Problems using IYP External Cockpit with FS9/PM

[casoma]

Hello Peter,

As suggested by Robert Cezar (IYP) i'm contacting uou through this forum in order to try to solve a problem involving IYP(external cockpit)/FS9/PM/RC4.

Those programs are running through a 7 Pc's Network, using in most of them, Windows XP and naturaly, FSUIPC and WideFs (last versions).

Would very much appreciate if I could have your assistance.

The problem can be sumarised on the following extract taken from an email sent to Robert:

Quote

No problems during the installation/registration of the IYP External Cockpit version, but when I choose the RC4 mode of operation, after execution of the makerunway program, Michele announces “we have started the cleanup procedure. Please wait” , at exactly that point (according to the Windows task manager) the IYP-Xtender program, that was running until then, shows a “non responding” status and after waitng more than an hour (I use IYP in the WideFS mode) … no more signs of Michele being still there! If I restart the IYP program I can see that the RC4 mode is not selected !

Do you think that I have to wait more than one hour ( be truly patient…) in order to enable the system to do the “cleanup”?

Unquote

The following are the subsequent emails exchanged with Robert on this subject:

Sent by Robert :

"It sounds to me like a folder is not properly networked. Let me turn on the SERVER DEBUGGER for your account and I will see if I can find the problem.

Please let me know when you have repeated the process"

Sent by me to Robert:

"I ‘ve just repeated the process … with the same problem …

Thks"

Sent by Robert:

"I'm seeing this:

VALUE: GetNetDirFlightPlanData:BeforeNETDIRRoot 1:36:02 PM

VALUE: GetNetDirFlightPlanData:AfterNETDIRRoot= 1:36:02 PM

VALUE: GetNetDirFlightPlanData:NETDIRRootPath=ROUTE.BIN 1:36:02 PM

VALUE: GetNetDirFlightPlanData:NoDataFound

Where is your ROUTE.BIN located?

BTW... it is supposed to be defined in FSUIPC at offset:

&H5B00, 128 bytes"

Sent by me to Robert:

"I found it at \\Port\c\CDU\Netdir\route.bin

Port is one of my networked computers where my PM CDU is installed and my Pc running IYP can see it through the network.

C, CDU and Netdir are shared and accessible to the other computers in the network, so it should be seen by IYP, don’t you think?

Shall I copied this file to another place?"

Sent by Robert:

"Since you have FSUIPC installed, you should also have a programme called:

FSInterrogate2std.exe

If you use this programme, you can see what is being displayed at the offset:

5B00

which is a 128 byte buffer that is supposed to contain the PATH to the ROUTE.BIN.

If it does not, then I would suggest that you contact Pete and ask him. I'm sure he'll be happy to help you.

I don;t have a PM installation personally."

Now, the problem is that I don't appear to have the FSInterrogate program, so, can not perform such a test.

Where can I get it?

Please also note that before installing IYP, I've been using FS9/PM/RC4 without any problem.

What you think Peter?

Thanks for your help and sorry for taking a time with such a long post.

Regards

Joaquim

[Pete Dowson]

No problems during the installation/registration of the IYP External Cockpit version, but when I choose the RC4 mode of operation, after execution of the makerunway program

Why are you doing that when running IYP? Do the MakeRunways for RC's database before even starting FS or IYP. Run RC4 and tell it to update its data. All that is "off-line", not on-line whilst flying!

Michele announces “we have started the cleanup procedure. Please wait”

I've no idea what that is. I use IYP a lot and have never heard that! What does Robert say it is doing?

at exactly that point (according to the Windows task manager) the IYP-Xtender program, that was running until then, shows a “non responding” status and after waitng more than an hour (I use IYP in the WideFS mode) … no more signs of Michele being still there! If I restart the IYP program I can see that the RC4 mode is not selected !

I don't know "IYP-extender", but i assume this is an internal name for IYP?

Surely this must be an IYP bug. Can't Robert help at all? If it happened to me I would be 100% dependent on Robert's support to resolve it.

Where is your ROUTE.BIN located?

BTW... it is supposed to be defined in FSUIPC at offset:

&H5B00, 128 bytes"

Aha! It is trying to get the planned route data from your PM CDU. I assume, then, that this problem is occurring AFTER you have initialised and programmed everything in the CDU ready for your flight? Why are you running MakeRunways then?

5B00 is a PM-driven offset. It won't get filled in until the CDU is running.

Now, the problem is that I don't appear to have the FSInterrogate program, so, can not perform such a test.

Where can I get it?

It'ss in the FSUIPC SDK, downloadable from the usual place. But you can also use FSUIPC monitor -- right-hand side in the Logging tab. Offset 5B00, type AsciiZ.

Please also note that before installing IYP, I've been using FS9/PM/RC4 without any problem.

But surely you only run MakeRunways once after installing new scenery? How does this get into this part of your flying?

What you think Peter?

I would ask Robert why, even if it can't find ROUTE.BIN, it hangs unresponsively. That needs to be fixed no matter what the surface problem might be.

Regards

Pete

[casoma]

Why are you doing that when running IYP? Do the MakeRunways for RC's database before even starting FS or IYP. Run RC4 and tell it to update its data. All that is "off-line", not on-line whilst flying!

I've no idea what that is. I use IYP a lot and have never heard that! What does Robert say it is doing?

