ACARSD - updating archives

[El_Drac]

Hi folks!
Is there anyone who can give me some information about the management of the ACARSD archives?
I'm using this program for several years now (even if in a discontinuous way) but it's an "endless fight" with its DB.
In particular, I've never understood how to perform the manual updating (airports, flights, airlines etc.).
E.g.: if I change the information of an airport (name) the debug screen tells me that the change has been recorded accordingly but the program is still showing the old name.
After the installation of the new release [1.71] the compiling function (Database> Database Manager) disappeared from the menu and I'm not able to compile the archives.
Several times I was tempted to change but I think that ACARSD is the most complete freeware currently available even if the "problem" (for me) remains!
It's a tricky situation...
Thanks in advance for your help.
Regards
Marco

 

[DaveNF2G]

I stopped using ACARSD because of issues like that and the poor support from the programmer. Questions in the "official" forum go unanswered and all that appears there are log dumps.

 

[El_Drac]

David, thanks for your reply.
ACARSD has a good potential but extremely limited by such disappointing issues like the one I've emphasized.
I agree with you about the "support from the programmer" evenf if I would define it "missing" instead of poor.
What software do you suggest me?
It 's really necessary to use a shareware to get good results?
Regards
Marco

 

[DaveNF2G]

Sometimes you get what you pay for.

I use the ACARS facility of PlanePlotter, which is free, and the AirNav ACARS Decoder 2, which is not. From the same receiver at the same time, both programs do not always decode the same messages. The balance does not always tip in favor of the commercial program, either.

I tried WACARS but could not get reliable results with it. JACARS is also free and allows you to receive data over the Internet as well as from your own receiver.

 

[El_Drac]

Hi Dave
Once again thanks for yr reply.

"Plane Plotter" and "Wacars" are quite poor in terms of GUI.
Yep, I know: the content is what matter that, but...you should also please the eye.
"Acarsd" has a certain something from the point of graphic but it's a pity that the archives management is so brain-teasing and frustrating...

I've also tried to install "KG-Acars" (the jap one) getting a bunch of meaningless ideograms...and nothing else.

Following your suggestion I tried to install "Jacars" but the only link available for download (DXZone) seems to be broken.
I gave a look to the screenshots and it seems is not too bad!