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Simple Launcher Wiki

Welcome to the official documentation for Simple Launcher, a powerful and flexible open-source frontend for emulators.

1. Introduction

Simple Launcher is a feature-rich, open-source frontend for managing and launching your retro game collection. While its name implies simplicity, it packs powerful features for both beginners and advanced users.

Key Features:

Easy and Expert Configuration: Use a guided wizard to add systems or dive deep into manual XML configuration.
On-the-Fly File Mounting: Launch games directly from .zip, .iso, and .xiso files without manual extraction, even for complex emulator setups like RPCS3 and Cxbx-Reloaded.
Extensive Customization: Control themes, languages, button sizes, aspect ratios, overlay buttons, and more.
Rich Media Support: Display covers, snapshots, videos, manuals, and other media for your games.
Powerful Game Management: Keep track of your favorites, view your play history, and use a global search to find any game across all your systems.
RetroAchievements Integration: Track your achievements, view game progress, and explore leaderboards directly within the launcher.
Bundled Conversion Tools: A suite of utilities to help you convert, verify, and manage your game files.
Modern UI: A clean, responsive interface built with WPF and MahApps.Metro.

2. Getting Started

System Requirements

Operating System: Windows 7 or newer.
.NET Framework: .NET 9 (The installer will handle this).

Required Dependencies

For full functionality, especially the on-the-fly file mounting, you must install Dokan.

Dokan: A user-mode file system for Windows that allows Simple Launcher to mount archive files as virtual drives.
- Download Link: https://github.com/dokan-dev/dokany/releases
- Please install Dokan before using features that rely on mounting ZIP or ISO files.

Installation

Download the latest release from the GitHub Releases page.
Unzip the entire application folder to a writable location on your computer, such as C:\Users\YourName\Documents\SimpleLauncher or D:\Emulation\SimpleLauncher.
Do not place it in restricted folders like C:\Program Files or C:\Program Files (x86), as Simple Launcher needs to write configuration files (system.xml, settings.xml, favorites.dat, playhistory.dat, etc.) and logs in its own directory.
Run SimpleLauncher.exe.

3. Core Concepts

Systems

A "System" represents a gaming console or platform you want to emulate (e.g., "Nintendo SNES", "Sega Genesis", "Arcade"). Each system has its own configuration, including its game folder(s), emulators, and media paths.

Game Files (ROMs/ISOs)

These are the actual files for your games. Simple Launcher supports a wide variety of formats, from single ROM files (.smc, .nes) to disc images (.iso, .chd, .rvz) and compressed archives (.zip, .7z, .rar).

Emulators

These are the external programs that run your games. Simple Launcher is a frontend, meaning it organizes your games and tells the emulator which game to launch. You must provide your own emulators.

Media and Folders

Simple Launcher is designed to be a highly visual frontend. It expects a specific folder structure within its main directory to automatically find and display media for your games.

The default folder structure is:

SimpleLauncher/
├── audio/
├── emulators/
├── images/
│   ├── systems/
│   └── [SystemName]/
├── roms/
│   └── [SystemName]/
├── title_snapshots/
│   └── [SystemName]/
├── gameplay_snapshots/
│   └── [SystemName]/
├── videos/
│   └── [SystemName]/
├── manuals/
│   └── [SystemName]/
├── walkthrough/
│   └── [SystemName]/
├── cabinets/
│   └── [SystemName]/
├── carts/
│   └── [SystemName]/
├── flyers/
│   └── [SystemName]/
├── pcbs/
│   └── [SystemName]/
├── tools/
└── SimpleLauncher.exe

roms/[SystemName]: The default location for your game files for a specific system. Note: Systems can now be configured with multiple ROM folders.
images/[SystemName]: The default location for your game cover art.
images/systems: The location for system logos displayed on the selection screen.
Other folders (videos, manuals, etc.) are for additional media accessible via the context menu.

4. Configuring Systems

You can add and edit systems in two ways: Easy Mode for a guided setup and Expert Mode for detailed manual control.

Easy Mode: Guided Setup

This is the recommended method for new users.

