ACT LABS Shifter / Clutch Utility v2.3 README
---------------------------------------------
For the latest version of this utility, please check our web site at:
http://www.act-labs.com/
QUICK-START: Run utility, choose gear layout, minimize, run game, shift!
VERSION HISTORY
---------------
v2.3 - Added gear-grinding sound effects support to generic mode, so
gear-grinding sounds can be heard in any game - not just directly
supported games. Choose generic mode and map the shift up and
shift down keys to keys you won't be using in the game, unless you
want to use generic support mode for shifting also.
v2.2 - Added support for F1 2002
Added support for Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit 2
v2.1 - Added extra options page to clutch wizard:
1) Option for whether or not engaging the clutch should set
the game to neutral. Uncheck this if you want to use a
game's native clutch support but you still want to hear the
gear-grinding sound effects.
2) Option for whether or not shifts should be allowed if the
clutch is not pushed in.
3) Option for whether or not sound effects should be played
when shifting without pushing the clutch in.
4) Option for whether or not shifting into non-neutral gears
should be handled by the utility. Disable this if you want
the sound effects from the utility but want to use a game's
native support for the shifter.
Improved support for F1 2001 (works with original and v1.074 patch)
Improved support for Rally Trophy (demo and full version)
v2.0 - Added digital clutch support!
Added support for F1 2001
Added support for NASCAR Racing 4 (for people who want to use
the "optimized" driver - everyone else should use the game's
native shifter support)
Added support for Rally Trophy demo (you may need to shift once
using the game's shift controls before shifting with the shifter)
Fixed support for STCC2 (make sure you have STCC2 v3.3)
Improved support for SCGT (still not 100% though - you must
start a race in last position for it to work)
v1.1 - Added support for several games
v1.0 - Original release
INTRODUCTION
------------
The ACT LABS Shifter / Clutch Utility is a program which lets use your
shifter, and optionally a clutch pedal, with games that don't have
built-in support for these devices. You can choose between two different
modes to accomplish this:
Direct Support - This mode works by directly altering the contents of
the game's gear value in memory. It only works with games that we
specifically support in the utility, but it's usually the best option
for those games because it's very easy to use, it lets you shift between
gears instantly, and it's generally very reliable. Clutch support is
only available in direct support mode.
Generic Support - This mode works by simulating keypresses to issue
Shift Up and Shift Down commands to the game. If you're using
Windows 2000 or XP, this mode will work with almost any game that
accepts Shift Up and Shift Down commands from keyboard keys. If you're
using another version of Windows, many games will be unable to "see" the
simulated keypresses so this mode won't work at all with those games.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR USING THE DIRECT SUPPORT MODE (recommended)
------------------------------------------------------------
1. Make sure your shifter is plugged in and is displayed in the list of
game controllers in the system Control Panel.
2. Make sure your shifter is in neutral. You should keep it in neutral
until you're in a car and ready to race.
3. Run the ACT LABS Shifter Utility by clicking Start, Program Files,
ACT LABS, ACT LABS Shifter Utility.
4. Choose Device Settings, select a gear layout that matches the
plate you're using with your shifter, and click OK. (If you haven't
switched plates on your shifter, you can skip this step.)
5. Make sure Direct Support is selected in the main window of the utility.
(This is the default setting.)
6. [Optional] If you want to use a clutch pedal in addition to the
shifter, click on the Settings button next to "Clutch Device".
7. Minimize the utility. It stays running and is shown in the system tray.
8. Start the directly supported game you want to play. (To see which
games are currently supported directly, choose Direct Support Settings
from the main window of the utility and look at the list of games.)
9. In the game: Make sure that no commands in the game are assigned
to buttons used by the shifter. If you're using an RS Shifter, it
uses buttons 1, 2, 6, 7, and the hat switch. If you're using a
GPL USB Shifter, it has its own set of buttons 1 through 8, which
games do not typically map by themselves.
10.Get into a race and you're ready to shift! (Remember to choose a
vehicle with a manual transmission!)
DIRECT SUPPORT NOTES
--------------------
* Always keep the shifter in neutral while you're outside a vehicle.
That is, before a race begins and after it is finished.
* Depending on the game and your computer, you may notice a slight
delay the first time you put the shifter in gear after loading a new
track. It is often a good idea to shift in and out of first gear before
the pre-race countdown begins (if there is one), which gets this delay
out of the way.
