[mandark]

This might be useful for people using the Launcher Addon with Windows.

Normally with the Launcher-Addon, Emulator-ROMs are somewhat easier to handle then direct Windows-programs. When adding a new game-ROM to an emulator, you simply copy the ROM-file into the ROM-directory and then rescan the Launcher-item in XBMC. Windows-programs need to be added one-by-one as stand-alone launcher-items. Another problem with this is, that you cannot group all Windows-Games or -Programs into a seperate Launcher-"group".

Using this HOW-TO you can handle Windows-programs exactly like Emulator-ROMs using normal Windows-shortcuts and a special EXE-file.

1. Download [url=http://www.megaupload.com/?d=ZNUY8DLI&setlang=en"]this file[/url] and extract WindowsShortcutLauncher.exe into any directory.
   
2. Create a new folder anywhere and place shortcuts to all programs you would like have in your Windows-Launcher-item.
   
3. Create a new Launcher-item in XBMC using the following code:
   
   Code:

       <launcher>
        <name>Windows Programs</name>
        <application>Path-to\WindowsShortcutLauncher.exe</application>
        <args>"%rom%"</args>
        <rompath>Path-to-Your-Shortcuts-Folder</rompath>
        <thumbpath>Path-to-Your-Thumbs-Folder</thumbpath>
        <fanartpath>Path-to-Your-Fanart-Folder</fanartpath>
        <romext>lnk</romext>
        <platform>IBM PC Compatible</platform>
        <thumb>Path-to-Your-Windows-Thumb</thumb>
        <fanart>Path-to-Your-Wundows-Fanart</fanart>
        <genre></genre>
        <release></release>
        <publisher>Microsoft</publisher>
        <launcherplot></launcherplot>
        <wait>false</wait>
        <roms>
        </roms>
    </launcher>
4. Now you can scan the Launcher-Item for new files and they will be added just like ROM-games to emulators.
   

Of course you can also make more than one such Launcher-item (e.g. Programs and Games). You just need to use different Shortcut-folders.

This was tested using XBMC Dharma, the current Advanced Launcher Addon-version by Angelscry and Windows 7.

Of course, using Angelscry's (excellent!) version of launcher, the automatic scraping of game-infos is also working nicely.

So what is this EXE-file and what does it do?

It's actually very simple. Using the script-language "Autohotkey" i created the EXE using the following code:

Code:

SetWorkingDir %A_ScriptDir%
RunWait, %1%
WinWaitClose

This does nothing else than launching the shortcut-file passed to the EXE via a parameter.