Contents
- Preparing Kiosk Mode
- Using Kiosk Mode
- Customizing Kiosk Mode
- Kiosk Quick Reference
Kiosk mode is a way for museums, flight schools, and other organizations to let visitors easily experience the wonders of Flight Simulator 2004: A Century of Flight. Kiosk mode is a simplified interface for launching flights in Flight Simulator, and for allowing the simulation to run unattended before it resets automatically after a specified length of time. To use Kiosk mode you must have Flight Simulator 2004 installed. Kiosk mode will not work with previous versions of Flight Simulator.
Kiosk mode key features include:
• A simplified interface that allows users to select and fly flights without the need for an attendant.
• The ability to allow a user to select a flight from a list using just the joystick; the keyboard and mouse can be hidden.
• Flights that automatically end after five minutes (or any time you specify), preventing users from monopolizing the kiosk while others wait.
• The ability to create a custom background image featuring your organization’s logo.
• The ability to create custom kiosk flights with associated images and descriptions.
Before using Kiosk mode, install and run Flight Simulator once in order to build scenery and navigational facilities indexes.
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To install Flight Simulator for Kiosk mode use
1. Make sure your hardware meets the minimum specifications noted on the Flight Simulator box. More powerful configurations offer better visuals and performance.
2. Install Flight Simulator 2004: A Century of Flight.
3. Launch Flight Simulator by clicking the Flight Simulator 2004 icon on the desktop. Flight Simulator will create its required indexes.
4. Once you see the Getting Started dialog box, you can exit Flight Simulator by pressing ESC or ALT+F4.
To update a previously installed copy of Flight Simulator for Kiosk mode use
1. Launch Flight Simulator by clicking the Flight Simulator 2004 icon on the desktop.
2. From the main Flight Simulator screen, click Settings.
3. In the Settings dialog box, click General.
4. Verify that the Pause on task switch checkbox is selected. This will allow Flight Simulator to pause when a Kiosk mode flight ends.
5. Click OK.
6. Verify that Flight Simulator is running in full-screen mode. (Press ALT+ENTER to switch between full-screen mode and windowed mode.)
7. Exit Flight Simulator by pressing ESC or ALT+F4.
Improving Performance
If you’re an experienced Flight Simulator user, you can adjust the settings in the Flight Simulator Display Options dialog box to customize graphics quality and performance. (From the main Flight Simulator screen, click Settings, and in the Settings dialog box, click Display.) By default, Flight Simulator defines these settings for the best performance on your system. To learn more about display settings, see the Optimizing Visuals and Performance and Changing Display Settings articles in the Learning Center.
In order for Kiosk mode to run, your monitor must be set to a resolution of 1024×768.
To change your monitor’s resolution
1. Right-click on the Windows desktop.
2. Select Properties.
3. Select the Settings tab.
4. Change the Screen Resolution to 1024×768.
Flight Simulator is compatible with joysticks, yokes, game pads, and other controllers supported by Microsoft Windows and the DirectInput device standard. Use the device that works best as your primary control. Many products feature different configurations, so refer to your controller's documentation for its button assignments.
Before using Kiosk mode, make sure your joystick or other controller is:
• Plugged into your computer.
• Set up and calibrated in Microsoft Windows.
Also, make sure you have the latest device drivers. If in doubt, download and install them from the manufacturer's Web site.
Depending on your joystick, you'll probably have buttons for frequently used controls and for cockpit views, but you'll still need to use the mouse or keyboard for administrative functions.
Tip: Print the next page and display it near the monitor where users can see it as they fly.
Joystick Commands
1. (trigger) Release brakes2. Cycle through views3. Elevator trim down4. Elevator trim up5. Extend flaps6. Retract flaps7. Display kneeboard8. Extend or retract landing gear 9. (hat switch) Look around10. Throttle control
A keyboard and mouse are not required to use Kiosk mode. In fact, you should hide or secure the keyboard and mouse so that users do not inadvertently disrupt the simulation, change Flight Simulator settings, or exit accidentally.
Kiosk mode is designed to be easily used by any novice computer user.
To launch Kiosk mode
• Double-click the kiosk.exe icon located in ..\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Flight Simulator 9 (or in the directory where you installed Flight Simulator). To find the Flight Simulator directory, right-click on the Flight Simulator icon on your desktop, select Properties, and click the Find Target button.
You’ll only have to launch Kiosk mode once.
For convenience, you can create a shortcut to kiosk.exe on your desktop. Right-click on kiosk.exe in the main Flight Simulator folder, select Create Shortcut, and then drag the shortcut onto the Windows desktop.
To begin a Kiosk mode flight
1. Launch Kiosk mode.
2. Tilt the joystick to select a flight from the list.
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Press joystick buttons 2 and 3.
3. Pull the trigger (button1) to begin the flight.
To end a Kiosk mode flight
• Wait for the flight to end automatically.
Press ALT+F4, CTRL+C, or CTRL+BREAK.
To exit Kiosk mode
• From the main Kiosk mode screen, press ESC
Press ALT+F4.
By default, Kiosk mode flights automatically end after 5 minutes, and the main Kiosk mode screen will reappear. You can easily change the length of time before a flight ends.
To change the Kiosk flight timer
1. From the main Kiosk mode screen, press ALT+A to display the Kiosk Admin dialog box.
2. In the Flight Length box, enter the number of minutes you want Flight Simulator to run before returning back to the Kiosk mode screen.
3. Click OK.
If you would like to customize the Kiosk mode background image (for example, with your organization’s logo), replace the file bkg.bmp in the main Flight Simulator directory: ..\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Flight Simulator 9 (or in the directory where you installed Flight Simulator). The image is a 24-bit color 1024×768 bitmap, and can be modified or replaced with an image of the same size.
Be sure to back up the original file before making changes.
You can create your own flights to include in Kiosk mode. To learn more about creating flights in Flight Simulator, see the All About Flights article in the Learning Center.
To create custom kiosk flights
1. Create and save the flight in Flight Simulator.
2. Move the files from the ..\My Documents\Flight Simulator Files directory into the ..\Flight Simulator 9\Flights\Kiosk directory.
Creating a Flight
Flights can start on the ground at an airport, or in the air.
To create a flight that begins on the ground at an airport
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