Running two instances - how to save settings?

[RhythmDoctor]

I have been running two instances of OpenCPN under WindowsXP. I launch the program twice, then set the windows to tile vertically. I use XPort to feed GPS to both instances on different COM ports. I set one of the windows to receive AIS through another COM port, and zoom way out for a broad view of shipping traffic on my busy river. I set the other window to zoom in so I can see detailed features on my chart as I sail.

Having both windows side-by-side is fantastic. I can go sailing and just leave OpenCPN running without the need to touch the computer at all. There's no need to zoom in and out because I can see it all at a glance.

The only problem is that I need to manually set this up every time I launch OpenCPN. When I go to quit, OpenCPN only remembers the settings from the last window I closed. When I reopen OpenCPN, it defaults to those settings, and when I launch the second instance, I get the usual COM port error message because the second instance is trying to access the same COM port. Once I change it, everything works OK, but it is a pain having to redo the settings every time I relaunch the applications.

So here is my question: Is there a way, by manually editing the opencpn.ini file, or creating two .ini files, that I can save the settings for both instances so that the program launches (twice) with the appropriate settings (and vertical tiling) for both?

Please note that I can't just put the computer to sleep with OpenCPN running. I tried it and it does not work for mebecause the GPS and AIS signals are coming to the computer wirelessly via Bluetooth, and once I put the machine to sleep the Bluetooth connections break and XPort and OpenCPN both need to be relaunched. So I need to be able to quit out of the applications when I'm done sailing, and relaunch everything next time I go out.

[Viking Sailor]

Run one or more instances of OpenCPN in portable mode.

[RhythmDoctor]

Originally Posted by Viking Sailor

Run one or more instances of OpenCPN in portable mode.

Please be more specific. The settings are stored in the opencpn.ini file in Window's Application settings. Portable mode enables you to move the executables to a thumb drive or other directory location, but it sure looks to me like it still goes to the same local .ini file to retrieve the settings, so this would not accomplish what I need to do.

If you have actually done what I'm asking for, please explain how. It could save me a few hours of fruitless effort.

[nohal]

RhythmDoctor...
in portable mode, OpenCPN looks for the ini file in the current application directory, not in the systemwide location - that's why it's portable.
If you run one instance as portable and one as standalone, each will use it's own settings as VS suggests.

Pavel

[RhythmDoctor]

Thanks. Does 2.5.0 have portable mode, or is it only available in the 2.6 beta? The DocFile chapter on portable mode does not make this clear.

[nohal]

No, 2.5 does not support it, portable mode is available only in the 2.6 beta series.

[sailorF54]

VIking Sailor is right, as you would have discovered if you had tried.

Each instance of a portable setup has its OWN ini, log... file...Ortherwise it would not be portable...
You can start several instances of portable versions on the same computer. Simply duplicate the portable folder.
Have a look at my typical portable folder
BTW, I put an instance of the charts (e.g. a subset of CM93, plus kap charts) in the higher order folder that contains the portable OpenCpn folder
The bat file simply contains
opencpn -p
Don't forget to start opencpn through the bat file.

I am using 2.6.1715

PS By using Xport for instance, you can feed the GPS to both instances using the same port number.

[RhythmDoctor]

Originally Posted by sailorF54

VIking Sailor is right, as you would have discovered if you had tried. .

Sorry, I would have tried if it was in a stable release. I will not use betas for real-time navigation. I'll wait for the stable release.

Originally Posted by sailorF54

PS By using Xport for instance, you can feed the GPS to both instances using the same port number.

Does this work for bidirectional communications? I can imagine sending GPS signals out to both instances using the same port number, but this might run into problems for full duplex, sending autopilot commands back the other direction on the same port. Or does Xport have a way of multiplexing those on one port?

Also, is there a way to have XPort multiplex two different COM ports at the same time? It would be nice if I could also split my AIS COM port into two. But I've been unable to figure out how to run two instances of XPort, or to get one instance to split two different COM ports.

[cagney]

Originally Posted by RhythmDoctor

Thanks. Does 2.5.0 have portable mode, or is it only available in the 2.6 beta? The DocFile chapter on portable mode does not make this clear.

All the features in 2.5 are described in the documentation that comes as a part of your installation. Click ?->Help and look in your browser.
When there is a beta series, the documentation is slowly updated to include all news and changes. This is clearly stated in the introduction to the wiki Book - Documentation Wiki | Official OpenCPN Homepage.
All the different versions of the documentation are available towards the bottom of Download OpenCPN | Official OpenCPN Homepage

Thomas

[Tristan]

Another solution is to run a copy of OpenCPN in a virtual machine. This way you can run any version of the software and still share your COM ports. If you run the VirtualBox you can run it in border-less mode in this case you wouldn't see any differences between you current setup but the two application are running in the two separated virtual computers.
The overhead is really minimal.
T.

[Tristan]

You can also use the same set of resources (charts,tracks,routes...) by sharing them between two VM
T.

[RhythmDoctor]

Thanks for all of your suggestions. I will try the beta upgrade with portable mode this weekend. Not sure I'm up to installing a virtual machine on my little Netbook that I use in the cockpit.

Until I'm convinced that the latest 2.6 beta has no bugs that would affect the stability of my real-time usage, I've created a batch file that:

1. Backs up the latest opencpn.ini file
2. Copies a .ini file with GPS settings (close-up zoom, window on left side of screen, no AIS) to opencpn.ini
3. Launches a first instance of opencpn
4. Copies a different .ini file with AIS settings (wide zoom, window on right side of screen, AIS active) to opencpn.ini
5. Launches a second instance of opencpn

Over the weekend, I'm going to try to expand this batch file to also establish my Bluetooth connections and launch/activate XPort. I'm not sure yet whether this can be done - it will depend on what kind of DOS scripting support those programs have.

[HappySeagull]

Per the portable version,that lives on your hdd, you can use the "-p" switch in a desktop shortcut to it.. in XP this goes in the "target" slot of the shortcut's properties dialogue. Much nicer than a .bat script...
The bat script is only needed in a usb stick version because Winblows can't keep Drive letters reserved for drives you plug in.

[RhythmDoctor]

Originally Posted by HappySeagull

Per the portable version,that lives on your hdd, you can use the "-p" switch in a desktop shortcut to it.. in XP this goes in the "target" slot of the shortcut's properties dialogue. Much nicer than a .bat script...
The bat script is only needed in a usb stick version because Winblows can't keep Drive letters reserved for drives you plug in.

Yes, I've done similar things many times. Since I'll be looking to automate several tasks in sequence, I'll probably create a multi-line batch file anyway, and make a shortcut that points to it.