Go to Edit System -> Easy Mode.
Choose a System: Select a pre-configured system from the dropdown list. These presets contain recommended settings and download links.
Choose a ROMs Folder (Optional): You can specify a folder for your games. If you leave it blank, a default folder will be created for you inside SimpleLauncher\roms\[SystemName].
Install Components:

Download Emulator: Downloads the recommended emulator for the system.
Download Core (for RetroArch): Downloads the necessary core if the emulator is RetroArch.
Download Image Pack: Downloads a pre-packaged set of cover art for the system.

Add System: Once the required components (Emulator and Core, if applicable) are downloaded, click this button to save the configuration to system.xml.

Expert Mode: Manual Configuration (`system.xml`)

This mode gives you full control over the system.xml file, which stores all system configurations. Go to Edit System -> Expert Mode.

Here's a breakdown of the system.xml structure and fields:

Field	Description	Example
SystemName	The display name of the system (e.g., "Nintendo SNES"). This must be unique.	`Nintendo SNES`
SystemFolders	A list of paths to folders containing game files for this system. Can be absolute or relative. Multiple folders can be specified.	`.\roms\SNES` or `D:\Games\SNES`
SystemImageFolder	The path to the folder containing the cover art for this system.	`.\images\Nintendo SNES`
SystemIsMAME	`true` or `false`. If `true`, the launcher will use the MAME description for display and search instead of just the filename.	`true`
FileFormatsToSearch	A comma-separated list of file extensions to look for in the `SystemFolder(s)`. Do not include the dot.	`zip, 7z, smc, sfc`
ExtractFileBeforeLaunch	`true` or `false`. If `true`, the launcher will extract compressed files (`.zip`, `.7z`, `.rar`) to a temporary folder before launching.	`true`
FileFormatsToLaunch	Required if `ExtractFileBeforeLaunch` is `true`. A comma-separated list of extensions to look for inside the extracted archive. The first one found will be launched.	`smc, sfc`
EmulatorName	A unique name for this emulator configuration (e.g., "RetroArch Snes9x", "ZSNES").	`RetroArch Snes9x`
EmulatorLocation	The path to the emulator's executable file.	`.\emulators\RetroArch\retroarch.exe`
EmulatorParameters	The command-line arguments to pass to the emulator.	`-L "cores\snes9x_libretro.dll"`
ReceiveANotificationOnEmulatorError	`true` or `false`. If `true`, Simple Launcher will show a message if the emulator exits with an error code.	`true`

Path Placeholders

To make your configuration portable, you can use special placeholders in path fields:

%BASEFOLDER%: Represents the root directory where SimpleLauncher.exe is located.
%SYSTEMFOLDER%: Represents the path defined in the first <SystemFolder> tag for the current system.
%EMULATORFOLDER%: Represents the directory where the emulator's executable is located.

Example Usage in system.xml:

<EmulatorLocation>%BASEFOLDER%\emulators\RetroArch\retroarch.exe</EmulatorLocation>
<EmulatorParameters>-L "%EMULATORFOLDER%\cores\snes9x_libretro.dll" -f</EmulatorParameters>

5. Main Window and UI

System Selection Screen

When you first start Simple Launcher, or when no system is selected, you'll see a grid of all configured systems. Click a system's logo to load its game library.

Game Browsing

Top Bar (Letter/Number Filter): Use the letter/number filter bar to quickly jump to games starting with that character.
System & Emulator Dropdowns: Select the system you want to browse and the emulator you want to use.
Search Bar: Search for games within the currently selected system. Supports logical operators AND and OR.
Pagination: Use the "Next" and "Previous" buttons at the bottom to navigate through large game lists.
MAME Sort Order Toggle: For MAME-based systems, a toggle button allows switching between sorting games by filename or by their official MAME description.

Navigation Panel

The vertical panel on the left provides quick access to key features:

Restart: Reloads the UI to the system selection screen.
Global Search: Opens the Global Search window.
Favorites: Opens the Favorites window.
Play History: Opens the Play History window.
Expert Mode: Opens the system configuration window.
Toggle View Mode: Switches between Grid and List views.
Toggle Aspect Ratio: Cycles through different button aspect ratios in Grid View.
Zoom In/Out: Changes the size of game thumbnails in Grid View (also Ctrl + Mouse Wheel).

