Using DirectX to get Joystick buttons - but don't get initial state of buttons until one is pressed

Question

Hi I am using C# and DirectX to query a Joystick connected to a Game Port to see which buttons are pressed. Calling Device.CurrentJoystickState.GetButtons() is giving me the data that I need but only once a button is pressed. Until then the array is all 0's. For example if button 1 is held on then the app is started all 4 buttons show as off. If I turn say button 3 on then buttons 1 AND 3 instantly show as being on. So turning any button on refreshes the state of all buttons. So does anyone know why I am not getting the initial state of the buttons and/or how I can? My code is based loosely (well actually quite tightly!) around the example at http://www.codeproject.com/KB/directx/joystick.aspx . The example there if you download it has exactly the same results. Finally does anyone know what the 4 differnent modes on a game port are? (it is a switch on the USB to Game Port adapter that I have). It doesn't seem to make any difference to my issue anyway. Thanks in advance. Chris

Chris Voce · Answer

I was over-simplifying the use case I guess. I am not actually using a Joystick but am emulating a joystick in order to supply 4 GPI closures to the PC for data aquisition into an app (ie to know when something is switched on or off). At the point the app is started the thing may already be switched on. But I don't see that data (ie that the joystick button is pressed) until something else changes. Make sense? Does anyone have any ideas? Or if you agree that this isn't possible then let me know that too. I think I am going to have to build a hardware workaround with a 555 timer to toggle a spare input every second or so to refresh everything - but that wastes an input and seems a bit of a rubbish solution. Cheers Chris

Jaganathan Bantheswaran · Answer

Hi Why you need to hold the Button before starting the app. It is the problem i guess.