Developer question - external programs

[WebbPA]

Is it possible to configure a panel button to open an external program?

For example, if I want to run ArrCab I have to:

1. Switch out of full screen mode.
2. Start Arrcab.
3. Switch back to full screen mode.

Granted, hitting 3 keys isn't that much work but I'm a tweaker who will spend hours trying to save a keystroke here and there.  This one is a little beyond my expertise, though.

Of course this is just part of my scheme to add a winamp button.

[fisharno]

I don't think you can get there from Fullscreen mode.
Either start ArrCab before you take off, or start in Window mode. Add a short cut to your Start Bar so you can open it from there.

If you're just using the default carriers .dll, then it dosen't matter. If you are using the Stennis in Washington, or one of the other ArrCab Carriers that uses it's own .dll, then you'll have to recheck the correct one anyway.

[FSTipster]

There's a utility that will automatically start necessary external programs for you. I don't have it but an updated version (freeware) was released at flightsim.com/avsim.com in the past two or three days - I saw it when checking through new releases.

[WebbPA]

Thanks, but that's not really what I was hoping for.  What I wanted to do was start FS, get into an aircraft, press a button on the panel and

1. Have arrcab start,

2. Have winamp start, or

3. Have another external program start,

on top of FS - saving 3 keystrokes.

[FSTipster]

It's probably possible using FSUIPC as a go-between for FS2002 and windows, but I've not seen a gauge programmed to do it.

Well beyod my current capabilites I'm afraid.

[WebbPA]

If it's beyond your capabilities I'm sure it's way beyond mine.  Food for thought?