pero | IMstarter Userdocumentation (04.03.2015 for SIMstarter v2.6)

Table of contents 1 General description ...................................................................................................................................... 2

2 Program menu .............................................................................................................................................. 4

3 Program settings .......................................................................................................................................... 5

4 Startscreen ................................................................................................................................................... 7

5 JumpStart ..................................................................................................................................................... 8

6 Module „FSX/P3D Configuration“ .............................................................................................................. 10

7 Module „Startdefinition“ ............................................................................................................................ 11

8 Module „ FSX/PREPAR3D.cfg“ .................................................................................................................... 12

9 Module „ScenerySet“ ................................................................................................................................. 13

10 Module “XML-Files”................................................................................................................................ 15

11 Module “SplashScreen” .......................................................................................................................... 16

12 Module “User Logbook” ......................................................................................................................... 17

13 Tool „Start Manager“ ............................................................................................................................. 18

14 Tool „Scenery Manager“ ........................................................................................................................ 19

15 Tool “Livery Manager” ............................................................................................................................ 20

16 Tool “Manage profiles” .......................................................................................................................... 22

17 Tool “Diff Manager” ............................................................................................................................... 23

18 Tool „TextInfo Manager“ ........................................................................................................................ 24

19 Tool “Sort and Validate files” ................................................................................................................. 25

20 Tool „Clear [TRUSTED]“ .......................................................................................................................... 25

21 Tool „Show Airport in GoogleEarth“ ...................................................................................................... 25

22 Tool “Google Earth Export” .................................................................................................................... 26

23 Settings “Manage ShortCuts” ................................................................................................................. 27

24 Settings „GoogleEarth Export“ ............................................................................................................... 28

25 Using Startparameters ........................................................................................................................... 29

26 Program sequence .................................................................................................................................. 29

27 SIMstarter Client..................................................................................................................................... 30

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1 General description SIMstarter is a program which launches “Microsoft Flight Simulator X”,

“Microsoft Flight Simulator X – SteamEdition” or “PREPAR3D v2.x” with pre-defined configuration profiles.

Changes, based on those profiles, will be done to “fsx.cfg/prepar3d.cfg” or “scenery.cfg”.

FSX and PREPAR3D can be used in parallel with SIMstarter.

To make it easier to read this document I just wrote “fsx.cfg” and “scenery.cfg” instead of “prepar3d.cfg” if

you choose PREPAR3D.

I wouldn’t even run programs on my FSX/P3D, whose function I cannot understand ("never touch a running

system"). Therefore the exact program flow will be described in Chapter 26.

A lot of other helpful tools to maintain your Simulator are implemented too…

Before you are using SIMstarter please read the END USER LICENCE Agreement at “LIZENZ.txt” carefully.

1.1 Disclaimer SIMstarter is free software and distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY.

You have no right to get support, software patches or updates. SIMstarter is tested software but could

remain software bugs which could cause data losses or other damage to your computer system. Use

SIMstarter to your own risk.

1.2 Donation SIMstarter has been started as a Freeware project. It took a LOT of hours in testing,

programming, graphic design e.g. and therefore we would appreciate if you could do a

donation for this project (PayPal donations).

1.3 Note of thanks I would like to especially thank all Beta testers.

Especially to Andrew Thornton (Developer) who made “SceneryConfigEditor” compatible to use with

SIMstarter. (http://sourceforge.net/projects/fs-sceditor/). You need v1.1.3 or higher

Especially to Günter Steiner who has been essential for the improvements of version 2.x.

Especially to Laurent Gomez who did the translation to French.

Especially to Jürgen Beisler who did a lot of testing.

Especially to Rainer (simmershome.de) who shared important information regarding PREPAR3D

Many thanks for the project http://dotnetzip.codeplex.com/ for creating „Ionic.Zip.dll“

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1.4 Requirements Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5 or later

1.5 Installation

1.5.1 Installation by Setup-File

Just start “Setup_SIMstarter_v2.6.01.exe” and follow the installation instructions

Please do not install into “Program Files (x86)” (because of User Rights)

1.5.2 Installation by ZIP-File

Copy the files of the ZIP-File into an empty directory, e.g. D:\FSX\SIMstarter

Just start the program by „Click“ on „SIMstarter.exe”

1.6 Update Prior an update version 2.5 of SIMstarter must be installed.

For PREPAR3D Users: Version 2.5 or 2.6 of PREPAR3D must be installed!

IF YOU ARE USING PREPAR3D Version 2.5 please select the correct version at

“Program settings” > “PREPAR3D” > “Use PREPAR3D Version” to unsure the correct handling of the new

file structure.

1.6.1 Update from SIMstarter v2.5 by Setup-File

Start “Setup_SIMstarter_v2.6.01.exe”

o Install SIMstarter on top of previous version

Start “SIMstarter”

o Please check every profile for “Start Manager” settings

Done!

1.6.2 Update from SIMstarter v2.5 by ZIP-File

Open ZIP-File

Copy “SIMstarter.exe” into SIMstarter root directory

Copy “thumbnail.jpg” into SIMstarter root directory

Start “SIMstarter”

o Please check every profile for “Start Manager” settings

Done!

1.7 Uninstallation Before you uninstall SIMstarter please double check that you don’t need backups stored in “.\Backup”

directory any more.

If you’ve installed SIMstarter via Setup-Program:

- Go to Control Panel > Software > Uninstall programs

- Select “SIMstarter” and click “Uninstall”

- Switch to “SIMstarter” directory and delete files and directories which were left by uninstaller

If you’ve installed SIMstarter via ZIP-File:

- Just delete “SIMstarter” directory

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2 Program menu Menu item Function

File > Open… > fsx.cfg Open fsx.cfg to a Text Editor

File > Open… > scenery.cfg Open scenery.cfg to a Text Editor

File > Open… > Directory of fsx.cfg Open directory of fsx.cfg

File > Open… > Directory of scenery.cfg Open directory of scenery.cfg

File > Open… > Directory “SIMstarter Backup” Open directory which contains all backups that have been done by SIMstarter

File > Open… > Directory “FSX” Open FSX-Main directory

File > Open… > Directory “FSX” Open “SimObjects” directory which contains all your Aircrafts, Helicopters, e.g.

File > Open… > Directory “Modules” Open Modules Directory of your Simulator

File > Quit End the program

Tools > Scenery Manager… Scenery Manager to define ScenerySets

Tools > Start Manager… Define programs and file operations which should be done when starting a profile

Tools > XML-Manager Manage DLL.XML and EXE.XML

Tools > Livery Manager… LiveryManager to hide/show or sort Liverys

Tools > Profile Manager… Backup, Recreate Profiles or create Desktop Shortcuts of Profiles

Tools > Diff Manager… Manage Differences which were found by SIMstarter

Tools > TextInfo Manager… Define your own TextInfo or SlewTextInfo (STRG+Z Textinfo’s)

Tools > Sort and validate file Sort Configurationfiles (including [SECTIONS]) and validate them

Tools > Clear controls Clear your joystick settings for an specific controller to make it useable with FSUIPC or other

Tools > Clear [Trusted] in fsx.cfg Clear [TRUSTED] Section within your fsx.cfg

Tools > Export Airports to GoogleEarth… Create GoogleEarth Export

Tools > Show saved flights in GoogleEarth Shows position of all aircrafts in saved flights in GoogleEarth

Tools > Show Airports in GoogleEarth Show your AddOn Airports in GoogleEarth

Settings > Program settings Open program settings at SIMstarter

Settings > Manage Shortcuts Open shortcut Manager to create your own Menu Shortcuts

Settings > GoogleEarth Export settings… Settings for GoogleEarth Export

Settings > “>> Reset all SIMstarter settings <<” Clears all settings and all profiles to get a “clean SIMstarter installation”

Logbook Opens Logbook of SIMstarter

ShortCuts User defined Shortcuts

About Shows version and searches for updates

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3 Program settings

1) Select if you use FSX (FSX-SE), PREPAR3D or both

2) Program settings Debug mode: Creates SIMstarter.log and ONLY for DEBUG purpose

(reduces performance of SIMstarter)

Create Backup: Creates a backup of all .cfg Files of your Simulator BEVOR they are changed (recommended “checked”)

Show logbook dialog: Asks you if you would like to comment your changes to Userlogbook if you’ve changed a profile

configuration

Allow multiple Instances of SIMstarter: If “unchecked” only one instance of SIMstarter can be run in parallel

(recommended “checked”)

Make changes directly after profile configuration – all changes will be done before profile has been started

(by ending profile configuration)

Automatic Updates: Checks at Website of SIMstarter (http://aviation.pero-online.de) if a newer version of SIMstarter is

available. No data from your computer will be sending, it just reads information from the internet.

If you have no internet connection please disable (because of performance)!

Check max. backup files: SIMstarter will create a ZIP-File with all files in .\Backup directory. If you don’t want to get your

backups zipped, please uncheck this option.

Hide Diff Manager Dialog: Does not show the Diff Manager dialog if something changes at your fsx. / prepar3d.cfg

Use Splashscreens for button: Your selected Splashscreen will be used for Start-Button background image

Start into “Jumpstart”-Mode: If you open SIMstarter the “Jumpstart” will be shown first, for users who use Jumpstart quite

often.

“FTX Central” Reminder: If you are using FTX Regions you will get a Pop-Up Window which will allow you to switch the regions.

3) Path to external Scenery.cfg Editor. Best use with “SceneryConfigEditor” v1.1.3 or higher

4) Path settings of a Text Editor which will be used to open configuration files

5) Path to SIMstarterClient Trigger file. Must be set to the file share that is access able from the client

PC (see chapter 7) for further information

6) Select how long SIMstarter should wait to revert the previous SplashScreen

7) Behavior after Profile has been started Normal: Nothing

Close Window: Closes SIMstarter Window after Profilestart

Minimize Window: SIMstarter Window will be minimized after Profilestart

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8) Clear User-Logbook of all changes that have been done within SIMstarter

9) Choose language (English/German/French)

10) Select how many profiles should be shown at “Startscreen”

11) Exit SIMstarter without changes

12) Save and exit settings

13) Switch to “Path settings for other simulators”

1) Select path settings for FSX (the same logic for FSX-SE or PREPAR3D)

2) If you like to use the FTX Central Reminder to remind you switching FTX Regions, you need to set the

path to FTXCentral.exe

3) If you like to use Active Sky Next profiles and setting with SIMstarter, you need to set the path to

ASNext.exe. Otherwise the profile settings will be disabled.

4) Switch to FSX-SE (only for users of FSX-SE)

SIMstarter is using the same SIMstarter profile files for FSX and FSX-SE. Therefore you must

select either using FSX or FSX-SE.

If you “check” or “uncheck” this setting all FSX*.* configuration files in “.\Userprofiles” will

be backuped and deleted to make it possible that SIMstarter is importing the right files for

the right simulator

The use of FSX-SE mode will be indicated be “FSX SE” Icon on the right side of SIMstarter

(in simulator related dialogs) and on top of every window

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4 Startscreen

1) Open “Jumpstart Dialog” to “jump” into a saved flight directly (see Chapter 5)

2) Select the SIMstarter Mode (FSX or PREPAR3D) if installed and configured

3) Start a profile (change FSX configuration based on that profile)

4) Set up the profile

5) Indicates that “profile03” has been started last time. If it shows “last active” it indicates that this was

the last profile of configuration.

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5 JumpStart

5.1 General JumpStart allows you to “jump” directly into a saved flight. You can quick select a profile and combine with a

saved flight, select date and time and fly…

These settings are valid if you’ve selected other settings at the profile.

5.2 Functions

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1) Select SIMstarter Profile

2) Select a saved flight

- If you have a saved flight configured in that profile, SIMstarter will use the JumpStart

selected one

3) Hide Simulator “Startup / Welcome Screen” and jump directly into the flight

4) Needed if you switch your aircraft with a saved flight

5) Set the started profile to “paused”

6) Select if you would like to use a “No changes to scenery.cfg”, “ScenerySets” or “External scenery.cfg”

- No changes to scenery.cfg: SIMstarter won’t touch your Scenery settings

- Use SIMstarter ScenerySet: You can select the build-in SIMstarer functions to handle Scenery

settings

- Use external scenery.cfg: You can use an external scenery.cfg with SIMstarter. Just enter the

path to the source file

- You can only use one option. The other option will be disabled then (see screenshot

“External scenery.cfg”)

7) Select your ScenerySets

8) Select an external scenery.cfg. The source file must not be named scenery.cfg it will be copied to

“scenery.cfg” if the profile starts

- SIMstarter can handle other scenery.cfg files

- Just select a source file by clicking “Select file…”

- If you would like to edit this scenery-file just click “Open in ext. Editor…” (you need to select

a path to external Scenery Editor in “Program settings” (Chapter 3). External Scenery

Manager e.g. “SceneryConfigEditor”

9) Select Aircraft for this flight

10) Shows Saved Flight Information

11) Exports current Aircraft Position to GoogleEarth

12) Set time and date for this flight (will be saved in the selected flight)

13) Will use system time for this flight

14) You can select a new position for your flight (Gate, Parking or Runway). Click “Select” to select your

starting point. (see picture below)

15) Cancel Dialog and go back to “Startscreen”

16) Start selected flight…

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6 Module „FSX/P3D Configuration“

6.1 General Important: Only changes which are made here or in “FSX.cfg”-Tab will take effect in your

fsx.cfg/prepar3d.cfg next time this profile starts.

6.2 Functions

1) Switch profiles and change profile name and description

2) Defines profile name (will be shown at the start page). Only [0-9] or [a-z] or [A-Z] is allowed

3) Defines profile description (will be shown at the start page)

4) Profile configuration

Nearly all settings of “FSX/PREPAR3D“ can be done here

An “orange” colored value indicates, that this value differences from the MasterProfile.

A “grey” colored value indicates that this setting has been done at the MasterProfile.

If you “click” on the value you’ll find a context menu to “delete” or “reset” this value to FSX-

Default. If “delete” is greyed out that it’s a FSX-Standardvariable which cannot be deleted.

5) Close profile settings

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7 Module „Startdefinition“

7.1 General Select the RunSet which will run 3rd party programs or performing file operations like rename, copy, e.g. One

RunSet can be assigned to different SIMstarter profiles.

7.2 Functions

1) Select a RunSet for the current profile. RunSets are defining which programs will be started when the

profile will be executed.

2) Open “Start Manager” do define a RunSet or create new ones

3) Select a default flight for your profile. This flight will be loaded whenever the profile is started.

4) If you “uncheck” Autogen enabled that SIMstarter will rename “.\Autogen\Default.xml” to disable

default autogen (only for low performing systems, because it reduces Autogen)

5) ReStart Windows “Aero” Desktop after Simulator

6) Only needed for users of SIMstarterClient on a remote computer:

If this option is checked SIMstarter will copy a “SIMstarterClient_Trigger.txt” file at every

start of a profile to the SIMstarterClient Trigger directory which must be set in the “Program

settings”

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8 Module „ FSX/PREPAR3D.cfg“

8.1 General It shows all configuration parameters of the current profile. This view allows setting up variables which are

not available in “FSX/P3D Configuration”; meaning all settings of FSX/P3D.cfg.

8.2 Functions

1) Adds new entry to this profile

2) Adds a new variable and value which is not available in drop down list

3) Shows current config for this profile. It shows just the differences between MasterProfile and the

selected profile if Masterprofile is not selected.

4) Disable current setting by adding “//”

5) Remove selected variable and value. If last variable will be deleted the section will be deleted too.

6) Import from other profiles (existing settings will be overwritten)

from other SIMstarter profiles

from current FSX/P3D.cfg. Section [TRUSTED] won’t be imported.

7) Read your current fsx.cfg/prepard3d.cfg to the profile again (only for Masterprofile)

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9 Module „ScenerySet“

9.1 General You can define an individual definition of which Scenerys you would like to use for each profile. This “Scenery

Configuration” is called ScenerySet. That gives you the ability to define for example one profile with

Eyecandy for VFR and one reduced profile for IFR.

9.2 Functions

1) Select if you would like to use a “No changes to scenery.cfg”, “ScenerySets” or “External scenery.cfg”

No changes to scenery.cfg: SIMstarter won’t touch your Scenery settings

Use SIMstarter ScenerySet: You can select the build-in SIMstarer functions to handle Scenery

settings

Use external scenery.cfg: You can use an external scenery.cfg with SIMstarter. Just enter the

path to the source file

You can only use one option. The other option will be disabled then (see screenshot

“External scenery.cfg”)

2) Select one or more ScenerySet for this profile

To assign more than one ScenerySet just tick the required checkbox.

You can use it like “ScenerySet Groups” for complex Scenery.cfgs

3) Open SceneryManager to define ScenerySets

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4) Select an external scenery.cfg. The source file must not be named scenery.cfg it will be copied to

“scenery.cfg” if the profile starts

SIMstarter can handle other scenery.cfg files

Just select a source file by clicking “Select file…”

5) If you would like to edit this scenery-file just click “Open in ext. Editor…” (you need to select a path to

external Scenery Editor in “Program settings” (Chapter 3)

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10 Module “XML-Files”

10.1 General This module can assign different DLL.XML / EXE.XML Sets for every SIMstarter profile. You can disable DLLs

which are not needed for your current profile and enable DLLs that are required for this profile. To manage

the DLL Sets use “XML Manager”.

10.2 Functions

1) Select your DLL.XML Set for this profile

2) Select your EXE.XML Set for this profile

3) Open “XML Manager” to manage the XML Sets

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11 Module “SplashScreen”

11.1 General A SplashScreen can be defined for every profile of SIMstarter. We included 2 Sets for FSX and PREPAR3D

(thanks to Günter Steiner). If you would like to add your own SplashScreen just open the SplashScreen

directory by clicking on the BIG SplashScreen Window.

11.2 Functions

1) Don’t use SplashScreen for this profile (Uires\dlgsplash.bmp won’t be changed)

2) Select a SplashScreen for this profile

3) “Click” obens SplashScreen Directory to add your own SplashScreens

4) Reset SplashScreen to last saved version

5) Reload Selection if you’ve inserted and SplashScreen into SplashScreen directory

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12 Module “User Logbook”

12.1 General This logbook documents all changes that the user has been done to a configuration profile. After every

change the user will be ask1 if you would leave a short comment for this change (e.g. Test with higher LOD

Settings). That should give you a good overview of all changes to your SIM.

12.2 Functions

1) Add own logbook entries

2) Add/Change own logbook entry

3) Show current logbook

4) Filters in logbook

5) Jump to time stamp

1 This dialog can be disabled in Program-Settings. See Chapter 3.

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13 Tool „Start Manager“

13.1 General The StartManager allow you do define RunSets which define file operations like copy, delete, e.g. and

starting 3rd party programs like weather tools e.g. RunSets must be assigned to a SIMstarter profile. One

RunSet can be used for multiple profiles.

