Got couple hours free from office work this morning so I’m back to the drawing board. I agreed and believed using preset keys or key-map file is too complex and limits the customization for keystroke assignments for each user’s MSFS keyboard configurations. But allowing free-formed key assignment by detecting allowing user to define key presses (similar in how MSFS configure keyboard control commands), this gives flexibility to the users. Also, multiple panels can be assigned to the same key bindings and minimize/restore at the same time.
See the prototype image below. I was able to detect keyboard input and assign panel with the key combination (left-ctrl + left-shift + rightAlt + 1) and then set the panel configuration data accordingly. The 2nd image has the non-traditional key assignment (A + S + D + F). This is the easy part.
Next is the hard part, I’ve to figure out how to match key combination since user can press multiple keys at a time and I’ve to determine when keyboard input starts and ends (key up/key down as a set). Then matching the combination to the panel configuration to manipulate the pop out.
And this is still prototype, I may run into showstopper and the whole idea may not work at all. Also, low level keyboard detection could cause performance issue and memory leak. I have to be very careful when implementing this feature.
On a side note, I should have done this for the legacy custom camera angle (Ctrl-Alt-0) or pop out command (Right-Alt + left-click) and then it will work for all users’ keyboard layout. Oh well, that’s legacy and we have a new way to do custom camera!
Stanley