Overlay display issues with WinXP

[Mark888]

Hello all.

I'm a fairly new user of Plan-G and am having some issues getting it to work with WinXP. I have the same issue on 2 different XP machines.

First off I have been using the program successfully with Win7 and FSX on the same machine, no problems. Like so many other users I want to go the next step and network with a laptop, FSX on the Win7 desktop and Plan-G on an XP laptop.
I installed 3.1.2 on the XP machine and copied the FSX database over from the Win7 machine. The problem I am having is that are no airport, NDB, VOR, etc overlays are being displayed. The log file is indicating an error that looks like it may be .NET related. I've uninstalled/re-installed .NET 4.0.

In researching this issue I've come across some confusing information. The readme.txt file is titled 'Plan-G Release 3.1.2 FOR WINDOWS XP'.  But then in the prerequisites it says 'This software requires .Net Framework v4.5.1' and 'This version of Plan-G will only run on Windows Vista or later'.

The Plan-G user manual states:

'To function, Plan‐G requires that the .Net (DotNet) Client Profile be installed on the user's PC. Plan‐G Version 3.1.1 for Windows XP requires .Net 4.0; Plan‐G 3.1.1 for Windows Vista onwards requires .Net 4.5. If the correct version isn't installed on your PC, it is downloaded automatically by the installation program, so the user doesn't need to take any action. All future releases after 3.1.1 will require .Net 4.5'.

All this suggests that to run Plan-G on WinXP you would need to run v3.1.1. Yet there is an XP install file for v3.1.2. Is the install file for v3.1.1 still available?

See attached log file.

Thanks for any assistance.

[tim arnot]

The user manual did not get updated for 3.1.2. It was not planned to update the XP edition beyond 3.1.1 (there are so few XP users now that it really isn't worth the extra hassle), but the programmer forgot and did it anyway.

You must download and run the XP version if you are using XP. The W7 version (Vista & later) required .Net 4.5.1, which will not work on XP.

It sounds like a reference got missed in the XP version of the readme, I'll make sure it's fixed for the next update.

[Mark888]

Thanks for the quick reply, Tim.

I re-checked the version I installed and it is the XP version. The splash screen confirms this. Any thoughts on the System.IO.FileLoadException errors from my log file? Is Plan-G v3.1.2(xp) compatible with .NET 4.0 (latest available for XP)? Is it possible to still download Plan-G v3.1.1? I could not find a link to older releases.

On the bright side I am able to connect over LAN Plan-G on XP laptop and FSX on Win7 desktop. The trail and airplane icon display just fine. A moving map on a 2nd PC is pretty cool! Now if I can get the airport, VOR, NDB, etc. overlays to display I'll be all set.

[tim arnot]

You need to make sure DotNet is patched to the latest version - see here: http://www.tasoftware.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=2868.msg14252#msg14252

[Mark888]

That was it! Thanks Tim. I should have been able to find that myself. Excellent program! Even better support. I'm off to find the PayPal button...

[tim arnot]

I should have spotted it when I replied last night, but it was 1:30 am and ... ;)