Loss of all setup information (charts, groups, tracks)

[RodgerG]

I started opencpn after a month (having opened it daily for the previous 3 months) and no charts, chart groups or tracks appear - i.e. only the base world map.

I can rebuild the chart groups etc. if necessary, but unfortunately I did not make a .gpx of the last couple of season's tracks so cannot reload them.

I've tried renaming an old (and apparently complete) navobj.xml file but that does not solve the problem.

Any ideas would be most welcome.

(I'm using V5.8.4-0 )

[rgleason]

OS please?


I wouldn't use 5.8.4, but perhaps you want to continue with that or at least 5.10 and get your navobj.xml working.


5.12.0 converts navobj.xml to a navobj.db.


You may already have a navobj.db (ACTUALLY IF USING 5.8.4 YOU WON'T)
Possibly try renaming it and then make sure there is a navobj.xml so it can be converted.
Alternatively remove 5.12.0-4 (you should be using 5.12.4 release!!!!) and try it again.

[RodgerG]

Thanks very much for the suggestions.

I'll have a go in the coming days and let you know how it goes.

Cheers

[RodgerG]

OS= windows 10

I've installed 5.12.4 and set up all the charts, groups etc. but no luck getting the tracks.

Tried renaming the .db, making sure the "complete" navobj.xml was named as such and relaunched, but didn't work.

I read elsewhere that the .xml can be renamed .gpx and imported via the route and track manager but that didn't work either.

I'm wondering if my "complete" navobj.xml is somehow corrupted. Is this likely/possible?

Incidentally, it is 25,658k - presumably within acceptable size limits?

[Lady_C]

Originally Posted by RodgerG

Tried renaming the .db, making sure the "complete" navobj.xml was named as such and relaunched, but didn't work.

you cannot rename navobj.xml to navobj.db and expect it will work.

a .xml file is a formated "text" file you can open and read with a notepad.
the navobj.db is a Sql Lite database needing at least a db browser to look data.

[RodgerG]

Originally Posted by Lady_C

you cannot rename navobj.xml to navobj.db and expect it will work.

a .xml file is a formated "text" file you can open and read with a notepad.
the navobj.db is a Sql Lite database needing at least a db browser to look data.

Sorry, I was a bit unclear here.

I renamed the default/initial navobj.db file so there wasn't a .db file on start up - just an .xml file. My (possibly incorrect) understanding was that the new version of opencpn would look for a navobj.xml and convert it to produce a navobj.db,

Do you know of a tool that could take my "complete" .xml file and convert it to a .gpx that I could load manually via "routes and tracks" ?

Cheers

[stevead]

Do you know of a tool that could take my "complete" .xml file and convert it to a .gpx that I could load manually via "routes and tracks"

OpenCPN.

The navobj.xml files are GPX files. You should be able to import them using the Route & Mark Manager.

[RodgerG]

Originally Posted by stevead

OpenCPN.

The navobj.xml files are GPX files. You should be able to import them using the Route & Mark Manager.

I have tried that in two ways - changing the .xml extension to.gpx so it appears in the default importing, and also using the "all files" option to browse for the file to import as an .xml.

Neither worked.

Is it possible that either:
- the file is too large (at 25,658kb) or
- the file is somehow corrupted?

[stevead]

Is it possible that either:
- the file is too large (at 25,658kb) or
- the file is somehow corrupted?

Yes.

I have no idea if there is a size limit for importing GPX files.

IIRC, if the file is corrupted there are no error messages logged. You can use an online XML syntax tool to verify the file integrity however your file may be too large for those tools. I described this in another post

You could also upload the file somewhere and post a link to the file and hope that someone examines it.

[RodgerG]

Thanks.

I'll explore those options.

Cheers.

[stevead]

Another thought inspired by Hakan's post in another thread. I'm not sure whether this behaviour is by design or a useful unintended consequence

If there is a valid navobj.xml file present in the OpenCPN data directory, when OpenCPN starts it will import the routes, waypoints & tracks into the the navobj.db database. The navobj.xml file will be automatically deleted after the import.

For example if you have archived the navobj.xml file every year (eg. navobj.xml.2020, navobj.xml.2021, navobj.xml.2022....) you could sequentially import each year's archive. Note that this may result in duplicates if you have "recreated" the same routes, waypoints and tracks rather then exporting/importing them or reusing the previous navobj.xml file.

Eg. Assuming Windows

copy d:\backup\navobj.xml.2020 c:\programdata\opencpn\navobj.xml

Start OpenCPN and it will import the "old" xml file into the database and then delete it. Close OpenCPN

copy d:\backup\navobj.xml.2021 c:\programdata\opencpn\navobj.xml

Start OpenCPN and it will import the "old" xml file into the database and then delete it. Close OpenCPN

Rinse and repeat.

[RodgerG]

Thanks again for the suggestions.

I've recovered up to 2022 so far - the last time I properly backed up. Stupidly I have not backed up for the last few years - hence the very large file.

Once I get my head around the correct format/syntax , I will split off the already recovered data from the "latest" file which hopefully will bring it down to a manageable size.
I will probably just split the large file into annual runs which is how I should have saved it in the first place......!

Thanks again - it looks doable for sure, I just need some clear time to sit down and split the very large file, ensure it's syntax is correct and, as you say, "rinse and repeat"