Thanks again mice.
I use the trigger (button 1) for guns, and the top left button (2) for cannons in MSCFS.
When I first set up the game and the stick it always defaulted to these settings without any problem, it is only this week that this problem occured. It is a digital joystick, with throttle and twist grip (for rudder) and 10 buttons with a pov hat.
I cannot mail you direct as your postings have no mail address, and I think the good Capt PPRune has disabled them for a while. Do feel free to send me your address via my Yahoo address. (See 'Who' box above).
Thanks again.