Creating a Batch File for Win10

[SKEWR 364]

Hello all,

I'm trying to get a batch file that will open my most used addons with one click. I read up on batch files and I'm trying make it work. After some research, I created the following:

@echo off

cd "F:\Program Files (x86)\HiFi\AS_P3Dv4\AS_P3Dv4"
start "AS_P3Dv4.exe"

cd "G:\Prepar3D v4\Modules"
start "LINDA.exe"

pause

 

This above does not work at all. Can someone please tell me what I'm doing wrong?

 

Thanks in advance!

[Psybear 23]

I think you need   exit   at the end.

Edited August 22, 2018 by Psybear

[hs118 707]

May I make an unsolicited suggestion? For a couple of years I used a batch file to do exactly what you are trying (and more, swapping out fsx.cfg files, for example). 

Buy SimStarterNG. 

The fact that you are trying a batch file demonstrates your expertise and vision. SimStarterNG can do this and much more to customize your sim startup environment.

Best of luck with your travels.

 

 

[Bob Scott 7,720]

The cd command will not switch between drives without the /d option:

cd/d "F:\Program Files (x86)\HiFi\AS_P3Dv4\AS_P3Dv4" 

or alternatively, change drives with a separate discrete command

F:
cd "\Program Files (x86)\HiFi\AS_P3Dv4\AS_P3Dv4" 

The pause command will leave the command window open while the sim runs.  I'd leave out the pause command.

If you want to see the output of the commands, particularly errors, stream the output to a file when you run it, e.g. mybat >out.txt

and then look through out.txt to review the console output.

 

A better option might be to run Linda at P3D startup using the run= command in the FSUIPC.ini file.

Regards

 

[CB_Pilot 54]

1 hour ago, Henry Street said:

Buy SimStarterNG. 

+1, superb application. Can’t imagine simming without it now.

[Lorby_SI 2,038]

Hi,

the "start" command doesn't exist in native DOS. It is unnecessary, every line of the batch file expects an executable or a native DOS command.

"test.bat":

Quote

@echo off
F:
cd "F:\Program Files (x86)\HiFi\AS_P3Dv4\AS_P3Dv4"
"F:\Program Files (x86)\HiFi\AS_P3Dv4\AS_P3Dv4\AS_P3Dv4.exe"
G:
cd "G:\Prepar3D v4\Modules"
"G:\Prepar3D v4\Modules\LINDA.exe"

pause

You may not even have to change the directory first, but that depends on what the exe expects.

Other methods:

• With P3D V3 and V4 you can add executables to an addon package and start them when the sim starts

The XML would be here: "C:\Users\...\Documents\Prepar3D v4 Add-ons\MyAutoStart\add-on.xml" and look like this:
 

Quote

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<SimBase.Document Type="AddOnXml" version="4,0" id="add-on">
<AddOn.Name>MyAutostart</AddOn.Name>
<AddOn.Description>Addons to start with the sim</AddOn.Description>
<AddOn.Component>
<Category>EXE</Category>
<Path>F:\Program Files (x86)\HiFi\AS_P3Dv4\AS_P3Dv4\AS_P3Dv4.exe</Path>
</AddOn.Component>
<AddOn.Component>
<Category>EXE</Category>
<Path>G:\Prepar3D v4\Modules\LINDA.exe</Path>
</AddOn.Component>
</SimBase.Document>

or

• You can add those exes to one of the exe.xml files
• Use some other startup tool like FSUIPC or SimStarter

Best regards

Edited August 22, 2018 by Lorby_SI

[SKEWR 364]

Thank you all for the help!

I'll do some research on SimStarter. Quick question about the app: Does it stay in memory or does it terminate after it starts the various exe?

 

@w6kd @Lorby_SI

Thank you very much for the help. I'll be working my way through both options. Much appreciated!

[edpatino 1,964]

If you're interested, here's my batch file in Windows 7. You can try to see if it works in Win 10:

@echo off
start "Active Sky P3Dv4" "E:\HiFi\AS_P3Dv4\AS_P3Dv4.exe"
CHOICE /N /C YN /T 13 /D Y >NUL
start "FFTF Dynamic" "E:\FSPS LTD\FFTF Dynamic P3Dv4\FFTF Dynamic P3Dv4.exe"
CHOICE /N /C YN /T 5 /D Y >NUL
start "Enviro ATC Chat" "F:\Enviro!\Enviro!.exe"
CHOICE /N /C YN /T 1 /D Y >NUL
start "Prepar3D v4" "E:\Lockheed Martin\Prepar3D v4\Prepar3D.exe"

It adds a pause of 13 seconds after starting ASP4, 5 secs after starting FFTF Dynamic and 1 sec.before starting P3Dv4.3.

Cheers, Ed

 

[ddawson 35]

It really is worth learning how to use the command line options for P3D

http://www.prepar3d.com/SDKv4/sdk/add-ons/add-on_configuration_files.html

You can add search directories for just about anything, as well as adding stuff to exe.xml and dll.xml, all without jerking around with xml files.

 

Doug

[jbinner 15]

windows 10 / Server 2012R2 adds into the mix "powershell." You could also write an auto-start method in this. We used it a lot where I work for various things.

 

 

[Dirk98 354]

Could somebody give an example of  a batch file, that starts some service apps first then launches the main program, then waits for the main exe to terminate and finally closes the service apps one by one? 

Thanks.

Edited April 28, 2020 by Dirk98

[Reader 2,021]

Hello,

this one starts Rex Environment Force, then Active Sky and finally P3D v4.

You would need to edit the P3D path (in red) to match your installation

Quote

 

@echo
cls
rem Rex Environment Force
cd /D G:\P3D v4\REXModules\
start rexenvforce.exe
timeout /t 6
rem AS_P3Dv4
cd /D C:\Program Files (x86)\HiFi\AS_P3Dv4\
start AS_P3Dv4.exe
timeout /t 4
rem P3D v4
cd /D G:\P3D v4
start Prepar3D.exe
timeout /t 4

exit

 

This one closes P3D v4, then Rex Environment Force and then Active Sky.

Quote

@echo
cls
taskkill /F /im Prepar3D.exe
timeout /t 6
taskkill /F /im rexenvforce.exe
timeout /t 4
taskkill /F /im AS_P3Dv4.exe
timeout /t 4
exit

 

Edited April 28, 2020 by Reader