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3D Connexion Space Navigator
About Truespace Archives
These pages are a copy of the official truespace forums prior to their removal somewhere around 2011.
They are retained here for archive purposes only.
3D Connexion Space Navigator // Hardware
Post by jwall // Oct 30, 2007, 6:05pm
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jwall
Total Posts: 3
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I picked up a 3D Connexion Space Navigator last night, this thing is awesome, it took a little getting used to but after one night with it I am really getting the hang of it.
The trueball.tsx works fairly well on the modeller side but it's functionality is could be expanded. It would be nice to have an enhanced TSX or native support for both sides of the program.
With the trueball.tsx I can use it to walk/fly through the scene but there is no "rotate around object" which I would really like to have, no yaw (roll) control in perspective view, and no zoom (z-axis movement) in the orthogonal views. That being said I have set one of the buttons to "dominant" to constrain movement along the axes and the other button to "object camera move" -the latest driver doesn't recognize the trueball/trueSpace config file but I figured out how to set this by reading the config file itself (set the space navigator button to "button 1).
Using the space navigator to manipulate an object is very cool, very intuitive and very fluid, it is also a great way to move an object fluidly around the scene for animation. I did a bunch of experiments with it today, and by setting it for object manipulation of a camera and then opening a small window in camera view, I was able to move the camera with the space navigator all around the scene in one view, and see the camera view of the scene in the small view - a very smooth way of getting a good dolly type of camera movement, animated well too. Nifty. :-)
I kind of wish I had gotten the version of this thing with more buttons, there is a lot of untapped potential here for this in TS, I really wish I'd discovered it sooner.
Jeff (sorry for the cross posting from the beta forums) |
Post by splinters // Oct 30, 2007, 11:14pm
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splinters
Total Posts: 4148
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I have been singing the praise of this little gizmo for a long time and it is perfect for architectural walkthroughs in workspace. Not sure why Caligari have not implemented it yet, I know 3dconnexion are keen to see it happen.
At least we have Clintonman's plug in and the truball.tsx for now...:D
I still think Caligari could sell this along with tS7.5 (if it were supported fully) as the trueSpace Navigator...;) |
Post by MadMouse // Oct 31, 2007, 11:34am
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MadMouse
Total Posts: 1069
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Yep. Got me one to. I can only agree with everything you've both said.
Come on Caligari, stop messing about and support this thing:D:D (Please) |
Post by jwall // Oct 31, 2007, 12:46pm
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jwall
Total Posts: 3
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Have either of you gotten the driver to recognize the trueball trueSpace config file? the driver just gives me the "any application" profile andI only discovered how to set the navigator for object movement (and other options) by reading the actual scg file for TS. I even added ts7.exe to the executable line.
I bought the Navigator, do you guys know if the pilot, explorer, and traveller models offer anything other than more buttons, ergonomics, and higher price?
At $52 US, it's hard to beat that value - more buttons would be nice though.
Jeff |
Post by snewnham // Oct 31, 2007, 12:57pm
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snewnham
Total Posts: 14
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Have either of you gotten the driver to recognize the trueball trueSpace config file? the driver just gives me the "any application" profile andI only discovered how to set the navigator for object movement (and other options) by reading the actual scg file for TS. I even added ts7.exe to the executable line.
Jeff
Jeff,
There is an updated truespace.scg file available on my website - it appears that 3Dconnexion have moved from ASCII to Unicode in their later drivers. You'll find it here under the Unicode config file heading:
trueBall at The Logic Foundry (http://members.ozemail.com.au/~snewnham/trueBall/trueBall.html)
Steven |
Post by jwall // Oct 31, 2007, 1:30pm
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jwall
Total Posts: 3
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Ahh, brilliant, not sure how I missed that. :banana:
ummmm...... while I've got you, is there any way to make it zoom in orthogonal views and rotate (yaw) around selected object in perspective view?
As I have it set for zoom (push down/pull up), twisting (yawing) the controller does nothing in perspective view- it'd be kind of nice if it did. It'd also be kind of nice if the push/pull thing worked for zooming in orthogonals. :D
Super piece of programing there man. :)
Jeff |
Post by MadMouse // Oct 31, 2007, 2:11pm
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MadMouse
Total Posts: 1069
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I bought the Navigator, do you guys know if the pilot, explorer, and traveller models offer anything other than more buttons, ergonomics, and higher price?
