Update RC#2 (B7628) posted!

[damian]

Now available at our downloads page!

See below for the latest changelog.

Please view our ASP3D product info page for important information and requirements.

Thank you!

 

[damian]

Changelog:
Open Beta #2 - May 9, 2020

- Improved registration process for OPEN BETA with ASP4 license eligibility, for easier automatic order lookup witout requiring order ID/order # - You will still need your VALID ASP4 license key

- Test changes to isolate stability issues reported in some cases

- Attempted fix for problem with clear weather after changing EA mode, previously you would need to manually refresh to see the changes in some cases, now it should automatically refresh accordingly

- Added proper enforcement of P3Dv4.5 HF3 - Previously HF2 was allowed and causing potential compatibility issues

 

[damian]

Beta #3 has been posted!

While this does not resolve ALL the issues reported, this update focuses on stability and usability issues including crashes, sky color corruption and more. We wanted to get this out to you sooner than later.

We are continuing to work hard to address the issues reported and adjust things over for a better experience based on all the great feedback.
Please take a look at the issues you previously reported or confirmed and let us know in those threads if things are better for you now or unchanged? If a problem still exists after attempted fix, please include new logs and information so we can compare based on our new debugging data added in this recent build.

Thank you for your continued participation!

Dowload Beta #3 from our Downloads page at https://hifisimtech.com/downloads

ASP3D should uninstalled and reinstalled to ensure a clean installation.

You will also need to update ASCA to B7446, if you use ASCA. This is also now posted on our downloads page. ASCA update can be installed over the top.

Changelog:
ASP3D
- P3Dv5 Compatibility Updates
- Documentation updated (first draft, now ready for review and feedback)
- Fixed precipitation issue with ambient precipitation rate for v5
- Attempted fix for P3Dv5 CTD / crash issues including crash triggered by higher-latitude areas above 53N with EA mode off
- Attempted fix for stability / crash issues in v4
- Attempted a fix for external radar related CTD ("range change") in some cases
- Attempted a fix for cloud model issues and/or missing .cld files in some cases
- Attempted a fix regarding textures and clouds and potential interference from default or other add-on content
- Attempted fix for intermittent strange sky coloring issue in both v4 and v5
- Fixed an issue with overcast patterns in detailed radar when using ASCA overcast
- Fixed cloud base/thickness discrepancy issues in some cases
- Fixed an issue related to in-cloud detection
- Fixed runway selection issue, now using Navigraph runway data vs. simulator scenery runway data
- Fixed an issue that could prevent cloud movement with the wind (in v4)
- Attempted fix for German character handling issue within e-mail addresses causing login error
- Adjusted New user registration form for more intuitive security question selection process
- Fixed problem with survey form scrollbar not showing
- UI Adjustments
- Updated survey for separate beta #3 trigger and response tracking
- Change from single shortcut to 2 shortcuts, one for each P3D version variant (v4) or (v5), to quickly startup in the appropriate mode without need for choosing version - Version question will still be asked on first run
- Made -simVersion command line argument non-case-sensitive
- Fixed window size/position/dock status not saved/recalled properly issue
- Enabled additional verbose logging for identifying and tracking various reported issues

NOTE: ASCA SP3 OPEN BETA Build has been updated to B7446. All ASP3D+ASCA users should update to this new build available from our downloads page at https://hifisimtech.com/downloads


ASCA
- Updated auto simulator/path name handling when ASP3D client overrides path (a normal behavior when ASP3D is running) - previously the path name text prefix was shown, now it should properly show "ASP3D+P3Dv4" or "ASP3D+P3Dv5" accordingly.
- Updated theme definition text in Global Automatic and Full Dynamics so that AS16/ASP4/ASP3D required is shown instead of AS16 required
- [051820] Adjusted handling of texture files in attempt to avoid interference by other add-ons
- [052120] Changed handling for restoral and category de-selection in options screen, when using ASP3D, for proper deactivation of ASCA content using the P3D add-on folder specification
- [052120] Updated documentation for ASP3D use

 

[damian]

Beta #4 Posted!

