Old 744 Forum

Hardy Heinlin wrote

When the CDU doesn't work after add-on disconnection, is there any entry in Logs/error.txt?

No, there's no entry in the error log.

I've uploaded a situ file. If of any use, feel free to download it.

Gary Oliver wrote

Will try and get something written before the next version

Great, thanks!

Quote

There was a manual but i forgot to include it in the latest release. Will try and get something written before the next version

Actually I note there is "Manual" word file in the Resources folder - but I think it is the early version before vers 2.0 and higher.

I'm just trying out using some of the pages - what would be useful for those of us who haven't used some of these functions in real or simulated life is just a few 'workflow' examples of typical steps in using BACARS. Thanks for sharing with the community.

Cheers,
Torrence

I have been asked to do a video of a setup from C&D...perhaps I could include BACARS in that...

Peter

Hi peter
That would be amazing, because your Videos are great and for people like me, that have nothing to do with flying in "real life", It would be very intersting to see what is involved in flying or what procedures are needed.

Suggestion for Usage notes in Manual: Include a note/reminder for in filling in Perf req to use *only* airports currently serviced by BA. This is noted in the BACARS add-on description, but I overlooked it when setting up some tests of 2.0.1 and couldn't figure out why BACARS was apparently hanging up after sending the Perf req. No printout but no error messages either. When I checked all the info I realized that the situ I was using was for an EHAM departure and, sure enough, FlightAware tells me BA doesn't have flights from there . Adding this to the checklist for setting up BACARS should be sufficient, but I also wondered if the real life software would generate a 'not in database' message if a non-BA field was entered.

Cheers,
Torrence

Torrence,

Bacars should work for any airport in the TOPCAT database not just BA ones. You just won't get any Ba specific information at the end of the print out.

Can you send me the example that caused Bacars to hang and I'll check it out.

Cheers
Gary

Quote

BA doesn't have flights from there

Company policy: No take-offs/landings below sea level ?

Well spotted Martin!

V2.0.2 available here

resolves the issue of airports below sea level.

Ha - I thought my manifest for that flight was a bit damp!

Can't resist a link to my other hobby (photography) - vaguely related to Dutch operations at neg elevations.

http://torrence-johnson.artistwebsites.com/featured/cows-below-sealevel-torrence-johnson.html

Cheers,
Torrence

Guys,

New Version

V2.0.3 Available Here

V2.0.3
======
Much more error checking against the data passed to and from Btriple7's Perf.DLL as it doesn't seem to do any :-)
KSEA and any other airports which provide a decimal point in the runway heading now work
If CARD Data is invalid the program will no longer hang, it will just print an error
Once CARD has been recieved the SENT> Caret now becomes SEND> to enable a resend of perf req

V2.0.2
======
No longer hangs when trying to calculate perf data for an airport below sea level
Removed options to replace PSX ACARS menu as this didn't work very well.
Error Handling added incase of PSXPerf.DLL failing to compute a value

Cheers
Gary

Hi Gary,

Thank you very much for the update!

Any chance to get a bit more explanation on how to get the SATCOM/Skype functionality up and running?
Can't seem to get it to work

Cheers,
Sylvain

Sylle,

Sorry I started re writing the manual and the draft got put into the installer so it removed the skype sections.

Basically if you use the Skype Tab in BACARS to configure your CDU line items and skype addresses.

Install Skype on the Same PC as BACARS

Setup Skype hot keys so that Start Call is PGDN is End Call and PGUP is Accept Call it should all work.

Cheers
Gary

BACARS 2.0.4 Beta is now available

Here

V2.0.4
======
-No longer trys to send data on a closed socket (internal)
-Corrected formatting of V speed table
-WXRAIS Uplinks now show as 'METAR UPLINK' instead of a preview of the message in the uplink menu
-UI Cross Thread exceptions mostly fixed (internal)
-Now automatically tries to copy the performance database if it doesn't exist.
-ACARS Final Report will be sent once on blocks 10 minutes after engine shutdown (Needs Testing)
-Includes latest perf.dll which now supports pressure altitudes up to 10,000ft



Cheers
Gary

Thanks Gary for explaining the Skype implementation. I'll try that out!

Regards,
Sylvain

Hi Gary,

Thanks for the app! v2.0.3 ran without issues on my rig. After installing* v2.0.4 [Beta], I continuously receive below message upon requesting initial perf data, regardless of the location** (tried with EGKK, EGLL). Rolling back to v2.0.3 once again presents me with the expected output.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ERROR CALCULATING CARD
CHECK RUNWAY + ICAO
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please note that v2.0.4 successfully copies the topcat db to C:\PSXBACARS\Resources directory.

