HI Paul / Tony.
As far as identification of actual axis in use and conventions, (and may end up being nothing of an issue to Corjan when he does his magic)
All I am showing here is simply some of the ways that the identification of USB HID inputs can be so effing confusing -
purely for information only for those interested-
I think one of the big issues for USB in general is that the USB Specifications (USB.org) for the GENERIC DESKTOP PAGE (0x01) - and the SIMULATION CONTROLS PAGE (0x02) are misused across all platforms.
Whilst the SIMULATIONS CONTROLS PAGE looks, at first sight, to be the one to use, it simply isn't by a hell of a lot of manufacturers. And, to be honest, the GENERIC DESKTOP PAGE (0x01) offer all you would ever need so many say to hell with 0X02 and just use that, as I think is definitely the way to do it.
Using a 0X02 page with named axis - rudder, throttle etc - will tend to use one of the standard list of the axis - basically, it simply assigns an alternative 'name' to the DV axis' to be used in the program / CPL.
This is only for - what was originally planned - as plug and prey.
It would be very interesting - as an informative exercise - to show the pointy's panel compared to the win CPL for each control.
(note) - even Pointy's gave up on the last two of the 8 axis and simply called then S0 and S1 as the Slider, Dial and wheel all occupy only the two spaces as one can overwrite the other as far as naming is used.
At least the actual DV Axis' remains constant.
To show how antiquated the original (and current!) USB 0X02 page can be, you can even have controls for flying a 'MAGIC CARPET' ... I think the days of 'Prince of Persia' and the inability of the game to offer any setup, hence needed plug and prey - are long gone, and was probably never used anyway....
Even then they are simply axis and buttons that can be assigned using standard naming conventions for the standard axis and occupy the same space - with just another 'name' for the game to supposedly recognise. It beggars belief really. What were they thinking of ?. You can even have individual golf club selection as a named device...
This of course, - the USB.org, was 99% influenced by microsoft - who, as usual misread the market, and future developments, and thought every game would be of a certain genre and would also diligently follow the proposed naming convention - never thinking that it would be far easier to just connect a control, look at the axis available and get the user to assign them as needed.
Who could believe the lack of foresight by Microsoft and the arrogance that everybody WILL follow their own convention.. Hmmm.