PSA: Changing the desktops default keybinds on your steam controller

[Rantis]

Hello there fellow steam hardware owners! As some of you might have noticed there arent very many options to tweak and edit the steam controllers behavior. So I decided to make this thread explaining how to do it.

1) Navigate to your steam install location:

 C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\controller_base 

2) Next you are going to have to open steamdesktop.vdf in a text editor from there you can change most of the controllers functions when controlling the desktop.

Use the key_press command to change keyboard inputs
Use the mouse_button command to change mouse inputs
Use the xinput_button command to change controller (x360) inputs

3) Once you have made your edits you must disconnect and reconnect your controllers dongle for the changes to take effect.

Cheers!

Here is a spare default vdf incase you completly screw it up:

"controller_mappings"
{
    "version" "2"
    "game" "Steam Desktop"


    "group"
    {
        "id" "0"
        "mode" "four_buttons"

        "bindings"
        {
			"button_A" "key_press SPACE"
			"button_B" "key_press E"
			"button_X" "key_press R"
			"button_Y" "key_press F"
        }
    }

    "group"
    {
        "id"    1
        "mode" "dpad"

        "bindings"
        {
            "dpad_north"    "key_press UP_ARROW"
            "dpad_south"    "key_press DOWN_ARROW"
            "dpad_east"     "key_press RIGHT_ARROW"
            "dpad_west"     "key_press LEFT_ARROW"
        }
		"settings"
		{
			"requires_click" "0"

			"overlap" "true"
		}
    }

    "group"
    {
        "id"    "2"
        "mode" "dpad"

        "bindings"
        {
            "dpad_north"    "key_press UP_ARROW"
            "dpad_south"    "key_press DOWN_ARROW"
            "dpad_east"     "key_press RIGHT_ARROW"
            "dpad_west"     "key_press LEFT_ARROW"
        }

		"settings"
		{
			"requires_click" "1"
			"deadzone" "2000"
			"overlap" "false"
		}
    }

    "group"
    {
        "id" "3"
        "mode" "absolute_mouse"

    }

	"group"
	{
		"id"		"4"
		"mode"		"trigger"
		"bindings"
		{
			"click"		"mouse_button RIGHT, Right Mouse"
		}
		"settings"
		{
			"output_trigger"		"1"
		}
	}

	"group"
	{
		"id"		"5"
		"mode"		"trigger"
		"bindings"
		{
			"click"		"mouse_button LEFT, Left Mouse"
		}
		"settings"
		{
			"output_trigger"		"2"
		}
	}

    "group_source_bindings"
    {
        "0" "button_diamond"
        "1" "joystick"
        "2" "left_trackpad"
        "3" "right_trackpad"
		"4"	"left_trigger active"
		"5"	"right_trigger active"
    }

    "switch_bindings"
    {
        "bindings"
        {
    		"right_bumper"		"mouse_wheel SCROLL_UP, Mouse Scroll Up"
    		"left_bumper"		"mouse_wheel SCROLL_DOWN, Mouse Scroll Down"

    		"button_escape"		"key_press ESCAPE, Menu"
    		"button_menu"		"key_press TAB, Tab"

    		"button_back_left"	"mouse_button MIDDLE, Middle Mouse"
		    "button_back_right"	"key_press LEFT_CONTROL, Left Control"

        }
    }

    "settings"
    {
		"left_trackpad_mode"						"none"
		"right_trackpad_mode"						"none"
    }

}

[God Ginrai]

引用自 Po Po：

I have a few questions. If I wanted the left pad to act as a scroll wheel for a browser, how would I do that? And what could I should I type for buttons that I want to be back and forward buttons for a browser?

Well, Alt-Left and Alt-Right are usually used for back and forward in most browsers. (Most also accept backspace for back if you haven't selected a text field)

As for the scroll wheel, you could check the template for the default keyboard config... I believe that it set mousewheel up and down to buttons somewhere.

[IsenMike]

引用自 Raujok：

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\userdata\xxxxxx\config\controller_configs <-- maybe this is the right one ;)

There's a "workshop" folder there with all of the configs that I've downloaded from the community, but that's it. None of my personal configs are in this location.

EDIT: Found them! For some reason they're all in "userdata\xxxxx\241100\remote\controller_config"

EDIT2: Ah, this explains why they're under 241100: https://steamdb.info/app/241100/

[IsenMike]

Anyone know if there's a way to bind the multimedia keys using the config files, since we can't set them in the GUI? I've tried VOLUME_UP and VOL_UP, but neither works... (Same for VOLUME_DOWN & VOL_DOWN)

[Raujok]

seems i was on the right way^^ Thanks for the updated info´s ;)

[Little Simp]

引用自 IsenMike：

Anyone know if there's a way to bind the multimedia keys using the config files, since we can't set them in the GUI? I've tried VOLUME_UP and VOL_UP, but neither works... (Same for VOLUME_DOWN & VOL_DOWN)

I'd like to know this and stuff like "MOUSE BUTTON 4" (which is one of the extra buttons some mouses have)

[Steef]

Do realize that these manual changes will be reverted to their defaults the next time steam launches. Using hybernate in stead of powering off the system might prevent that but as it stands; the changes are reverted between steam launches.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Steam/comments/3p4im4/psa_steam_controller_desktop_controls_can_be/

[starkmaddness]

There is a workaround to change steamdesktop.vdf using the gui...

