3DConnextion SpaceNavigator v10 for Second Life

You can push the left-SN-button to get to the configuration tool or select Properties in the SN menu that comes up on your screen at start up. You can then create a profile and set your button’s actions and even make macros (custom key sequences) for the buttons. With any luck they will stay for you once you program them.

Firestorm Joystick Configuration Panel - Notice wrong device name.

Firestorm Joystick Configuration Panel – Notice wrong device name, a version 10 problem.

For me, all I wanted in the end was the Flycam toggle on the right-SN-button. The keyboard shortcut is Alt-Shift-F, which I am getting really good at hitting on my keyboard. But, I would like to have it on the SpaceNavigator’s button. Mine just doesn’t seem to stay and I wasn’t going to  spend much time on it.

That is about it. The Help files will help with v3 and there are numerous tutorials online for v3 explaining how to make macros for the SN v3.

Second Path v10

At this point I have the SpaceNavigator working with the FS and SL viewers. I have been able to get the buttons programmed and get the SN to recognize my SL profile. So, I’ll relate what I have done.

This v10 path is a longer more complicated route than v3, but the SN will work with more applications. It is just a pain to get working with Second Life. I think it is worth the effort.

Download the latest software, as I write this v10-1-4-r1818. Make sure you get the right version 32-bit or 64-bit. To figure out which version of Windows you run, you can right-click on My Computer or Computer in the Start menu or via Explorer to: Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\System or Start->Control Panel->System. On Win8 I think you just need to go to the Mero Desktop and type System. Your system type will be listed in the window that opens.

Connect the SN device. You won’t get any lights in the SN at this point.

Disable your anti-virus for 30 minutes. Install the software by right-clicking the driver and installing as Administrator. Once installed the ring of blue lights on the SN should come on. You can test its operation by trying one of the demos they include. If it works with the Jet demo then you know your computer’s software and hardware are working.

Try opening Chrome or Firefox and having that be the active window. Press the left-SN-button and a configuration control panel should open and be labeled Chrome or Firefox. This will work with a number of different programs. You can set your preferences for that app and the SN will remember the settings.

You can now try Firestorm or SL Viewer. Once the viewer is started open Preferences->Move & Viewer->Movement (Tab Firestorm)->Joystick (Button Firestorm) or for the SL Viewer Preferences->Move & View->Other Devices (Button SL Viewer).

Notice that the device the viewer is planning to use is labeled 3DConnexion KMJ Emulator. (See image above) That tells us things are setup wrong, if this is your first time installing, there is no way for you to know that. So, OK your way out of the joystick setup and close the viewer. You can leave the SN/‘joystick’ enabled.

Work-Around Devices

I first found this work-around in the SL Wiki. I’m going to walk you through what I learned there and other places as there are some gotchas on that page. I probably should fix the wiki, later.

Nathan Zetkin added a section to the page in February 2014. Nathan suggests deleting the KMJ device from the Device/Hardware manager. In my WIN7 I could not do that. You can try. To get to the Device Manager click Start and type Device Manager, getting there this way works on Vista, Win 7 & 8. The menu route changes depending on which version of Windows you are using and how many updates you have installed.

Version 10 Problem - Device Manager in HID

Version 10 Problem – Device Manager in HID

Nathan goes on to say you need to disable/delete devices listed as HID\3DXKMJ_HIDMINI&Col03. Those are HID’s – Human Interface Devices. I looked through all of mine and the device is listed. I chose to disable it rather than uninstall/delete.

To go through the devices, right-click on each one in turn and select Properties. Then click the Details tab. Then in the Properties drop down select Hardware ID’s. That is where you will see a 3DXKMJ device name if you have one. Disable it.

Once the device changes are made you can start your viewer and the SN should control your viewer, if you left the joystick enabled from a step above. The correct name should be in your Preferences and now appear as: SpaceNavigator.

Correct Device Name - SL Viewer's OTHER DEVICES Panel

Correct Device Name – SL Viewer’s OTHER DEVICES Panel

At this point your SN should work with any viewer. If not, check that the joystick is enabled as we did above.

Use the keyboard shortcut for Flycam to toggle in and out: Alt-Shift-F.

In my default install the left-SN-button does not seem to do anything or it opens the last app I had open or focused on, which the SN supports, before I went into the viewer. This is what I meant about there being no support for SL. There is no way via GUI to build a profile, which has annoyed a lot of people. If you reboot and open ONLY the viewer, you get the No Supported App configuration panel.

