DROPPED SKSE -Elys- AltF4 (by Elys)

[dstansberry]

Discussion thread:
SKSE -Elys- AltF4 by Elys
Wiki Link

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I discovered this quite by accident once, and have been using it ever since. The whole AltF4 thing doesn't really make my day any brighter, but the mod includes a hidden gem that isn't even mentioned on the main page: it enables my keyboard media controls (volume and mute, most notably) to function in-game.

That alone is worth the price of admission for me, and I consider it an essential part of my load. Besides, it's from Elys, who, near as I can tell, can do no wrong. :O)

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Added for STEP v2.2.5

[Kelmych]

On my system the keyboard media controls already work in Skyrim; of course I'm not sure whether this is from another mod that doesn't mention this or if it would be true even if I had just Vanilla Skyrim installed.

[Neovalen]

Mine didn't and this fixed it right up. Thanks!

[EssArrBee]

Maybe this can be extended so the damn volume controls work from the keyboard.

[Neovalen]

Maybe this can be extended so the damn volume controls work from the keyboard.

 

It already does this.

[EssArrBee]

Really? I didn't notice it in the description, but if Elys made it then it probably does 5000 different things.

[z929669]

I have to say that I am uncertain as to the real benefit other than it seems to "fix" some hardware-specific problems ... unintentionally.

 

I take it that this is not plugin reliant? Pros/cons?

[dem1an]

I'm using it now too for volume control. Thanks for the recommendation.

[TechAngel85]

I'm with Z on this one... I don't see any benefit to installing this mod. My media control on my laptop work just fine and I don't like the sound of a mod "fixing" something that it had no intention of fixing (media controls)...

[dstansberry]

I'm with Z on this one... I don't see any benefit to installing this mod. My media control on my laptop work just fine and I don't like the sound of a mod "fixing" something that it had no intention of fixing (media controls)...

I'm not sure that it's altogether true to say that it wasn't intentional. There's a quote from Elys in the forum thread that confirms the function: 

    "Close as in end the game. It will also allow keyboards with volume control and such to work with Skyrim."

 

Who knows? Maybe it was a happy accidental discovery, or maybe Elys just didn't think it was as important as the Alt+F4 thing. Either way, until I installed it, I had no keyboard volume controls inside the game when playing from my desktop PC (laptops - mine included - often use a different method of controlling volume from the media keys - one that doesn't require windows-based driver software to function. It enables them to play media files outside of the O/S). 

 

At any rate, accident or not, it seems to work perfectly for me, and for the price of a single .dll file, I can't think of any real negatives. Those lucky enough not to need the volume and mute controls still benefit from the quick exit provided by Alt+F4. And of course, installation is completely optional in any case.

[rootsrat]

I would be against this mod in STEP. It's not really relevant to the mandate - it just "fixes" couple of inconsistent bugs related to hardware (application shutdown + media control). I can't see it being part of the actual STEP. It could possibly be recommendation for users that DO have the problem, but part of STEP? On what basis?

[dstansberry]

I would be against this mod in STEP. It's not really relevant to the mandate - it just "fixes" couple of inconsistent bugs related to hardware (application shutdown + media control). I can't see it being part of the actual STEP. It could possibly be recommendation for users that DO have the problem' date=' but part of STEP? On what basis?[/quote']

Well, as media controls and the ability to fast-exit are part of the UI, it could arguably be included on that basis alone - but I do see your point. It's certainly not a core component, not everyone has media controls on their keyboards in the first place (or wants to use them), and if you want to skip all the menus and just leave the game, you can fast-exit by typing qqq into the console (which is what I do, even with the mod installed).

 

It could be counter-argued that STEP includes tweaks that disable the Bethesda logo video at the beginning - how does that fit into the mandate, really? If it's to speed up getting into the game, why would a tweak to speed up getting out of it be a problem? It includes mods that add the current real time to the loading screens, which, while certainly addressing the UI, I would think is a bit of a mandate stretch as well (and almost as immersion-breaking as the loading screen itself). And there's even a mod that takes away the smoke from the loading screen, apparently to addresses issues with ENB's which aren't included as a part of STEP in the first place. And tweaks that reduce the "z-fighting" issue which doesn't seem to affect all users either.

 

I'm not actually opposed to any of those being included in STEP, by the way. I'm just playing devil's advocate.

 

Having said all that, I'm actually inclined to agree with you here. It doesn't really "fit" anywhere within the main body of the guide, and perhaps not within the mandate, either - but it does address what I personally perceived as a flaw within the game itself. Perhaps, if it's to be included, it might be best relegated to either section 2C "Extenders - Third-party programs that enhance Skyrim functionality or display," or to section 3A "Technical Tips," along side "Using Windowed Mode" and "Semi Invisible People"?

[TechAngel85]

I would be against this mod in STEP. It's not really relevant to the mandate - it just "fixes" couple of inconsistent bugs related to hardware (application shutdown + media control). I can't see it being part of the actual STEP. It could possibly be recommendation for users that DO have the problem' date=' but part of STEP? On what basis?[/quote']

Well' date=' as media controls and the ability to fast-exit are part of the UI, it could arguably be included on that basis alone - but I do see your point. It's certainly not a core component, not everyone has media controls on their keyboards in the first place (or wants to use them), and if you want to skip all the menus and just leave the game, you can fast-exit by typing qqq into the console (which is what I do, even with the mod installed).

