"file management program which will identify downloaded files based on their name and/or extension"
Just based on their extensions. (about 10 different extensions)
"list them, rename them, and copy (or move?) them to specific directories, and also allow deletion (automatic?) based on a date criterion."
Allow selective deletion (Not automatic).
"What makes a flight plan out of date?"
When the Flight Plan is created it uses an AIRAC Cycle. AIRAC CYCLE are provided by the FAA. They list all the way points, airports, airways, VOR, DME, basically all the air navigation known to man. All this stuff changes all the time. The FAA last year adjusted the airport headings on all the runways in the US due to to polar shift. New AIRAC's are released each month and Navaigraph formats it and supplies it users.
Note: The Flight Plans downloaded from SimBrief don't have the AIRAC Cycles number in them in any way. Don't know why. I think they consider them throw a ways. Use once and delete. But actually I use them more than once. May fly SSG 747 from PANC (Anchorage) to KORD (Chicago) and then the FF 767 on the same route to compare performance.
Can you list the various plane categories you want to cater for, and the corresponding folders where each category needs to live?
Aircraft Flight Plan Required Documentation
Aerosoft Airbus KPHXKLAX01.flp <Documents>/Aerosoft/Airbus/Flightplans\
Aerosoft CRJ KPHXKLAX.flp <Documents>/Aerosoft/Digital Aviation CRJ/FlightPlans\
Aerowinx PSX 747 KPHXKLAX01_route
AivlaSoft EFB KPHXKLAX01.ebr
Black Box Airbus KPHXKLAX.pln <FSX/P3D>/Blackbox Simulation/Company Routes\
FeelThere KPHXKLAX.nz2k.fpl
Flight1 GTN KPHX-KLAX.grp <FSX/P3D>/F1GTN/FPL\
FlightFactor 777 KPHXKLAX.flp
FlightFactor A320 corte.in <X-Plane 11/Aircraft/A320/data\
FS Commander KPHXKLAX.pln
FS204 KPHXKLAX._FS9_11Jan18.pln <Documents>/Flight Simulator Files\
FSX KPHXKLAX._FSX_11Jan18.pln <Documents>/Flight Simulator X Files\
P3D KPHXKLAX._FSX_11Jan18.pln <Documents>/Prepar3D v__ Files\
FSLabs A320 KPHXKLAX._AOC_UPLINK.txt
Prepar3D v4 KPHXKLAX._AOC_UPLINK.txt
Google Earth KML KPHXKLAX.KML C:\Downloads
Note: There are three main Flight Simulators, but several versions of each one. I have X-Plane 11.05 and X-Plane 11.11.
There is X-Plane 9, X-Plane 10, FSX and Prepar3D v4, Prepar3D v3. Most of us have the latest release and one release back on a storage disk. My storage disk is active so I can fly planes under ver. 11.11 and 11.05.
It would be nice to be able to write this so it could be used by all three flight simulators. I may get Prepar3D v4 because they have planes X-Plane 11 dosen't have.
"On your learning curve you'll need to become familiar with LCL and FCL file handling routines, and components like TOpenDialog.
Yes, LCL Lazarus Component Library, FCL ? but yea I agree.
"You'll also need to understand how to parse strings to identify or concatenate parts as required."
The file names will always be KORDPANC.flp, or KORDPANC.flp of course the KORDPANC may be different letters but sometimes the file is download with a 01 attached. They can be idenitified by the extensions.
"The wiki has lots of tutorial material (and links elsewhere) to help you get to grips with units"
I agree, there is a lot information but its not organized well. It is a tedious nightmare to look thru. I got the "unit uAIRAC;" compiled but cant find where how to include it into the project.