Automatically switching into Eyefinity mode

[davedontmind]

I usually run my PC with each monitor as an extended desktop (i.e. I have three 1920x1080 displays, so a maximized window fills just the one monitor), but for a number of my games I switch into Eyefinity mode (one 6000x1080 display).

At the moment I just have an icon on my desktop for switching my video card into each mode, but is there any way I can automate it?

What I'd really like to do is click on an icon to launch, say, Left4Dead2, and have that icon switch into Eyefinity mode, run the game, then switch back to extended desktop mode when it's finished.

Is there any way to achieve that?

[Haldi]

you could use AutoIT to create a script which would automate all that.

[davedontmind]

Your post made me realise I could do something along those lines using a batch file, with contents like this:

Code: Select all

"C:Program Files (x86)ATI TechnologiesATI.ACECore-StaticCLI.exe" Start Load profilename="eyefinity"

   G:gamessteamsteam.exe -applaunch 550

   "C:Program Files (x86)ATI TechnologiesATI.ACECore-StaticCLI.exe" Start Load profilename="normal"

   

However, the call to steam.exe starts up the game in a different process/thread so that it returns to the batch file immediately, then changes video mode back to normal before the game has even fired up.

I had a quick look at the AutoIT page, but it just seems like another scripting language and I didn't see anything that would make it better than a plain old batch file in this regard.

I guess that, now I've figured out how to change video modes in a batch file, the issue is now Steam-related, not widescreen-gaming related, so I'll take the question elsewhere. Thanks for the input.

[Haldi]

I had a quick look at the AutoIT page, but it just seems like another scripting language and I didn't see anything that would make it better than a plain old batch file in this regard.

Exactly! Just a simple script language!

Good luck with your script.


btw. i'm still kinda pissed by Eyefinity to switch all screens black and take over 10 seconds to get from Extended to Eyefinity mode. But i guess we'll have to wait for Windows 9 and Eyefinity 3.0 for that not to happen anymore :(