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mlbsheret1 · 08-06-2016, 06:14

We have loaded OpenCPN 4.2.0 onto both our Windows 7 and Windows 10 laptops. Our screen only shows the world map with land masses in green, water in blue, and a circle showing the ships’ position. There is absolutely no detail other than that.

As we are familiar with CM93 charts we would like to use them on OpenCPN. We have painstakingly followed the directions to add them, with the CM93 charts in the folder C:\CM93.

The procedure we followed was:

Opened OpenCPN
Clicked on Tools
Clicked on Charts. There was nothing in the directory listed.
Clicked add directory and searched for CM93. Added to folder. Clicked apply.
Updated the vector chart display. Clicked apply.
Clicked OK

A fellow cruiser using the same CM93 charts is using OpenCPN. Using his method to load the CM93 charts, which is what we did, did not work either.

Please verify the correct procedure step-by-step to use OpenCPN on Windows 7 and 10.

rgleason · 08-06-2016, 07:06

OpenCPN is Opensource software. Help is completely developer/user powered on this forum and is voluntary. So don't be so demanding.

You will have to read and then ask. The steps you wrote are somewhat accurate, but missing things.

Did you set the directory? Opencpn needs to know where you put the charts.
Did you then update the FULL Database? Opencpn needs to know where every chart is and to store an index. This index needs to be updated from time to time.
OpenCPN will sense when it needs updating (adding charts etc) but if there are problems with charts, often the answer is to update the Full Chart Database.

After that, you need to find out how to make and use Chart Groups, How to pick a Chart Group from the Right_click > Charts menu.

The procedure is the same for Win7 and Win 10.

Getting Started | Official OpenCPN Homepage
Chart Installation | Official OpenCPN Homepage
Chart Files Tab | Official OpenCPN Homepage
Chart Downloader Tab | Official OpenCPN Homepage

If you'd like to write up a better step by step for new users. Please do so.
I will make sure it is included in Getting Started, provided it is high quality.

Thank you.
Have you looked at the Help (hit the ?) and read all about Charts and Chart Installation.

Also have you read on opencpn.org the updated User Manual?

mlbsheret1 · 09-06-2016, 03:55

Thank you for your response. I apologize if it sounded like we were yelling at you. We have been trying to get OpenCPN to work for the past few weeks, with no luck and we're just frustrated from trying. I'm not trying to re-write how to access OpenCPN, I was merely trying to point out what I'd done so far.
We have sailed 3/4 of the way around the world using these same CM93 charts in MaxSea. We are no longer able to use MaxSea and want to use OpenCPN, but can not get the CM93 charts to work.
Yes, I did set the directory and put both C:\CM93 and C:\Charts into it. I also updated the full Database. My problem may be that I don't understand the Chart Groups.
Also, a couple of days ago I'd downloaded some sample charts, as the manual suggested, and this morning realized that those charts were placed into the C:\CM93 folder instead of the C:\Charts folder. When I moved them into the Charts folder I was able to view them in OpenCPN however with no depths showing. Our first positive step forward!
However, the CM93 charts still do not show up.

petter5 · 09-06-2016, 04:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by mlbsheret1

Thank you for your response. I apologize if it sounded like we were yelling at you. We have been trying to get OpenCPN to work for the past few weeks, with no luck and we're just frustrated from trying. I'm not trying to re-write how to access OpenCPN, I was merely trying to point out what I'd done so far.
We have sailed 3/4 of the way around the world using these same CM93 charts in MaxSea. We are no longer able to use MaxSea and want to use OpenCPN, but can not get the CM93 charts to work.
Yes, I did set the directory and put both C:\CM93 and C:\Charts into it. I also updated the full Database. My problem may be that I don't understand the Chart Groups.
Also, a couple of days ago I'd downloaded some sample charts, as the manual suggested, and this morning realized that those charts were placed into the C:\CM93 folder instead of the C:\Charts folder. When I moved them into the Charts folder I was able to view them in OpenCPN however with no depths showing. Our first positive step forward!
However, the CM93 charts still do not show up.

Are you sure your charts are CM93-2 charts and not CM93-3 charts ?? CM93-3 charts will not work since they are protected by encryption.

Also, if you are sure your chart are CM93-2 charts, you can try to move the charts to a sub folder of your home folder. In some scenarios, thigh security restrictions in window can prevent a user to access folders outside of their home directory.

Wanderlust · 09-06-2016, 06:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by mlbsheret1

When I moved them into the Charts folder I was able to view them in OpenCPN however with no depths showing.

