GC Pirep V2.1

[maj]

"OK, I removed the old version from my computer. Downloaded the latest and tried to run it. Winzip won't open it. I get a "Caution" message that says "It does not look like your system is configured to properly view this file...." I noticed the program is labeled "GCP21.msi". How do I get this to open/run? Had no problem with the earlier version. Thanks!"

[nwadc10]

"

OK, I removed the old version from my computer. Downloaded the latest and tried to run it. Winzip won't open it. I get a "Caution" message that says "It does not look like your system is configured to properly view this file...." I noticed the program is labeled "GCP21.msi". How do I get this to open/run? Had no problem with the earlier version. Thanks!

Does it look like this error is a Winzip error or does it occur when you try to run the msi?"

[maj]

Does it look like this error is a Winzip error or does it occur when you try to run the msi?

It happens when i click on "GCP21.msi". Is there a different program to start/open the installer?

[Bodo Mueller]

"Hi Justin, as already reported in a message on MSN to you the GCP Version 2.1 does not work for me. It is teh first time I am using this tool and I have the following problems: 1.) My flight does not appear at all on teh flight map, neither as "boarding" wheater as climbing, cruising or anything else. For others it does. 2.) The pirep I sent was almost empty. there is an entry with correct time in the rooster menu but that's all. I think I stick with FSARCARS."

[khelm]

"Ross is gonna hate me, but GCP wouldn't start at first today (it opened, but didn't show) so my PIREP won't contain the times. Guess he's going to have to correct it again for me. This is the second time its done it to me , last time I just restarted the flight, this time I'm just going to continue. (1000 miles into the flight, I ain't doing it again! ) GRRRR!"

[khelm]

"Just to add, Bodo said that GCP wouldn't show him on the map, I've had the same problem, and found one of the reasons (there are other ones, but I just noticed this one) GCP sometimes cannot connect to the Remote Server (maybe a GCVA.com ISP problem?) and it minimizes fs2004, and doesn't show up on the map."

[nwadc10]

"

Hi Justin, as already reported in a message on MSN to you the GCP Version 2.1 does not work for me. It is teh first time I am using this tool and I have the following problems: 1.) My flight does not appear at all on teh flight map, neither as "boarding" wheater as climbing, cruising or anything else. For others it does. 2.) The pirep I sent was almost empty. there is an entry with correct time in the rooster menu but that's all. I think I stick with FSARCARS.

Hi Bodo, Go to Tools>User Setup... Make sure the Operate GCP in OFFLINE mode is set to No. The default option there is yes which I admit is backwards and will fix in the next update which I am currently working on (to include a logbook). When in offline mode GCP will not connect to the server for any reason including to send a pirep and update the position on the flight map. The bottom left corner of GCP will tell you if you are in OFFLINE (Red) or ONLINE (green) mode. Let me know if this fixes the issue. Justin"

[nwadc10]

"

Ross is gonna hate me, but GCP wouldn't start at first today (it opened, but didn't show) so my PIREP won't contain the times. Guess he's going to have to correct it again for me. This is the second time its done it to me , last time I just restarted the flight, this time I'm just going to continue. (1000 miles into the flight, I ain't doing it again! ) GRRRR!

That is entirely due to the website acting up again. When GCP first starts it requests data from the GC website including a fresh list of aircraft and MEL's as well as your assigned flights. When the website is slow GCP has to wait for it to respond and eventually gives up after roughly 30 seconds to a minute (I haven't timed it so that's just a guess). After that you should get a popup box with the error unable to connect to the remote server and GCP will then show itself. If you are getting the GCP splash screen with the GCP logo right when you open GCP but the program itself doesn't show this is what's happening, just wait it out and it will open. You can then manually initiate the download of aircraft and your flights by going to Tools>Download AC/Flight Lists. Beware that the website may still be slow to respond but I've found that most of the time if you try downloading again right away it will work. If GCP doesn't start due to a failure you will usually get an error even before the splash screen shows up. Hope that helps, let me know."

[nwadc10]

"

OK, I removed the old version from my computer. Downloaded the latest and tried to run it. Winzip won't open it. I get a "Caution" message that says "It does not look like your system is configured to properly view this file...." I noticed the program is labeled "GCP21.msi". How do I get this to open/run? Had no problem with the earlier version. Thanks!

Does it look like this error is a Winzip error or does it occur when you try to run the msi?

Hi Mark, Can you please post the full error associated with this problem? Sometimes people will get a type of configuration error when installing GCP that due to a missing file in the installer but I'm not sure if this is that problem. The beginning of the error is a little different than usual for that issue."

[eek]

"

Just to add, Bodo said that GCP wouldn't show him on the map, I've had the same problem, and found one of the reasons (there are other ones, but I just noticed this one) GCP sometimes cannot connect to the Remote Server (maybe a GCVA.com ISP problem?) and it minimizes fs2004, and doesn't show up on the map.

I think there are still some issues with GC's webhost. I use FSACARS, and after a while, I sometimes disappear from the map. I usually have the map running on another computer, and my web browser times out frequently. I still get a lot of timeouts just surfing through the GC website and forums. Is the webhost still looking at this issue, or do they say all is well?"

