• Today I've spent some time reading the new FS2004 Scenery SDK documentation from Microsoft. I've discovered that the old BGL file format have been replaced by XML. In principal this is good news to NAV becase in the last years I've been moving all NAV2X database, flight plan, recorded flights etc to XML space. Note that the FLTREC utility has a schema file registered by me at www.xml.org.

  The bad news is that the original XML scenery files are not availabe. Microsoft have created a tool "bglcomp" that compress the source XML file (I mean that the main purpose is disk space saving) but this does not allow me to read the new file format into NAV24.

  Maybe it could be a grat idea to start developing a tool that generates back the XML source from the bglcomp compressed file. If you have some news about this topic, please send me an email.

• After working with my new tool in the last week I've changed a lot of things. Here is the new version I'm currently using.

  Download Instalar Gauge Scan v(1.5).zip

• I've created a new tool to examine the content of the Gauge files.

  This file is designed for Gauge Developers who want to know more about how to create panel gauges.

  Main features

  • Open .gau files and examines all ImporTable and Linkage elements
  • Tree window to examine all sub elements
  • Double click on the ID(s) to see the graphical resources.
  Download Instalar Gauge Scan.zip

• The new Flight Data Recorder for Flight Simulator 9 is here.

  Due to some changes in the FS Internals the migration of FLTREC have been longer than desired. This new version access the same information available in FS2002, and will be upgraded to new FS2004 variables when the new SDK were released.

  New in FLTREC9

  • Changed internal windows, now windows derive from CDialog (MFC) rather than internal WinDialog objects.
  • Miscrosoft have changed CHAIN functions from chain.dll to fs9.exe. Now FLTREC uses the new ones.
  Download FLTREC90.zip

• A new version of FLTREC (8.2) have been released.
  This new version exposes all variables available in FS2002. The output file format for "sets" have beed updated from DTD to XML Schemas.
  If you are a FLTREC user I recommend you to update to this new version.

• I've updated Beta 10 to Beta 11 and created a ZIP file only with the executables.

  Beta 11 should be the last one, please don't hesitate to report bugs / problems.
  Next development step will be a module for NAV to process recorded flights (with FLTREC). The module will be adaptable to virtual airlines that may allow VAs to use NAV as a tool for sharing flight plans with pilots and receive the flight reports. If you are a VA manager and wises to receive a beta version of the module send me an email.
  

  If you alrready have any previous NAV 24 beta installed just extract the content of the ZIP file on the NAV directory and replace existing files with the new ones.
  If you don't have previous NAV 24 beta versions installed, just download Beta 5 and the new executables from beta 7, install beta 5 and after that, replace the beta 5 executables with the content of the beta 11 zip file.
  New in Beta 11:

  • Finished the development of all types of segments, Standard turns and Holdings
  • Automatic selection of the best approaching pattern to the Holdings
  • Added numbers at runways to help identify the right runway on the map
  • The Win/ME/98 resource limitation must be solved. (Thanks to Martin Mueller).
  New in Beta 10:
  • Solved some GPFs when exporting to FS2002
  • Solved more GPFs when manually creating and editing a flight plan
  New in Beta 9:
  • Show/Hide auxiliary segments in the flight plan window
  • New and faster drawing routines
  • Solved a bug that creates a compiled database with more than 80 Mb real size must be 20 Mb more or less
  • Added the departure time property in the flight plans
  New in Beta 8:
  • Solved GPFs produced when modifying a flight plan and flight recorded data were loaded.
  • New Algorithm to calculate flight plan altitudes.
  • The loading process of the Compiled database now uses MSXML4 rather than MSXML3. (Faster)
  • There is a new dialog to view/change the Flight Plan Properties.
  New in Beta 7:
  • Improoved Flight Data Analisys window
  • Solved two bugs in the Flight Plan Saving-Loading functions.
  • The problem with WinME and WIn98 have not been solved
  Download Nav24Beta11-executables-only.zip

• I've updated Beta 5 to Beta 6 and created a ZIP file only with the executables.

  If you alrready have any previous NAV 24 beta installed just extract the content of the ZIP file on the NAV directory and replace existing files with the new ones.
  If you don't have previous NAV 24 beta versions installed, just download Beta 5 and the new executables from beta 6, install beta 5 and after that, replace the beta 5 executables with the content of the beta 6 zip file.
  New in Beta 6:

  • Memory requirements reduced, this may impact in speed.
  • Checked problem with Windows 98. For now beta 6 does not run well on Win98 because a problem with windows resources (not enought mutexes availables)
  • Auto flight plan revised.
  • Drawing functions for SID,STAR and fixes have been updated
  Download Nav24Beta7_executables-only.zip !Link Changed to Beta 7!

• Nav24Beta5, Released
  
  • A minor bug solved
  download Nav24Beta5.zip

• Nav24Beta4, Released
  
  • The BGL Scan routines have been revised and updated.
  • Flight Path loading from FLTREC updated.
  download Nav24Beta5.zip

• Nav24Beta3, Available to download
  Two changes incorporated:
  • Solved a bug in the English version with the automatic recognition of FS2002
  • Added code to automatically detect the installation of MSXML4
  download Nav24Beta5.zip (link changed to Beta5)

• Nav24Beta2, Many many many changes...
  Now there is a new menu to generate a compiled database (in XML format)
  
  The first time NAV24 is executed in your computer the loading process will be slow. For the second and subsecuent times NAV should load much more faster because the size of the memory tables needed to handle the information have been adjusted.
  
  Nav24 requires MSXML4 to work. Download MSXML4 from Microsoft web site and then download Nav24Beta5.zip (link changed to Beta5)

• Nav24Beta1, prepared to work with FS2002 is ready.
  Test it and let me know your feelings.
  Link removed, beta 1 have been deleted

• A minor bug solved. The "Browse" button in the FLTREC main dialog window caused a problem with the scenery loading routines. That bug have been solved with this new version (8.1) of fltrec.
  If you are a FLTREC user I recommend you to update to this new version.