If you are changing existing file operations or program settings you need to click “Apply” (“Add” button

becomes “Apply” button)

13.2 Functions

1) Select a “RunSet”

2) Create a new RunSet

3) Rename a RunSet

4) Copy a RunSet

5) Delete a RunSet

6) Shows all programs or file operations for that RunSet

7) Sort order of programs and file operations

8) Remove a program or file operation from RunSet

9) Add a program to RunSet. You can define parameters if needed.

10) Select the program priority for TaskManagement

11) Select the WindowStyle to open a program minimized, maximized or hidden

12) If you check this option this program will be closed after simulator has been closed

13) Add the program to RunSet

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14 Tool „Scenery Manager“

14.1 General The SceneryManager manages „Scenery profiles“ called ScenerySets. You can assign multiple configuration

profiles to one ScenerySet. A ScenerySet describes which Scenery will be used and which should be disabled.

Important: The SceneryManager works with “Title” of the scenerys. If you rename a Scenery title you have

to deactivate it again in SIMstarter because the “old title” won’t be found…

14.2 Functions

14) Select current ScenerySet

15) Create a new ScenerySet

16) Rename a ScenerySet

17) Copy a ScenerySet

18) Delete a ScenerySet

19) Sort available Sceneries ascending

20) Hide Basis Scenery of your SIM

21) Hide active Scenery

22) Activate / selected scenenys in THIS ScenerySet or in ALL ScenerySets

23) Delete Scenery from scenery.cfg and all ScenerySets of SIMstarter

24) Rename Scenery in scenery.cfg and all ScenerySets

25) Add new Scenery to scenery.cfg

26) Show Scenery for this ScenerySet

a. A „bold“ entry indicates that this Scenery is ACTIVE

b. Scenerys can be disabled by clicking the CheckBoxes

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15 Tool “Livery Manager”

15.1 General The Livery Manager allows you to view, enable, disable and move Liverys. So you can move your personal

favorite aircraft to the first (00) position so that it is displayed in FSX/P3D first.

If you have hidden a livery it won’t be shown in your simulator.

15.2 Functions

15.2.1 View mode „Thumbnails“

1) Switches to „list-mode“ for faster sorting of Liverys

2) Show

All Liveries

Disabled only

Enabled only

3) Jump to selected aircraft

4) A "transparent" title indicates that this Livery enabled in FSX/P3D

5) A "grey" title indicates that this Livery disabled in FSX/P3D

6) Change the sorting of the liveries

7) Change selected livery as a PREPAR3D favorite plane

8) Hide or show selected aircraft in FSX/P3D

9) Open aircraft directory

10) Quit Livery Manager

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15.2.2 View mode „List“

1) Switches to „list-mode“ for faster sorting of Liverys

2) Jump to selected aircraft

3) “[OFF]” indicates that this Livery disabled in FSX/P3D

4) Moves selected livery one up

5) Moves selected livery one down

6) Hide or show selected aircraft in FSX/P3D

7) Open aircraft directory

8) Quit Livery Manager

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16 Tool “Manage profiles”

16.1 General Profiles can be sorted into your display order, refresh them, create a Desktop Shortcut, copy them or simply

create a backup.

16.2 Functions

1) Select profile

2) Sort profile one up

3) Sort profile one down

4) Refresh selected profile and deletes all settings

5) Creates desktop shortcut of SIMstarter

6) Creates desktop shortcut to selected profile

7) Creates profile backup into subdirectory „\Backup“ of SIMstarter

8) Show existing backups

9) Restore an existing backup to its initial profile

10) Delete existing backup

11) Copy Profile

12) Select Source Profile

13) Select Target Profile

14) Close profile settings

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17 Tool “Diff Manager”

17.1 General Each time SIMstarter indicates a configuration parameter inside fsx.cfg / prepar3d.cfg the Diff Manager will

be shown at SIMstarter startup. Diff Manager indicates these “variations”. Meaning that there has been done

an configuration change to fsx.cfg by an “external program” or FSX itself which is not configured in

SIMstarter. For example if an external installer adds a “SimObjects” Path it will detected here and you can

decide if you would like to add it to MasterProfile or leave it.