[Bodo Mueller]

"

Hi Bodo, Go to Tools>User Setup... Make sure the Operate GCP in OFFLINE mode is set to No. The default option there is yes which I admit is backwards and will fix in the next update which I am currently working on (to include a logbook). When in offline mode GCP will not connect to the server for any reason including to send a pirep and update the position on the flight map. The bottom left corner of GCP will tell you if you are in OFFLINE (Red) or ONLINE (green) mode. Let me know if this fixes the issue. Justin

Hi Justin, on the User Setup window which also you can see on the help.htm does not show any option to set something to NO regarding off or online mode. The only button to connect to FS is on the main window and it turns green when you connect to FS."

[maj]

"

Hi Mark, Can you please post the full error associated with this problem? Sometimes people will get a type of configuration error when installing GCP that due to a missing file in the installer but I'm not sure if this is that problem. The beginning of the error is a little different than usual for that issue.

Justin, I tried opening the file with the Winzip "Wizard" instead of "Classic" and it worked! Now it's time to see if the pirep program works. Thanks for the help!"

[maj]

"

I think there are still some issues with GC's webhost. I use FSACARS, and after a while, I sometimes disappear from the map. I usually have the map running on another computer, and my web browser times out frequently. I still get a lot of timeouts just surfing through the GC website and forums. Is the webhost still looking at this issue, or do they say all is well?

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one having this issue. It seems more often than not that my flight doesn't show up on the world map either. And once you disappear that's it, you're not back for that flight! And also get a lot of timeouts too..."

[nwadc10]

"[quote=""maj""]

I think there are still some issues with GC's webhost. I use FSACARS, and after a while, I sometimes disappear from the map. I usually have the map running on another computer, and my web browser times out frequently. I still get a lot of timeouts just surfing through the GC website and forums. Is the webhost still looking at this issue, or do they say all is well?

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one having this issue. It seems more often than not that my flight doesn't show up on the world map either. And once you disappear that's it, you're not back for that flight! And also get a lot of timeouts too...[/quote] I'm glad you got it working Mark. Here's a quick update as I work on GCP 2.2. In the following list are the items that are completed.
1. Handle FSUIPC_SEND_MESSAGE_ERR. This needs to be tested to make sure it really is handled. Rather than the popup box noting an unhandled exception the error text should now appear in the status strip at the bottom and allow GCP to continue running. The error comes up at random times (often when FS is busy with something else) so I can't manually invoke that error for testing purposes. The testing will have to be done thru general use.
2. Added a logbook display. If you have been clicking the Log Flight button after each flight when using GCP2.1 those flights will appear in the logbook display.
3. A/C registration is now sent along with the ACARS position update for the online flight map. Now you can see which tail number other pilots are using.
4. Added multithreading of the initial pilot flight and aircraft data downloads. By doing this the main program will always appear even before the splashscreen has gone away (unless there's an error reading one of the other files that are read at startup). In addition, the aircraft selection box and assigned flights box will display "Downloading..." until the file is actually downloaded or the unable to connect to the remote server error pops up. At that time the two dropdown boxes will display "...Error". This is done so that there is no guessing as to whether or not GCP has/will start and whether or not the website is acting up again(news on that may come soon) preventing GCP from downloading data and causing it to hang temporarily.
5. The backwards way I had setup the default setting for operating in offline mode in User Setup is fixed. Now the option is for operating in Online mode with a default setting of Yes.
6. A reminder will pop up after loading a flight to press the Connect to FS button. GCP will not continue logging a loaded flight until that button has been pressed and therefore it should be clear to the user that proper GCP operation is dependant on that button being pressed. (that button starts the event timer which watches for the IOOO events, amung many other things)
7. After loading a flight that has blocked in, VSpeed and distance flown are loaded to the Postflight tab.
8. If a flight has been entered into the log book, the Log Flight button will be disabled preventing the same flight from being logged more than once. This button will also be disabled if you load a flight that has blocked in and previous logged.

There are a couple other very small things I fixed or added and aren't really worth mentioning, mostly because I've already forgotten what they were This list actually completes everything I had planned for this update. I will spend Monday testing it thru a full flight and start working on additions to the online help. With the addition of the logbook display I have no further plans to add any major items to GCP. Full support will be provided however to include additional builds to correct bugs and/or very minor changes. I may or may not get to building and uploading the installer Monday. If I don't get to it Monday it will have to wait until next weekend when I get back from work."

[nwadc10]

"

Hi Bodo, Go to Tools>User Setup... Make sure the Operate GCP in OFFLINE mode is set to No. The default option there is yes which I admit is backwards and will fix in the next update which I am currently working on (to include a logbook). When in offline mode GCP will not connect to the server for any reason including to send a pirep and update the position on the flight map. The bottom left corner of GCP will tell you if you are in OFFLINE (Red) or ONLINE (green) mode. Let me know if this fixes the issue. Justin

Hi Justin, on the User Setup window which also you can see on the help.htm does not show any option to set something to NO regarding off or online mode. The only button to connect to FS is on the main window and it turns green when you connect to FS.

GCP2.0 didn't include that option and the help file is accurate for 2.0. The option is in the GCP Preferences box just under the upload/download PMDG panelstate automatically option. You may still be using GCP2.0 rather than GCP2.1 if those options don't appear which can also explain why you didn't show up on the flight map as that wasn't a feature in GCP2.0. Does the splashscreen with GCP logo and version number in the lower right appear when you open GCP? If so, we can continue troubleshooting. If not, with GCP2.2 just around the corner you may as well wait to update GCP until 2.2 is released."