At this point the SN is usable. But, you can’t program the buttons.

SpaceNavigator Profile

I dug through the SpaceNavigator profile creation information. I think I’ve learned the basics. My SL profile is now recognized by the SN.

Support for a game or program is added by adding a profile for it. The version 3 driver software let you build a profile. They no longer provide that feature in v10. So, you have to make one for yourself.

You will find the configuration files to make the profiles in:

C:\Program Files\3Dconnexion\3DxWare\3DxWinCore64\Cfg

Don’t edit the files there. When editing files in the Program Files folder you must use Administrator Rights, otherwise you won’t be able to save your changes. It’s a pain and that is not how 3Dconnexion intended you add profiles. (look below social buttons for page buttons)

42 thoughts on “3DConnextion SpaceNavigator v10 for Second Life

  1. About three years ago i updated my 3D mouse software which broke it, i had to downgrade to a legacy driver. The 3D mouse changed how i use SL for building, for making machinema. It empowers you with an ability to direct every moment of your SL experience like a cinematic movie. I can’t use SL without it.

  2. I picked-up a Space Navigator last week. the KMJ Emulator is a pain; as it spawns multiple devices whih can attempt to claim control of other hardware – such as a USB keyboard., any other gaming joystick installed, and so on.

    Not only did the KMJ emulator put itself at the head of the device driver table, thus making it the default when being detected by SL, I found that it also persistently threw-up a dialogue box asking me to configure it for use with Firefox, whether or not the latter was also running, and regardless as to whether I’d previously set the buttons …

    I also found the simplest solution was to de-install v 10 and install the 3.18 drivers. Everything is running fine now; all I needed to do was tweak SL’s SN defaults, which perhaps don’t give the best sensitivity when using the SN for filming.

  3. For me, just plugging the SpaceNavigator in and not installing any software or drivers for it (and uninstalling anything that it pulls in), was enough to get it working in SL and Blender. I believe these two applications have SN support built in, and don’t need anything else. to make it work.

    • Mine showed sign of life without the driver. But, I really wanted the flycam button working.

      • Is Flycam mode activated in the joystick settings? The latest 3D mouse may be somewhat different than earlier versions? Are you using the wireless version? Mine is hardwired.

        • Wired.

          Flycam can be activated by the keyboard shortcut Alt-Shift-F. That will happen whether you have a 3D mouse or not. It just works better with a 3D mouse. It is sort of active when we Alt-left-click and cam around.

  4. … you’re kidding me, right? SN no longer supports SL?
    This merits a thousand #facepalm tags. Ugh.
    Thank goodness I haven’t updated my drivers in forever.
    And thank you for posting the workaround.
    Keep up the good work.

    -ls/cm

    • Amazingly… and with new virtual worlds coming.

      There are about 6 lines that have to change to get one of the templates recognized by a SL viewer so a user can make use of their new GUI. I would expect them to have the files where a person could download them. I thought about putting the base file here in the blog, but they are fully copyrighted. So, I would need to chase down permission.

  5. I bought my SN very early on. I found it downright hazardous when building. Great for fly- abouts. Probably would be essential for machinima if I made any. I find it most effective for keeping my headphones from falling off the desk when I am not using them 🙂

  6. Strange. On mine that works without any additional work. Left button, Flycam; right button, jump.

  7. I have been using the SN for about 3+ years and found the best method is to not install any drivers or software with it. In that case the blue light will not work which is fine with me as the device works. Then you need to enable it in the Joystick Configurations in the viewer. The only tweak I make is to move the feather slider under “flycam” farthest to the left. I would not recommend using it to build although you can use the build mode in Machinima using this technique https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JfCBY-EqbM .

    • SN does work without a driver. But, I REALLY wanted to use the right-button to go in and out of Flycam mode.

      • Left button (flycam) works for me but I have a 3 yr+ mouse and no drivers installed in a multitude of viewers (probably a dozen). I don’t have any other applications I use it with and I have no other devices other than the regular mouse. Have you tried plugging it into a different USB port?

  8. works here and i updated drivers too.
    mine activate if i click on its left button and all the viewers seam not to need any special magic to use it. SN might be a bit difficult to guide the cam in default but its worth and putting zoom-mapping on roll is wonderful(even if it jumps after ALT-tab), also one could just use SN as a kind of focus-puller.

