# Start an application

You can start an application in multiple ways.

## To start an application, do one of the following

- In the FactoryTalk View ME Station dialog box, click Load Application, select the application file to open, and click Run Application.
- Double-click the .mer file. The application bypasses the FactoryTalk View ME Station dialog box and asks the user to choose whether to replace the terminal's communication configuration.
- If Windows Start menu is available, from Windows Start menu, select Run, and in the Open box, type the path to the MERuntime.exe file, the path to the .mer file, and one or more parameters.

  Tip: | The first time you start the application on a MobileView, PanelView Plus 7, PanelView Plus 6, PanelView Plus, PanelView Plus Compact, or PanelView Plus CE terminal, the terminal's communication configuration must include a communication driver. If you have downloaded a communications file with the application, it will overwrite any communications configuration on the terminal. Be sure the drivers are configured. If your data log files are saved in a shared folder, the Logon to Network Server dialog box will appear when the application starts. PanelView Plus 7 Standard terminals and PanelView Plus 6 Compact terminals can only load and run PanelView Plus 7 Standard applications or Compact Machine Edition applications. If you try to start a non-Compact application or a PanelView Plus 7 Performance application on a PanelView Plus 7 Standard terminal or a PanelView Plus 6 Compact terminal, an error message will appear and the application will not be loaded.

## See also

Parameters for starting an application

Log on to Network Server

Start an application automatically by setting up the startup options

Example: Starting an application on a personal computer using parameters

Example: Starting an application on a PanelView Plus 7 or PanelView Plus 6 terminal using parameters

Keywords: start, application