Revised: 21 August 2008
Subject:
TN2008 update and some minor compatibility issues on Windows Vista
The
purpose of this newsletter is to encourage everyone to move to Tn2008, and
to discuss two minor compatibility issues (and fixes) with TN on Windows Vista.
TN2008 UPDATES
and UPGRADES
If
you are still running TN2005 or Tn2007, please note that the upgrade to TN2008
is available *free of charge* for existing TN2005/7 users. Please
make use of the TN2008 update; full "CD image" and CE compact
edition downloads have been placed on the downloads page.
The initial 'stable release' build level is v4.1.200
Most
Tn2003 users have updated to current versions, but for any user or
club still using elderly or back-level versions of TN, the upgrade to
TN2008 is still available for only £20.. Alas,
this
offer won't last forever.
WINDOWS VISTA
TN2008 ISSUES...
Issue 1.
TN LogMaster
IMPACT: Medium: EW Windows Uploader doesn't launch,
or, a "non-parseable config file" message appears at LogMaster startup.
FIX
AVAILABLE: Yes, setup TN to "run as (Vista) administrator" mode.. see below
Like many
older applications, TaskNAV may take software actions that, while OK and
valid under previous versions of Windows, are in conflict with Windows Vista
access and/or security policies. The official Microsoft fix for this is to run the
user application in Windows Vista "administrator mode".
It is also recommended that when a program error is suspected, then set TN
to run in both 'Administrator' mode and the compatibility mode for "Windows XP Service Pack 2" -
see the 'compatibility' tab below.
The
'Administrator mode' FIX...
(a) Right
mouse click on the TN program icon on the Windows Vista desktop
(b) From the
popup menu, select properties
(c) In the
tabbed properties dialog (see below), select the "Compatibility" tab
(d) In the tab
section, "Privilege Level", tick "Run this program as an administrator",
and..
(e) Click the
"Apply" button, bottom right
Issue 2. IGC 3D Viewer (freeware) O.G.I.E "Full Screen"
window is temporarily not visible when the OGIE popup menu is on display
IMPACT: Low, but visually unsatisfactory
FIX
AVAILABLE: Yes, by circumvention .. see below.
If you use the
openGL_IGCexplorer (OGIE) freeware 3D viewer, there's a small glitch if it is launched using
the "Full Screen" tick-box option in the TN 3D Control Panel.
After launch
and during the 3D IGC display, if you use the mouse "right click" to get the
3D viewer pop-up menu, the 3D View full screen display disappears until you
make your selection from the pop-up menu and then it's visible again until the next
mouse "right click".
The
FIX...
This problem can be avoided - before the 3D
Viewer is launched - if you un-tick the "Full Screen" option in the TN 3D
Control Panel. OGIE then launches in a standard window which can be
resized and/or maximised, and in which mouse click and popup-menu behaviour
are normal. The standard window display has a title bar at the top of
the screen, but in all other respects is the same as the full screen 3D display.
This problem may
be due to a Vista/graphics driver issue
which may or may not affect your machine(s), or it may be associated
with the special .DLL files that allow a Linux program to run on Windows. Anyway,
as it isn't a TN problem, there isn't anything that can be done
except - if you find it irritating - to apply the circumvention described
above.
OTHER PROBLEMS
?
If you run TN on Windows Vista and are aware of other problems, please
let me know asap.
RECOMMENDATION
*Always* run TN
in 'Administrator' mode when the OS is Windows Vista
Tn2008 UPDATE
Available
now:
amongst other things, it changes the TN UI
button style from normal Win/2000 rectangles to the rounded rectangle shape
and colours of Windows XP themes. This works on both XP and Vista
- see example below. Vista and XP both allow you to revert to the "Windows
Classic" steel grey look and rectangular buttons as per Win2000 - if that is what you
prefer.
David Robertson