[Suggestion] Update iPad Controls

RetroArch Apple devices
#1

Been using RetroArch for a while now, I must say it is pretty impressive, so i’d like to say THANKS to the developer/s

Secondly i think that the controls for the iPad should be changed/moved a little. In landscape mode the PSX screen is right at the top and the controls are right at the bottom, i feel a little weird/awkward playing with the controls too far down. My palms start hurting by holding the iPad while playing as the corners are really digging in there.

I think it would be more sensible to move the controls to the middle of the screen (landscape only), it feels much nicer and you can play for even longer without hurting your hands.

I dont know if this problem is just with me but i’d really like the option to move the controls up or down as I want.

I really hope you guys look in to this

#2

It’s actually quite easy to move overlay controls around. All you need is a text editor and the overlay’s cfg file. The buttons are arranged on a normalized (i.e., everything is between 0 and 1) coordinate plane, so to move them down, you just change the numbers for the y-axis. More details here: https://github.com/libretro/RetroArch/w … figuration

If you get something you like, feel free to share it in the overlays subforum. There are already some iPad-specific overlay variants posted there.

#3

I literally dont understand any of this…

It looks pretty complicated, is there any chance you could create such an overlay for me? I’d really appreciate it

#4

I don’t have an ipad to test on. Plus, already made most of them :frowning: I’m happy to provide some more explanation, though, tailored to your needs.

Lets take a look at the psx_dark overlay from the ipad overlay directory: https://github.com/libretro/common-over … d/psx-dark

This one has two different configurations using the same images. Lets peek into the ‘A’ variant (the author of this one [not me] was nice enough to separate the buttons into sections, which may make it easier to understand): https://github.com/libretro/common-over … dark_a.cfg

Since what you’re wanting is fairly simple, we won’t worry about what every little thing does. So, you can just skip the ‘options’ section and go straight down to ‘dpad’:

- DPad
overlay0_descs = 16
overlay0_desc0 = "left,0.06375,0.782083333333,radial,0.046875,0.0625"
overlay0_desc0_overlay = ps_left.png
overlay0_desc1 = "right,0.17375,0.782083333333,radial,0.046875,0.0625"
overlay0_desc1_overlay = ps_right.png
overlay0_desc2 = "up,0.11875,0.697083333333,radial,0.046875,0.0625"
overlay0_desc2_overlay = ps_up.png
overlay0_desc3 = "down,0.11875,0.8670833333333,radial,0.046875,0.0625"
overlay0_desc3_overlay = ps_down.png

Now lets break it down: overlay0 means it’s the first screen you see. There are other screens that you can switch to, which are named overlay1, overlay2, etc. but you don’t need them for what you’re planning. overlay0_descs = 16 means there will be 16 buttons on this overlay0 screen.

overlay0_desc0 is your first real button. In quotes, it has the button assignment (left), the normalized x coordinate, the normalized y coordinate, the shape of the button (radial or rect), and then the x and y sizes (divided by 1/2) of the button’s hitbox, respectively. Since you just want to move them around, you only need to worry about these numbers: overlay0_desc0 = “left,0.06375,0.782083333333,radial,0.046875,0.0625”

Just change those numbers (remember, it’s normalized, so only values between 0.0 and 1.0) to move them. If you are okay with the horizontal position, just leave it the first number alone and only change the second number.

Does that help?

#5

I ‘think’ I understand it (slightly), so this ‘overlay0’ would be the controls in portrait mode only? or will it move in landscape too?

What do I do with this .cfg file? Edit it using Notepad on my laptop? then copy it to which directory?

Is there a .cfg configuration that will allow me to move the buttons as a whole section? for example up, down, left, right as one section and X, O, Triangle, Square as another? So I dont have to move the up arrow on the d-pad individually, then the left arrow, then the right, etc?

I want the controls to move up the screen in portrait orientation but want it default in landscape basically.

Edit - pardon my first post, i was meant to say in PORTRAIT mode and not LANDSCAPE.

Edit 2 - This is what i’ve got done so far

I just need to move the: Start Select That middle button The diagonal arrows (which are invisible) (left/up, left/down, etc) [which is going to be quite a task]

What is radial? Should I leave that alone?

To move buttons horizontal i change the first set of numbers right?

#6

i think notepad will work but i recommend getting notepad++. it’s free and very good.

i din’t know what overlay0 corresponds to but it’s typically landscape in the ones i made. it’s whatever you see when you first load the overlay.

you have to move them one by one, including the invisible diagonals, but it’s easier than you think. If you want to move everything by 10% of the screen height, just add/subtract 0.1 from the second number. I like to keep it simple like that, rather than trying to add 0.07692 or whatever to everything.

Don’t fool with the radial/rect part or either of the numbers after it. Those control the hitbox shape and size. Since you only want to change the position on the screen, you will only need to mess with the numbers I bolded in my previous post.

#7

Eghm, man, I think something is wrong with your aspect ratio. Look at this post: viewtopic.php?p=10966#p10966 When I did this overlay I paid attention on the game-screen location, thats why buttons are too low at the screen. But your Crash Bandicoot a bit stretched. Anyway, if you want I can rise buttons a bit.

#8

^ yeah just looked at your screenshot, i think yours is the default aspect ratio (4:3, i think), i think i changed it to widescreen or something when I first installed RetroArch. How would i change it back? Im considering on playing in portrait mode from now on because it looks less blurry

#9

Try look in Video settings. Or you can delete .cfg file in .RetroArch folder to restore settings.

#10

Dya think you could make the controls a little like how I have (including the diagnal buttons)? I think im going to start playing in landscape from now on

Ive been doing it using trial and error and it takes a long time. :confused: