HM Nautical Almanac Office: NavPac 4.2

Status of NavPac Software

The release dates of the different versions of the NavPac software, for both are given below as well as any relevant patches and the status of support for those versions:

3.1.6 – Original release on CD in NavPac and Compact Data 2011-2015
3.1.7 – Not released
3.1.8 – Released for download: 15/06/2010
3.1.9 – Released for download: 06/12/2011
3.1.10 – Released for download: 04/03/2014
3.4.0 – Released on CD in NavPac and Compact Data 2016-2020: 14/04/2015
3.1.x – Support ended for NavPac 3.1 versions: 01/01/2016
4.0.12 – Agreed release for download: 12/01/2017
4.1.1 – Release on CD with NavPac and Compact Data 2021-2025: 28/05/2020
3.4.0 – Support ended for NavPac 3.4.0: 01/01/2021
4.0.12 – Support ended for NavPac 4.0.12: 01/01/2021
4.1.2 – Release of patch to update NavPac 4.1.1 to NavPac 4.1.2: 29/03/2021
4.2.0 – Agreed release for download: 22/04/2022
4.1.x – Support ended for NavPac 4.1.x with the release of 4.2.0: 22/04/2022

Advisories

With the release of an upgrade from NavPac 4.1.x to 4.2.0, users should upgrade to 4.2.0 with immediate effect.
All versions of NavPac 3.1, 3.4, 4.0 and 4.1 are unsupported.

Log of Changes / Bug Fixes

Version 4.2.0

This update makes the following changes:

Across the application:

Resolved an issue where the screen would continually attempt to resize itself at certain screen resolutions.
Resolved an issue where the maximum temperature in Fahrenheit that could be entered was 60 (new limit is 140).
Resolved issues where NavPac issued incorrect error messages, went unresponsive, or crashed due to Windows Regional Settings regarding separator formatting.
Resolved star icon issues due to Windows Regional Settings.
Resolved an issue where the map did not update displayed material when in Mercator setting at high latitudes.
Resolved a display issue in angle entry boxes where the decimal arcminute resolved to 60.0 rather than corresponding whole degree.
Resolved a display issue in course entry boxes where the bearing resolved to 360.0 rather than 0.0.
Improved Night Mode for entry boxes, list borders etc.
Improved star magnitude labelling in the Key for star charts.

In Sight Reduction:

Resolved an issue where the aesthetic position lines did not function as expected when operating close to the 180^th Meridian.

NavPac Installer:

Added the additional function to allow the user to change the Product Key being used prior to Unlock.

In the background:

Several issues regarding security and installation have been resolved.
Several maintenance issues have been resolved or upgraded in order to keep NavPac 4 supportable. These include:
- Updated digital signatures on all executable files (.EXEs and .DLLs).
- All executable files (.EXEs and .DLLs) now target the .NET 4.8 Framework.

Before running the NavPacInstaller.exe file:

The NavPac installer for version 4.2 will uninstall a NavPac 4.1 installation if one is present (does not include the desktop shortcut or user generated files).

It is recommended that any existing NavPac version number is checked before running the Installer by clicking the “About” button from the “Home” screen. If it begins 4.2, there is no need to run the NavPac Installer for 4.2.

Running the NavPacInstaller.exe file

If NavPac 4.1 was installed on the system previously, the installer will run without asking for a Product Key or activation information.

If NavPac was not installed on the system previously, the installer will require a Product Key to be entered and the normal activation process to be followed.

After running the NavPacInstaller.exe file

Run NavPac 4.2 and click the “About” button. Near the bottom of the “About” window you should see that NavPac is now running as version 4.2.0.

Version 4.1.2

Several changes were made to address issues reported with Navpac version 4.1.1. The patch made the following changes:

Fixed a bug that caused NavPac to go unresponsive/crash when transferring high latitude values into certain functions.
Updated a constant used to calculate GHA Aries.
Fixed a bug which prevented Time Zones being saved to and loaded from preferences files.
Fixed a bug which prevented buttons in the top right of the screen being displayed when using additional functionality (Add-Ons).
General improvements to file access.

