Known issues with current stable release.


Windows - Don't close OpenCPN if minimized!


If you close the program while it's minimized, it refuses to restore the window on subsequent runs.
On Windows XP, it should be sufficient to right click the application button on the task bar and chose "Maximize" from the context menu. On Windows 7, follow the instructions bellow to fix the problem.

To fix this, use this work around.
  • Close all instances of opencpn.
  • Depending on your OS, go to C:\ProgramData\opencpn (Win 7) or C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\opencpn (Win XP).
  • Adjust your system settings so that hidden files and system files are visible.
  • Also change settings so that all file extensions are shown.
  • in .ini file look for the lines like:

Code:
FrameWinPosX=-31984 
FrameWinPosY=-31940
The numeric values may be different in your case
  • Change the lines to:

Code:
FrameWinPosX=0
FrameWinPosY=20
  • Save the modified file
  • Start OpenCPN
  • Try to avoid closing OpenCPN when it's minimized to system tray if possible until this bug is fixed




Skewed Polyconic Charts
OpenCPN 2.5.0 has a geo-referencing bug when skewed Polyconic charts are displayed as North Up.
As a work around, only use these charts in their natural orientation - Skewed Up.
This bug only concerns a handful of US charts covering the Great Lakes.

Sound on Linux 
There is no sound available on many Ubuntu installations.
From Ubuntu 10.10 support for the legacy OSS sound system on Linux is no longer compiled into the Linux Kernel. There are indications tha the same holds for new kernels on older releases as well. The situation on other distros is not clear.
OpenCPN uses OSS dependent code internally, which probably will change.
Work around:
Instead of starting OpenCPN with the command "opencpn" it must be started with
"padsp opencpn". If you normally start OpenCPN from a menu or by clicking an icon. Find the "properties" and change as above.

 Solution 2011-10-18 for the Linux Sound bug.
The real problem is that the wx packages in Ubuntu are not compiled with support for the
"Simple DirectMedia Layer". OpenCPN uses this when OSS is not available.

1 Install libsdl by this command

$sudo apt-get install libsdl1.2debian

2 Install a version of libwxgtk2.8-0 that is compiled with support for sdl.
Such versions are available from http://apt.wxwidgets.org.
Download the correct package for your version of debian or Ubuntu and

$sudo dpkg -i ibwxgtk2.8XXXXXX (the proper name of the downloaded version)

or, follow these instructions: wiki.wxpython.org/InstallingOnUbuntuOrDebian, to add apt.wxwidgets.org as a source for packages.

Sound features, such as anchor alarm and AIS alarms, should now work as expected with the installed 2.5 version of OpenCPN.