At $52 US, it's hard to beat that value - more buttons would be nice though.
Nope, sorry no idea.:o |
Post by butterpaw // Jan 7, 2008, 4:38am
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butterpaw
Total Posts: 831
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I'm thinking of purchasing the 3d Connexion (logitech) SpaceNavigator.
Since now it's 2008, I'm wondering what the state of things is now - set up, configurations, problems, whatever..
@splinters.. I heard you use this and like it? could I have some pointers? :)
input from everyone welcome of course ;) |
Post by splinters // Jan 7, 2008, 5:21am
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splinters
Total Posts: 4148
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Quality of build: Excellent
Quality in use: Excellent
This is one nicely made bit of kit and responds very well. Unfortunately Workspace support is a bit limited although there is an LE object around here that works-it just tilts the scene a bit.
In model side the .tsx available is excellent and works with tS7.5.
For the paltry asking price, you can't pass it up and there are many programs that use it very, very well.
Sorry I cannot be any more help just now. We had some terrible news today as our beloved 2 year old Chocolate Labrador was hit by a car in the early hours of the morning and died almost instantly.
I will give you some more feedback on this when I feel a bit better. |
Post by butterpaw // Jan 7, 2008, 5:56am
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butterpaw
Total Posts: 831
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I am so sorry to hear your sad news. :( Take your time, I know how hard it can be.
Thanks for your response on the Space Navigator... we an discuss further it at a later time. |
Post by JakeB // Jan 7, 2008, 7:06pm
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JakeB
Total Posts: 19
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Hello Splinters - my sincere condolences on the loss of your dog. No matter how long they are with us, it is never long enough. |
Post by Paul Boland // Jan 30, 2008, 10:25am
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Paul Boland
Total Posts: 383
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The Space Navigator has caught my eye but it's something I'd like to try before I buy. The posts here really do help and entice me more to invest, but I'm wondering if it's just a toy, something to play with. A while back I invested in a graphics tablet and sure, it was great fun at first, but now it sits in its box, only getting the occassional use. You have a great price on it there, US$52.00. The cheapest I can find it for is €99.00 which is a lot really if it's just going to end up joining my graphics tablet.
Shame you can't get demo hardware ;). |
Post by TomG // Jan 30, 2008, 10:35am
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TomG
Total Posts: 3397
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I had the opposite experience here, buying a tablet just for graphics work in Photoshop, and now much to my surprise I use it everywhere except in tS and games!
Good luck on finding a good price on the Navigator (maybe you could sell your unused tablet to recoup some of the cost and put it toward the Navigator? Tablets should sell well, esp if barely used).
Thanks!
Tom |
Post by Paul Boland // Jan 30, 2008, 10:50am
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Paul Boland
Total Posts: 383
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My graphics tablet may not get the use I was expecting to get from it, but when it comes to freehand drawing, the pen is definately better then the mouse. So don't want to get rid of it. Thanks for the suggestion though. |
Post by splinters // Jan 30, 2008, 11:00am
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splinters
Total Posts: 4148
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If you order through the 3D connexion site it directs you to the european site where I paid around £36 to have it delivered and it came in two days from Germany. You are ordering the PE edition right?
Worth a look anyway. |
Post by Paul Boland // Jan 31, 2008, 10:03am
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Paul Boland
Total Posts: 383
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Thanks, Paul. €60 for the PE version, and that's shipping and all. Must have been looking at the Standard Version in town. I'll jump on this, it's a great price. |
Post by splinters // Feb 25, 2008, 12:16pm
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splinters
Total Posts: 4148
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Look on the bright side, the Space Navigator is fully supported in Virtual Earth just as it is in Google Earth...so there is hope for tS...:D |
Post by Ambrose // Feb 25, 2008, 9:10pm
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Ambrose
Total Posts: 261
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I was checking out booth Google earth and Ms maps yesterday evening and must say that MS has loads to chatch back and that Google are as real as it can get, very nice indeed.
I put drivings instructions from home to work and it got it correct, really impressed.
Then I turned it around and it took another rout, with a handle on the street it went wrong I could change direction and it recalculated in a split sec. and the new way was updated, took me three changes to get the way I drive, wich I do because it's a muchmore relaxing drive.
