Euro Truck Simulator 2

Euro Truck Simulator 2

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Panzer Nov 19, 2021 @ 4:25am
Way to switch between only third and first person?
I drive in first person pretty much 95% of the time, occasionally I'll switch to third person to see how close to the edge of the lane I am. But then I often use third person for parking the trailer in the right spot. But is there a way to only switch between third and first person? I find it annoying having to cycle through all the other camera angles. I'm using a PowerA controller
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Showing 1-9 of 9 comments
collinbilsland Nov 19, 2021 @ 4:49am 
Keyboard Buttons 1 to 6 give the individual cameras if that is what you are asking? This allows you to jump direct to the view you want. Much easier to occasionally jump direct to a cam rather than cycling through them all. Then either set DPAD to look around or better still use the mouse

On the controller set a button as camera 2 the chase camera another as cam 6 the bumper camera, I prefer this to cam 1
Last edited by collinbilsland; Nov 19, 2021 @ 6:53am
Grey Nov 19, 2021 @ 4:58am 
Controller player here as well. I have 'Up' on the D-pad set to cycle through the views, while 'Down' on the D-pad is set to the in cab/normal driving view. If you pres up/down it does exactly as you describe, with the benefit of repeatedly tapping up cycling through the views.

Handy since the next camera after the in-cab is the third person one (I use it in a similar manner, also to check out scenery).

Plus you can look around the cab, out the windows, etc, and just tap Down on the D-pad to jump right back to looking straight forward in the cab view.
MagnusA Nov 19, 2021 @ 5:13am 
On jyour. controller, is it possible to assign buttons for the individual cameras? For example one button for camera 1 and another button to camera 2?

EDIT: Btw, As for checking if within the lane edges the I mostly use the main mirrors to see ("cheating" with the F2 mirror as right mirror). And after a while one gets a feel for it just by looking forward and see where the road markings are i relation to e.g. the steering wheel.
Last edited by MagnusA; Nov 19, 2021 @ 6:47am
Panzer Nov 20, 2021 @ 12:59am 
Got up on the Dpad binded to third person/chase camera, and the B button is first person. I'm happy with the setup, thanks everyone
Gonzaxpain Nov 20, 2021 @ 1:22pm 
As someone suggested to me (I play with a steering wheel and VR) just download Joy2Key and use one button or more as modifiers, that way you can bind as many controls as you wish.
mœw Nov 20, 2021 @ 4:19pm 
For this reason I use a Corsair Scimitar when playing ATS & ETS2 since I macro'd the camera angles to the side number keys.
pieperjohanns Nov 21, 2021 @ 3:31am 
Originally posted by Panzer:
But is there a way to only switch between third and first person?
You get the first person view by pressing 1 on your keyboard, third person by pressing 2. You can assign these to some other buttons in the "keys and buttons" section of the settings. If your controller does not have enough buttons – it's not that difficult to have the keyboard within reach while playing.
ROBB Nov 21, 2021 @ 4:09am 
also incase you didnt know if you look far to the side of your cab, you can look all the way out your cab window whilst trying to park. (i like to use that feature alot)
Doodlewurst (Banned) Nov 22, 2021 @ 6:30am 
The old "1, 2".

I'll give directions for setting this to "D-pad Up" as a toggle. Adjust to your liking. And I'll make a couple other suggestions. I don't know how familiar you are with Steam's Controller Configuration utility, and others might find this post useful, too, so please excuse if I give too much detail as I'll be going step-by-step and introducing some possibilities that you may or may not be aware of, and I'm kind of learning as I go a little, too. Might even consider converting this into a guide with a few examples, considering the frequency of people coming to ETS2 discussions with questions about controls. Hit me up if you have any more questions.


Set button-press as toggle function
  1. Open the Steam Controller Configuration Utility for ETS2
    • either by clicking on ETS2 from Steam library and then selecting Controller Configuration (beneath the banner, far right)
    • OR from Steam Overlay from in-game - default keystroke is Shift+Tab (then look upper right) - but if editing while game is running then I suggest switching to pause menu or map first or the relevant controls might not be editable).
  2. Some default settings might exist (preferably), and if so:
    • Select Driving (top middle), and then select your preferred driving mode (Arcade, Automatic or Manual)
    • OTHERWISE, navigate to the section regarding your driving controls as necessary.
  3. Select the D-pad area (bottom of window, second box from left).
  4. Click Advanced Settings (bottom right - changes to read "Basic Settings" while in advanced mode, and if so then go to next step).
  5. From Style of Input have Directional Pad selected.
  6. For simplicity, we can set Layout to 4-way (8-way will allow diagonal presses to activate two directions simultaneously, but for this use that might result in mis-presses; 4-way will allow diagonal presses but only activates single closest of the 4 directions; Cross Gate is like 4-way but tries to ignore diagonals, though not much different in practicality - up to you).
  7. Click on the input area under Up.
  8. Click on the input area under Binding.
  9. If any option is selected then click Remove, which will kick you back out to the previous screen, then click on the input area under Binding again. Ignore this step if no option is selected.
  10. Click on Toggle Multi-button On (bottom left - ensure that the same button has now changed to "Toggle Multi-button off", as this means it is currently enabled and ready for multiple inputs to be selected and added to a list; any function already selected would now have been added to the list as the first item).
  11. Select Interior Camera and Chase Camera - or whichever options you prefer - and both options should now be highlighted (selected options should be highlighted light blue or white - select each only once, as each time any function is clicked it will be added again to the list - sometimes desirable, though not in this case).
  12. Click on Show Activators (bottom right).
  13. Toggle Cycle Binding to On (far right).
  14. Click Back, and again Back.
  15. Click Export Config and save it to your personal profiles for ETS2. It's now saved on the cloud, and you can also import the same config to ATS or whatever if you like.
  16. And Done.

