At 12:53 03 September 2010, NG wrote:
By the way, valicam2.exe will not run on a 64-bit computer (most new
ones are), and R-Track has no plans to produce a 64-bit version. And
Microsoft's 32-bit emulator will only run on the high-end version of
Windows 7. So the requirement to run valicam on igc files needs to go
away....


or the GNSS flight recorder spec needs updating to keep pace with the
march of time and computer OS updates....

http://www.fai.org/gliding/system/fi..._spec_gnss.pdf

The last update was in May 2008 so the older DOS based conv/vali/data
programs would still run but the push was obviously to move over to the
IGC Shell method for windows.

Looking on the IGC site http://www.fai.org/gliding/gnss/freeware.asp it
looks like cambridge don't supply a DLL to work with the IGC Shell either
so they are locking their customers into old DOS utilities.

As more people move to 64-bit then the IGC Shell also needs to support
this as the ability to run old DOS utilities becomes increasingly harder.
However at present Appendix 3 states:

"The DLLs must work with 32-bit MS Windows Operating Systems used in
types of PCs commonly used for downloading flight data shortly after
flight. This includes, but is not exclusive to, Windows XP and Vista home
and professional editions."

Validating traces is still a valid requirement so the tools to do so need
to keep up with times.

Nick H