(This is the documentation for SDL3, which is the current stable version. SDL2 was the previous version!)

SDL_AddGamepadMapping

Add support for gamepads that SDL is unaware of or change the binding of an existing gamepad.

Header File

Syntax

int SDL_AddGamepadMapping(const char *mapping);

Function Parameters

const char *

mapping

the mapping string.

Return Value

(int) Returns 1 if a new mapping is added, 0 if an existing mapping is updated, -1 on failure; call SDL_GetError() for more information.

Remarks

The mapping string has the format "GUID,name,mapping", where GUID is the string value from SDL_GUIDToString(), name is the human readable string for the device and mappings are gamepad mappings to joystick ones. Under Windows there is a reserved GUID of "xinput" that covers all XInput devices. The mapping format for joystick is:

bX: a joystick button, index X
hX.Y: hat X with value Y
aX: axis X of the joystick

Buttons can be used as a gamepad axes and vice versa.

If a device with this GUID is already plugged in, SDL will generate an SDL_EVENT_GAMEPAD_ADDED event.

This string shows an example of a valid mapping for a gamepad:

"341a3608000000000000504944564944,Afterglow PS3 Controller,a:b1,b:b2,y:b3,x:b0,start:b9,guide:b12,back:b8,dpup:h0.1,dpleft:h0.8,dpdown:h0.4,dpright:h0.2,leftshoulder:b4,rightshoulder:b5,leftstick:b10,rightstick:b11,leftx:a0,lefty:a1,rightx:a2,righty:a3,lefttrigger:b6,righttrigger:b7"

Thread Safety

It is safe to call this function from any thread.

Version

This function is available since SDL 3.1.3.