Version 4.1.1

A number of internal changes have been made to this version to improve performance and support for future updates.

Improvements have been made to the night mode, particularly to some of the buttons.

Version 4.0.12

NavPac 4.0 is a complete update of the NavPac software from previous versions. The user interface has been completely redesigned and new tools added. However, many of the features of earlier versions remain and will be recognisable to existing users.

The following is a list of improvements and new features that have been incorporated into NavPac 4.

A 'Night Mode' has been added. Clicking the Day/Night View button allows for switching between the standard colour scheme and one designed for use at night or in twilight conditions.
A Print Preview option has been added.
Transferring values between functions now requires explicit confirmation by the user. Transferring of values will only happen if, for the majority of functions, the Transfer Values button is clicked. The Use Values button must be clicked when Preferences is altered and there are a number of buttons that can be used when using Sight Reduction.
Preferences: A default pressure and temperature can now be set.
Route Planner: The algorithm for calculating routes close to the poles has been improved, allowing great circle routes to pass through the pole.
Find It: Two new star plot views have been included, Sweep and Ship's View.
Route Planner and Sight Reduction: Plots showing results of calculations along with coastal outlines have been added.
Sight Reduction: The time of the fix can now be different to the time of the base position.
Sight Reduction: A function has been added to find the next phenomena that occurs after the time of fix, based on the base position and the legs entered into the log.
Sight Reduction: The formula for calculating the position on a leg when using the non-WGS84 option has been improved. It now differs from that given in the book NavPac and Compact Data (NCD).
An online-help-file is provided, which is displayed whenever the keyboard's F1 key is pressed.
Almanac, Find It and Sight Reduction: Magnitudes of the planets have been included and are tabulated.

The following are a list of operating differences between previous versions of NavPac and NavPac 4 resulting from the fully redesigned user interface.

The NavPac functions are now accessed from a menu of icons located at the top of all screens, unlike in NavPac 3 where a main screen had to be returned to in order to access a different function.
Each individual function is now contained on one screen, unlike the multiple screens used in NavPac 3.
Preferences: The Options screen found in NavPac 3 has been renamed Preferences.
Preferences: The file extension for the saved options has changed from .ini to .npp.
Preferences: The default path for the ephemerides used can no longer be altered.
Rise and Set: Results are now shown all in one list, unlike in NavPac 3 where, for multiple objects, only one day was shown at a time.
Find It: The altitude and azimuth range can now be altered continuously while the results are shown on screen. NavPac 4 also shows objects outside the selected range, but above the horizon, on the plot, although they cannot be selected.
Find It: Function no longer automatically adds selected stars to Sight Reduction, but they can instead be added by clicking the Add Selection to Sight Reduction button.
Find It: The added choice of plots in NavPac 4 means the user must choose which to show by clicking the appropriate button. All plots now have a key that can be displayed and the Ship's View plot has the option to add constellation stars and lines, as well as a focus aid to help with manipulation of the plot using the mouse.
Find It: Some symbols have been altered for the plots.
Find It: Function no longer has an option to save the objects selected.
Route Planner: The options to choose the parameters that will be calculated have been simplified to one list, clearly stating the options.
Route Planner: The input boxes that show calculated results, rather than inputs, are made unavailable for user input. Therefore the Calculate option that defines which parameters are inputs and which are calculated should be chosen before entering user inputs.
Route Planner: The waypoint to be transferred can now be chosen directly from the route report. Whether the time zone is included in the transfer can be selected before clicking the Transfer Values button.
Sight Reduction: The log is now shown on the screen at all times, and from it observations can be selected or deselected for use. Observations can now be edited or deleted using the appropriate buttons and, when editing, other user interactions are locked until editing has been completed.
Sight Reduction: The details of the observations and calculated fix can be shown by expanding the Details results box.
Sight Reduction: The plot of position lines has been altered from a 20-nautical mile square in NavPac 3 to a zoomable plot with a choice of projections in NavPac 4.
Sight Reduction: The file extension for the saved values has changed from .dat to .nps.