10 years of pc gaming, nor do i know any one else that has, it's always the cursor keys mostly.

[BobJustBob]

thanks zach.. i'll give that a try later... i already uninstalled this pos... the new driving model is just a show stopper for me.....

 

and i use a logitech trackman fyi, so i don't move a mouse....

fact is ALL previous gta games let you remap the mouse. do ANY of you care to comment on why this last pos gta changed that ????????? let's discuss that!!!!!!

 

as for the guy that said that 10 years ago most games started blocking the remap of mice, huh ??

i have played the majority of pc games in all genres and this is NOT true. in fact in a 10 year period there are only a handful of major pc games that do that. perhaps 15-20. (again i say major pc games, ie "AAA") and out of those around half can be forcefully changed via ini/cfg/reg manual overrides. so really, there aren't that many.....

 

here's a good thread i found, about tomb raider underworld which i want to get... and i'm glad it can be forced to change it's way..... otherwise i wouldn't get it...

[DeadlyAvenger]

 

i don't know why, pc games always have wasd as the default movement keys, ive never used them in over 10 years of pc gaming, nor do i know any one else that has, it's always the cursor keys mostly.

 

Totally agree, I always use the arrow keys personally. I like the fact there is space around them (making you less prone to hitting the wrong key in the heat of battle when you need to 'get outa there'!)

 

And you have all the other keys surrounding them in a nice easy to reach manner. It is easily a more sensible setup over WASD.

 

However, each to their own, and if in doubt, developers should just make every option remappable to ANY key, and make the game interaction more intelligent, i.e. the enter key for use item / opening car doors etc.

 

I would imagine processing keyboard / mouse input must be one of the EASIEST parts of writing a game, especially over writing complex 3D shaded graphics.

 

Bottom line, they just don't understand what PC gamers want.

[torresno9]

i don't know why, pc games always have wasd as the default movement keys, ive never used them in over 10 years of pc gaming, nor do i know any one else that has, it's always the cursor keys mostly.

 

Totally agree, I always use the arrow keys personally. I like the fact there is space around them (making you less prone to hitting the wrong key in the heat of battle when you need to 'get outa there'!)

 

And you have all the other keys surrounding them in a nice easy to reach manner. It is easily a more sensible setup over WASD.

 

However, each to their own, and if in doubt, developers should just make every option remappable to ANY key, and make the game interaction more intelligent, i.e. the enter key for use item / opening car doors etc.

 

I would imagine processing keyboard / mouse input must be one of the EASIEST parts of writing a game, especially over writing complex 3D shaded graphics.

 

Bottom line, they just don't understand what PC gamers want.

true. i remember scarface, i thought great, vice city but with tony montana, then you couldnt remap the keys and they didn't even bring a patch out to enable it, in other words we dont care about pc gamers, so i never finished it, ruined it for me

[exile550]

You know that something is wrong when the game forces users to create their own script to remap the controls they want. Really, its just poor quality control from the developer's part. It's getting frustrating that more and more games don't allow you to play with the control scheme you want. I had the same problem with Tomb Raider Underworld, Fallout 3 and Dead Space recently. The great thing about the PC is that with the mouse and keyboard setting, you have a lot of different possibility with the game. You could play the way you wanted in previous GTA games, why is it different this time.

[Sevael]

I'm using AutoHotkey along with info in this thread to remap controls to my liking and I reall appreciate all the info that you guys are providing the community. However, I still have a problem that I cannot seem to solve.

 

In the game, RMB doubles as a Cancel command, doing things like skipping phone conversations and putting the phone away. I like to use RMB as the gas in vehicles, but every time somebody phones I can no longer continue to drive unless I want to decline the offer and/or hang up on them.

 

I have tried remapping "RButton" and "Click right" to other keys, and mapped other keys to those two and set the control customization in-game accordingly, but RMB still always puts the phone away. It's like a secondary function of the right mouse button that the game recognizes as Cancel, but AutoHotkey doesn't remap.

