Joypad / hal_input - detects changes only?

I have been developing some ideas based on a Joypad, using hal_input to detect button positions. (I want to use the Potent Iometers, so having spare input pins when they are so scarce on a parallel port seemed useful).

I connected switches to where the btn-base2 and btn-pinkie buttons would short to gnd, but hal_input seems to detect the switch position only when its position changes.

e.g. if I have the switch across btn-pinkie set to closed, and look at the detected value it is FALSE until I cycle the switch.

This is what I say to halcmd:
loadusr -W hal_input -KRAL Gamepad
start
show pin input.0.btn-base2 input.0.btn-pinkie

shows the pins as FALSE, but cycling pinkie (open/close) result in it now showing TRUE when I say
show pin input.0.btn-base2 input.0.btn-pinkie

Is this to do with the way the Joypad works, or the way that hal_input works?

Is there anything I can do to alter the behaviour?

No - not toggling - just that it appears to edge detect.

I have tried your suggestion.
When I leave the switch in a position where both input.0s should be TRUE, then load my hal file (including your suggestions - didn't work as a single line, so I split it into two lines) the inputs are both FALSE. If I change the switch so it should show FALSE, then back to TRUE it shows TRUE.

I am beginning the think the joypad buttons edge-detect. That's OK - I'll just rework how I do things a little.

Many Thanks
Tony Chabot

The switch is actually a multipole rotary switch as I was intending to use it to select four possible states. Once rotated into each position the connections are maintained - as in a toggle switch.