Now, pressing Up on the D-pad will toggle between interior and chase cameras.

Without the step - Toggle Cycle Binding > On - then all selected inputs will trigger, presumably in order but within an instant, which is sometimes desired but not in this case.

If more functions are selected after Multi-Button On step, then they will also appear in the list that is cycled through - not a binary toggle but a cycle, so not limited to two functions. Add as many as you like, in the desired order.

If you make a mistake, such as selecting a wrong function or clicking a function too many times, either click Toggle Multi-Button Off and make first valid selection then Toggle Multi-Button On and continue making selections, or click Remove and try again from step 8.

Occasionally, the Steam controller config utility will not apply your changes, especially when adding and changing activators. I notice it a lot when I am experimenting with settings. Not really sure why it does that. When it happens, I remove all activators (change "Activation Type" to "None - Remove Activator" for each), which kicks you back out, then you have a clean slate again on that button and can continue to edit.


Set press-and-hold function of a button

If you'd prefer it to work as a temporary glance button (e.g. external view while held, return to interior when released) then from within the settings for the button (after step 7), add a second activator (Add Activator above settings area), issue one with Activation Type as Start Press and Binding as Chase Camera, and the other activator with Activation Type as Release Press and Binding as Interior Camera. I've tried getting this to work as a toggle but with no success. As such, this method might be most useful while assigned to a shoulder button, or perhaps to one of the RS or LS buttons < will allow rotation of the camera while the button is held if right stick is assigned to look/Joystick Mouse. Of course, any functions could also be assigned to "Long Press", "Double Press", or "Chorded Press" (press in combination with the middle/Xbox/Steam button). There is also the option to use any of several buttons as a "Shift" or "modifier" button, enabling a secondary function of any other button-press while it is being held.




If you weren't already aware, you might now be realising that by use of these features, easily 3 or more times as many possible button assignments can be achieved. More than enough for just about any game, with plenty of room to spare for custom macros, if you like (e.g. you could shift to neutral, have the parking brake engaged, engine turn off, ignition on in one press, then "Long-press" for a full refuel, then cycle to engine on again, parking brake released and shift into first, in one more button-press < I haven't tried this myself but I'm sure it could be done, just an example; or maybe you might have the camera toggle between look right and left to check for traffic at intersections on long-press then look forward on release < did try this, with some "None" between each left and right to slow it down and rapid-fire turned down low, works pretty well - e.g. Activator 1: Long-Press, Binding, Multi-Button On, "Look Right, None, Look Left, Look Left, None, Look Right" OR "Interior Look Right, None, Interior Look Left, None", Back, Cycle Bindings On, Turbo On > Minimum; Activator 2: Press-Release, Binding, "Interior Look Forward"). Some arrangements might require a little configuration, but it's all right there. So just mouse-over for tool-tips and play around.





Other suggestions
  • I'm also on controller, no wheel, but I have a fairly comprehensive controller profile mapped in Steam and I've also programmed a bunch of other functions to my HOTAS using the associated profile editor. Windows mapped to flip switches. Cruise control on hat. Made the throttle a parking brake. A few others. Gives a bit of a driver's console feel. So, this type of setup is another possible solution if you feel you'd like some extra physical inputs. (I never actually use external cameras myself, except to check that the beacon is turned on when not indicated in the cabin, which I acknowledge is an entirely useless reason to use the external camera but I can't get out and walk around to the back of the truck and look, so I make do.)

  • Voicebot. I use it here and there, and it's been pretty useful. Can set macros, supports scripts, cloud saves, can download other users' premade profiles and adjust as you like - including scripts (in case you do try scripting and are new to it, some script functions might not work without specific add-ons or other software, in which case just hit the forums up for an explanation, and actually I've found the developers to be very responsive, helpful and enthusiastic). Commands are set per-executable, meaning a more limited pool that the programme needs to differentiate between, which makes them more reliable. And also has a global category. Commands can be self-referential - so you can call other profiles from within a profile or access some features of Voicebot with your own voice commands. And profiles can be set to trigger automatically when a programme is launched. It's available on Steam. There's other similar options around, too. Some might be free.

  • And for camera controls, I sometimes use software based headtracking via OpenTrack[github.com] in combination with AITrack[github.com], and Droidcam[www.dev47apps.com] to allow my Android to be used as a webcam (cost me about $5 AUD or something for full version, which unlocks 1080p and some other features - can improve results, otherwise free version is fine). Can be a bit sketchy depending on lighting, but mostly works well. Search Youtube or see below for instructions.

    (Note: if you use this method, to disable head-tracking at any time you need to open the config file and search for a line with "trackir" and set value to zero; set value to one to enable again.)
    https://youtu.be/LPlahUVPx4o
Last edited by Doodlewurst; Nov 22, 2021 @ 1:47pm
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Date Posted: Nov 19, 2021 @ 4:25am
Posts: 9