That eliminates a LOT of possible issues. That confirms you are using the correct CM93 edition. My guess is that in your attempts to resolve the issue you changed some settings in OpenCPN.

Check the setting under Tools, Options, Charts, Vector Chart Display, and ensure Depth Soundings is checked. A good starting point is to select Display Category = Standard, and tick everything on that page except Important Text Only. Put the CM93 detail slider in the middle. That should give you a good starting point to then adjust as you like. On the chart make sure you have zoomed in close enough for the depths to appear. The combination of chart scale, zoom level and detail slider determine when the depths appear.

Note that I'm not part of the support team, just an end user.

champ8242 · 09-06-2016, 07:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wanderlust

That eliminates a LOT of possible issues. That confirms you are using the correct CM93 edition. My guess is that in your attempts to resolve the issue you changed some settings in OpenCPN.

Steve, cannot agree with you here

Quote:

Also, a couple of days ago I'd downloaded some sample charts, as the manual suggested, and this morning realized that those charts were placed into the C:\CM93 folder instead of the C:\Charts folder. When I moved them into the Charts folder I was able to view them in OpenCPN however with no depths showing

What I read here; downloaded some sample charts, realized that those charts were placed into the C:\CM93 folder, moved them into the Charts folder, was able to view them in OpenCPN however with no depths showing.

So OpenCPN was reading "sample charts" not CM93 charts.

Well, that's how I read it

Bart

Quote:

Note that I'm not part of the support team, just an end user.

Me2

mlbsheret1 · 09-06-2016, 07:33

Guys,

We did solve the problem. We believed we did all the correct steps except one. We suspected that we were using Version3. I went back into our CD folder on board and saw a CM93 V3 disc. Opposite that was another disk that said just CM93. We downloaded the disc to the laptop and entered it to the Chart display. The screen exploded with information . It was was Version 2.

Please tell your readers that the first thing to check if using CM93 is the version they have. Of course we read that version 3 could not be used but we didn't verify it to the bitter end. It was our fault. One way to tell what version you have is that V2 has extra chart folders plus extra files which include the .EXD file. V3 does not have the extra files. Its the first thing we noticed.

Thank-you for your prompt attention and all your help.

Michael & Linda
S/Y B'Sheret

Wanderlust · 09-06-2016, 07:39

Thanks Champ, you may well be right there.

In that case, back to mlbsheret1 ....

On that Chart Files tab, go to the directory that is listed and have a look at the files you see. If you have the whole world charts, there should be 144 folders with 8 digit numeric names, and a handful of separate files. If you see less than 144 folders, that's OK. It just means you don't have the whole world. If the folder does not look like that then it is not the standard CM93 format.

If it all looks OK, maybe try a Scan and Database rebuild on the same tab.

I'm not sure how to tell the difference between Edition 2 and Edition 3, which will not work in OpenCPN.

Edit. I see mlbsheret1 responded while I was writing this. Good to hear it is now resolved.

rgleason · 09-06-2016, 07:53

Thanks, made an extra note in User Docs and referenced this sad story but happy ending.
Chart Formats | Official OpenCPN Homepage

wings47 · 26-07-2016, 04:24

Hi there,
I've recently come across OPENCPN. What great chart navigation software - congratulations to all those developers who 'made this happen'! I've been using Maxsea (various version) and CM93 Ed2 for many years (14 years!), but i really like the 'new fresh' look of OPENCPN. Am still 'learning the ropes' on it, but so far so good!
Have 2 (simple?) questions:
- CM93 charts - I cannot get text to display e.g name of islands, land, etc. Everything else shows - depths, boundaries, lighthouses, etc, but never any text on the land masses. I've tried every map display format (standard, base, mariner, all), still no luck. Note that i can see these names when using Maxsea on the SAME CM93 chart set.
- My CM93 chart set is from Nov 2005. Is there a more recent version and if so, where could I downloaded it from?

many thanks,
Joe

CarCode · 26-07-2016, 04:46

Joe,

simply press the "T" key on your keyboard. There are other ways as well.
The last cm93v2 version I know is from May 2013.

Gerhard

wings47 · 26-07-2016, 05:37

Thanks Gerhard, that worked perfectly! (did i miss something in the documentation, or how did you figure this out ??).
Do you know where/how I could get/download the May 2013 CM93 charts? (if you have them, could you share/send them via WeTransfer ?)

many thanks
Joe

HankOnthewater · 26-07-2016, 05:37

I have used CM93 charts since the mid 90's, using various software.
Over the last few weeks I updated OpenCPN, and now wondering how to update the charts, ideally the 2013 version.
Any help appreciated.