Why can't I bind ctrl x?

[LameFox]

The game won't let me do it. It can read ctrl, it can read x, but I try to assign something to ctrl x and it just completes without binding.

I'm trying to find a place for 'full forward' and wanted to put that on shift x, formerly match target speed, and move that to ctrl x. Shift is more comfortable for me to press quickly so I figured I'd give it the more time sensitive binding.

But binding ctrl x just does not work. It won't. It doesn't claim there's any conflict or anything and if I press ctrl x in the game it doesn't do anything. What is its problem??

[Brinnie]

Hi, I am guessing it is "reserved for cut" like in Windows. Same goes for ctrl c and ctrl v, respectively copy and paste.

You can, I believe since the last patch, assign other modifiers. I find "Alt" a useful alternative, but avoid Alt+Enter and Alt+Esc as they are also bound to their functions in Windows.

[LameFox]

Is it possible to turn that off in windows? I don't think I've ever used it, at all, and certainly don't need it while playing.

edit: on a disappointing note, it turns out full forward is not very useful anyway as it must be held.

[Brinnie]

Is it possible to turn that off in windows? I don't think I've ever used it, at all, and certainly don't need it while playing.

edit: on a disappointing note, it turns out full forward is not very useful anyway as it must be held.

I would be interested in that myself but I don't know how to do it, if it can be done.
As far as full throttle I use a short tap on the booster key, Tab for me, which takes me to full speed without using the energy bar.
I would find full throttle useful if it didn't set my speed to 0 when I let go of the key, that way I could use it to adjust speed temporarily, eg. while tracking an enemy on match target speed.

[LameFox]

Yeah, I will have to use boost it looks like. I was trying to avoid it because if my shields are already below full I think it interrupts the regen.

[Brinnie]

I was trying to avoid it because if my shields are already below full I think it interrupts the regen.

I didn't know that, thanks.

The control settings have been expanded considerably since the last time I played, I have now have to get my head around them to eplore too see if there are new possibilties.
There are also some clever dudes working on hotkeys mods, I have noticed you have "modified" in your signature, you might want to check them out (when they update for the new patch)
if you can't find full satisfaction with the current setup.

[Nanook]

Is it possible to turn that off in windows? I don't think I've ever used it, at all, and certainly don't need it while playing....

I doubt that turning it off in Windows, if that's even possible, will let you reassign it in the game. There's probably an exclusion built into the game to prevent it.

On the other hand, I use Copy and Paste a lot, especially when naming new ships for my stations. Those ship names are rather descriptive, and hence long, and it's much easier for me to copy/paste than retype them for every ship.

[LameFox]

Copy sure but I've never needed cut, I completely forgot it existed. I guess if it comes to it I'll just have to use alt, but of the modifier keys I find that the least convenient.

Really all this has stemmed from wanting a quick way to hit full acceleration in combat, so ideally without relying on boost or travel drive. Because I will sometimes use travel drive to drift past an enemy, avoiding most of its attack run, and then drop into position behind it. But after rotating my ship the game sees my backward momentum and, when I press accelerate, it begins from full negative throttle. I have to wait for it to sluggishly crawl up to neutral, then to full, by which time the enemy ship is long gone.

So I tried to bind 'full forward', only to find that's useless for this as it doesn't even set throttle only pulses it.

[LameFox]

Although if it lets me bind conflicting keys, maybe having a key with 'full forward' and 'accelerate' on the same bind would do it. An experiment for tomorrow.

[LameFox]

Okay, I tried to use alt as a modifier instead, but it won't do that. It just binds the alt key itself. Also cannot have conflicting bindings, even intentionally.

Think I will just give up on this idea, I don't like the flight mechanics enough to put this much effort into getting decent controls.

[Brinnie]

Okay, I tried to use alt as a modifier instead, but it won't do that. It just binds the alt key itself. Also cannot have conflicting bindings, even intentionally.

Think I will just give up on this idea, I don't like the flight mechanics enough to put this much effort into getting decent controls.

Did you select it as an input modifier?
Before you can assign it as such you need to add it as an input modifier. Go to settings, control, input modifiers (right at the bottom of the list and then "Add key" to either modifier, you can also remove the default one so it is available as normal hotkey.

Another thing you might find useful:

On my previous playthrough months ago, the game didn't let me use modifiers on the mouse buttons or the scroll key (I am not sure if that was my bad), now it does.

I find that (together with the additional modifier) very useful as it gives me more easily accessible hotkeys and a way to group similar commands to the same key, basically 3 to the same one, like for ex.

fire weapon, fire weapon at the cursor position and fire secondary weapon to right mouse button, Shift right mouse button and Alt right mouse button respectively.

As far as controlling speed, I find the scroll wheel the best choice. Yes it puts some strain on my index finger to quickly reach full throttle, but I find match target speed, full stop engines and boost the best set up for now.

I am sure a hotkey to get to full speed on single press is not beyond the modders skills.

[LameFox]

Thanks, didn't notice the option, will check it out next time I play.

Mods might end up being the answer, that even seems like something they could allow without the modified tag at all, if that's something they get around to.