Changelog:
- P3Dv5 Compatibility Updates
- Added new configurable hotkey option and handling for new XGauge implementation (defaults to CTRL-SHIFT-F11)
- Added new Beta #4 survey and handling
- Added warning icon next to connection status (Waiting for simulator) when ASP3D Connector not detected after 3 minutes, with hoverable tooltip and clickable popup message explaining that the Add-on may not be enabled in P3D and providing instructions on how to enable it
- Added detection and warning when PASTING password and leading or trailing whitespace is detected, so that user does not get unintended password errors when including blank spaces before or after a password
- Added new CANCEL button and handling, with associated warning, during ASP3D Connector/Add-on checking to avoid an endless loop if user did not install or update to the proper ASP3D connector version
- Fixed lingering voice folder / broken ATIS/flightwatch voice functionality due to installation content and path selection issue
- Fixed XGauge resize/move issue
- Fixed server logging issue that could cause logging to fail in some cases
- Fixed radar/API range issues causing data issues at 80nm and during range changes
- Fixed radar issue where a green arc could be drawn at edges
- Fixed runway selection / runway in use functionality and changed data to internal scenery vs. Navigraph data (to ensure proper ATC and visual synchronization to runway data)
- Fixed form dock status recall issue
- Changed local stand-alone (non-networked) configuration to use exclusive data comms via ASP3D components vs. simconnect, in effort to improve synchronization with P3D connected status
- Various XGauge adjustments including new use of radial data and echo shadow/attenuation simulation
- Updated API Documentation regarding use of radial data mode with echo shadow/attenuation simulation
- Updated README.rtf file to include new KNOWN ISSUE information that all ASP3D OPEN BETA participants should be aware of including potential stuck "Waiting for simulator" condition

 

[damian]

ASP3D Open Beta progress update as of June 4, 2020:

Thanks to all for your participation, feedback, and patience over the past few weeks!

As you've seen, we've had quite a few issues to deal with and resolve, and we are now progressing nicely towards solid stable software. We are continuing full speed ahead on addressing the outstanding issues and investigating the new ones reported.

We expect new open beta build frequency to increase over the next two weeks as we are able to confirm resolution of the more critical issues (crashes and blocking of feature use) and turn our focus to the remaining items.

Please note that while we are not able to respond to every post in this forum, we are reading and investigating all reports of issues, all feedback, and all suggestions. Please remember that we are a very small team and despite all of us working double shifts (or more), we are a bit behind in our responsiveness given the challenges we face including: tremendous increase in support load to help users obtain their free upgrade when they've lost all their order information or need comprehensive help registering an account or logging in, the occurrence of internal P3Dv5 issues and other add-on problems we've had to identify and deal with, the rapidly changing "target" of new P3Dv5 versions, and the continuous changing targets of other platforms that we still are supporting and developing new things for, just to name a few. All among the backdrop of today's global crises and the personal challenges we all individually face. We really appreciate your patience and understanding.

We are currently looking at extending the open beta by approximately 2 additional weeks at this time, through June 18. Further updates coming very soon.

Thank you!!!

 

[damian]

Beta #5 (B7472) has been posted!

Please note that without some expected fixes in HF2, yet to be release by LM, there are going to be some issues remaining. Some of these issues may include temperature problems and stability issues in certain cases. We were originally waiting for HF2, before posting this new build, but since it looks like it may be delayed further, we are posting this now to help with other issues.

Please make sure to update ASCA to the latest OPEN BETA build as well as the ASP3D installation. Thank you!

Beta #5 changelog:
- P3Dv5 compatibility Updates
- Fixed temperature issue that could cause surface temps to be incorrectly depicted aloft in some cases (could also result in lack of contrails for AI aircraft)
- Fixed small character string limit in forgot/change password forms for email address
- Fixed Wx request menu formatting issues in some cases
- Fixed problem with recall of last flight plan path which also affected flight plan auto load
- Attempt to improve/fix remaining potential ".cld not found" and/or cache errors
- Adjusted wind smoothing to instantly "reset" to target speed/direction after a location change/reset and/or user-initiated theme reload without smoothing delay
- Adjusted installer to not overwrite newer Navigraph data that may already exist
- Adjusted comms security rule application failure logging to only log one failure per type (utils_log.txt)
- Updated README for new known issues information
- Added new Beta #5 survey and handling

NOTE: ASCA SP3 OPEN BETA Build has been updated to B7471. All ASP3D+ASCA users should update to this new build available from our downloads page at https://hifisimtech.com/downloads

 

[damian]

Beta #6 (B7479) has been posted!

This includes P3Dv5 Hotfix 2 support. All P3Dv5 users should update to HF2 as it should resolve several outstanding issues.

Thank you for your continued help getting ASP3D ready for release!

Changelog:

- P3Dv5 compatibility updates with HF2 support
- Fixed an issue where connection status remained green when sim crashes
- Fixed wx request "cut off" issue with destination weather reports
- Fixed gaps in clouds / square cloud formation issue
- Adjusted uninstall processes to ask about Updated Navigraph Data (if it exists) and User Data (options, login settings, license key, etc.) during uninstall process (Applies for uninstall of this B6 or later) *** Please DO NOT remove your user data unless you are sure you have your license key, login ID and password saved for your next installation! ***
- Adjusted install process to leave updated Navigraph data (if found) intact and warn user that if they want the older original ASP3D Navigraph data, they should uninstall ASP3D and choose to remove Navigraph Data
- Changed ASCA graphics install timeout/message to 7 minutes vs 5 minutes to account for some configurations where it may take an exceptionally long time to copy files over the local network
- Added new Beta #6 survey and handling

 

[damian]

Beta #7 (B7487) posted!

