CMAP ECS and windows Vista

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Spyro

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Anyone managed to get the old CMAP ECS to run on Vista?
I've just got a new laptop and can't get the prog to find the charts. I've been into the config settings and told it where to find the CM93 files but no joy. The program opens ok but no charts appear. I've used it on my old laptop and home computer so I'm sure I'm doing the right thing.
 
Don't know ECS but the C-Map web site has downloads for latest drivers and software which might help. You have to register, and the navigation is not the best, but it's free.
 
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Anyone managed to get the old CMAP ECS to run on Vista?
I've just got a new laptop and can't get the prog to find the charts. I've been into the config settings and told it where to find the CM93 files but no joy. The program opens ok but no charts appear. I've used it on my old laptop and home computer so I'm sure I'm doing the right thing.

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a) Needs 256 colours - so program properties must be set accordingly.
b) The CM93 workaround is not designed for Vista as it was written for windows before Vista altered the scene.
 
Is there not a 'compatibility mode' option that will let you run it as Win98 and 256 colours? (usually right click on the executable, but I don't have Vista handy to try it)
 
I have it running in 256 colours the program opens ok but no charts, will try the compatability mode when I get home

Thanks
 
CMapEcs.exe and CMapEcs.ini should be in the same directory.

CMapEcs.ini contains the chart paths, for example:

[DIRECTORY]
CM93ROOT=D:\c-map
CM93CAT=D:\c-map
CM93CHRLIST=D:\c-map
 
Just to complicate matters. I have all the CMAP folders/files on a disk. I can run the program from the disk ok on the new laptop. But when I copy all the folders/files to my new Laptop the progran doesn't seem to be able to locate the chart files. I've used the config.exe and browsed to find the CM93 folder and "saved the page" but still no joy. I've managed to do this on other computers OK. I would like to do it on the new laptop because the program runs much faster and I don't have to use the disk all the time.
 
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Just to complicate matters. I have all the CMAP folders/files on a disk. I can run the program from the disk ok on the new laptop. But when I copy all the folders/files to my new Laptop the progran doesn't seem to be able to locate the chart files. I've used the config.exe and browsed to find the CM93 folder and "saved the page" but still no joy. I've managed to do this on other computers OK. I would like to do it on the new laptop because the program runs much faster and I don't have to use the disk all the time.

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mmmmm sounds like you know what to do ... all I can say is that you must "save EACH page" individually in the config dialogue ... no good changing one - clicking next tab and changing something there ... saving and think first page saved - It's not.

As another says - you can edit the ini file direct as long as you do it with notepad or a pure text editor that does not add headers to the file.
When copying over the charts - you must copy all directorys, all files ... and then run config. Close program ... restart it ...
 
Got the program loading the charts OK now. Copied all folders and files from my computer where it worked onto a memory stick then dumped them onto the new Laptop. Did the config and now opening up and loading charts OK.
Thanks for replies so far.
Problem I have now is new laptop does not have a serial port, so bought a serial to usb adaptor with driver on a disk. Installed ok and laptop sees the adapter when plugged in and it is configured as com port 3, I set the config NMEA port on CMAP as port 3 (the only one available on the dropdown ). I have set the com port at 4800 baud and set the nmea config as 4800 baud but the position and boat icon don't appear on the chart. Also tried 9600 baud but still the same.
When I don't have the gps plugged in and I open the program I get a pop up saying NMEA doesn't opened. But if I plug the gps in and open it I don't get the pop up so it seams to be seeing something.
Any suggestions?
 
yes it will work on vista - just been using a friends copy of the program on his new lappy. suggest you double check the location of the files and make sure that those which are stored on disc as "read only" are altered in line with the manual. its not diffent to installing the program on XP so you must have done something wrong somewhere.
 
with both the emulator and the program looking at port 3 at 4800 baud (the correct speed) you should be OK. I assume you have set the gps data to nmea 0183 8 data bits, 2 stop bits without parity. make sure you have selected the correct nmea sentence. And lastly that your GPS has actually found a location and is set to output it.
 
GPS is outputing ok Because I can still use it on the old laptop with the serial port. I'm beginning to susupect a problem with the USB to serial adapter. There was a way you could check on windows XP using hyper terminal that you were receiving NMEA strings but Vista does not have this option.
 
have you drilled down through sytems/ device manager etc to check the ports and to see if the software usb to serial is actually installed and operating?

the friends system I used did not have a gps connected. there were a lot of moans about vista at the start because many drivers which had been OK with XP did not work with it. check to see if there is an updated driver. alternatively, prolific software (google them) do usb/serial drivers and they might have a better one.
 
Yes device manager is seeing the adapter OK it doesn't appear on the list of devices when not plugged in. It is a prolific device and the latest Vista Driver.
I've been Googling and discovered some adapters seem to work well and some don't. I got mine on Ebay so it may not be the best. I'm going to try and get hold of another.

Thanks
 
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