FSUIPC7
Installation and Registration Guide
Flight Simulator Universal Inter-Process Communication
by John Dowson, © May 2024
An application interfacing module for MSFS
Support Forum: Pete Dowson's Support Forum
For version 7.4.12 and later of FSUIPC7 only
Note: All our Windows based software is always available in the latest versions from
from the Download Links subforum in the Support Forum (link above), and also from
www.fsuipc.com
Package Contents
As well as the document you are now reading, the FSUIPC package contains the FSUIPC installer “ Install
_FSUIPC7.exe” and a changes text (.txt) file. This text file contains details of recent changes. Please see the
FSUIPC7 History document for a complete list of changes since FSUIPC5. A README.txt file is also
provided, also containing basic usage instructions, missing functionality, limitations and issues. Please read
this file!
Running The Installer
The Installer itself should hopefully be self-explanatory. To run the installer, double-click it. You will then
have to confirm to Windows to allow the installer to make the necessary changes to your system.
Please make sure that FSUIPC7 is not already running when you run the installer – if FSUIPC7 is running
when you run the installer, then this will be detected and the installer will abort.
FSUIPC7 already installed
If you already have FSUIPC7 installed, then the installer will first uninstall this installation. Only the files
installed by the FSUIPC7 installer will be removed, and other files ( .INI and .KEY files, lua scripts, macro
files, etc) will be preserved so that they can be re-used.
Installation Components
Once you have agreed to the License Agreement (EULA), you will be presented with a page that allows you
to select the components that you wish to install:
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The following components are available for installation:
1. FSUIPC7
This component installs the FSUIPC7.exe application. Selection of this component is mandatory
(i.e. it cannot be deselected).
2. Auto-Start FSUIPC7 with MSFS
There are two different ways to have FSUIPC7 auto-started when you run MSFS:
1. Using the MSFS.bat file. This is the recommended method since version 7.4.12 and will be
pre-selected. FSUIPC7 will be automatically started after MSFS is started (after a pre-defined delay)
when the MSFS.bat file or the desktop icon/link is used to start MSFS. When this option is selected,
the desktop link to start MSFS will always be installed.
2. Using the MSFS EXE.xml file. This is the older method of having FSUIPC7 auto-started.
You can still use this method but be aware that FSUIPC7 can run considerably slower when using
this method, especially lua plugins. If this method is selected, please also de-select the MSFS.bat
auto-start component – if this is not deselected, the EXE.xml file auto-start will not be installed.
3. WASM
Selecting this component will install the FSUIPC WASM module in your MSFS Community folder,
to enable lvar/hvar access in FSUIPC. If you do not use lvars or hvars, you can de-select this
component to not install. However, it is recommended to install anyway, as it won't be used unless
you activate the functionality in FSUIPC.
4. FSUIPC Documentation
This component allows selection of the documentation that can be installed with FSUIPC. The
documentation is broken down into the following categories:
User Manuals: selecting this item installs the following documents:
Installing and Registering FSUIPC.pdf (this document!)
FSUIPC User Guide.pdf
FSUIPC for Advanced Users.pdf
FSUIPC Offsets Status.pdf
FSUIPC History.pdf
Profiles in Separate Files.pdf
Offset Mapping for PMDG 737-700.pdf
Lua Documentation: selecting this installs the documentation for FSUIPC' Lua interface
together with examples:
FSUIPC Lua Library.pdf
FSUIPC Lua Plug-Ins.pdf
Lua License.pdf
Lua Plugins for VRInsight Devices.pdf
LuaFileSystem.pdf
Example LUA plugins.zip
Note that all documentation will be installed in a folder called FSUIPC7, located under your
windows Documents folder. If, for some reason, the documents cannot be installed in this location, a
folder called Docs will be created under the installation directory, and the documents will be
installed in this folder.
5. Extras
This component allows selection of the following additional software (freeware) to be installed:
SDK: the FSUIPC Software Development Kit. If selected, this will be installed in a sub-folder of
the selected installation directory called 'SDK'.
HiDScanner: a small program for scanning connected/registered Joysticks and other HIDs (Human
Interface Devices) and providing full details as well as monitoring for changes. If selected, this will
be installed in a sub-folder of the selected installation directory called 'Utils'.
FS-Interrogate 2: a useful utility program for monitoring the FSUIPC offsets in real-time, kindly
provided by Pelle F. S. Liljendal. If selected, this will be installed in a sub-folder of the selected
installation directory called 'Utils'. A user manual 'FSI2 Manual.pdf' will also be installed in your
FSUIPC7 documents folder.