File version -

PSX.Perf.Core.dll (1.0.0.0)
PSX.Bacars.Core.dll (1.0.0.0)

* uninstall v2.0.3, remove PSXBACARS folder, restart machine, install v2.0.4.
** same problem regardless of runway chosen

Any help with tshoot'n is appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Dejan

Dejan,

We noticed a few issues around this over the weekend too. I think it may be down to a perf.dll mismatch.

Once I have recovered from last nights approach I will take a look at get a new tested release out.

Sometime this week hopefully :-)

Thanks again
Gary

All,

Yes sorry there was a bit of a cock up in the Perf.dll for 2.0.4. I managed to find some time for some updates.

BTrip7 and Peter are helping out with a manual for those asking, not yet ready though for this release.


V2.0.5
======
-Can now recieve more than 5 message uplinks rather than before when after 5 no more new messages appeared
-Card Performance DLL update to deal with new 1000ft tables
-Can now delete Messages
-Can Read/Delete Uplinked Messages with either Left or Right LSKs
-ATIS/WXR Automatically Prints on Receive
-ACARS MESSAGE EICAS Memo Now Works on AIS and Messages
-ACARS MESSAGE MEMO Clears Upon Viewing Uplinked Menu
-Non Functioning WX/AIS Now in Small Text
-ATIS Contains PSX D-ATIS As well as VATSIM ATIS
-Message Uplink Menu now reads all messages and allows scrolling through uplinked messages with NEXT and PREV Page Keys
-ACARS Final Loadsheet is now sent through as an ACARS Message with <ACCEPT Prompt to accept loadsheet
-ACARS Messages can go on to more than 2 pages now
-Fuel Onboard Figures Now Provided on Loadsheet


Download Here

https://www.dropbox.com/s/4o1xprplklhtntn/PSX%20BACARS-V2.0.5.zip?dl=0

I can't try BACARS yet as I don't have a PC... Mac only... but it looks like a fine addition.

One question: can the user reconfigure the units from tons to pounds?

Hi Will,

As BA stuff is all in KGS that's what everything was coded for.

Cheers
Gary

Well, that's a loss for folks like me who think in pounds, but an obvious win for fidelity to BA ops. There may be a Windows machine in my future someday, and if there is, I'll look forward to trying BACARS out.

Thanks

Will,

I'll add a lbs option in the next version then

Standby for 2.0.6

Cheers
Gary

Busy day of updates again today... Sorry no lbs setting yet..

V2.0.6
======
-(B1) Menu Page No Longer Corrupt on Hitting MENU Key
-(B2) Card Now Arrives as an ACARS Message too
-(Bx) ERASE Button on WXR/AIS Now Clears the IDENT
-Clicking an Uplinked Message will take you to Page 1 of uplinked message if a previous one has already been opened on a further page.
-(B3) Removed Random <MENU Option from the SATCOM Menu
-(B4) Weight Balance Request Will now clear on startup to stop seeing SENT> Caret on first attempt
-(B5) BA removed from Oceanic and PDC Request Pages
-(B6) METS No Longer Sent When MET Only Selected
-(B7) METS No Longer hangs is Airport isn't in Alternate Database
-(B ACARS FLT INIT Page Pre Populated with DEPT and DEST If RTE Activated
-ACARS Time In Randomly Appearing has been resolved
-Free Text Summary No longer includes any blank lines in its summary page
-External Power on Sim Page Now Operates both EXT PWR 1 and EXT PWR 2
-Tidy up of BACARS Dispatch Client


https://www.dropbox.com/s/7tbofmab4sxjhs5/PSX%20BACARS%20V2.0.6.zip?dl=0

Continuing BACARS Update week....

2.0.7 is available Here

V2.0.7
======
-SIGMETS Functionality Added
-Passenger Figures no longer more than the capacity of BA Aircraft! Oops
-TOW will not longer be bbb.b when MENU button is pressed before Final Loadsheet is received.
-If ACARS FLT INIT Data has been entered then default page for FLT INIT is 2/2
-ACARS TO field now 7 characters
-ACARS Free text Now validates line length and to length
-<ACARS MENU Prompt on FreeText Page 2 now works
-Page x/y Prompts on the following pages now corrected into small font
-CDU Page Titles are now actually in the middle of the screen rather that one character to the right
-Oceanic Clearence TO box now only 8 characters
-Oceanic Entry Point Box now 5 characters
-ACARS Message OLD/NEW text no longer indented on truncated messages
-METS Now also includes the Requested Airport as well as the alternates
-FLT INIT REQ Response no longer shows as a random uplinked message
-Performance Figures now take longer to calculate just like real life

Did the pounds option (fuel quantity, aircraft weights) make it in yet? :-)

Gary,

Question please:

With the 2.06 and now also with 2.0.7, the msi-installer says... that:
"a more recent version is already on this computer",
which is not the case, of course.

What to do ?

Hesssel