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BAR Xbox Controller Support v0.4.2 - Smart X Calibrated

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@UnderarmCape UnderarmCape released this 31 May 10:22
· 5 commits to controller-support-current-master-engine-shim since this release
controller-support-v0.4.2-smartx-calibrated
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BAR Xbox Controller Support v0.4.2 — Smart X Calibrated

This is a milestone release for the community-driven Beyond All Reason (BAR) Xbox Controller Support project.

Important

CRITICAL ENGINE REQUIREMENT: This controller support mod REQUIRES a custom controller-enabled BAR/Recoil engine compatibility layer build to function. The LuaUI widgets alone are NOT sufficient; they rely on controller-specific C++ APIs introduced in the custom engine. If you do not install the compatibility engine first using the automated installer inside this package, your controller inputs will not be recognized.

1. Release Classification

  • Milestone Release: This is a normal public GitHub release, representing the current best, most advanced, and feature-rich build of the controller widgets and presets.
  • Active WIP: Although this is the best public build, it is still a community work-in-progress. Expect some rough edges.
  • Earlier Baselines: The v0.4.1 and v0.4.0 stable releases remain fully preserved on the GitHub releases page.

2. What's New in v0.4.2

Smart X Calibration Fixes

This release fixes several Smart X (smartAction) targeting accuracy issues that were identified using the new SmartX Mouse Audit diagnostic widget:

Issue Root Cause Fix
Oversized mex no-Move blocking radius snap-build radius (160 elmos) was reused for mex context-checking Corrected to 55 elmo context radius matching vanilla mouse behavior
Exact wreck/unit/building targets ignored near mex spots Mex context check ran before exact-target evaluation Reordered: exact targets now evaluated first, mex check only as fallback
Wrong Resurrect command ID "restore" keyword matched terrain command (110) before Resurrect (125) Corrected Resurrect command keywords and descriptor lookup to use cmdID 125

Conservative Code Cleanup

  • Removed permanently-dead legacy settings UI code block (LEGACY_CONTROLLER_SETTINGS_UI_ENABLED = false) — 25 lines of unreachable code eliminated without any behavioral change.

New Diagnostic Tool (Disabled by Default)

  • SmartX Mouse Audit Widget (gui_controller_smartx_mouse_audit.lua) — a read-only diagnostic overlay for observing vanilla mouse smart/context behavior. Useful for future calibration comparison. Disabled by default. Enable only when debugging: 
    /luaui enablewidget "Controller SmartX Mouse Audit"

3. Target Installation Order (Summary)

This release package contains both the required widgets and the installer for the custom engine compatibility build:

  1. Engine: Open the required_engine_installer/ folder and run Install_BAR_Controller_Support_v0.4.2_SMARTX_CALIBRATED.bat to automatically download the compiled custom engine, back up active stock files, configure devmode, and disable cardinal camera locks.
  2. Widgets: The installer clones the controller-support-current-master-engine-shim branch directly, which includes all three controller widgets:
    • gui_controller_camera_test.lua — main controller logic
    • gui_controller_bindings_ui.lua — bindings/settings UI
    • gui_controller_smartx_mouse_audit.lua — diagnostic widget (disabled by default)
  3. Launch BAR: Select Settings > Developer, choose Beyond All Reason Dev in the Singleplayer dropdown, and configure your presets!

4. Feature Highlights

  • Smart X Context Commands: Controller right-stick cursor + X button issues smart context commands — Reclaim, Resurrect, Repair, Guard, Build Mex — with calibrated targeting matching vanilla mouse behavior.
  • Smart X No-Move Guard: Prevents accidental Move orders over protected smart targets (wrecks, mex spots, damaged allied units/buildings).
  • Binding Presets System: Includes Balanced RTS and Build-First Commander preset configurations.
  • Build / Factory Radial Menu: Map unit and structure factory blueprints onto a convenient visual radial menu.
  • Shift-Style Command Queuing (RT): Holding RT appends commands to queue end.
  • Do Next / Insert Front Command (Y or RB): Prepend urgent commands to the front of the queue with queue preservation.
  • Hold A Live Brush Selection: Hold A to accumulate mobile units in a live radius brush. Units are added as the brush touches them.
  • A + X Selection Filter Radial: While holding A, press X to open a filter radial (All Mobile / Combat / Builders / Air).
  • RT + A & RT + X Append Placement: Queue multiple building placements without interrupting production.
  • Grid Placement Lock (LB): Holding LB during placement locks coordinates to the grid.
  • LB Tap Placement Pattern Cycle: Tapping LB cycles through layout patterns.
  • Split Queue Removal (L3 / R3):
    • Left Stick Click (L3): Deletes the current/next queued command.
    • Right Stick Click (R3): Deletes the last queued command.
  • Command Layer (Back/View): Toggles the command HUD and quick tactical overlays.
  • Group Layer (Start/Menu): Switch to the Group layer to assign or recall unit groups.

