What is Profiler?
The Logitech Profiler is an application that allows keystrokes and button presses to be assigned to the controls on any Logitech digital game controller (buttons, axes, POVs, etc). Each game can have its own profile, so that the gaming device can be customized differently for each game.
Why are Administrator Rights required For the use of Profiler in Windows 2000/XP?
In order to use Profiler in Windows 2000/XP, you must be logged in as a user with administrator rights. This is due to the fact that Profiler creates a virtual keyboard to record commands and it must be able to write to the Windows registry database in order to do this.
Supported Logitech game controllers should function normally for all users provided the devices are first installed by a user with administrator rights. However, if a new device is plugged in or a connected device is plugged into a different USB port, while a user is logged in without administrator rights, the device will not be detected. This is because anytime a new device is plugged in or a device is plugged into a different port, the Windows registry must be updated. The workaround is to login as administrator or as a user with administrative rights.
For information on configuring users rights, please consult your Windows 2000/XP manual or contact Microsoft®.
Do I need to have Profiler open for my Logitech game controller to function?
No, closing Profiler does not remove driver support for Logitech game controller. The controller should function normally. If you have shut down the systray icon, profiles will not be applied during gameplay.
What does the "Damper Effect Strength" slider do for force feedback gaming controllers?
The "Damper Effect Strength" slider is a feature of Profiler accessible only by force feedback gaming devices. This slider controls the strength of the damper forces within force feedback games. Damper forces slow down the movement of the gaming device in a particular direction. Examples of damper forces would be items such as water or mud. By moving the slider beyond 100%, the damper forces get stronger, and the gaming device will feel more sluggish when you encounter a damper force. By moving the slider below 100%, damper forces will not affect your gameplay as much.
What does the "Spring Effect Strength" slider do for force feedback gaming controllers?
The "Spring Effect Strength" slider is a feature of Profiler accessible only by force feedback gaming devices. This slider controls the strength of the spring forces within a game. Spring forces are the effect of the wheel/stick being pulled into a certain direction by the game/software. The farther that you move the handle away from the direction that the force is pulling in, the stronger the force effect will get. By moving the slider above 100%, the stronger that resistance will be. An example of this would be trying to pull out of a dive in a flight simulator. The more you try to pull out of a dive, the more resistance you will encounter.
The default centering spring that centers the joystick handle or steering wheel in games that do not support force feedback will not be affected by this slider. However, games that support force feedback may or may not disable the default centering spring.
How do I toggle whether or not Profiler loads up when Windows starts?
Start Profiler.
Click on Options->Global Profiler Settings...
Check or uncheck the box labeled Start Profiler at System Startup
What is the difference between the settings within the Profiler and the Control Panel?
First, a few acronyms:
CPS = Control Panel Settings
GPS = Global Profiler Settings
GSS = Game Specific Settings (per profile)
GS = Game's settings (within the game itself)
The CPS and GPS are in synch. Change it in one place, check in the other place and they will be the same. This value is applied on top of any game force.
If you have a GSS, this will override (= replace) the CPS/GPS settings.
So, there's only one single value in the software that is applied - either CPS/GPS (for games without profiles, or games with profiles that don't have a specific settings) or GSS (for games with profiles with specific settings set).
Whichever setting applies, it will be used to scale forces up or down that the game produces. The recommended thing is to leave the settings at 100% in software, and correct to your taste in the game (as the game sometimes allows much finer control - see for example Need For Speed, which allows you to change the different force types individually).
The settings should come into play if the game in question has no or insufficient control (GSS), or if you end up thinking that your wheel is generally too strong/weak in all games (CPS/GPS).