What I'm attempting to set up is having the Deck touchpads have different inputs depending on where I click as shown in this video 60 seconds in with the Steam Controller. So for example ← reload ↑ flash light → pills ↓medkit ㋛ melee when you click but when not clicking the touchpad can provide camera controls. I do this because I don't feel like reaching to XYAB and losing camera controls. Or if I'm doing movement having center click be a crouch, but the outer clicks be dodges.
I use something called modeshifts on the Steam Controller, but the Deck touchpads requires too hard of a press to activate for my liking with no pressure adjustment available for modeshift clicks.
There is touch menus, but when I'm using the pad as a mouse I found clicking to activate the touch menu added a delay I didn't want for actions like melee or reload, or abilities like casting fire. So I settled on Action Layers with the absence of modeshifts.
START OF GUIDE
STEP 1
Create an Action Set Layer. In this example I named it dpad click and set it to Apply action layer on click.
If you need help making an Action Layer this person's video is good 60 seconds in.
STEP 2
On the action layer 'dpad click' bind whatever you want to the dpad and the outer ring command (this will be center click)
Set up a release press on a click so the action layer is removed automatically so you return to your default layer.
STEP 3
Invert Outer Ring so that it can function as a center click. Now touchpad click has 5 click functions instead of 1.
You are going to need to play around with the Deadzone and Outer Ring settings to see what you like. But, gist of what it does is
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Deadzone: (where simultaneous press stops, i do around 26380)
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Outer Ring : (how big center click is, I do around 32000)
I'm the minority that wishes the controller would have the same layout for the touchpads with it being large, circular, concave, and in the same upper positions.
I use dual touchpads on the Steam Controller to play games like Doom Eternal, Left 4 Dead 2, Spin Rhythm XD, The Finals, etc.
But, on the Deck I did not find the touchpad good for those games due to the shape, size, and placement so it turned out as being as useful as the dualsense with it becoming more a joystick controller than a touchpad controller I wanted to use in the same way I use the Steam Controller. Been hoping for years for a proper Steam Controller with upgraded gyro and 2 additional grips, but looks like it'll never happen even if Valve came out with a new controller when it comes to a dual touchpad controller I want to use. Would be more a xbox/sony controller alternative.