Bluetooth Commander
User guide
Gamepad layout
[under construction]
Introduction
Gamepad layout is suitable for controlling moving devices where it is required to control features like driving directions, arm position, object orientation or moving parts in general, but it can be used for any other purposes and device types. It offers similar functionality as basic view, but button layout is similar to a gamepad controller. Connection to multiple devices is possible. Logging functionality stays the same as in the basic layout.
Connecting
Connecting to a remote device(s) is the same as in basic layout. Click on the "Connect" button and select the type of device which you want to connect to. On your smartphone you need Bluetooth to be turned on. If Bluetooth is off, it will be automatically turned on by app when clicked on "Connect" button. Turning on Bluetooth adapter takes a few seconds.
Connecting to a classic bluetooth device
When all needed connections has been established, connect panel can be hidden from layout (to prevent miss-clicks, or simply if it is no longer needed) by clicking on Bluetooth symbol in the top panel. Next click on this symbol will bring the connect panel back.
Assigning commands to buttons
When you first switch to gamepad layout, no commands are assigned to the buttons. This is indicated also by the transparency of the buttons. Once a command is assigned to the button, it will become opaque. To assign a command to a button, simply click on it (when it is empty).
Gamepad layout with no commands assigned to the buttons
Choose the type of command which you want to assign to the button. Creating command is the same as in the basic layout.
Sending command
Once the command has been created and assigned to the button, simply click on the button and its command will be sent to connected device(s). If the command has no send period defined, it will be sent once. If the command has send period specified, there are two options how to enable periodical sending:
Enable/disable by click - clicking on a button will enable periodical sending and the next click will disable it.
Enable when button is pressed - periodical sending will be enabled while the button is hold pressed. Sending will stop once the button is released.
Default behaviour is enable/disable by click. It can be changed in settings for this layout (menu button -> This layout setting). Notice however, that if you select option enable when button is pressed, some of the button customisation options (like changing colour, editing command...) will be temporary unavailable since they are accessible by a long click. To make them available again, select option enable/disable by click.
Button options
Buttons can be customised. Unlike in custom layout, in gamepad layout button sizes and positions are fixed, but background colours can be changed, commands can be edited and unneeded button can be disabled. To show these options use long click on the button.
Edit command - select this option if you want to edit existing command. All its parameters can be changed (value, send interval, picture...). However if you want to change hex command to string command (or vice versa), you need to remove assigned command first and then create a new one.
Remove assigned commands - will remove assigned command. Button will become semi-transparent. New command can be then assigned.
Change colour - changes colour of the button. This option is only available if a command has been already assigned to the button.
Enable/Disable - unneeded buttons can be disabled to prevent miss-clicks (like showing unwanted button options, etc...). Disabled buttons are barely visible. To enable disabled button, use long click and select again enable/disable.
Data logging
Incoming data can be logged in the log view. Logging principles are the same as data logging in basic layout.
See Data logging in basic layout
If the log view is not needed it can be hidden from the layout. To toggle between visible/invisible click on log symbol in top panel.
Global settings
These are the settings which are common for all available layouts (basic, gamepad, custom). To access the app settings click on the 3 lines symbol in the top right corner in the main screen.
See global settings for the app.
To see settings for the gamepad layout, see next section.
Additional gamepad settings
Additional gamepad settings are available via menu button -> This layout setting. These are the settings which are related only to gamepad layout.
Enabling periodical sending - Select the method how you want to enable periodical sending for commands with send period specified. 2 options are available: Enable/disable by click - clicking on a button will enable periodical sending and the next click will disable it. Enable when button is pressed - periodical sending will be enabled while the button is hold pressed. Sending will stop once the button is released. Default behaviour is enable/disable by click. Notice however, that if you select option enable when button is pressed, some of the button customisation options (like changing colour, editing command...) will be temporary unavailable since they are accessible by a long click. To make them available again, select option enable/disable by click.
Button design - buttons design can be changed from default (with arrows and symbols) to user defined, in which case user defined picture and name of the command will be used as a button label.
