A launcher config file describes how to launch a program (i.e. emulator, application, or game) when a launchable menu item is selected.
See below for a list of supported configuration properties. Launcher options
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
| executable | Path of where the executable exists |
| arguments | Arguments to pass when executing the launcher (i.e. ROM name) |
executable = D:/Emulators/Nestopia/nestopia.exe arguments = "%ITEM_FILEPATH%"
%ITEM_FILEPATH% is a reserved variable name. See the variables table below for other variables that may be used. Also note the quotes around “%ITEM_FILEPATH%” to help not confuse the executable from thinking that an item with spaces as multiple arguments.
Assuming that “Super Mario Bros” was the selected item, the frontend will attempt to execute:
"D:/Emulators/Nestopia/nestopia.exe" "D:/ROMs/Nintendo/Super Mario Bros.nes".
PS: You can also use relative paths (relative to the root folder of RetroFE)
executable = ../Emulators/Nestopia/nestopia.exe arguments = "%ITEM_FILEPATH%"
Launcher variables
| Variable | Description | Translated Example |
|---|---|---|
| %ITEM_FILEPATH% | Full item path | D:/ROMs/Nintendo/Super Mario Bros.nes |
| %ITEM_NAME% | The item name | Super Mario Bros |
| %ITEM_FILENAME% | Filename without path | Super Mario Bros.nes |
| %ITEM_DIRECTORY% | Folder where file exists | D:/ROMs/Nintendo |
| %ITEM_COLLECTION_NAME% | Name of collection for item | Nintendo Entertainment System |
| %RETROFE_PATH% | Folder location of Frontend | D:/Frontends/RetroFE |
| %RETROFE_EXEC_PATH% | Location of RetroFE | D:/Frontends/RetroFE/RetroFE.exe |
More elaborate example:
# Have fceux load a save state automatically for the ROM when started executable = D:/Emulators/fceux/fceux.exe arguments = "%ITEM_FILEPATH%" -loadstate "%ITEM_DIRECTORY%/%ITEM_NAME%.fcs"