* Replays won't work in some games. This is because while the game is
recording your driving for the replay history, it doesn't realize that
you're shifting because you're not giving it "Shift up" and "Shift down"
commands. Note that you may be able to shift *during the replay*. :)
* Animations showing the driver shifting gears won't be shown in some
games.
* If you're playing a multiplayer game, you may need to host the game on
your computer in order for the shifting to work properly.
CLUTCH SUPPORT NOTES
--------------------
* You must use the direct support mode in order to use clutch support.
* The clutch support works by setting the game to neutral while you
have pushed the clutch in. Therefore, clutch support is not possible
for games that don't support neutral.
* If the clutch is working backwards from how it should, go back into
the clutch settings and change the checkbox on the axis selection
page.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR USING THE GENERIC SUPPORT MODE
-----------------------------------------------
1. Make sure your shifter is plugged in and is displayed in the list of
game controllers in the system Control Panel.
2. Make sure your shifter is in neutral. You should keep it in neutral
until you're in a car and ready to race.
3. Run the ACT LABS Shifter Utility by clicking Start, Program Files,
ACT LABS, ACT LABS Shifter Utility.
4. Choose Device Settings, select a gear layout that matches the
plate you're using with your shifter, and click OK. (If you haven't
switched plates on your shifter, you can skip this step.)
5. Make sure Generic Support is selected in the main window of the utility.
(This is NOT the default setting.)
6. Choose Generic Support Settings and set the settings to match the game
you want to run. For a description of each setting, move the mouse over
it. Some settings may require experimentation. When you have the
settings right for a game, you can save all of your settings as a preset
by using the Presets menu in the main window of the utility.
7. Minimize the utility. It stays running and is shown in the system tray.
8. Start the game you want to play.
9. In the game: Go into the controller configuration. Set the Shift Up
and Shift Down commands to be keyboard keys that match the settings you
chose in the utility. For example, by default Shift Up is set to the
Page Up key, so press Page Up (on the numeric keypad!) Also, make sure
that no commands in the game are assigned to buttons used by the shifter.
If you're using an RS Shifter, it uses buttons 1, 2, 6, 7, and the hat
switch. If you're using a GPL USB Shifter, it has its own set of
buttons 1 through 8, which games do not typically map by themselves.
10.Get into a race and you're ready to shift! (Remember to choose a
vehicle with a manual transmission!)
GENERIC SUPPORT NOTES
---------------------
* If you find that the shifter has become "out of sync" with the game,
press the manual reset button. By default, this is the upper-right
dashboard button on the Force RS. If you're using the GPL USB Shifter,
you'll have to change this so that one of the gears performs a manual
reset (like 7th gear, which is button 7).
Note that pressing the manual reset button while the shifter is in
NEUTRAL will tell the utility that the game is in neutral. Pressing
the manual reset button while the shifter is IN GEAR will tell the
utility that the game is in whatever gear you shift into *next*, so
hit the manual reset button and then shift into the gear the game is in.
* If nothing happens when you shift in the game, and you're sure you've
configured the same shift up and shift down keys in both the utility
and the game, and you're running Windows 95, 98, or ME, the game may
not support simulated keyboard input and generic support won't work.
STATUS INFO
-----------
You can choose Status Info from the File menu to see information about
the current status of your shifter and the utility. This screen is helpful
for verifying that your shifter is in good physical working order and is
recognized properly by the utility. It also shows the last action
performed by the utility, which is especially helpful for understanding
what's going on in generic support mode.
TECHNICAL SUPPORT
-----------------
If you've followed the instructions in this document and things still
aren't working right, please contact techsupport@act-labs.com for
technical support and provide the following information:
* What game you're trying to use the utility with
* What mode you're using (direct or generic support)
* The device name(s) shown in the main window of the utility
* A description of the problem (what happens when you try to shift?)
Download Driver Pack
After your driver has been downloaded, follow these simple steps to install it.
Expand the archive file (if the download file is in zip or rar format).
If the expanded file has an .exe extension, double click it and follow the installation instructions.
Otherwise, open Device Manager by right-clicking the Start menu and selecting Device Manager.
Find the device and model you want to update in the device list.
Double-click on it to open the Properties dialog box.
From the Properties dialog box, select the Driver tab.
Click the Update Driver button, then follow the instructions.
Very important: You must reboot your system to ensure that any driver updates have taken effect.
For more help, visit our Driver Support section for step-by-step videos on how to install drivers for every file type.