I'm just following the IYP User Manual, page84

(Please see attachment)

I don't know "IYP-extender", but i assume this is an internal name for IYP?

Yes it is

Surely this must be an IYP bug. Can't Robert help at all? If it happened to me I would be 100% dependent on Robert's support to resolve it.

Ok I will contact Robert

Aha! It is trying to get the planned route data from your PM CDU. I assume, then, that this problem is occurring AFTER you have initialised and programmed everything in the CDU ready for your flight? Why are you running MakeRunways then?

This occurs when I choose the "RC4 mode of operation" as indicated in the IYP user manual, page 84. Is it necessary to have a route in the Route.Bin file? I think that such a file, in my setup, is empty (no routes), because I normaly built them with an external program but don't save in the CDU the routes that I fly but instead I introduce them "by hand" each time, directly in the PM CDU, through my FDS CDU hardware. But the CDU "knows and see" the file. From such external program, I export the routes to the PC running the RC4 (which is the same one running IYP)

5B00 is a PM-driven offset. It won't get filled in until the CDU is running.

It'ss in the FSUIPC SDK, downloadable from the usual place. But you can also use FSUIPC monitor -- right-hand side in the Logging tab. Offset 5B00, type AsciiZ.

Ok, Thanks

But surely you only run MakeRunways once after installing new scenery? How does this get into this part of your flying?

Yes indeed ...but with IYP I was jut following the manual...

I would ask Robert why, even if it can't find ROUTE.BIN, it hangs unresponsively. That needs to be fixed no matter what the surface problem might be.

Ok Thanks Peter. Will do that, but now after reading your comments I wonder if I should follow the User Manual. But, if I don't how the IYP program knows that I want to use the RC4, and not the "simple ATC mode" for example?

Regards

Joaquim

[Pete Dowson]

I'm just following the IYP User Manual, page84

(Please see attachment)

Sorry, don't see it. But are you saying that IYP instructs you to run "MakeRunways" everytime you are running FSX and IYP?That makes no sense at all, I'm afraid. makeRunways processes all of your scenery and compiles data for RC. What does IYP want you to do this for?

This occurs when I choose the "RC4 mode of operation" as indicated in the IYP user manual, page 84.

I use RC4 mode too.

Is it necessary to have a route in the Route.Bin file?

It shouldn't be. IYP only reads it in order to know the destination, so it can tell you things. It shouldn't fail or hang if there isn't one.

I think that such a file, in my setup, is empty (no routes), because I normaly built them with an external program but don't save in the CDU the routes that I fly but instead I introduce them "by hand" each time, directly in the PM CDU, through my FDS CDU hardware.

Yes, but the ROUTE.BIN file is created by doing that too -- it is read by the PM PFD/ND program in order to display the magenta line and other details, and by the MCP in order to control LNAV and VNAV.

In my case I find that IYP happily reads the ROUTE.BIN file after that point in the checklists where I've ready=programmed the CDU.

Ok Thanks Peter. Will do that, but now after reading your comments I wonder if I should follow the User Manual. But, if I don't how the IYP program knows that I want to use the RC4, and not the "simple ATC mode" for example?

You must select RC4 mode, as I do.

Regards

Pete

[casoma]

Sorry, don't see it. But are you saying that IYP instructs you to run "MakeRunways" everytime you are running FSX and IYP?That makes no sense at all, I'm afraid. makeRunways processes all of your scenery and compiles data for RC. What does IYP want you to do this for?

Since the very beguinning (1st time I installed the IYP External panel - by the way I have FS9, not FSX) in order to choose RC4 mode, I highlight the Rc4 mode and IYP runs automaticaly the makerunways program and after a while, Michele says that I have to wait, and then the program froozes! I just can't avoid it because each time I run IYP, the default mode option that is selected is "Simple ATC".It does asks if I want to run makerunways, but if I say "no" the program quits immediately!

I've already tried to completly uninstall IYP and all the pertinent directories and files remaining after uninstall, re-start the computer an re-install from scratch, but ... not lucky!

Thanks very much for your kind assistance.

Regards

Joaquim

[Pete Dowson]

Since the very beguinning (1st time I installed the IYP External panel - by the way I have FS9, not FSX) in order to choose RC4 mode, I highlight the Rc4 mode and IYP runs automaticaly the makerunways program

Well, that's a new one on me. Sorry. It certainly has never done that here. I cannot understand why it should do such a thing. I think you must ask Robert about this, about why it is messing with MakeRunways -- which really should NOT be run whilst FS is running as it is accessing all of the BGLs which might clash with an FS access.

... and after a while, Michele says that I have to wait, and then the program froozes! I just can't avoid it because each time I run IYP, the default mode option that is selected is "Simple ATC".It does asks if I want to run makerunways, but if I say "no" the program quits immediately!

It really does sound like a bad bug in IYP. I can't help, I'm sorry. I cannot imagine why Robert referred you to me. And for sure I cannot see why RC4 and MakeRunways has anything whatsoever to do with finding ROUTE.BIN.

Please do feel free to quote my replies when talking to Robert.

Regards

Pete

[casoma]

Please do feel free to quote my replies when talking to Robert.

Thanks a lot Peter, I will contact Robert and will revert to this thread in order to kept you informed.

Best Regards

Joaquim