 

Does anybody know of a way to use AutoHotkey to bypass this? I know that I could go and remap my right mouse button in Control Panel to something else, but I want to keep AutoHotkey's ability to have the remapped functions only work while gtaiv.exe is running. I would prefer not to have to go back into Control Panel and change things every time I start and finish playing GTA IV.

 

Any ideas?

[Zach]

 

Any ideas?

In my big script above (on page 1), I originally had the following...

 

 

;---------------------------------------;   Script Initialization Stuff (optional);---------------------------------------#SingleInstance force#InstallKeybdHook#InstallMouseHook#NoEnvSendMode, Input

 

 

Note the...

 

 

#InstallMouseHook

 

 

You should try adding that back. I don't remember why I decided to edit that out anyway.

 

If in your script you remap the RMB to something else, GTA technically should never detect a RMB click. The "#InstallMouseHook" directive should solve your problem. If not, then I don't know.

 

As a side note, I'm assuming BACKSPACE will also cancel phonecalls and such; if not, it might not be a good idea to remap the RMB then, eh?

[Sevael]

 

In my big script above (on page 1), I originally had the following...

 

 

;---------------------------------------;   Script Initialization Stuff (optional);---------------------------------------#SingleInstance force#InstallKeybdHook#InstallMouseHook#NoEnvSendMode, Input

 

 

Note the...

 

 

#InstallMouseHook

 

 

You should try adding that back.  I don't remember why I decided to edit that out anyway. 

 

If in your script you remap the RMB to something else, GTA technically should never detect a RMB click.  The "#InstallMouseHook" directive should solve your problem.  If not, then I don't know.

 

As a side note, I'm assuming BACKSPACE will also cancel phonecalls and such; if not, it might not be a good idea to remap the RMB then, eh?

I added #InstallMouseHook as above and reloaded the script, but it doesn't make a difference, unfortunately.

 

If it helps, when I go in to customize controls and click something to remap a key, then hit RMB, it actually fills it in with "Right Mouse Button (RMB)" instead of the letter on the keyboard I have RMB remapped to in AutoHotkey (the letter 'o'). I removed all instances of "Right Mouse Button (RMB)" in the custom keymapping list in the game and used the letter 'o' key to map to Accelerator, but while RMB still makes the car go, it also still cancels phone calls, exactly the same as Backspace does.

 

Why the heck would they program the game this way? Why can we not remap the default Accept and Cancel commands in the game? Who would intentionally design it this way? How bizarre...

[skeeter780]

I'm a lefty and use "rdfg". My thumb rests on the alt key which the game won't allow a bind for. I use keytweak to make left windows a letter so I can bind it for games. This doesn't work in GTA 4. It wont let me rebind windows even though Keytweak has it set as the letter p.

 

Can autohotkey trick GTA 4 into beleiving that left windows and left alt are different keys?

Edited December 6, 2008 by skeeter780

[Sevael]

I just tried:

 

 

RButton::return

 

 

...and the RMB still puts the phone away. Stranger still is that I can still bind "Right mouse button (RMB)" in the game and the actions I bind it too still work. I took it a step further and bound RButton to the letter 'g' (I'm using it for the car horn) and then bound "Right mouse button (RMB)" to Accelerate and pressing RMB makes the car both move forward and blow the horn while it's held down.

 

The game seems to be using a different method of input detection than AutoHotkey has full control over. Or the game just takes full priority over AutoHotkey.

 

[Sevael]

 

I'm a lefty and use "rdfg". My thumb rests on the alt key which the game won't allow a bind for. I use keytweak to make left windows a letter so I can bind it for games. This doesn't work in GTA 4. It wont let me rebind windows even though Keytweak has it set as the letter p.

 

Can autohotkey trick GTA 4 into beleiving that left windows and left alt are different keys?

The first thing I would try is after remapping the Windows Key and LAlt to other keys, use those other keys when setting up your controls in the game. Then the new keys should work.