Mapping stick controls?

[Age of Kings]

I got a Hori HRAP EX-SE in the mail today but I've been struggling to get it to work on my PC. I installed XBCD and the computer recognizes it alright but I'm at a loss as to how to map controls and actually get around to using it in MAME. I have both searched for previous threads on google and this forum and I'm so confused....most of the guides focus on getting it to work on Vista, but that's not my problem as I'm running Windows 7. In the sea of install this driver and do that, nothing's worked. Can someone please help me out?

[emphatic]

Assuming you run a gui enabled MAME build and your stick shows up in Windows control panel.
1. Plug controller into computer
2. Run MAME
3. Find the "default game options" in one of the menus
4. In "controllers" tab, make sure joystick is visible and ticked
5. Close the settings then run a game
6. Hit TAB and navigate with your keyboard to "Controls (General)
7. Hit the player directions on your stick and the values should now change
8. For easy game change, also set GUI controls to your stick so you can use the "Change game" option
9. Don't forget to setup coin in "Other controls" or what it's called

[emphatic]

Did it work?