error downloading charts

[tenchiki]

I resurrected an old Android Tablet and installed (the paid version of) OpenCPN. I am trying to install my first charts. I see the list of pre-defined chart catalogs. I can select one and touch "OK". It gives an error, saying it needs a local folder to store the charts. However, the "proposed chart installation directory" field and the "Select a different directory" button are greyed out and I can't figure out how to change it to work.


The tablet is running Android 9 (rather old, but then it is an old tablet). I made sure that the chart directory exists.


If I try to "update" on "Select Catalog" I get the error "the URL to the chart source seems wrong". my google-** isn't finding an answer to any of these issues. I'm about ready to delete and reinstall OpenCPN...

[Paradox111]

I downloaded a plugin in OpC to get charts

[bdbcat]

ten...


What does it say in the "proposed chart installation directory"


Thanks
Dave

[tenchiki]

the "proposed chart installation directory" is blank, and not selectable.

[wholybee]

This can be difficult on Android if you are not familiar with it on a desktop. I strongly recommend installing OpenCPN on a desktop first, and even go through the process on both at the same time because the dialogs on Android are pretty bad.

Try the following:
Select the gear from the floating menu (not settings from the ...)
Turn the phone/tablet sideways so you can see more of it.
Click "charts" from the upper tab.
Then Click chart downloader from the lower tab. (you might need to arrow to the right)
Click "add catalog"
Select the catalog you want.
Select "Update" (You might need to rotate the device again.)

And.... OpenCPN hung on my trying to do it just now. Arg. This is definitely an area the Android version needs a lot of improvement in. The way I actually do it is to download all the charts on my desktop, and then copy them over via an SD card. In that case, you can set the directory from settings in the ... menu.

But there is a trick that I can't remember, because OpenCPN doesn't work with the Android OS properly(which is your problem with changing directories right now), and so the directories that are available are really limited. It's a consequence of OpenCPN being portable to operating systems, instead of being committed to Android and using all of Android's proprietary libraries.

[tenchiki]

*sigh*, thanks, I'll install it on my laptop and try it there.

[bdbcat]

ten...
You are almost there.
You must drill down further into the chart sources tree to get to an installable set. At that point, the "Proposed chart installation location" will auto-fill with an appropriate directory.


See the attached PIX, taken from OpenCPN desktop version.


Good Luck
Dave

[Franziska]

On the Android version charts need to be migrated into a dedicated directory.

Pending on the amount of charts this can take very long (hours!) and once more very long (hours!) when OpenCPN rebuilt the chart database after migration. During both waiting times OpenCPN is unresponsive and can show a black screen. Keep it running, it will get through it.

I now have worldwide working CM93 as well more local MBtile charts and MBtile sat images running on my phone. It works!
Phone is a Samsung S20Ultra.

I hate the migration though because of the space it eats up space on the SD card.
Thankfully it does not force you to use internal memory for storing the charts.

I also have SailGribWR which does the same copying into it's own dedicated migration directory and I have a backup directory for the charts on my SD card too.
Used to be able to share my charts in one directory between the apps, now this is my back up directory.
It's a pain because now it takes three times the space than before this stupid migration business.

It's not the app creators fault though. Google Android forced this upon them.