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Preview: Direct Control - FastTrek Docs

Send keyboard and mouse commands directly to the game to use your computer at the same time.

The problem

FastTrek uses your mouse and keyboard to control the game. Unfortunately Windows only allows a single mouse cursor and keyboard can only be focused on one application at a time. This means that if you want to use FastTrek to automate Star Trek® Fleet Command, you won’t be able to use your computer for anything else at the same time.

The solution

An experimental addition to the community mod, which allows FastTrek to communicate directly with the game, freeing up your mouse and keyboard.

To try this experimental feature, you need to install the FastTrek-patched community-mod and make a small change to the mod configuration.

Advantages

Freeing up your mouse and keyboard has multiple advantages:

  • Ability to freely use your mouse and keyboard without “fighting for control”.
  • Being able to make changes to FastTrek configuration, including running automations or opening Settings.
  • Accidentally touching the mouse doesn’t result in a ‘jump’
  • Reliable communication: No missed buttons or clicks that don’t register.

Installation

Automatic Windows Install

The easiest way to install is to use FastTrek’s Setup wizard, which will run automatically on first launch. If the mod isn’t already installed it will offer the option to do so.

If you have an earlier version installed, the wizard will offer to update it.

If you have the same version installed but without the FastTrek patch, you can’t currently cross-grade using the wizard. But you can make a backup copy of the existing version.dll in the game folder and install it fresh.

To disable and/or remove the mod at any time, please see below.

Manual Windows Install

Should you need or wish to install the community mod manually:

  1. Download the FastTrek-patched mod.
  2. Open the downloaded archive containing ‘version.dll’.
  3. Copy ‘version.dll’ to the game’s installation folder, where the game’s executable is located.

Manual Mac Install

On Mac OS, the mod needs to be installed manually.

Just like any other Application, you download a ‘.dmg’ and drag the contents into your Applications folder.

  1. Download the FastTrek-patched mod for MacOS.
  2. Open the downloaded image and drag into Applications.
  3. Follow additional steps for running, as with the stock community mod

Mod Settings

To enable or disable direct control, open your mod configuration.

  • On Windows, edit community_patch_settings.toml using any text editor.
  • On Mac OS, run the mod launcher and select “Open Settings”.

Add or modify the following lines:

[fasttrek]
virtual_input_server_enabled = false
virtual_input_server_port = 41127

The [fasttrek] section clearly distinguishes FastTrek-specific settings from core mod features.

Settingpossible valuesDescription
virtual_input_server_enabledtrue/falseEnable or disable direct control
virtual_input_server_port1024 - 65535A free port number to use

Automatic switching

If you enable or disable the direct control feature, or if you revert to the stock community mod, FastTrek will automatically recognise this and act accordingly.

How can I tell if the extension is installed?

  1. Navigate to version.dll and right-click > Properties.
  2. Within the details tab you will see [FT] added to the product name.
  1. Open /Applications/ in Finder.
  2. Right-click the mod and select “Show Package Contents”
  3. Right-click Info.plist and select “Quick Look”.
  4. You should see [FT] added to the product name.

Updates

An inherent risk with extending a 3rd-party mod is that syncing patches takes longer.

Where a patch is issues for the stock community mod, FastTrek’s Direct Control extension may lag behind slightly.

For critical compatibility patches that resolve mod/game crashes, you may occasionally need to revert to the latest stock version of the mod to ensure stability over mouse/keyboard convenience.

FAQ

Q: Is this still safe or will it get me detected?

A: The mod already remaps all your mouse/keyboard inputs and feeds them directly into the game. This piggybacks onto the approach, only bypassing the physical button press.

Q: Will this replace my Virtual Machine setup?

A: Potentially, yes. But you may still benefit, for example in case of crashes you can easily revert to the stock mod temporarily.

Q: Will I be able to turn my PC off and let FastTrek play?

A: No, it still won’t do that, but you should no longer need a second computer to do other things at the same time.