View Modes (Grid vs. List)

Grid View: A visual layout showing game covers as clickable buttons. Includes optional overlay buttons for RetroAchievements, Video Links, and Info Links.
List View: A detailed table showing filename, MAME description, folder path, file size, play count, and total playtime. Includes a preview image area.

Context Menu

Right-click on any game in either Grid or List view to access a rich context menu with many options:

Launch Game: Starts the game with the selected emulator.
Add/Remove from Favorites: Manages your favorites list.
View Achievements: Opens the RetroAchievements window for the selected game.
Open Video/Info Link: Searches YouTube or IGDB for the game.
Open ROM History: Shows historical information about the game from history.xml.
View Media: Opens viewers for associated media like covers, snapshots, manuals, etc.
Take Screenshot: Launches the game and prompts you to select the game window to capture a new cover image.
Delete Game: Permanently deletes the game file from your hard drive.
Delete Cover Image: Deletes only the associated cover image file.

6. Key Features

Game Launching & File Mounting

Simple Launcher's most powerful feature is its ability to handle different file types seamlessly.

Direct Launch: .exe, .bat, and .lnk files are launched directly.
Standard Launch: Uncompressed ROMs and disc images are passed to the configured emulator.
Extract Before Launch: If enabled for a system, .zip, .7z, or .rar files are automatically extracted to a temporary folder before launching.
On-the-Fly Mounting (Requires Dokan):
- RPCS3 (PS3): Mounts .iso or .zip files to a virtual drive and automatically finds and launches the EBOOT.BIN.
- Cxbx-Reloaded (Xbox): Mounts .xiso files and launches default.xbe.
- ScummVM: Mounts .zip files and launches the game via ScummVM's auto-detect feature.
- XBLA (Xbox 360): Mounts .zip files and finds the game executable within the required nested folder structure.

Favorites Manager

Access via Favorites -> Favorites or the heart icon in the navigation panel.
Add games to your favorites from the context menu.
View, launch, and manage all your favorite games from a single window.
Favorites are stored in favorites.dat.

Play History

Access via Play History -> Play History or the clock icon in the navigation panel.
Automatically tracks every game you play, recording the number of plays, total playtime, and last played date/time.
Data is stored in playhistory.dat.

Global Search

Access via Global Search -> Global Search or the magnifying glass icon in the navigation panel.
Search for a game across all configured systems.
Supports logical operators AND and OR for advanced queries.

Global Statistics

Access via Tools -> Global Stats.
Provides a detailed report of your entire collection, including:
- Total number of systems, emulators, and games.
- Total number of matched cover images.
- Total disk space used by your games.
You can save the report as a .txt file.

Image Pack Downloader

Access via Edit System -> Download Image Pack.
Provides an easy way to download complete cover art sets for systems defined in easymode.xml.

Controller Support

Full navigation of the UI is possible with an Xbox or PlayStation-compatible controller.
Enable/disable via Options -> Gamepad Support -> Enable.
Adjust the analog stick deadzone via Options -> Gamepad Support -> Set Gamepad Dead Zone.

Fuzzy Image Matching

Enable/Disable: Control whether fuzzy matching is used to find game cover images via Options -> Fuzzy Image Matching -> Enable.
Set Threshold: Adjust the similarity threshold for fuzzy matching via Options -> Fuzzy Image Matching -> Set Threshold.

Sound Configuration

Enable/Disable Notification Sound: Control whether notification sounds play via Options -> Sound Configuration -> Enable Notification Sound.
Custom Sound File: Choose a custom .mp3 file for notifications via Options -> Sound Configuration -> Notification Sound File.
Play Current Sound: Test the currently configured sound.
Reset to Default: Revert sound settings to default.

RetroAchievements Integration

View Achievements: Right-click a game and select "View Achievements" to open a dedicated window.
Game Progress: See your casual and hardcore completion percentages, earned points, and total achievements for a game.
Achievement List: Browse all achievements for a game, including their titles, descriptions, points, rarity, and unlock status (with dates).
Game Info: View extended game details like genre, developer, publisher, release date, and official images (icon, title, in-game, box art).
Game Ranking: See your rank and score for a game, along with global leaderboards for latest masters and high scores.
User Profile: Access your RetroAchievements profile, including total points, rank, recently played games, and unlocked achievements by date range.
Settings: Configure your RetroAchievements username and API key via Options -> RetroAchievements Settings.
Overlay Buttons: Enable quick access buttons for RetroAchievements on game items in Grid View via Options -> Overlay Button Settings.

