Simplify startup of DCS and all the paraphernalia required

[spikenet]

I have finally switched fully over to DCS World. My setup includes helios, freetrack, target and now cmd scripts to copy/move files depending on what I fly ie: A10 or BS for helios exports.

 

Now, its getting to be a real pain to start all these programs and batch scripts, does anyone have a program or way to cleanly start and run all these items required to run DCS?

 

One thing I have never managed is to get target to run a config script from the command line, is this possible?

 

thanks.

[sobek]

Just write a batch script that calls all the executables. DOS syntax is a bit weird (at least to me), but you should be able to find all that you need in about an hour of querying Dr. Google.

 

Edit: Actually, the Wikipedia entry about batch files is pretty decent and should get you started. If you run into troubles, just drop a line.

Edited January 4, 2013 by sobek

[Sense]

A program called "macro express" should be able to do it.

[spikenet]

thanks for the tips, I'm having a go at a DOS script.

 

In the process I finally figured out running target script via commandline :)

 

edit: got it working really nice.

Thanks to the combined export.lua made it less mucking around also.

 

@echo off
color 0A
title Start DCS World.

echo Welcome, %USERNAME%

echo Start up Freetrack?
set /p choice="Enter your choice: "
if "%choice%"=="n" goto start
start "Starting Freetrack" /B "FreeTrack v2.2.lnk"
ping localhost /n 2
cls

:start
cls
echo Welcome, %USERNAME%
echo What would you like to do?
echo.
echo 1. Start for Black Shark?
echo 2. Start for A10?
echo 3. Start for All other planes?
echo. 
echo 0. Quit
echo.

set /p choice="Enter your choice: "
if "%choice%"=="1" goto BlackShark
if "%choice%"=="2" goto A10
if "%choice%"=="3" goto Generic
if "%choice%"=="0" exit
echo Invalid choice: %choice%
echo.
pause
cls
goto start

:BlackShark
cls
echo BlackShark.
start "Starting Target" /B "C:\Program Files (x86)\Thrustmaster\TARGET\x64\TARGETGUI.exe" -r "C:\ProgMain\DCS World\TM\Cookie-BS2.tmc"
ping localhost /n 2
start "Starting Helios bs2" /B "bs2.lnk"
ping localhost /n 2
rem start "Starting VAC A10" /B "C:\Program Files (x86)\VAC System\VACSystem.exe" SpikeBS2.xml,TRUE
rem ping localhost /n 4
echo.
goto finish

:A10
cls
echo A10.
start "Starting Target" /B "C:\Program Files (x86)\Thrustmaster\TARGET\x64\TARGETGUI.exe" -r "C:\ProgMain\DCS World\TM\Cookie-A10.tmc" 
ping localhost /n 2
start "Starting Helios A10" /B "ac10.lnk"
ping localhost /n 2
rem start "Starting VAC A10" /B "C:\Program Files (x86)\VAC System\VACSystem.exe" DCSA-10.xml,TRUE
rem ping localhost /n 4
echo.
goto finish

:Generic
cls
echo Generic.
start "Starting Target" /B "C:\Program Files (x86)\Thrustmaster\TARGET\x64\TARGETGUI.exe" -r "C:\ProgMain\DCS World\TM\Cookie-A10.tmc" 
ping localhost /n 2
echo.
goto finish

:finish
start "Starting DCS" /B "DCS World.lnk"
exit

 

Feel free to use the code ;)

Edited January 4, 2013 by spikenet

[sobek]

Nicely done! :)

[Darkwolf]

whoaw nice.

[Quirkitized]

Out of curiosity, what is the benefit of this compared to just having these programs run when windows starts? In this day in age, esp. with decent ram amounts and ssds?

[sobek]

Out of curiosity, what is the benefit of this compared to just having these programs run when windows starts? In this day in age, esp. with decent ram amounts and ssds?

 

Idle state power consumption? :D

[Blaze]

Especially TARGET, it has a big footprint when running in the background all the time.

[spikenet]

Out of curiosity, what is the benefit of this compared to just having these programs run when windows starts? In this day in age, esp. with decent ram amounts and ssds?

 

yes good question and in reality, I could do that for freetrack. However, programs like helios, VAC and target run different profiles depending of what aircraft is flown. So they must be reloaded differently depending on those conditions.

 

I'm pretty happy with this little batch file, it really simplifies it. :)

 

at some point soon I'll bundle all my different profiles for those programs and put them in user files area.

Edited January 5, 2013 by spikenet
edited

[Quirkitized]

I see, makes sense in that regard. Thanks for the info.