- Fixed a new Radar API range change issue that could cause crash in ActiveSkyUtils
- Fixed a crash issue related to cloud model selection process
- Fixed app crash when dll.xml is corrupt (during legacy ASP4 install check)
- Fixed a lingering Wx Request Menu "cut off" issue in some cases
- Fixed Sigmet Area FIR parsing logic
- Fixed radar sprite visualization issue
- Fixed radar API range change CTD issue potentially causing ActiveSkyUtils crash and other sim CTD issues
- Attempted fix for remaining "grid" cloud depiction

 

[damian]

Beta #8 (B7514) Posted!

- Fixed potential interpolation issue related to high-elevation airports and temperature
- Attempted to prevent ASUtils crash when sim crashes
- Adjusted initialization delay to prevent potential sim connection/ASUtils issue
- Changed download failure/retry process to provide longer retry periods with more passive notification
- Changed download failure for a corrupt dataset to prevent immediate shutdown and instead retry normally
- Changed historical/sim-time date/time validation to require and force the time selection to be at least 2 hours from current time (historical datasets require up to 2 hours to finish archival and validation)
- Added automatic population of audio devices in Audio Options when clicking on the device selection list and user has not yet pressed "Scan Audio Devices"
- Added new server for wx downloads with improved load balancing that should result in improved performance during peak usage times
- Added new handling for Connector install process to prevent potential duplicated add-on folders/entries which could create conflicting add-on modules loaded and result in stability problems and other issues
- Added new warning message shown when multiple duplicated add-on folders/entries are detected due to previous installation issues, which could result in stability problems and other issues - If this error shows, you must uninstall, deactivate or manually remove any duplicate ASP3D Connector add-on folders/entries

 

[damian]

RC #1 (B7613) Posted!
- P3D 5.1 integrated
- P3D 5.1 EA Mode enhancements and depiction tuning
- P3D 5.1 EA Mode enhanced integration with modified cloud visual parameters
- P3D 5.1 EA Mode visibility smoothing implemented
- P3D 5.1 EA Mode effective surface visibility increase for more expected visibility results
- Added new option "Disable EA volumetric cloud control" - Default OFF - When OFF, ASP3D controls the parameters available in the new volumetricclouds.cfg for improved visual experience - When ON, ASP3D does not control control or affect these parameters - Turn this option ON if you wish to use customized volumetricclouds.cfg modifications
- Fixed potential interpolation issue related to high-elevation airports and temperature
- Fixed VATSIM METAR fetching issue

 

[damian]

RC #2 (B7628) Posted! This build brings P3D v5.1+HF1 support, fixes P3D v5.0 support, and adds further improvements/fixes, focusing mainly on the EA cloud depiction and related systems. We plan to officially release very soon. Please report any remaining bugs/issues ASAP. Thank you!

Changelog:

• P3D compatibility updates
• Fixed P3D v5.0 compatibility problem causing simconnect version mismatch errors
• Redesigned EA-mode depiction and interpolation logic to provide more accurate and expected results – Requires a flight plan to be loaded so proper priority is placed on your departure/destination airports and wx stations vs. other airports/stations in adjacent areas with potentially differing weather – NOTE: In EA-Mode, EA cloud depiction expected will be shown in Conditions screen (METAR decoded text) under the raw interpolated conditions METAR string – These conditions can differ due to EA mode depiction implementation and limitations as well as timing of visual weather updates
• Changed EA-mode thunderstorm/CB synthesis for better depiction results
• Changed EA-mode Cirrus generation/synthesis to use lower coverages (few and sct) to reduce gridding visual cloud draw issues with EA mode
• Fixed EA-mode potential cloud layer conflict issues which could create wx UI errors in P3D or lead to unexpected no-cloud (clear skies) depiction
• Added LTFG and SCQP stations to data servers (to see this change, you may need to update your station database via station tool, set station type = weather stations, press reset to defaults button)
• Installer adjustments to prevent potential revision issues
• Attempted improvements to all EA mode volumetric cloud parameters for reduced grid effect – This will be consistently changed/improved along with new expected P3D builds
• Adjusted EA stratus cloud volumetric cloud parameters for reduced grid effect at all coverages by attempted stratocumulus perlucidus appearance