SimLauncher in P3D?

falcon409

falcon409

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Is anyone using this utility in V2.1? I used to use it in FSX and as convoluted as the system of "favorites/Default" is in P3D, I'd like to have a lot more control over how my Sim starts up. The problem seems to be that SimLaunch is looking for a "Prepar3D.flt" file before it will open up and as near as I can tell, Prepar3D doesn't produce an "flt" file like FSX does. It has an "fxml" file but nothing more. Can anyone shed any light on this?
 
This worked for me in 2.0, although I haven't tried in 2.1 yet. P3D will still open .flt files which gets around the new 2.x format for saved flights.

1. Run Pete Dowson's MakeRwys in your P3Dv2 root folder.
2. Copy SimLauncher.flt from FSX saved flights folder to P3Dv2 saved flights folder. DO NOT SAVE THIS FLIGHT IN P3Dv2, IT MUST REMAIN AS AN .FLT FILE.
3. Select SimLauncher.flt as the default flight in P3D.
4. Set up P3Dv2 paths in SimLauncher. You'll need to manually set the configuration folder, scenery.cfg folder and saved flights folder.
5. Use SimLauncher as normal.

The only problems were I would occassionally get a black screen on startup (solved by changing aircraft, airport, date etc for your intended flight in SimLauncher) and sometimes the desired airport would not be passed to P3D.

A few months ago it was said Maarten was working on an entirely new version of SimLauncher which it was hoped would be compatible with P3Dv2.
 
Thanks....I already tried your suggestion from a previous thread. It doesn't work because P3D is looking for a specific file in the main P3D folder/Flights/other folder. Hopefully He'll have a good version for V2.1 at some point.
 
Ed, we are working on the beta files for SimLauncher and P3D v2.1 right now. Maarten is sending updated version every day or so. Should be to long till it works perfectly in P3D v2.1.
 
stovall said:
Ed, we are working on the beta files for SimLauncher and P3D v2.1 right now. Maarten is sending updated version every day or so. Should be to long till it works perfectly in P3D v2.1.
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Good news Tom, Thanks.

Adrian, got your PM's and I did the same (renaming the file once I had it in the ".../flights/other" folder. . .still wouldn't recognize it. That's along with the other changes you noted. No problem, I'll just wait for the latest when he has it perfected. Thanks for the assistance though.:wavey:
 
You're very welcome.

Great to hear that the new version of SimLauncher is so close! Scenario Setup may be nicer visually but I still much prefer SimLauncher for its much greater degree of functionality.
 
Falcon I got it working by setting up a flight in FSX and then saving it making sure to call it Prepar3D and then moves it from "My Documents\Flight Simulator X Files" to "Prepar3D v2\flights\other"
I also had to disable the P3D startup screen or it would open and override simlaunchers settings when P3D started.
 
I've uninstalled P3Dv2 until L.M. can smooth things out and Orbx can correct the "objectflow" problems, so forgive me, I'm working from memory.

In SimLauncher v9.2, select the option to edit your profile. When you're in the profile and have the various pathways showing, look towards the bottom the edit screen for "startup program accepts flight as command line parameter". The box is "ticked" by default; "untick" this option.

When SLv9.2 launches, it looks for ".flt" file, can't find it and then loads the "fxml" as default. Unless you've modified the default flight, you'll end up on the runway at Norfolk, VA. I never used a .flt file to load as default.

I never created a new flight plan and tried to load, but see no reason why it shouldn't work.

I used this method rather than running the P3Dv2 Scenario since I was testing several different scenery configs with specific scenery installs.

plug_nickel
 
almccoyjr said:
I've uninstalled P3Dv2 until L.M. can smooth things out and Orbx can correct the "objectflow" problems, so forgive me, I'm working from memory.

In SimLauncher v9.2, select the option to edit your profile. When you're in the profile and have the various pathways showing, look towards the bottom the edit screen for "startup program accepts flight as command line parameter". The box is "ticked" by default; "untick" this option.

When SLv9.2 launches, it looks for ".flt" file, can't find it and then loads the "fxml" as default. Unless you've modified the default flight, you'll end up on the runway at Norfolk, VA. I never used a .flt file to load as default.

I never created a new flight plan and tried to load, but see no reason why it shouldn't work.

I used this method rather than running the P3Dv2 Scenario since I was testing several different scenery configs with specific scenery installs.

plug_nickel
Click to expand...
This isn't possible because Version 9.2 never opens completely to allow access to that option. Before it does there is the error message stating that it cannot find the "flt" file and clicking "ok" closes the utility.
 
falcon409 said:
This isn't possible because Version 9.2 never opens completely to allow access to that option. Before it does there is the error message stating that it cannot find the "flt" file and clicking "ok" closes the utility.
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Well *#&$^%&*^^%($*%&^$^%&%* and the horse I rode in on......... You're right. I went back to my backup hdd and re-installed P3Dv2 clone along with all my folders/configs and SLv9.2 was setup to pull .flt file from docs. My memory is crap....my bad. :banghead:

Sorry for the wild goose chase.

plug_nickel
 
No problem at all. I'm willing to try anything really, lol. I actually went into the SimLauncher configuration file and made the change there, hoping it would allow it to open, but no joy.
 
Yes Ed, Maarten has a new updated version working perfectly in P3D. I use it exclusively for my P3D v1.4. I like the opening program for P3D v2.1 so don't use it there. For P3D v1.4 it cuts through the need to adjust time, place and aircraft within the sim individually. SimLauncher allows you start with what you want all in one. The newer versions have a tab to check for updates. Hope this helps.
 
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stovall said:
Yes Ed, Marrten has a new updated version working perfectly in P3D. I use it exclusively for my P3D v1.4. I like the opening program for P3D v2.1 so don't use it there. For P3D v1.4 it cuts through the need to adjust time, place and aircraft within the sim individually. SimLauncher allows you start with what you want all in one. The newer versions have a tab to check for updates. Hope this helps.
Click to expand...
Tom,
Where might that be? The only one on flightsim.com is Ver9.2 which doesn't work with P3D_V2.0 without a workaround which I have yet to get working. I thought he had a website, but a search using his name or the program name renders nothing of consequence.
 
Ed, I am on my laptop with limited options. On a ten day trip. I will be home next Thursday. I will give you a link for the current version. I will also ask Marrtin about his website and provide you with a link if ok. I have been a beta tester. More to come when I get home.
 
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