Each command line has 4 strings and 5 characters ';'
;string1 ;string2 ;string3 ;string4 ;

For example here is the command line for the Microstructure App displayed above:

;Microstructure.exe ;EQUIThermCond.pptx ;Microstructure App ; The Microstructure App is used calculate the thermal conductivities of microstructures. Model parameters for thermal conductivity calculations are available in several FactSage databases. _  _   The thermal conductivity of phases can be calculated as a function of temperature, porosity (intragrain porosity) and size (average grain size).;

The executable file is stored by defaut in the FactSage Folder (c:\FactSage\Microstructure.exe)
or else stored in the Add-ons_Apps sub-folder (c:\FactSage\Add-ons_Apps\H2-Al.exe) in which case the file (H2-Al.exe) is first copied to the FactSage Folder (c:\FactSage\H2-Al.exe) and then run. When FactSage is finished the copied file (c:\FactSage\H2-Al.exe) gets deleted.

FactSage App is one of the following:

- FactOptimal, Optimize, CalphadOptimizer - these are the Apps not listed in the FactSage Menu Window
- Equilib, PhaseDiagram - these are Apps that can have multiple instances (copies).

For example the following line opens FactOptimal in Equilb:

;FactOptimal ; ;FactOptimal shortcut  ; ; 

The following line opens the Equilb App:

;Equilib ; ; Open Equilib App   ; ; 

The Equilb App supports 4 instances (i.e. copies of the software) of Equilib - see below for Running multiple instances of Equilib.

Use the command /STARTUP to open the App when FactSage is first run. For example the following line opens Equilib at startup:

;Equilib /STARTUP ; ; Open Equilib at startup ;    ;    

The Equilb App supports the macro processing command /MAC and .mac name (as shown in the example) or /DEFAULT. With /DEFAULT the default macro is run. The default macro file is defined in the Equilib Reactants Window (i.e. 'Equilib > Reactants Window > Run Macro ...').

;Equilib /MACRO /DEFAULT; ; Run Equilib default macro ;    ;    

The exeutable file may be a batch (*.bat) file. Use /STARTUP. to run the batch file when FactSage is first run

;Ex_Add-Ons.bat  ; ; Batch file (*.bat) listing all *.fig files; ;
;RunMeFirst.bat  /STARTUP; ; Batch file run at startup; ; 

string2: optional help file - ppt, pptx, pdf, htm, etc. (EQUIThermCond.pptx)

- any help file is stored by default in the FACTHELP sub-Folder (c:\FactSage\FACTHELP\)

- or else stored in the App_Add-ons sub-folder (c:\FactSage\App_Add-ons\)

string4: optional comments (The Microstructure App is ... ). Use ' _ ' for line feeds.

There is no limit to the number of add-ons, apps and shortcuts that can be included in the Add-ons Menu.

Equilib - running multiple instances

With the FactSage Add-ons menu it is now possible in FactSage 8.3 to run multiple instances (i.e. copies of the software) of Equilib.

That is, it is possible to have up to 4 copies of Equilib running simultaneously but independently from each other. For example the instances can save and access *.equi files stored in the same or different folders.

The length of time it takes to perform an Equilib calculation is little influenced by the other instances. Let us say it takes 1 hour to run an instance for a particular calculation. If you run the regular calculation (1 hour), then when done run Instance (2) (1 hour), then run Instance (3) and so on, it will take a total of 4 hours.

However, if you simultaneously run all 4 instances the total time will be only 1 hour (more or less). This can lead to a huge saving in time for lengthy calculations.

Instances are not new to FactSage. Equilib and Phase Diagram (as well as Reaction and Mixture) are instances of the same executable file EquiSage.exe. (Open the Task Manager to display the multiple instances of the Equilib/Reaction/Phase Diagram/Mixture modules.)

Although the instances run independently from each other they do share some of the same resoures. For example they share the same databases. A private database, say PRIV, added to the 'list of databases' will become available to the other instances the next time they are run.