The Flight1 Program Launcher tool is designed to automate many launch tasks that cockpit builders may encounter with multiple applications needing to be launched. The system will launch an application, and interact with the window as if you were using a keyboard in front of that window. Important - When using the launcher and if you are going to send commands to the loaded program window, you must make sure you completely keep your hands off your keyboard or mouse buttons until the loading process of all applications is complete.

The autostart.cfg file contains all the commands. You may hand-edit this file, or you may use the command builder in the main window. Each launch command contains multiple options. The format is pretty simple as long as you understand what each parameter is.

Application to be launched - This is the application you will be launching.

Delay (in milliseconds) - Required if you are going to use keyboard commands after the window loads. The delay allows the selected program window to load completely before interaction. 600 = 6/10ths of a second. Some applications that take longer to load may need more delay time.

Commands. Use from the list of keyboard commands below. You will commonly use tab, enter, up, down etc.. Each command is separated with a comma.

If hand editing, do not forget that there is a comma that separates the appliction to be launched and the delay time (if comands are used), or the vertical pipe "|" that goes after the delay time and proceeds the key commands. A vertical pipe or comma is not needed if you are not sending any key commands. For example, you can have these different command entries...

C:\Windows\notepad.exe - This will just launch notepad.
C:\Windows\notepad.exe,600|h,e,l,l,o - This will launch notepad and type hello into the main window.

Of course you would likely send up, down, or other window manipulation commands. For example, tab,down,down,enter, would tab over to a listbox, then send the down arrow twice, then send the enter key. You would possibly use this to make window selections from a list and then activate that option. With trial and error you can usually get everything just the way you need it.

Enter standard commands from the list below. For strings of multiple characters, enclose in quotes... e.g. "ABC".

To specify that any combination of SHIFT, CTRL, and ALT should be held down while several other keys are pressed, enclose the code for those keys in parentheses. For example, to specify to hold down SHIFT while E and C are pressed, use "+(EC)". To specify to hold down SHIFT while E is pressed, followed by C without SHIFT, use "+EC".