Two actually.

0. Backup your existing steamdesktop.vdf

1. Simply create a config in a game, like normal. Go to the directory where steam stores the controller config files.
For me, it is d:\steam\userdata\54228678\241100\remote\controller_config\[steamID of game]

2. Copy that config to d:\steam\controller_base\

3. Rename and replace the existing steamdesktop.vdf file


Or the better way. Create a symbolic link.

Same thing, pick a game you own, and get the directory.

Open a CMD prompt as administrator

Change directory (cd) to d:\steam\userdata\54228678\241100\remote\controller_config\[steamID of game] (using your steam directory obviously)


type mklink steamdesktop.vdf d:\steam\controller_base\steamdesktop.vdf

(again replace d:\steam\controller_base\steamdesktop.vdf to the correct path for your installation)

Use file xplorer and go to the game controller directory. You should see a steamdesktop.vdf file with 0 size. That is your link. You can simply delete it to remove. Which is why there is one more thing. Right click on the file and make it read only. This prevents the shortcut from getting deleted by steam, as it seems to delete the config, then create a new file with the same name every time it saves. Read only prevents that, but doesn't affect the actual config file the link points to.

All this does is create a symbolic file link. So when the controller config app thinks it is opening a file within the game directory, it is actually opening the one in controller_base. Basically just a shortcut.

Now, when you go into steam big picture, then into the controller config for the game whose ID you used and browse personal configs, you will see an additional entry. Edit that config and it will change your steamdesktop.vdf config. It will also apply the changes automatically, just like with every other game.


Now, to address the overwrite on reload...
Not sure how to stop that, but there is an easy workaround.
Create a second config in that same game, named something else.
Open it up.
Click Save As...
steamdesktop


And there you go. You can even have multiple configs that you activate by the saveas.


The same trick should work for the steam big picture mode, simply by creating a link pointing to its .vdf file.


I figured this out because I am trying to play Fallout and it insists on using the desktop config. So, now when I want to play fallout, I just SaveAs and away we go. I will probably copy the stock file into Fallout directory as well, to make it easy to restore original settings.

[SweetAxe]

funny i just posted http://steamcommunity.com/app/353370/discussions/0/490123197954410599/

and 5 min later this post answered my seach for a default setting :) thx!

ps as i wrote i m really sad this Controler implementation feels like a beta and not like a product ready for sale...
why do we have to have this conversation for such a basic setting?
why cant they just give us their set up options they have in big picture overlay in windows?

I hope they fix it soon stupid of them to make it this difficult it nearly feels like they want to force big picture mode on us. set up as it is they ll lose exactly those cusotmmers wich they want to have in their "easy" big picture mode because they dont know how to get it work and just stop using it / refund it..

[(ノ＞▽＜。)ノ]

引用自 Thrawn：

ps as i wrote i m really sad this Controler implementation feels like a beta and not like a product ready for sale...

I don't think that it's stressed enough that it really is in a sort of beta. Yes we got early bird access to the product, but Valve specifically sent an email to everybody getting the controller that they wanted feedback so they can get ready for the Official November launch. If you find any glaring issues with the implementation of the controller features then you NEED to email them so they can correct and update the software/firmware as soon as possible.

[SweetAxe]

i did! my problem is: the time i bought it they told me it is a preoder bonus to get it faster NOT to be able to use it in beta test!

now its like this my expectations weren t met + i m not the only one just read forums

+ now try using your controller without steam(one point in my feedback: why dont you just start steam if you power your controller and steam not running on your pc right now)...

[Rantis]

引用自 Steef：

Do realize that these manual changes will be reverted to their defaults the next time steam launches. Using hybernate in stead of powering off the system might prevent that but as it stands; the changes are reverted between steam launches.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Steam/comments/3p4im4/psa_steam_controller_desktop_controls_can_be/

You can bypass this by creating a config for your specific game and putting it in the main folder of your game and calling it "controller.vdf" the only cache is it MUST be launched through steam to work.

[Rantis]

I think somethings been changed. Altering the vdf files no longer has an effect. :(

EDIT: Make sure not to have any typos at all in your config, there will be no error and no warnings it simply will not work

[Ryker Hunter]

You still can't bind the windows key right because right there that makes the controller almost completely usless to me for most of what I would use it for... btw windows key can be used to Zoom in and out using Windows Key + Plus or Minus.

Also swtiching between desktops etc, is there a way to change the bindings on windows to change it away from the windows key.

[Balderick]

Navigate to C:\Users\Username\AppDataRoaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch and copy the shortcut for WindowSwitcher.lnk to any location of your choosing. i.e. Desktop or C:\Users\Username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs.
Right click your newly created shortcut and select Properties where you can set any key or combination of keys as shortcut. I use ALT + NumPlus for window switcher to work with xpadder and xbox controller.
You may need to set a one key shortcut as steam cntroller does not seem to be able to use key combinations yet as if a key combo is added the controller just presses them sequentialy which is not what we want and we probably do not want to use multiple buttons for one function but could still be an option as is a working solution.

The system default hotkey for windowswitcher is winkey+tab

Trying to use alt + tab will not work as it is hardcoded not to wok under certain circumstances.

[Alfa-Omega]

http://steamcommunity.com/app/353370/discussions/0/490123197950985962/