17.2 Functions

1) Show Variations of fsx.cfg

New Variations

Indicates differences between fsx.cfg and your SIMstarter Configuration

Archived Variations

Indicates variations which have not assigned to Masterprofile until now

Ignored Variations

Indicates variations which should be ignored

If these Items are changing SIMstarter do not prompt them

2) Delete checked item

3) Adds „checked“ Items to IgnoreList

4) Refresh selected profile and deletes all settings

5) Creates desktop shortcut of SIMstarter

6) Creates desktop shortcut to selected profile

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18 Tool „TextInfo Manager“

18.1 General You can define your own TextInfo’s or SlewTextInfos.

A TextInfo will be shown if you press „CTRL+Z“ a SlewTextInfo if you’re in Slew-mode.

18.2 Functions

1) Create a new TextInfo

2) Create a new SlewTextInfo

3) Delete selected TextInfo

4) Reset all TextInfos and SlewTextInfos to default

5) Show values that are assigned to [SlewTextInfo.1]

6) Sort values

7) Shows values that are not assigned to [SlewTextInfo.1]

8) Add or remove a value

9) Close Dialog

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19 Tool “Sort and Validate files”

19.1 General SIMstarter is able to sort [SECTION] Files like fsx.cfg. Simply select such file and click “Sort file”. If you wish to

validate a file just leave this options checked and SIMstarter will detect

- Double Variables

- Variables without values

- Sections without “[“ or “]”

19.2 Functions

1) Select predefined files

2) Open file dialog to select another file

3) Start file-Sort

4) Validate file too

5) Show content of current file

6) Open file in Texteditor

7) Close dialog

20 Tool „Clear [TRUSTED]“

20.1 General Clears [TRUSTED] section in fsx.cfg. Meaning you have trust all DLL’s again next time SIM starts.

21 Tool „Show Airport in GoogleEarth“

21.1 General Opens GoogleEarth and shows all your AddOn Airports.

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22 Tool “Google Earth Export”

22.1 General Creating a KML-Export of all your Add-on Airports. This function uses an external program (MAKERWYS.EXE)

from Pete Dawson to create a file named “RUNWAYS.TXT”. SIMstarter is able to create a GoogleEarth Export

based on this file.

You need MAKERWYS.EXE v4.675 from Pete Dawson which can be downloaded here:

http://www.schiratti.com/dowson.html

You need GoogleEarth which can be downloaded here:

http://www.google.de/intl/de/earth/

22.2 Functions If you select “No” SIMstarter will activate all Scenery in

your scenery.cfg, recreating runways.txt and revert your

scenery.cfg to normal (before). If you select “Yes” he will

use the current scenery.cfg.

Click “Yes” will update

your existing

“runways.txt” will be

done by Pete Dawson’s

MAKERWYS.EXE. This

will take some time…

Creating GoogleEarth KML-File

If you would like to start Google Earth just

click “Yes”

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23 Settings “Manage ShortCuts”

23.1 General You can define your own ShortCuts Menu and add URLs, Files, or external programs.

23.2 Functions

Just add a name of your ShortCut MenuItem and define your target.

Targets can be

- File (PDF, TXT, e.g.)

- Executable (EXE, CMD, BAT, e.g.)

- URL (http://, https://)

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24 Settings „GoogleEarth Export“

24.1 General GoogleEarth Export shows all your installed AddOn Airports in GoogleEarth. Some directory’s should not be

included in that export to avoid a bunch of Airports which are not typically “AddOn’s” for example

“MyTraffic”.