 

It could be counter-argued that STEP includes tweaks that disable the Bethesda logo video at the beginning - how does that fit into the mandate, really? If it's to speed up getting into the game, why would a tweak to speed up getting out of it be a problem? It includes mods that add the current real time to the loading screens, which, while certainly addressing the UI, I would think is a bit of a mandate stretch as well (and almost as immersion-breaking as the loading screen itself). And there's even a mod that takes away the smoke from the loading screen, apparently to addresses issues with ENB's which aren't included as a part of STEP in the first place. And tweaks that reduce the "z-fighting" issue which doesn't seem to affect all users either.

 

I'm not actually opposed to any of those being included in STEP, by the way. I'm just playing devil's advocate.

 

Having said all that, I'm actually inclined to agree with you here. It doesn't really "fit" anywhere within the main body of the guide, and perhaps not within the mandate, either - but it does address what I personally perceived as a flaw within the game itself. Perhaps, if it's to be included, it might be best relegated to either section 2C "Extenders - Third-party programs that enhance Skyrim functionality or display," or to section 3A "Technical Tips," along side "Using Windowed Mode" and "Semi Invisible People"?[/quote']

The Mandate doesn't really apply much to the "non-game" parts of the game such as the loading screens, intro video, etc before you actually start playing the game (we also have a mod that changes the font). I don't see those mods (or this mod) having anything to do with the STEP Mandate really. As far as removing the smoke...ENBs ignore the loading screens now but removing it also potentially speeds up the loading time as the smoke isn't being loaded while you "wait" for other things to be loaded as well. The z-fighting doesn't really matter here because it's a tweak and we're talking about adding mods. Tweaks take up no room in the load order but mods do...I see the point you're making though.

 

Keep in mind that we're also actively trying to reduce the number of ESPs that are being used and loaded. Adding a mod like this would just add to that list when it's not necessary; because it essentially does nothing for a whole lot of people and something for a very small amount of people; however, with that said the mods you mentioned here could also be removed to save on unnecessary ESPs. Many of these mods could be moved to an "Optional Enhancements" section of the Guide (since they could essentially be install anywhere in STEP due to no conflicts) for those that want them. Those that don't can just skip them altogether.

[rpsgc]

I would be against this mod in STEP. It's not really relevant to the mandate - it just "fixes" couple of inconsistent bugs related to hardware (application shutdown + media control). I can't see it being part of the actual STEP. It could possibly be recommendation for users that DO have the problem' date=' but part of STEP? On what basis?[/quote']

Well' date=' as media controls and the ability to fast-exit are part of the UI, it could arguably be included on that basis alone - but I do see your point. It's certainly not a core component, not everyone has media controls on their keyboards in the first place (or wants to use them), and if you want to skip all the menus and just leave the game, you can fast-exit by typing qqq into the console (which is what I do, even with the mod installed).

 

It could be counter-argued that STEP includes tweaks that disable the Bethesda logo video at the beginning - how does that fit into the mandate, really? If it's to speed up getting into the game, why would a tweak to speed up getting out of it be a problem? It includes mods that add the current real time to the loading screens, which, while certainly addressing the UI, I would think is a bit of a mandate stretch as well (and almost as immersion-breaking as the loading screen itself). And there's even a mod that takes away the smoke from the loading screen, apparently to addresses issues with ENB's which aren't included as a part of STEP in the first place. And tweaks that reduce the "z-fighting" issue which doesn't seem to affect all users either.

 

I'm not actually opposed to any of those being included in STEP, by the way. I'm just playing devil's advocate.

 

Having said all that, I'm actually inclined to agree with you here. It doesn't really "fit" anywhere within the main body of the guide, and perhaps not within the mandate, either - but it does address what I personally perceived as a flaw within the game itself. Perhaps, if it's to be included, it might be best relegated to either section 2C "Extenders - Third-party programs that enhance Skyrim functionality or display," or to section 3A "Technical Tips," along side "Using Windowed Mode" and "Semi Invisible People"?[/quote']

The Mandate doesn't really apply much to the "non-game" parts of the game such as the loading screens, intro video, etc before you actually start playing the game (we also have a mod that changes the font). I don't see those mods (or this mod) having anything to do with the STEP Mandate really. As far as removing the smoke...ENBs ignore the loading screens now but removing it also potentially speeds up the loading time as the smoke isn't being loaded while you "wait" for other things to be loaded as well. The z-fighting doesn't really matter here because it's a tweak and we're talking about adding mods. Tweaks take up no room in the load order but mods do...I see the point you're making though.

 

Keep in mind that we're also actively trying to reduce the number of ESPs that are being used and loaded. Adding a mod like this would just add to that list when it's not necessary; because it essentially does nothing for a whole lot of people and something for a very small amount of people; however, with that said the mods you mentioned here could also be removed to save on unnecessary ESPs. Many of these mods could be moved to an "Optional Enhancements" section of the Guide (since they could essentially be install anywhere in STEP due to no conflicts) for those that want them. Those that don't can just skip them altogether.

It's a SKSE plugin, I don't know where you got the idea that it has an .esp.

[TechAngel85]

Regardless, both points and sides are still valid.