Kiosk Readme

Contents
- Preparing Kiosk Mode
- Using Kiosk Mode
- Customizing Kiosk Mode
- Kiosk Quick Reference
Kiosk mode is a tool for museums, flight schools, and other organizations to let visitors easily
experience the wonders of Microsoft Flight Simulator X. Kiosk mode provides a simplified
interface for launching flights or missions in Flight Simulator, and for allowing the simulation to run
unattended until it resets automatically after a specified length of time or the played mission ends.
To use Kiosk mode you must have Flight Simulator X installed. Kiosk mode will not work with
previous versions of Flight Simulator.
Kiosk mode features:

A simplified interface that allows users to experience flight without the need for an attendant.
Easy Flight Simulator X operation using a joystick or Xbox 360 Controller for Windows; the
keyboard and mouse are not required.
Flights that automatically end after 15 minutes (or when mission goals are satisfied),
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 and missions (Mission Creation Tool required).

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 use
1. Make sure your hardware meets the minimum specifications noted on the Flight Simulator
box.
2. Insert Flight Simulator X disc 1 into your computers DVD drive and follow the installation
steps onscreen.
3. Start Flight Simulator by double-clicking the Flight Simulator X icon on the desktop. Flight
Simulator will create its required indexes.
4. Once you see the Getting Started screen, you can 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 Settings
Display dialog box to customize graphics quality and performance. (On the main Flight Simulator
screen, click Settings on the left menu.) By default, Flight Simulator defines these settings for the
best performance on your computer during installation. To learn more about display settings, see
the articles in the Learning Center.

Configure the Controller

Flight Simulator is compatible with joysticks, yokes, game pads, and other controllers supported
by Microsoft Windows and the DirectInput device standard as well as the new Xbox 360
Controller for Windows. Use the device that works best for you 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, and set up and calibrated in Microsoft Windows.
Also, make sure you have the latest device drivers. If in doubt, download and install them from
your controller manufacturer's Web site.
Depending on your controller, 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 when
youre not in Kiosk mode.
Tip: Print the appropriate controller page below 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

Xbox 360 Controller Commands

Action

Command

Increase throttle

Press Y

Decrease throttle

Press B

Apply brakes

Press A

Drop object

Press X

Left rudder

Press left trigger (1)

Right rudder

Press right trigger (2)

Climb/Descend

Left thumbstick back/forward (5)

Bank left/right

Left thumbstick left/right (5)

Look around

Move right thumbstick (6)

Cycle Mission pointer/compass state

Press right thumbstick (6)

Trim nose up

Press D-pad down (7)

Trim nose down

Press D-pad up (7)

Extend flaps incrementally

Press D-pad right (7)

Retract flaps incrementally

Press D-pad left (7)

Landing gear extend/retract

Press right shoulder button (4)

Spoilers extend/retract

Press left shoulder button (3)

Pause simulator

Press Start (9)

End flight

Press Back (8)

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 easy to use for any novice computer user.
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To start Kiosk mode

Double-click the kiosk icon located in Program Files\Microsoft Games\Flight Simulator X

(or in the folder where you installed Flight Simulator).

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Youll only have to launch Kiosk mode once.
For convenience, you can create a shortcut to kiosk on your desktop. Right-click kiosk 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 flight in Kiosk mode
1. Double-click kiosk.
2. Tilt the joystick or move the game controller thumbstick to select a flight from the list.
-orPress joystick buttons 2 and 3.
3. Pull the trigger (button1) or press the Start button 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

After running Kiosk mode for the first time, a new file will be created, where [user name] is the
account name of the person who installed Microsoft Flight Simulator. This file is:
Documents and Settings\[user name]\Application Data\Microsoft\FSX\KioskSettings.cfg
This file contains all the items that can be configured to customize Kiosk mode for your specific
needs.

Changing the Timer

Kiosk mode flights automatically end after 15 minutes, and then the main Kiosk mode screen
reappears. You can 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 to the Kiosk mode screen.
3. Click OK.
-or1. Open the KioskSettings.cfg file in a text editing program like Notepad.
2. Find the FlightLength= entry and type a time length (in minutes).
3. Save the file.
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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), you can replace the file or change an entry in the KioskSettings.cfg file.
1. Open the KioskSettings.cfg file in a text editing program like Notepad.
2. Find the BackgroundImage= entry and type the name of the file you want as a background
image.
3. Save the file.
-or

Replace the default bkg file with another file of the same name. Be sure to back up or
rename the original file before replacing it. Replace the file bkg.bmp in the main Flight
Simulator folder (Program Files\Microsoft Games\Flight Simulator X or in the folder where
you installed Flight Simulator.

====================

Creating Custom Kiosk Flights and Missions

You can create your own flights and Missions to include in Kiosk mode. You must run the full
version of Flight Simulator when creating and saving flights. You cannot save flights in Kiosk
mode.

To learn more about creating flights in Flight Simulator, see the All About Flights article in the
Learning Center.
To learn more about creating Missions in Flight Simulator (requires the Mission Creation
Kit), see the All About Missions 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 folder to the Flight Simulator
X\Flights\Kiosk folder.
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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 Free 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 by clicking Load on the Free Flight screen.
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To add custom kiosk missions
1. Using the Mission Creation Kit create the mission and save it in Flight Simulator.
2. Move the files from the My Documents\Flight Simulator Files folder to the Flight Simulator
X\Missions\subfolder folder (where subfolder is a name you provide).
3. Add the name of the mission to the [Missions] section of the KioskSettings.cfg file, making
sure to increment the File.n number (i.e., if the file contains File.1, name your file File.2).
Note: You can also change the default folder from which missions will load by changing the path
given for the Folder= entry in the [Missions] section of the KioskSettings.cfg file.
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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 by clicking Load on the Free Flight screen.
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Moving Flights into the Kiosk Folder

After you've created flights, you need to move the associated files to the Kiosk folder. Move the
relevant .flt (flight) and .wx (weather) files from the My Documents\Flight Simulator Files folder
to the Flight Simulator X\Flights\Kiosk folder. (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 X\Flights\Kiosk.
2. Using a text editor (like Notepad), open the .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 (press V while in
the simulator), 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 V. A bitmap file of the screenshot will be stored in Documents and Settings\user
name\My Documents\My Pictures\Flight Simulator X Files.
2. Add the image to the Kiosk folder using the instructions below.
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To add an image to a Kiosk flight description
1. Create or resize an image. The image must be 24-bit color, 465 382 pixels, and saved in
bitmap (.bmp) format.
2. Move the file to the Flight Simulator X\Flights\Kiosk folder.
3. Using a text editor (like Notepad), open the flights .flt file.
4. 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 icon located in Program Files\Microsoft Games\Flight Simulator X.

-orDouble-click the kiosk 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 (button 1) 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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