BSB 4 PlugIn

[manimaul]

Originally Posted by brak

On the topic of ethics, and as an aside - one of the most common search queries for PolarView is "PolarView crack"

Some people are ethical, others aren't. I am not sure what the proportion is, but the second group is clearly at least a significant presence among us.

Given an option not to pay, that group will take the option.

Shame... It's not like PolarView is expensive being 1/10th the cost of most systems. I hope you're making out well with it anyhow.

[brak]

Originally Posted by manimaul

Shame... It's not like PolarView is expensive being 1/10th the cost of most systems. I hope you're making out well with it anyhow.

Right now it's decidedly not my primary source of income and, in fact, I am financing it from my "real job".

I think marine navigation software is not something you go into to "make money". It's a limited market with lots of players, many restrictions and existing tie-ups etc. There are much better opportunities than that in software development if the aim is to make the most money (*imho*, *ymmv* etc)

Personally, I am doing it primarily because it's the most fun I've had working on a software product in many years.

[ktcanuck]

Originally Posted by brak

Right now it's decidedly not my primary source of income and, in fact, I am financing it from my "real job".

I think marine navigation software is not something you go into to "make money". It's a limited market with lots of players, many restrictions and existing tie-ups etc. There are much better opportunities than that in software development if the aim is to make the most money (*imho*, *ymmv* etc)

Personally, I am doing it primarily because it's the most fun I've had working on a software product in many years.

And,as a fare paying user, I can say it's a darned good job you did of it.

[brak]

Originally Posted by ktcanuck

And,as a fare paying user, I can say it's a darned good job you did of it.

Thanks much

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by brak

On the topic of ethics, and as an aside - one of the most common search queries for PolarView is "PolarView crack"

I would guess that, in addition to the outright dishonest, that group includes a lot of the "internet should be free" crowd (free as long as someone else is paying for the hardware, solftware and infrastructure to put up the free websites).

[bdbcat]

Hi Folks....

I'm back online now. Time to talk about BSB4 Plugin.

I have implemented a BSB4 PlugIn for OpenCPN. As you might expect, it required some changes to the PlugIn API layer to accomodate arbitrary chart type loading, georeferencing, and display.
These API changes will appear in Beta Version 2.4.0 which will be published in a week or so, as will the PlugIn.

The BSB4 PlugIn uses the Maptech DLLs provided with the chart folios as purchased on disc. This fact has the following implications:

1. This PlugIn supports Windows only.
2. BSB4 charts will be available only on the computer for which they were successfully registered by the original end user.
3. The PlugIn makes no attempt to understand or "crack" the encryption algorithms. The DLL interface is treated as an opaque portal for reading decrypted .cap chart files. As was speculated, the PlugIn contains a DLL "wrapper" of sorts.
4. The BSB4 PlugIn will not be distributed as OpenSource. It will be a binary-only DLL, looking just like all other PlugIns at run-time.

Please take careful note of (2) above. If a user somehow "acquires" a copy of a BSB4 chart folio, it will not be useable with this plugin on a computer other than that for which the folio has been registered with its copyright owner. TNSTAAFL on this one.

Linux/Mac support: Maptech provides no packaged libraries for alternative O/S support. Such libraries could be developed as an exercise for the interested programmer. AFAICT, this would require executing a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) with Maptech, as well as the payment of a non-trivial fee to Maptech. I'm not willing to fulfill either of these requirements personally, especially the NDA....

The BSB4 PlugIn will be "free", as in "Free Beer". I am not at all interested in (re)entering the retail software distribution business. Happy users might make a corresponding non-trivial donation to the project as they see value.

Beta copies of the PlugIn will appear here (on this thread as attachments). The final release host has yet to be determined. It will probably not be on opencpn.org, due to licensing issues.

So, that's it. Comments welcome as always.

Its good to be back in the OCPN sandbox, I think.

Dave

[manimaul]

Dave, this is great news for Windows users and the "rule followers" in our midst. Awesomeness as always. I'm sure we can link to the plugin and document it on opencpn.org?

Hope you had some fun in the Bahamas.

Will

[bdbcat]

Hello Testers....

Here is the BSB4 PlugIn , Beta version 0.1

Installation:
1. Download and install OpenCPN Beta Version 2.4.0310 or later. This Build will be available shortly. Watch the opencpn.org Download page.

2. Download the PlugIn file bsb4_pi.doc which is attached to this post. Rename the file to bsb4_pi.dll. Copy the dll into the OpenCPN plugin directory, typically C:\Program Files\OpenCPN\plugins. You will see the other standard OpenCPN PlugIns in this directory already.

(Note to admins: Why cannot we upload/attach .dll files? The restriction is only an inconvenience to good citizens, not an effective prohibition...)

Operation:
1. Start OpenCPN
2. Open the Toolbox->Plugins tab, and enable the BSB4 PlugIn.
3. Open the Toolbox->Charts tab. Navigate to and select a directory containing BSB4 charts. Add this directory, and close as normal.
4. Installed BSB4 charts will be available in to chart bar.

Notes:
1. This Beta version produces a lot of log file output, as an assist to debugging. Much of the output will go away on production release.
2. I have tested this PlugIn on the two BSB4 portfolios I own, both Canadian CHS issue, with no problems.
3. If problems are encountered, please cut, paste, and upload the most recent logfile entries for diagnosis.

Good Luck
Dave

[bobofthenorth]

This is awesome. I love this software so I was incredibly disappointed when I bought a CHS chart license and subsequently discovered that OpenCPN was unable to read the charts (I know - RTFM - but I didn't). I've been struggling along with Fugawi but my wife is convinced I will stroke out one night while trying to prepare a route for the coming day. It will be simply wonderful to be able to ditch Fugawi and use OpenCPN in Canadian waters. Thank you thank you thank you.

Is there some place I should be making a voluntary donation? I don't mind paying for software that works. What I object to is getting raped up front and ending up with bulgeware that doesn't work.

[nohal]

bob,
If you want to send Dave some money to buy hardware for testing, you can make a donation at SourceForge.net: Project Donations: OpenCPN

Pavel

[yoruk]

Bravo and thank you for the plugin
Now, in Europe, we have an official map for OpenCPN
But .... I am now very far: Turkey ...
Is it possible to buy and download a Maptech for the Mediterranean
Thank you
Michel
Sorry, my english is poor….

[Gilletarom]

Originally Posted by yoruk

..
Is it possible to buy and download a Maptech for the Mediterranean
Thank you
Michel
Sorry, my english is poor….

For French mariner :

Le choix difficile de la cartographie électronique – Navigation Mac

Best regards

Gilletarom.

[Gilletarom]

Hello Dave,

I am available to undertake the translation of the language file of this plug-in.

Best regards

Gilletarom.

[sailias]

Any hints when a linux version of the dll will be available for testing.

Secondly came across this issue from noonsite. Aparently the CM93 2010, issuance, ( which will require the pluggin) has major issues with some locations. Ports in Belize are off by a mile or more.

ref: Noonsite: Warning About C-Map Error in the Caribbean

[nohal]

sailias,
unfortunately never is the answer to your question right now... Post #51 higher in this thread explains why.

Pavel