Problem updating FSNavigator database

[Clarindo]

I have a very large number of addon files in my FS9 program and have always used FSNavigator, updating its database everytime additions have been made.


As of recently FSNavigator will not update the database and I am sure the problem is with some addon file - as I exclude Addon from the process the updating runs through all the other folders/files.

It will not be feasible for me to try disabling one file at a time to find the culprit (which I believe to be the diagnostic).

I have left FSNavigator on for long periods hoping it is going through a very lengthy nad time-consuming process - no solution.

I am wondering and looking for help on this problem:

1 - Is there is a program (freeware or payware) which will check these files and identify errors, duplicity or whatever might be causing the problem.

2 - Have heard about the attempt of eliminating all .dat files and running the FSNavigator Database Manager (FSNavDBC) which would rebuild them all. Is this a safe procedure?

3 - Has anyone experienced this problem relative to FS9 Addon files and FSNavigator and solved it?

Will appreciate any comment or assistance on this.

[ReggieF5421]

1. No. We tend to have to open all the AFCAD type files one by one and check them. A very long process.

2. Never eliminate all the .DAT files. That can destroy some gauges. However, the scenery.dat files are temporary scenery caches. FS9 does an extremely poor job of updating them when scenery is removed. If you delete them it will reindex all your scenery, which can be a good thing to do occasionally.

3. Yes a few times.

The first thing I do is sort all the files in the Addon Scenery folder by Date Modified. Then move all the files updated in the last month to a temporary folder outside FS. Run the FS Nav database updater - see if it works.

I move files out in groups of 25 or so to make trouble shooting easier, but if you have like a thousand files, you could move them in groups of 100.

The key is to put the files into small enough groups so you can identify the group with the problem file. Then you can work on cutting that group into smaller groups.

It greatly speeds the diagnostics process and allows you to zero in on problem files much faster.

[jgf]

I know of no program which will scan scenery for all problems (though should anyone create one, they have a guaranteed sale here), but there is a small utility - ScanAFD - which will report duplicate afcads, which are often a source of problems. It has numerous options for scanning (all scenery or only active scenery, only the AddOn scenery folder or other locations, etc.); it will display all afcads found or only duplicates, clicking a file will give details (creation date, number of parking spots, etc.), and you can delete or rename from within the program.

[Clarindo]

Appreciate your reply, jgf.

After concluding the alphabetical method in which I am now grossly engaged I will certainly try Scan AFD.

Best of luck, my friend.

[Clarindo]

Thanks for the help, Reggie. Unfortunately my hundred or so files have very similar dates of either creation or modification.

But your suggestion led me to go through an alphabetical selection (first 2 ICAO letters, for example) and at 2:30 a.m. I have gone through some 2/3 of the total task.

Will restart later on, hoping to get to the culprit soon, before either giving up or fainting.

[Clarindo]

Just an update on my problem:

Did identify a LARGE block of files which, when removed, allowed FSNavigator to update.
Did go through most (close to all) of them, but then things got complicated and tiring enough.
Downloaded ScanAFD which showed four duplicate files which were eliminated - but no solution.

Have just found out that while this problem persists with FSNavigation, using FSCommander ALL the airports are properly displayed.

This means that I will have to abandon - after many years of use - FSNavigator.

And face the problem that FSCommander will not always show multiplayer aircraft - there is a program AIBridge which sometimes will allow multiplayer aircraft to be shown, but not always - in my own situation and system, of course.

I will still continue looking for a solution as FSNavigator is still a quite attractive and useful program for flight simming.

In the meantime FSCommander does a tremendous job as flight planner and navigation tool with the only exception of my poor configuring it to get multiplayer aircraft identified all the time.

Appreciate the assistance, most welcome to this unexperienced computer and program tweaker.

[psvtropic]

Hi,

Don't know if you have found a solution yet, but i have a problem too. It tends to freeze during update.
I found the problem using Process Monitor (Download at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/s...rnals/bb896645). As you can see in the image, the update suddenly stops at a certain file. In this case Araxa_Other_Buildings.bgl. Then i just move that file out of the scenery folder, run the update again and move put the file back when it's done. Happened with a couple of other sceneries as well, but that's a method you can try to use to solve your problem.

Morten