Using zDoom Launcher

Using the zDoom Launcher once it's configured is a breeze.  As long as you use relative paths in your configurations, you can use it from a portable device as well.  All you have to do is select the game you want and click on the lost soul (the flaming skull on the right).  This will launch the game with the settings specified in the configuration file for the one selected.  

You'll also notice below that there is a long text box on the bottom.  This is left for additional parameters.  Say you want to play a specific wad file but want to do it with looney toons sprites.  No problem.  Just select the item to play and add the wadfile parameter in the bottom box as you would from the command line.  An example would be "-file extra\looneytunes.wad.".




You can also use the same box above to add parameters for multi player.  You may use "-host 3 -warp 1 -skill 2" to host a game or something like "-join 168.23.1.56" to join the game.  If your regularly join or host with the same specific numbers, you can set these in another configuration file to keep from having to type it each time.  Just add them to the parameters already in the configuration.



You can select the items by clicking or cycling through the items.



You'll also notice that there's an entry "Duke Nukem 3D" above.  Yes, this is correct.  Duke 3D is not a Doom TC but the actual windows port of Duke Nukem 3D.  This launcher was programmed with zDoom in mind, but can be used with properly set configuration files as a generic game launcher.  You can even change the title by typing "SetTitle" in the bottom text bar, then a space, then the title you want.  When you move away from the text box, it will save the title and advise you of this.  The title is stored in "Title.cfg" in the same directory as the zDoomLauncher.exe.  You could even use this to launch e-mail clients, media players, or anything else you want to set up a configuration file for.  

If something keeps going weird with the item you are launching and you want to see what parameters are actually being passed.  Simply select the title you want, then type "Show Parameters" (case sensitive) in the bottom text bar, then click the launch button.  Instead of launching the title, it will show the program, parameters, and starting location being passed in the big info window.  This is helpful if you seem to have a corrupt configuration file and possibly need to fix it.  


You can also minimize zDoom Launcher by using the little down arrow.  There is an X by it to close the launcher (not shown in these pictures).  All items have tool tip text if you rest the cursor over it.  When you minimize, it does not go to the task bar but instead is a small movable bar on your desktop.  You just have to double click on the bar to restore it.  This is shown in the picture below.  It was done this way to allow multiple launchers to be kept available without cluttering up the task bar.  Notice the multiple titles in the picture below.


One of them is for my Doom based games while the other is for the other games I have (though I don't really know if there are any other real games out there that can compare).  

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