• I've finished the new FLTREC for FS2002.
  The new (8.x) version is ONLY for fs2002 and does not run in previous versions of Flight Simulator (tm). This new version has internal improvements and a new window to define a set.
  The new distribution files include the sample excel worksheet to examine a recorded flight and the FltPlay executable file. Download fltrec81.zip

• Some people have reported a problem when nav23 asked about to insert a volumen into drive A:. I've changed some things in the code to avoid this problem. The result is Nav23c.

• I've created a new FltPlay, written in C++ to avoid problems with some DLL's that were not found in the Visual Basic Version. The new C++ version is also faster than previous one.
  Download FltPlay15.zip

• Hello, I've to announce a new FS2000 tool. FLTPLAY is a complement to FLTREC. As the name says, FLTPLAY will replay a recorded flight.
• Also, there are new versions of NAV23 (Revision b) and FLTREC

• A new updated version of Nav23 (Nav23a) has been released. Based on suggestions and problems reported by users, this new version solve problems with auto flight planning export to FS2000 etc.
  Thank you to all people who have sent me a note with problem reports and suggestions. Download Nav23a.zip and enjoy this new version.

• If you have any question, problem or suggestion about NAV2 or FLTREC, you can visit this new forums created specifically for that purposes
  Español
  English

• The new version of NAV2, NAV23 is completely finished and ready to be released. Download this new version and enjoy the best of Flight Planning. Download Nav23.zip

• I've created a sample Excel worksheet that uses Microsoft XML parser 3.0 to import a .dat file in XML to Excel. Modify this sample file for your own purposes. Download fltxls01.zip

• I've updated the FLTREC Gauge with two minor improvements; Work at night and has better images Download fltrga02.zip

It works with FS95, FS98 and FS2000.

Nav looks like this (NAV selects between English and Spanish automatically)

• Examine scenery area and BGL files.
• Create or view realistic flight plans. Using SIDs and STARs
• Compare you flight with the flight plan (you need to save your flight with FltRec77.zip ).
• If you are a Virtual Airline Pilot and your VA has developed an add-on for NAV, you should be able to send a mission to your Virtual Airline staff with Nav.

For a complete list of features see below.

• Read BGL files from FS95, FS98 and FS2000.
• Read NavStar databases.
• Read NavDash databases.
• If you have installed both (FS95, FS98 and FS2000) you can select at start time what scenery to use.
• Nav2 recognizes intersection databases in various formats.
• Multi-Language: NAV is in Spanish and English (Contact me if you want to translate it to other language).
• See the range of radio navigation aids (NDB, VOR, and ATIS Stations).
• Create realistic flight plans.
• Flight plans are segments between points, they can be arcs or straight lines.
• Export flight plans to TEXT, NavDash FMS, NavStar FMS and FS2000.
• Examine a recorded flight (needs FLTREC70).
• Create SIDS and STARS.
• Use SIDS and STARS in flight plans.
• Debug Content in BGL files.

See the features in the screenshots page.

• Import FS2000 .pln Flight Plans. Now implemented in NAV23
• Excludes in scenery.cfg

FSNavigator is a module, this means it's loaded with Flight Simulator and uses the same memory that Flight Simulator want to use. Nav it's a separate executable, so you can create a flight plan, export to your favorite FMS and fly it.

• Nav18: Originally from Ted Wright, NAV20 and before derive from this version.
• Nav19: This is Nav 18 with the ability to export all information to a file that can be used as a Flightplanner4.0b database, Written by Larry G. Fortna. Download it from www.flightsim.com
• Nav20: The first public version of NAV I released. This is also at www.flightsim.com
• Nav21: The first evolution, NAV21 it's a transition version between NAV20 and NAV22, you can download it from major flight-sim portals. Now, NAV23 is a new version that works better in FS2000 then previous ones. Also NAV23 works under Win2000 and NT. www.flightsim.com www.simflight.com www.avsim.com and compuserve.
• Nav22: This version. Download it from here.
• Nav23: New version. Download it from here.
• Nav30: Is the new one form Ted Wright.

Nav30 and Nav22 are not consecutive versions. I manage NAV2x and Ted manage NAV3x.

A new Users Manual must be generated for NAV22. But I've no time to do it now. I know it's necessary to write some better instructions to build flight plans with arcs, because the explanations of the NAV21 manual was not enough. The problem with this is that I don't speak English very well, and it's very difficult to explain it in English.

1. If you want to avoid the warning window about SID/STARS that you have no airports to, go to the Options menu and select Nav Options sub-menu, then mark the checbox "Ignore warning about airports not found". You will never see that window.
2. The first time a scenery area is loaded, NAV calculates the best memory size that will be needed for future loads of the same area. This strategy made NAV22 to start faster the next time.
3. You can have multiple SID/STAR files in the SidStar folder. Actually NAV22 search for *.txt files in that folder when loading procedures.

Nav uses MSXML3.DLL and other system DLL's from Microsoft. If you find that some DLL's are not found when loading NAV2 or you experience Page Faults when selecting some menu options then it's possible that you need and undated version of some DLL's. This is the list of my own. Please download the last version from the Microsoft Download area.

Download this sample flights . Send me your plans.

I'm updating NAV to the new NAV24 version.
The new version will include all the SID/STARS form Schiratti cdu
and a new feature called "refined flight plan" that will introduce into a flight plan the neccesary arcs to made a smooth transition between plan points.

ihr@mail.ddnet.es

Follow this link if you want to read more about this feature.

(C) Ignacio Hernández-Ros All rights reserved