Downloading Charts onto Open CPN

[bcn]

Dear Brian....

The "etc...":

Did you create your InstallPermit for your System, putting this in the corresponding field of the Keys/Permits tab?
Does the InstallPermit test ok?
After this step you can introduce the S-63 cell permits and the chart files.
In this order.

S-63 UserPermit NOT= OpenCPN InstallPermit

Remember:
we need to bind a S-63 chart set to one individual system. As we can't know in advance which system you will use, there is a software dongle - the OpenCPN InstallPermit - you are creating at o-charts for your system using the SystemIdentifierFile or fingerprint.

There are several hundreds of S-63 users just in down-under, so don't give up.
It is just step by step.

Hubert

[Signalmaster]

Thank you again for your reply Hubert.

Please see attached the latest error messages. Is this because the chart catalogue is www.charts.noaa ... ? I don't know how this got there ?

It may be step by step to you Hubert but I'm afraid it is not for me. I know pen CPN is free & my lack of skill is the problem, but I would not accept the amount of hours I've spent on this if I'd paid for it !

I'm about to give up ... for tonight !

Many thanks again.

[Signalmaster]

Can anyone advise how to dowbload chart cells onto Open CPN please ? I can't find the answer in the manual, I've spent many hours on this, I downloaded Open CPN a week ago & it is still unusable. Many thanks, Brian

[Alan Mighty]

Brian: what operating system are you using?

You have an e-mail account, right? And you're somewhere near Sydney, right?

You know how to download files attached to an e-mail and move them into a folder that you have created, right?

If you send me your e-mail address, I will e-mail you a BSB/KAP chart of the NSW coast. My e-mail will include two files for a total of less than 4 MB. If you tell me in which part of the NSW coast you are most interested, I can send that.

Then you would need to save those BSB KAP files to a named folder on your computer. And just tell OpenCPN the name of that folder.

I'll send you a Cruisers Forum private message with my e-mail address. Give me a few minutes and, on the CF website, click on Quick Links and then choose the Private Messages item.

[transmitterdan]

Originally Posted by Signalmaster

Can anyone advise how to dowbload chart cells onto Open CPN please ? I can't find the answer in the manual, I've spent many hours on this, I downloaded Open CPN a week ago & it is still unusable. Many thanks, Brian

Brian,

Have you looked at this documentation page?

https://opencpn.org/wiki/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=opencpnpencpn_user_manual:charts:cha rt_downloader_tab

[Signalmaster]

Thanks transmitterdan, yes I've seen that page ... too many times. I'm in Australia & have the charts which I bought on my computer - I have no doubt about that; just can't get them onto Open CPN. Thanks & cheers, Brian

[Signalmaster]

Good evening Hubert.
Sorry to bother you again but you seem to be the person who is able to help me get Open CPN working. It appears I have imported the Cell Permits & Charts (unfortunately I do not know what I did to allow this to happen ? & please see attached) but I still can't download the charts. Any suggestions ? Many thanks. Yet again ! Cheers, Brian

[bcn]

Brian,

I'm not to familiar with exact organization of the Australian sets, but this should not be complicated.
You have the cell permits in place, now you will just need to localize and install the corresponding cells.

At the Charts|S-63 tab you have Charts Cells and here "Import Charts/Updates"

I think in Australia you have either the complete CD or some subset.
We are looking for a directory named "Root_enc".
Select that one and click on "open". The install process of the cells shall start...

Hubert

[Signalmaster]

Thanks very much for your reply Hubert.

It appears that I have finally managed to download the charts. I think the (final) problem was I was selecting the wrong folder. The charts are actually in 2 places on my computer. My Documents/Charts/AU & it appears open CPN made another drive. The charts were also G:/ENC_ROOT/AU. I'd been choosing AU not ENC_ROOT. Computers ... great but very unforgiving ... & if you don't realise all the details & requirements ? But this was the last of many issues, my lack of knowledge being top of the list. So now that I have downloaded the charts all I have to do is learn how to drive Open CPN ? ! I have an ECDIS Endorsement & 2 x ECDIS Specific Certs. in my CoC ... so I'll probably really struggle ? !

Many thanks for your continued assistance & perseverance Hubert, very much appreciated.

Attached Open CPN of my home waters for absolutely no reason whatsoever at all.

Thank you very much & cheers, Brian

[bcn]

Brian,

good to hear that the charts are in place!

One detail I forgot to mention:
the source S-63 charts have to be on the PC when you want to use them.
So don't use a CD or pen drive and leave that at home...

Happy sailing!

Hubert

[Signalmaster]

Many thanks for the tip Hubert.

I received the links etc. via e-mail & downloaded via the net - no problem leaving them @ home. And it was all as a back up, the boat I've just bought has a GPS/Plotter but I wanted a back up in case. And I'll have paper charts on board as well ... should be ok !

Many thanks again, very much appreciated

Cheers, Brian

[Signalmaster]

Really sorry to bother you again Hubert.

I opened Open CPN again today & to my disappointment it appeared to load only 4 charts, certainly not all the charts I was able to see last evening, please see attached to show what I mean ?

I've looked in the ENC_ROOT folder & all the charts appear to be there. I tried downloading them again etc. & all I get is the same 4 charts.

Any thoughts or suggestions ? "No idea" is a perfectly acceptable answer ! LOL you have spent way too long helping me already !

Many thanks & cheers, Brian

[bcn]

Brian,

can you please activate "Show Chart Outlines"? The "O" key.

You will see green rectangles for available charts.
If the rectangles are there but not rendered, just zoom in on them.

Hubert

[Signalmaster]

THanks Hubert.

I'm not sure what you mean by the "O" key but I ticked "show chart outlines" ... no change, still just the same 4 charts. Very frustrating & disappointing ! LOL

Cheers, Brian

[transmitterdan]

Brian,

Try clicking n one of the green oval bars at the bottom. Does a chart reveal itself?