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Old 03-09-2009, 10:41   #1
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Admiralty Charts

Hello,

I have a question regarding Some charts on disk that were on the boat we just bought. They are Admiralty Charts, but I can't open them. Does anyone know, is there some software that needs to be installed before they will open?

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Old 03-09-2009, 10:46   #2
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what's the file extension? For example... ".pdf" ".jpg" ".png" excreta.... If it doesn't say "example.pdf" in your file explorer, and instead only says "example" for the file name, right click the file and select "Properties" and if should list the file type. This is all assuming you're on a Windows machine of course.
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Old 03-09-2009, 11:55   #3
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If Windows is of no help in trying to identify the software used for opening the file, then try using this website. http://filext.com/ Enter in your file extension to get details on it.

It is probably an image file extension. So try Photoshop or Photoshop Cs3, which is either trialware or freeware.

If that does not work then go to http://www.filehippo.com/, which has links to freeware and trialware downloads. Then look for imaging software that might open the file.
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Old 03-09-2009, 12:39   #4
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I believe that Admiralty charts are locked and need some kind of key to access.
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Old 03-09-2009, 12:46   #5
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When I last worked with Admiralty Charts back in 2004 they were encrypted. I believe Maxsea would read them. This was back when Maxsea would read just about any format.
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Old 03-09-2009, 13:55   #6
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This site needs a Pirate Smiley of some sort... Of all the smileys for a maritime forum to be without... Anyhow...I'm quite certain there's some piece of free software out there that will read the files...might not be legal though...
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Old 03-09-2009, 15:56   #7
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Explained here:

http://defence.ukho.gov.uk/amd/faqarcs.asp

and a bit here:

http://defence.ukho.gov.uk/amd/faqelectronicCharts.asp

Cheers,
barnie
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Old 04-09-2009, 09:12   #8
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Thanks everyone! This forum is GREAT!!

Cheers,
Meck
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Old 09-09-2009, 20:03   #9
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Side note: originally the e-charts were simple graphic scanner files with a registration file that told the ECS how to locate Lat/longs on the chart. Each chart was in separate files on the CD. Over the years people were able to extract the charts from the CD's avoiding the purchase price. The last ARCS and European Chart CD's I saw has a novel system to prevent pirating - all the charts on the disk were in one single huge file. Unless you had the authorized ECS system you could not parse out any charts as you did not know where one started and the next ended within the single file. Very clever. Bottom line, you need an authorized ECS program to access the charts.
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Old 09-09-2009, 22:54   #10
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When I bought my boat it came with the original Admiralty program that included a registered "dongle" piece of hardware that allows use of the ARCS discs.

Old style "serial connection" so I have never tried to connect

Not sure if I can re-register this and update dongle hardware....Anyone tried to go thru this with Admiralty?
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Old 10-09-2009, 06:28   #11
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You might try getting a "serial to usb" adaptor cable. It comes with a "driver" CD that you must install in your computer. Then you should be able to utilize the dongle. But in any case the serial to usb adaptor cable can be used to interface all the old GPS's etc. to your "usb only" new computer.
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Old 10-09-2009, 20:30   #12
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Thanks will try that..... Just need to see if ARCS will reregisted program in my name so as to get online updates.
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