  9. I appreciate it already been said, but I use the Sopace navigator in all recent viewers (LL, Firestorm, CtlAltStudio and others) without installing any SN software or special drivers at all.

    But I do ensure I only have one joystick device plugged in at once (so Xbox 360 and a flight stick are not connected when I use my SN). And I have not wanted to use the SN with other tools to require their special s/w features.

    Just plug in, and under the Prteferences -> Move and View for the \Other Devices\ tick the \Enable joystick: spacenavigator\ and allow it to use the default settings for the SpaceNavigator.

    SN then controls avatar movement initially. Left clicker toggles to FlyCam or back to avatar movement. Right clicker activates jump. It all works great and very smoothly. I especially use it when making machinima.

    • I tried SN without drivers. The buttons were inactive. I don’t know why some people have working buttons and some don’t without the driver.

      I also wanted to have control of the SN and its buttons in other games and apps. As best I can tell the v10 driver makes the SN much more usable in a large variety of apps.

  10. Thanks for this advice.

    I had to reload my PC after a crash, and struggled with the SN re installation.

    Followed the post, and now have a fully working install again.

    Respects, and thanks again.

    Fuzzy

  11. Pingback: Second Life Photography 2015-05 | Nalates' Things & Stuff

  12. One piece of good news for legacy version 3.18 users. I notice that Maya 2015 still recognizes the driver and is usable. I also think that because Linden Labs encouraged utilization of the Space Navigator resulting many users purchasing and adopting it , that they have responsibility to ensure subsequent viewer versions are coded to work with the current drivers. This is just as important as texture or marketplace integration improvements within the viewer. LINDENS PLEASE LISTEN!

  13. Just wanted to say thanks for your help with this matter. I felt really bad when I saw that this expensive piece of hardware didnt work out of the box with SL and others softwares. Now I am trying to fight with the template matter. Really apreciate your help.
    PS: I leave a message for you in facebook 😉

  14. To go through the devices, right-click on each one in turn and select Properties. Then click the Details tab. Then in the Properties drop down select Hardware ID’s. That is where you will see a 3DXKMJ device name if you have one. Disable it.

    does not work for me , there is NOWERE to disable this:(

    • Mine always worked then I had it unplugged and then it couldn’t find the device. But…if I plugged it into a different usb port it worked immediately so try different ports.

  15. A new environment.
    – Windows 10
    – About 3DxWare
    3DxWare 10 version
    10.2.9
    3DxWinCore version
    17.2.9.11812
    Devices
    SpaceNavigator (firmware v.4.35)

    Recognizes Firestorm as an App and there seems to be no connection to SL.

    I have opened:
    http://jira.phoenixviewer.com/browse/FIRE-17001
    and…,
    3Dconnexion has yet to respond to my trouble report.

  16. https://www.3dconnexion.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=15815

    here is a working solution with latest 3dconnexion drivers. Works fine with my SpaceMouse Enterprise.

  17. Pingback: SpaceNavigator, Windows 10, and Second Life | Nalates' Things & StuffNalates’ Things & Stuff

  18. I know this post was from 3 years ago but has anyone found a fix for the newest? I have a SN wireless.. i can get it to work everywhere but Firestorm, I can sometimes get it to zoom in and out and that’s it. I’ve about gotten to the point of tossing it across my house because nothing seems to make it work. I’m frustrated with it

  19. [SOLVED – READ THIS]
    I am using Windows 7 still, so the most recent installer was 3DxWare64_v10-6-4_r3119.exe…

    To get it working with Firestorm/SL, I installed as normal, and then went to device manager, sorted it under “View -> Devices by connection”, then under 3Dconnexion KMJ Emulator i disabled “HID-compliant game controller”. Then I restarted Firestorm and attempted to use it, and all worked fine. (You’ll need to change the button interaction to “3DConnexion -> Disabled” on each of the buttons)

    https://www.revit.news/2016/10/how-to-disable-the-3dconnexion-kmj-emulator-driver-for-game-controllers/ was how I figured this out.

    Enjoy random Space Navigator purchaser in the year of 2020 (like me).

    • Hi Demon. I got my 3dConnexion as a Chrissy gift and I can’t make it work still…I did the steps above but nothing is working out. I am so frustrated and really need help…I already contacted 3dConnexion and still awaiting support from SL. I would really appreciate it if you have some more info or any advice. Thanks!

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