Any Way To Assign Key Presses In Succession To A Button? (Like D,N,S,T,U,F,F)

[FEBTOBER83]

I know Action Sets exist in the Steam Deck config, but that's more like a "Shift Mode" to access an entire remapped controller config.

On my normal Windows 10 PC, I use the program reWASD, which allows to assign multiple key presses (and the ms delay in-between assigned presses), so I can basically assign cheat codes to classic games like Duke Nukem 3D (hence where DNSTUFF comes from).

Is this even possible on the Steam Deck?

Some games like Doom, Doom 3, etc allow an autoexec.cfg, where I can assign cheats to a specific unused keyboard key. Then I just assign the Steam Deck's L4, L5, R4, R5 to to them, which is easy.

[ugafan]

Yes, you can do this. Add sub commands to type out a string of letters. Whenever a letter repeats, you'll need to add an extra command with a fire start delay to add a new string.

For your example, it would look like this:

Command: D
Sub command: N
Sub Command: S
Sub Command: T
Sub Command: U
Sub Command: F
Extra Command (with fire start delay): F

[FEBTOBER83]

thank you. I went in and tried what you suggested but it didn't work. I tried different start delays.

[shadowboy813]

You can also just bind several normal presses, with a gradually increasing start delay

[Schorsch Wadschinken]

Originally posted by FEBTOBER83:

thank you. I went in and tried what you suggested but it didn't work. I tried different start delays.

The start delay shouldn't be too low because the sub commands seem to take some time to be input and "let go" (if you use Start Press instead of Regular Press), maybe try 40 or 50

If you use Regular Press then you have to let go of the button quickly so the keys stop being sent. Then you'd need a huge start delay, at least 500. Or just use Start Press

Originally posted by shadowboy813:

You can also just bind several normal presses, with a gradually increasing start delay

That never worked for me though I don't know why

[FEBTOBER83]

THIS IS DRIVING ME NUTS!

I'm using the keyboard entered cheat DNKROZ (God mode) as a test because there are no repeating letters. I've tried combinations of sub commands, extra commands, with various values with "Fire Start Delay" and "Fire End Delay" (both with value ranging from 25 to 300) in the Steam settings and cannot get it to do what I want. WTH! I did test this with a bluetooth keyboard to the Steam Deck BTW. The key presses work while playing Duke Nukem 3D on the keyboard. I didi have to enable Proton Compatibility to the latest version before launching the game to make this work for some reason.

I know it has to be possible here but I can't figure it out. Again, with the program reWASD in Windows, I simply assign a key a script where it will press and depress each key with 30ms in-between key presses. And it works flawlessly. For example ... D press, D release, 30ms, N press, N release, 30ms, etc

Do any of you have the Duke Nukem 3D or the classic Doom games? The cheats were entered the same way. Having more knowledge and experience with these Steam presses and assignments, are you able to make cheats work by assigning the multiple button presses to a Steam Deck controller key, like I'm trying to do?

[retrogunner]

*IF* you're comfortable Desktop-mode, this harebrained idea might work.

I've used AntiMicro when I've played keyboard based games outside of Steam but wanted to use my controller -- such as Duke 3D in a DOSBox. I do not recall if AntiMicro offered "keyboard macros". In the Application Discovery app, it should list AntiMicroX[flathub.org]. You could see if the Flatpak AntiMicroX works in Desktop Mode. If it does work and offer Macros, sweet.

To get AntiMicroX working in Game Mode, you'll either need to add it an unlisted game OR use Decky Loader (Crankshaft might work too). I've heard Decky Loader has a plugin that will let you list & launch Flatpak Apps at the same time as any game (such as Discord, Spotify, Mumble, etc.)

Here's another alternative.

Many games like Duke3D have Linux ports of them (Eduke32, Dhewm3, OpenMW (Morrowing), etc.) and also appear on Flathub. Their engines will have many more built-in enhancements over their original engines. It can be added to Game Mode just like AntiMicroX, PrismLauncher (Minecraft), etc.

Using a Flatpak Engine port or AntiMicroX might be less than ideal (or not) if you want the solution to be general enough for all your games (and take up less space). Flatpaks do install portable/independent redundant dependencies.

Just wanted to share some other workarounds in case you cannot find any.

[henrebotha]

For clarity, what you're trying to do here is commonly called a "macro". You may find that a useful search term to use when looking for ways others have done this. Know that macros are controversial because they can be used in multiplayer games to cheat, so some tools that would otherwise be good for making macros might intentionally make it hard or impossible to do.

[FEBTOBER83]

Noted. I understand macros frowned upon in multiplayer games because of cheating. But I typically only play single player games .... and jumping into classics like Duke Nukem, Doom, etc and giving all weapons and just plowing through my favorite levels is how I enjoy the classics these days.

Getting back to the subject at hand, can someone with these classics and very familiar with the Steam Controls setup please try and replicate what I'm trying to do here? It has to be possible. I'd rather not resort to another program.

[FEBTOBER83]

I figured it out.

For each key press, I added "100" to the fire start delay. That's it. So L5 goes like:

D (fire start delay 25)
Extra Command: N (fire start delay 125)
Extra Command: S (fire start delay 225)
Extra Command: T (fire start delay 325)
Extra Command: U (fire start delay 425)
Extra Command: F (fire start delay 525)
Extra Command: F (fire start delay 625)