WebSocket Server: a utility that enables communication to FSUIPC7 via WebSockets, to enable
browser support. Please see fsuipcwebsockets.paulhenty.com for further details. Kindly provided by
Paul Henty.
MobiFlight Presets (events.txt file): this is the MobiFlight file that contains the MobiFlight presets
and associated calculator code. Installing this file will allow you to assign directly to the MobiFlight
presets without the need to install the MobiFlight event files (see below). This file is provided by
courtesy of MobiFlight – please see the Advanced User guide for details, as well as the MobiFlight
HubHop resource (https://hubhop.mobiflight.com/) where you are advised to register and contribute
if using presets.
MobiFlight Event Files: event files for the MobiFlight WASM module. These are provided for
convenience. If you are using the MobiFlight WASM module, you can use these files to make the
MobiFlight events known to FSUIPC7, so that you can assign to them as you would any other
events. To use these files, you must move or copy them from their installed location to the main
FSUIPC7 installation folder (i.e. up one level).
H:Var files: hvar files for use with the FSUIPC WASM module. Please see the Advanced User
Guide for details.
Installation Location
Once you have selected the components to install, you will be presented with a page that allows you to select
the installation location, regardless of the installation method selected. If you had a previous version of
FSUIPC7 installed, then this will default to the location previously used. If no previous version of FSUIPC7
was detected, then this will default to C:\FSUIPC7.
Note that it is not recommended to install FSUIPC7 under your MSFS folders, and also not under the
windows Program Files or Program Files (x86) folders.
Once the installation location is selected, clicking the 'Next' button will install the components that you have
selected. An uninstaller will also be created, called 'uninstallFSUIPC7.exe' and also located in the selected
FSUIPC7 installation directory. This can be used to uninstall FSUIPC7 if and when required (and is also
available from the standard Windows uninstall Apps page).
Once the install process has completed, you can optionally register your copy of FSUIPC7.
FSUIPC7 Registration
Registration for FSUIPC7 is optional. If you do not have an FSUIPC7 key or if you have previously register,
then you can skip this step by clicking the 'Skip' button. Note that if you have already registered and there is
a valid FSUIPC7.key file in your installation directory, then the fields in the registration form will be pre-
populated with these values
To register your FSUIPC7 key, and additionally your WideFS registration key, enter you registration details
in the dialog box provided, shown below:
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If you have a WideFS registration using different details (Name and Email or Address) then check the
provided check-box which will enable you to enter these different details.
It is recommended to copy-and-paste the details needed from the purchase email that you received from
SimMarket.
Once the details have been entered, click the 'Register' button. This will verify the entered details against the
key and generate a FSUIPC7.key file, and install this in your installation directory.
Please note that FSUIPC6 keys (and earlier) ARE NOT VALID for FSUIPC7. If you already own a key for
FSUIPC5 or 6, a key for FSUIPC7 can be purchased via SimMarket for a reduced fee, automatically applied
when you check-out.
If you are using a time-limited license, then there is no need to Register. If you do, the registration will fail
validation. This can be ignored and is due to the fact that the installer does not validate time-limited licenses.
To add a WideFS license when using a time-limited license, you will have to add the details of the WideFS
license to the FSUIPC7.key file manually.
WideFS Registration
If your WideFS registration uses a different Name or Address thab the FSUIPC7 registration, check the
provided checkbox to enter these details.
Please note that if you are re-running the FSUIPC7 installer to register your WideFS7 key, then you also
need to re-enter and re-register your FSUIPC7 key (if you have one). In fact, the text entry fields for this
should be pre-populated from your existing key file. This is necessary as registration will re-generate your
key file and the FSUIPC7 key will be missing if you do not include this.
Creating a Desktop Shortcut
After the registration page, you will be presented with the following page:
This contains an option, selected by default, to install a shortcut on your Desktop that will start MSFS,
displaying a splash screen while MSFS is starting up.
Note that the delay can be changed by editing the file MSFS.bat, located in your FSUIPC7 installation folder.
If you do not want to create such a link on your Desktop, uncheck the provided checkbox before clicking
Finish to end the installation process. However, if you have selected to install the auto-start of FSUIPC7 via
the MSFS.bat method, which is the default, then unchecking this option will have no effect – the Desktop
shortcut will still be installed.
Installation Problems
If you have any problems with installation, please make sure that you have extracted the installer from the
zip file and that you are not running the installer from within the zip file. Also check any anti-virus software
as some block the installer from running – add an exception or disable while installing. Also check the
installer' file properties as it may have been blocked from running there.
Otherwise, please report this on our support forum. Please attach your install log (if produced), and please
DO NOT POST your registration details. The install log is named InstallFSUIPC7.log and is located in your
select installation folder, as well as in the folder where the installer is located. Before posting, PLEASE
check the forum for existing posts relating to your issue, as most issues have already been reported and
working solutions available.
