Kiosk Readme

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 organizations logo.
The ability to create custom kiosk flights with associated images and descriptions.

Preparing Kiosk Mode

Install and Run Flight Simulator
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.
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To update a previously installed copy of Flight Simulator for Kiosk mode use
1.
2.
3.
4.

Launch Flight Simulator by clicking the Flight Simulator 2004 icon on the desktop.
From the main Flight Simulator screen, click Settings.
In the Settings dialog box, click General.
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.
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Improving Performance
If youre 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.

Set the Windows Screen Resolution

In order for Kiosk mode to run, your monitor must be set to a resolution of 1024768.
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To change your monitors resolution
1. Right-click on the Windows desktop.
2. Select Properties.
3. Select the Settings tab.
4. Change the Screen Resolution to 1024768.
5. Click OK.
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Configure the Joystick

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 brakes
2. Cycle through views
3. Elevator trim down
4. Elevator trim up
5. Extend flaps
6. Retract flaps
7. Display kneeboard
8. Extend or retract landing gear
9. (hat switch) Look around
10. Throttle control

Keyboard and Mouse

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.

Using Kiosk Mode

Kiosk mode is designed to be easily used by any novice computer user.
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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.
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Youll 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.
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To begin a Kiosk mode flight
1. Launch Kiosk mode.
2. Tilt the joystick to select a flight from the list.
-orPress joystick buttons 2 and 3.
3. Pull the trigger (button1) to begin the flight.
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To end a Kiosk mode flight
Wait for the flight to end automatically.
-orPress ALT+F4, CTRL+C, or CTRL+BREAK.
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To exit Kiosk mode

From the main Kiosk mode screen, press ESC

-orPress ALT+F4.
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Customizing Kiosk Mode

Changing the Timer
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.

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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.
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Changing the Background Image

If you would like to customize the Kiosk mode background image (for example, with your
organizations 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 1024768 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.

Creating Custom Kiosk Flights

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.
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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.
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Creating a Flight
Flights can start on the ground at an airport, or in the air.
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To create a flight that begins on the ground at an airport
1. On the main Flight Simulator screen, click Create a Flight.
2. Follow the steps on screen to select an aircraft and starting location; set the weather, date,
and time; change fuel settings (optional); set failures (optional); and create and save a flight
plan (optional).
3. Click the Save Flight button.
4. Enter a title and description for the flight.
5. Click OK.
You can find the flight you've saved on the Select a Flight dialog in the My Saved Flights
category.
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To create a flight that begins in the air, or to save a flight after you've entered the
simulation

1. Set everything up exactly as you want it (for example, on final approach to O'Hare with a
challenging crosswind).
2. On the File menu, select Save Flight.
3. Enter a title and description for the flight.
4. Click OK.
You can find the flight you've saved on the Select a Flight dialog box in the My Saved Flights
category.
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Moving Flights into the Kiosk Directory
After you've created flights, you need to move the associated files to the Kiosk directory. Move
the relevant .flt (flight) and .wx (weather) files from the ..\My Documents\Flight Simulator Files
directory into the ..\Flight Simulator 9\Flights\Kiosk directory. (Each flights .flt file and .wx file
have the same name, but different extensions.)
When you start Kiosk mode, the new flight is listed along with the default flights.
You can easily change the flights title or description.
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To change a flights title and description
1. Find the flights .flt file in ..\Flight Simulator 9\Flights\Kiosk.
2. Using a text editor (like Notepad), open the flights .flt file.
3. In the [Main] section, change the text after Title= and Description=.
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Creating Images for Flights

Each flight listed on the main Kiosk mode screen can have an associated image that appears
when that flight is selected in the list. You can use a Flight Simulator screenshot, or make an
image of your own. You can add an image for each flight you create. If there is no image
associated with a flight, a default image appears.
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To take a screenshot
1. Press PRINT SCRN to copy an image of the Flight Simulator screen to the Windows
clipboard.
2. Open a graphics editing program, like Microsoft Paint.
3. Paste the image from the clipboard into the graphics program.
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To add an image to a Kiosk flight description
1.
2.
3.
4.

Create or resize an image as a 24-bit color 465382 bitmap (.bmp) file.

Move the file into the ..\Flight Simulator 9\Flights\Kiosk directory.
Using a text editor (like Notepad), open the flights .flt file.
At the end of the [Main] section, add the line Screenshot=[filename].bmp (where [filename]
is the name of the bitmap file you created).

The image will appear on the main Kiosk mode screen when you select that flight.
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Kiosk Quick Reference

The following quick reference guide is provided as a resource for staff managing Flight Simulator
kiosks.
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To launch Kiosk mode

Double-click the kiosk.exe icon located in ..\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Flight

Simulator 9.
-orClick the kiosk.exe shortcut on the Windows desktop. (See the Using Kiosk Mode section,
above, for more information on creating a shortcut.)
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To select a Kiosk mode flight from the list

Tilt the joystick.

-orPress joystick buttons 2 and 3.

Pull the trigger (button1) to begin the flight.

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To end a Kiosk mode flight

Wait for the flight to automatically end.

-orPress ALT+F4, CTRL+C, or CTRL+BREAK.
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To exit Kiosk mode

From the main Kiosk mode screen, press ESC.

-orPress ALT+F4.
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