24.2 Functions

1) Add a new ICAO Code for an Airport that should be hidden at the export

2) Show your hidden Airports

3) Remove a hidden Airport

4) Add a directory or parts of a directory string that should not be included in export

5) Show excluded path or substrings

6) Remove path from that list

7) If you check this setting GoogleEarth Export won’t show the path of the scenery.

8) Update all Settings of GoogleEarth Exporter (recommanded)

9) Path for the .kml Export

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25 Using Startparameters SIMstarter.exe can be started the parameters.

Example to start FSX with profile 01:

„D:\SIMstarter\SIMstarter.exe“ FSX profil01

Example to start PREPAR3D with profile 01:

„D:\SIMstarter\SIMstarter.exe“ PREPAR3D profil01

26 Program sequence

SIMstarter Start • (SIMstarter) checks if program updates are availible

• (SIMstarter) checks if changes can be found in fsx.cfg which are not present in one profile configuration

Profile Configuration • Changes will be saved in \UserProfiles\ directory NOT in

fsx.cfg (if you configure profiles)

• (User) defines changes to fsx.cfg

• (User) defines ScenerySet to disable not needed Scenerys

• (User) defines SplashScreen

• (User) defines SimObject-Paths for this profile (if needed)

Start Profile • (SIMstarter) backups fsx.cfg and scenery.cfg to \Backup\ directory

• (SIMstarter) combines Masterprofile with started profile and create new fsx.cfg

• (SIMstarter) copy [Trusted] Section from fsx.cfg and paste it into new fsx.cfg

• (SIMstarter) copy new fsx.cfg to active fsx.cfg

• (SIMstarter) activates all Scenerys in scenery.cfg and deactivate only Scenerys that have been disabled in the related ScenerySet

• (SIMstarter) copy selected SplashScreen to UIRES\dlgsplash.bmp and remove it if FSX is started

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27 SIMstarter Client

27.1 General SIMstarter Client is a program which will be used on a second computer to start programs triggered by

SIMstarter. SIMstarter will copy a file “SIMstarterClient_Trigger.txt” to a “Trigger directory” which will

permanently checked by SIMstarter Client. Once the file is there, SIMstarter Client will start the defined

programs.

If you do not use a second computer for your flight simulator, you won’t need SIMstarter Client.

27.2 Setup

27.2.1 On your primary computer (simulator)

1) Both computers need to be in the same network.

2) Create a directory and file share where the remote computer will have write access.

Example: D:\FSX\SIMstarterClientTrigger

You need to create a network share with write access for everyone.

3) Start SIMstarter > Program settings.

Enter the local path to that share (you could use UNC path as well \\MYPC\SIMstarterClientTrigger

4) Click Profile configuration > “Startdefinition” > Check “Start SIMstarterClient Trigger after SIMstarter

profile”. SIMstarter will copy a file “SIMstarterClient_Trigger.txt” to

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“\\MYPC\SIMstarterClientTrigger” everytime the related profile will be started.

27.3 On a remote computer 1) Copy “SIMstarterClient” folder to the remote computer. Its located at your SIMstarter root directory.

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2) Start “SIMstarterClient.exe” > Settings

1. Select the path to the trigger directory on your remote computer

2. Shows the programs which will be started if the TriggerFile has been found

3. Add a program to the execution list

4. Remove a program to the execution list

5. Will start the “Search” mode automaticly once SIMstarterClient has been started

(no “click” needed for AutoStart)

6. Will not stop searching for the TriggerFile once the file has been found.

7. Start or Stop the “Search” mode

i. RED BAR “<< STOPPED>>” indicates that SIMstarterClient will not search for the

TriggerFile

ii. GREEN BAR “<< STARTED>>” indicated that SIMstarterClient is ready to wait for the

TriggerFile

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3) To Start “click” the RED BAR “<< STOPPED >>” and SIMstarterClient will move to the logfile

1. Show the “Trigger log”

2. Clear the logfile

3. Start or Stop the TriggerMode

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