Very powerful program.
SeYa/Ambrose... |
Post by jwiniker // May 7, 2008, 5:20pm
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jwiniker
Total Posts: 10
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Because of this thread, I just got a SpaceNav for about $40. It is solid and heavy, which is great, for its size. Works very well on Model side with TrueBall TSX. And yes, I'd love to see it on Workspace as well. Now I just have to get used to using my left hand with it.
- Jeff |
Post by nnndoh // Jul 24, 2008, 11:28pm
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nnndoh
Total Posts: 2
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does this only work in the truespace 6 layout? cause i can't find the install new tsx button in ts 7.6, only in the ts 6 layout
i'm a new user |
Post by splinters // Jul 24, 2008, 11:41pm
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splinters
Total Posts: 4148
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You can only use this in model side for now using the truball.tsx.
However, once the SDK is released it shouldn't be long before we get workspace support.
It is a great device after all! |
Post by TomG // Jul 25, 2008, 4:58am
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TomG
Total Posts: 3397
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3DConnexion were onboard to develop drivers before tS7.6 were released (and before the news it was free), so we should indeed be getting workspace based drivers for this at some point :) Which is great news, as it is a great item!
I would never have been able to make my video fly through (and walk through even) of the house exported to Virtual Earth without the control I get in Virtual Earth with the Space Navigator. It was awesome to be able to zoom in from way up high down to the mountain top, and then still have enough control to "walk" in through the front door and around inside the house.
Will be nice to bring similar control to the tS workspace :)
HTH!
Tom |
Post by splinters // Jul 25, 2008, 7:24am
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splinters
Total Posts: 4148
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Will they (3Dconnexion) be releasing drivers for tS7.6 then Tom as they have profiles included in their drivers for other major apps?
Or does someone need to write one? |
Post by TomG // Jul 25, 2008, 9:29am
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TomG
Total Posts: 3397
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They are directly involved, and want the SDK, as the plan is they will develop them themselves.
HTH!
Tom |
Post by Steinie // Jul 25, 2008, 9:42am
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Steinie
Total Posts: 3667
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I'm sure they want to be part of the "Virtual Earth" development too. This will be a benefit to all. |
Post by TomG // Jul 25, 2008, 9:47am
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TomG
Total Posts: 3397
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The space navigator is already supported under Virtual Earth btw. Its awesome for flying around with!
One thing, Virtual Earth may not announce when you connect if there is a new version. Space Navigator functionality became available in a May release I believe, and I had to uninstall then reinstall Virtual Earth to get that functionality - the same VE release added trees to cities, so if you dont see the trees (or your space nav doesnt automatically work in VE), uninstall and reinstall to grab the latest release.
Tom |
Post by splinters // Aug 29, 2008, 6:24am
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splinters
Total Posts: 4148
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Fingers crossed that today's SDK release is enough to get a plug in for this great device...:D
Crossing my toes as well...;) |
Post by TomG // Aug 29, 2008, 6:47am
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TomG
Total Posts: 3397
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You didnt have to wait for today's release, Connexion have had access to the SDK in beta. :) Like all third parties, we have no control over the development of drivers, plug-ins etc - they will be developed by those third parties, but they will have our support and help naturally!
HTH!
Tom |
Post by splinters // Aug 29, 2008, 6:56am
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splinters
Total Posts: 4148
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Have they released anything though Tom? My Space Navigator is getting dusty...;) maybe I will pop over to their forums and see if they have any news.
Cheers |
Post by TomG // Aug 29, 2008, 7:04am
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TomG
Total Posts: 3397
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No, nothing released. I'm pretty sure they'd let us know and then we'd let you all know :)
BTW with third party items, access to the SDK etc does not guarantee something will be created. I can't give timescales, or even confirm that an interested developer will ever finish a product or get it working fully, etc. I can't speak for them.
They did post here on this forum about looking into it, which is why I've been able to say that they are looking into it (if they said nothing, I'd have to say nothing), but of course that does not mean we'll definitely see something, nor when we'll see it.
The Space Navigator is a great item though, so I too am hopefully and excited by the opportunity! Works great in Virtual Earth and similar functionality in tS would be awesome :)
HTH!
Tom |
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