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Invalid Key Problems
Please note that registration keys are only valid from the date of purchase. If you find your registration not
working or the keys rejected, please check that your PC has the correct date set. It often happens that
when folks install a new PC or motherboard, or even re-install Windows, the system date is left, forgotten
and not corrected.
Please also note that only keys purchased for FSUIPC7 are valid for FSUIPC7. Keys for earlier versions
(FSUIPC6-1) are NOT VALID for FSUIPC7.
If your key does NOT validate correctly, and you are sure that you have entered the details EXACTLY as
specified in your SimMarket purchase email, then it could be that your Microsoft VC++ redistributables are
not up to date. You can download the latest combined redistributable package from the following site:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-US/cpp/windows/latest-supported-vc-redist
It is recommended to uninstall any of the 2015, 2017, 2019 or 2022 VC++ redistubutables that you already
have installed (using the Windows App management panel), and download and install/run both the x86 and
x64 packages from that link.
It has also been reported that anti-virus software can also prevent key/license validation, especially with
McAfree anti-virus software, so please also check any anti-virus logs and try installing/registering with anti-
virus software disabled.
If you are using a unicode (non-ascII) character set, then it could be that the installer cannot validate your
key. You can try manually creating your key file. To do this, create a file in your FSUIPC7 installation folder
called FSUIPC7.key and add the following contents – replacing the parts in bold with the correct details
from your purchase email or SimMarket account:
[User]
Name=Name as registered
Address=Address as registered
FSUIPC=Your FSUIPC7 Key
WideFS=Your WideFS Key
Note that you do not need to add the WideFS line if not using WideFS. If you are using WideFS but have
that registered with a different name and/or address, the format of this file is:
[User]
Name=Name as registered for FSUIPC7
Address=Address as registered for FSUIPC7
FSUIPC=Your FSUIPC7 Key
NameForWideFS=Name as registered for WideFS7
WideFSaddress=Address as registered for WideFS7
WideFS=Your WideFS Key
If you have any other problems with registration, please report this on our support forum. Please DO NOT
POST your registration details. These can be passed via a private message (PM) or email, and will be asked
for via one of these methods if needed.
If using a trial license for FSUIPC7 (available from https://forum.simflight.com/topic/92702-fsuipc7-trial-license-
available-here/), please be aware that this license (and any time-limited license) will not be validated by the
installer – just skip the registration.
Note for Users of previous FSUIPC versions
If you have previously used FSUIPC and wish to preserve your settings, then this can be achieved by
renaming your FSUIPCn.ini file (where n is 4, 5 or 6, depending upon version) to FSUIPC7.ini, and
moving this file to your FSUIPC7 installation folder. You may also wish to move any auxiliary files (e.g. lua
scripts, macro and mouse-macro files, etc).
It is also recommended to remove the contents of the [General] section of your FSUIPC7.ini if you do this,
as many of these parameters are no longer valid or the default value has been changed. This will be
regenerated the next time that you run FSUIPC7. Also, as the aircraft names are different in MSFS, you
should remove the aircraft names from the profiles, and add the new MSFS aircraft names – best done via
the UI by adding the MSFS aircraft to your existing profiles.
Note that MSFS can be quite different to FSX and P3D in terms of assignments, so many may no longer be
applicable, although many standard controls are the same.
Please also note that keys for FSUIPC4, 5 or 6 are NOT VALID for FSUIPC7, and you will need to purchase
a new registration if you want to use the additional facilities that registration provides.
Uninstalling FSUIPC7
If you would like to uninstall FSUIPC7, then this can be achieved by running the uninstallFSUIPC7.exe file
that is created in your installation folder during the install process. This can also be achieved by uninstalling
using the standard Windows Apps uninstall feature (which will also use the same uninstaller).
Addendum: Identifying Files in Windows Explorer
Recent versions of Windows Explorer have the nasty habit of hiding important parts of filenames from you. This is
supposed to make things easier, but often it does the reverse. "Log" files are shown without the '.log' part and are just
labelled "text files". Similarly, "INI" and "CFG" files are shown with that important part omitted and just labelled
"configuration settings" (if you are lucky). Even the programs themselves aren't correctly shown with the .EXE or .DLL
part.
You will need to fix this at some point. In Windows Explorer, go to Tools, Folder Options, View tab, and scroll down
the list. Uncheck "Hide extensions for known file types". Then, when you need to look at a log or find your settings
you'll be able to identify it correctly.
FSUIPC7 Installation and Registration Guide, Published by John Dowson,
May 2024