Frequently Asked Questions

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Does FWsim work on Mac?

No, only on Windows.

How much does it cost?

You can try the full version of FWsim for 4 hours. If you want to continue using it, it costs €19.95 / $25.95.
FWsim comes with an unconditional 30-day money-back guarantee!

How do I make a YouTube video?

FWsim can upload the video automatically:

Install the free Xvid codec.
Open your show. Click "File" - "Upload to YouTube".
Wait some time and don't lock the PC.
Select a filename, so that you can find your video later.
Enter your YouTube username and password
Click "Upload" and wait for the upload to finish. This might take some time.

You can also select "File" - "Export Video" to create a video file, and then upload it yourself.

Which keyboard shortcuts are available?

The keyboard shortcuts for the main menu are listed right next to the menu items. Other shortcuts are displayed when you hover over the buttons. For example:

F to insert a Single Firework
S to insert a Stepper
B to insert a Battery

In the main window, you can also use the left and right arrows to go forwards or backwards in time.

Where are my own firework effects stored?

In "My Documents\FW-Sim". There are subfolders for every author name.

FWsim runs slowly. What can I do?

FWsim should run very well on current PCs, even with huge fireworks. If you do experience bad performance, please try the following:

Go to Tools --> Preferences and reduce the graphics quality.
Go to Show --> Scenery. Uncheck "Show Ground" and set the background to "None".
Update your graphics card drivers. Go to ati.com or nvidia.com, depending on the manufacturer.
Go to Tools --> Preferences and disable VSync. This can lead to image artifacts on some computers. If you experience any problems, turn it back on.

How does the "Music Synchronization" work?

See Music Synchronization.