5. Preset Mappings Overview

Balanced RTS Preset

  • A = Select / Confirm / Place
  • B = Cancel / Clear / Deselect
  • X = Move / Smart Context Command
  • Y = Do Next / Insert Front Command Modifier
  • RB = Build / Factory Radial Menu
  • RT = Append Queue (Shift-style Queue)
  • LT = Camera Speed Modifier
  • LB = Camera Pitch / Grid & pattern controls (during placement)
  • Back/View = Command Layer Modifier
  • Start/Menu = Group Layer Modifier
  • Left Stick Click (L3) = Remove Current/Next Queue Item
  • Right Stick Click (R3) = Remove Last Queue Item

Build-First Commander Preset

  • A = Select / Confirm / Place
  • B = Cancel / Clear / Deselect
  • X = Move / Smart Context Command
  • RB = Build / Factory Radial Menu
  • Y = Do Next / Insert Front Command Modifier
  • RT = Append Queue (Shift-style Queue)
  • LT = Camera Speed Modifier
  • LB = Camera Pitch / Grid & pattern controls (during placement)
  • Back/View = Command Layer Modifier
  • Start/Menu = Group Layer Modifier
  • Left Stick Click (L3) = Remove Current/Next Queue Item
  • Right Stick Click (R3) = Remove Last Queue Item

6. Smart X Behavior Reference (v0.4.2)

Scenario Expected Behavior
Con bot reticle over wreck Reclaim (cmdID 90)
Res bot reticle over wreck Resurrect (cmdID 125)
Reticle over damaged allied unit/building Repair (cmdID 40) or Guard (cmdID 25)
Reticle over empty mex spot Build Mex (negative cmdID)
Reticle within ~55 elmos of built mex No-Move guard (protected)
Reticle over wreck that is near a mex spot Wreck target wins over mex
Reticle over open ground, no nearby targets Move (cmdID 10)

7. Manual Test Checklist (For User — Not Yet Verified)

Note

The following checklist has NOT been verified by the release packager. The user should run this after installing v0.4.2.

A. Launch BAR with custom controller-enabled engine.

B. Confirm widgets load (no Lua errors in infolog):

  • gui_controller_camera_test.lua
  • gui_controller_bindings_ui.lua

C. Controller basics:

  • Camera move/rotate/zoom
  • Build/factory radial
  • Tactical radial
  • DGUN mode
  • Self-destruct (Back/View + R3 + L3)

D. Smart X:

  • Con bot over wreck → Reclaim
  • Res bot over wreck → Resurrect
  • Damaged allied unit/building → Repair/Guard as appropriate
  • Built mex at ~40 elmos → No-Move guard active
  • Built mex at ~75 elmos → Normal Move allowed
  • Wreck exactly on mex spot → Wreck wins, not mex

E. Y Do Next:

  • Queue 4 moves
  • Hold Y + issue new move → new move executes next, old queue remains

F. Hold A brush:

  • Brush selects mobile units as touched
  • A + X filter radial works (All Mobile / Combat / Builders / Air)

G. Compact build menu:

  • Scale setting changes build menu size

H. Optional SmartX Mouse Audit (debugging only):

/luaui enablewidget "Controller SmartX Mouse Audit"

8. Documented Known Issues

  • Commander Focus Utility: The Back/View + A + A shortcut (focus/select Commander) is currently unreliable. This is a documented limitation for a future release.
  • Settings UI X/Y Crash: In certain edge cases the settings UI reset may crash. This is a known non-blocker deferred to a future release.
  • Area Mex: Full vanilla Area Mex behavior is deferred. Smart X handles individual mex spot building correctly.
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