Automatic Updates

Simple Launcher automatically checks for new versions on startup.
If an update is found, it will prompt you to download and install it.
The update process uses a separate Updater.exe application to ensure a smooth transition.
The "Update History" window (accessible via About -> Update History) displays release notes.

7. Bundled Tools

Simple Launcher includes a suite of tools accessible from the Tools menu to help you manage your game library.

Tool	Description
Batch Convert Iso To Xiso	Converts standard Xbox ISO files to the `.xiso` format required by some emulators, and can verify XISO integrity.
Batch Convert To CHD	Converts disc images (`.cue`, `.iso`, `.gdi`, etc.) to the compressed CHD format, and can verify CHD integrity.
Batch Convert To Compressed File	Compresses files or folders into `.zip` or `.7z` archives, and can verify archive integrity.
Batch Convert To RVZ	Converts GameCube and Wii disc images to the highly compressed RVZ format used by Dolphin, and can test RVZ integrity.
Create Batch Files...	A series of tools to generate `.bat` files for launching games that require special setups, such as for PS3, ScummVM, Sega Model 3, Windows, and Xbox 360 XBLA.
FindRomCover	A utility to help you find and organize cover art for your games, with MAME description support.
RomValidator	A tool to compare user game files with No-Intro dat files for validation.

8. Troubleshooting

Application doesn't start:
- Ensure you have .NET 9 installed.
- Make sure you are not running another instance of Simple Launcher.
- Check that the application is in a writable folder (e.g., not C:\Program Files).
Games won't launch:
- Check paths: Use Expert Mode to verify that the SystemFolder(s) and EmulatorLocation are correct. Use absolute paths if you are unsure.
- Check parameters: Ensure the EmulatorParameters are correct for the emulator you are using. Refer to the helpuser.xml guide in the Expert Mode window or the emulator's official documentation. A list of common emulator parameters can be found on our Wiki.
- Check for BIOS files: Many emulators require BIOS files to be placed in a specific folder.
Mounting features don't work:
- Install Dokan: This is a mandatory dependency for mounting .zip and .xiso files.
Errors or crashes:
- Check the error_user.log file in the Simple Launcher directory for detailed error messages.
- You can also enable the debug window by launching SimpleLauncher.exe -debug from the command line for real-time logs.

9. Dependencies & Credits

Simple Launcher is built using several excellent open-source libraries and tools.

External Dependencies

Dokan: For virtual drive mounting. https://github.com/dokan-dev/dokany

Bundled Executables

SimpleZipDrive.exe / SimpleZipDrive_arm64.exe: Custom tools based on Dokan for mounting ZIP archives.
xbox-iso-vfs.exe: Used by the MountXisoFiles service for mounting XISO files.
RAHasher.exe: Used for calculating RetroAchievements game hashes.
extract-xiso.exe: Used by the Batch Convert to XISO tool.
chdman.exe: The official MAME tool for creating and managing CHD files.
7z.dll / 7z_arm64.dll / 7z_x64.dll: Used for 7-Zip archive operations.
DolphinTool.exe / DolphinTool_arm64.exe: Used by the Batch Convert to RVZ tool.

Core Libraries (NuGet Packages)

MahApps.Metro: For the modern UI theme and controls.
Markdig.Wpf: For rendering Markdown in the Update History window.
SharpDX: For XInput and DirectInput controller support.
InputSimulatorCore: For simulating mouse movements with a controller.
Squid-Box.SevenZipSharp & ICSharpCode.SharpZipLib: For handling .7z, .zip, and .rar archives.
MessagePack: For fast serialization of data files like favorites.dat and playhistory.dat.
Microsoft.Extensions.*: For modern dependency injection, configuration, and memory caching.

Thank you for using Simple Launcher! For further help, please open an issue on the GitHub repository.