Failed upload(s)

[Kevin Hardy GLE144]

I've just experienced my second flight on the bounce fail to upload to VAFS - and I'm not a happy bunny    Looking into a potential .net framework error (using XP Pro) so won't really know for definite until I've installed a couple of minor updates that I've come across (though don't know why this has suddenly started happening). 

I've posted a question in the VAFS forum but never having used that area before I don't know long it'll take to reply.  In the meantime, could someone possibly pin a copy of the 'view_flights.htm' file here as I don't have a copy anywhere in my VAFS folder.  I know there was one with a previous release so I'm hoping that it'll work with the version I have now, which is 4.0.1.26 and that the file I've requested will upload these potentially wasted flights...... 

Appreciate any assistance with this - thanks fella's 

[Zane Greenwald GLE102]

Sorry Kevin, is this what you are requesting?

http://www.vafinancials.com/newsite/pc/flights.php

VERIFY UPLOADED FLIGHTS

In order to correctly verify and upload flights that have not been processed please follow the the directions below:

1. Login to the VAFS client and click on "Pilot Logbook"
2. Click the BROWSE button below and submit your "view_flights.htm" file.

This file will be in the "flights" folder in the main VAFINANCIALS/VAFS directory. The most common place for this is

C:\Program Files\VAFINANCIALS\VAFS\flights\view_flights.htm

Once this is found, click on the AUDIT FLIGHT LOGS button to continue.

Find Your view_flights.htm file and audit that file:
 
Locate Your view_flights.htm File:   
 

[Kevin Hardy GLE144]

Hi Zane - thanks for your reply   

No - it's the     'view_flights.htm'     file/page/whatever that I don't have a copy of.  Checked all thru' the programme folder/files - nada.   What's odd is that I distinctly remember it being in a previous version - it's just nowhere to be found (on my system) anywhere in the VAFS folder for 4.0.1.26

I did, however, get a reply from Mike, an administrator at VAFS, who's kindly said he'll process my two flights.  Sadly even though I asked, no hint of the aforementioned .htm file was mentioned...... doesn't make a lot of sense.  Oh well....

Anyway, I'll be doing another short flight later to test those two minor .net framework uploads I got hold of yesterday - fingers x'd 

[Kevin Hardy GLE144]

Well, that didn't work so I've lost another flight.  I'm not happy 

So, if anyone is still using VAFS version 4.0.1.25 - or has a copy of it - could you kindly send it to my email (listed over the envelope left under my avatar) ? 

My thanks in advance if anyone can assist 

[j14g]

 ....it's just nowhere to be found (on my system) anywhere in the VAFS folder for 4.0.1.26

Same here, Kevin.

For awhile I thought I had a corrupted VAFS file until you verified that the  'view_flights.htm' file was missing
in the 26 version.

I also remember it was in previous version, which I no longer have.

Good luck

[Brian Flatman GLE190]

best i can do for ya K is a the .24 version. I happened to save the download file in case future versions of VAFS was crap. Here is the download link. The website this is off is a site I have made for my daughter. I assure you it is a safe link.
http://madbrat.com/downloads/VAFS40124.exe

[Zane Greenwald GLE102]

I found my html fligh files

[Kevin Hardy GLE144]

Hey Zane - yes, I've got my .htm flight files - it's specifically the 'view_flights.htm' file that's gone walkabout from version 4.0.1.26.

Jack - copied this interesting quote from the VAFS forum from a guy who's got exactly the same problem as me:

"I completed a flight but got a .NET error when it was uploading. It kept telling me also that it couldn't contact the servers. Now .26 does not have the capability to upload at a later time. I tried putting the files in my old .19 folder and upload via the website, but it wouldn't show up. I also tried via .19 to upload the flights and it tells me it's unable to verify XML data. Can you help on this? I have both the XML and HTML files here."

Regrettably, the administrators answer to him was to "Head to the help desk and fill out a ticket...." and give no clue to anyone what the problem could be.  I've posted a follow-up to try and get some idea what's what....

Brian - you're a diamond, thankyou for the link to .24.  I've downloaded it and will save/remove .26 and run on .24 but also see if I can upload another failed .26 flight from yesterday using the 'view_flights.htm' file in .24.

I hope this isn't getting a bit boring for those who're not having any problems but hopefully if it does get sorted it might help someone else in the future.

Thanks again everyone for their input, appreciate it 

[Brian Flatman GLE190]

Glad i could help, Kevin. Hopefully that will tide your VAFS needs until the staff of VAFS is done collecting Solid waste samples from the elephant.

[Greg Mumbach GLE141]

...Regrettably, the administrators answer to him was to "Head to the help desk and fill out a ticket...." and give no clue to anyone what the problem could be.

In their defense, many software companies require that a support ticket be filled-out and submitted before an answer or a resolution will be provided. I don't have any problem with that method of reporting trouble.

The forums are no place to run a support operation, in my opinion, and giving the end-user a "clue" as to what the problem could be is not going to solve anything, and may make things worse. All software has bugs, especially these days, when multiple layers of software from multiple vendors all have to communicate with each other and with the network. Just think about how many different programs you might have running during a flight.

A separate, ticket-based support system makes it easier for companies to track, count, categorize, and reply to trouble reports. If they are able to find a common cause, and a solution, then the forums are a great place to announce it, and to provide a link to download the fix.

It has been quite some time since I had a problem with a flight not being successfully uploaded and recorded by VAFS, but after opening a support ticket I received an answer in a reasonable amount of time, and was able to resolve it by sending copies of the HTML and XML files to the address they provided.

I hope you are as lucky as I was.

[Kevin Hardy GLE144]

If it has appeared that I've come across unreasonable in any way, I'll apologise now as that's not my style.  This is a hobby not a matter of life and death    

I last night posted this in their support forum:

"I don't have the 'view_flights.htm' file within version 4.0.1.26 (as don't a couple of my fellow simmers at the v.a. I'm with), was this omitted in error, simply not included in this release or should I be able to see it ?

The problem I've had appears to be exactly the same as Xkoote has mentioned in the Beta Build forum - is/was there a resolution to it as I'm sure you don't want us to keep sending you our flights files for manual input ?

Appreciate your time on this,
thankyou"

That chap Xkoote I mentioned had, as I stated above, exactly the same problem as myself and I'm of the strong opinion that it's revolving around a .net framework file update that MS pumped out a few days ago (for XP Pro users).  Moving into that field is above my pay-scale and so I'm now a little in limbo, unable to upload any flights so am keen to resolve this.  Regrettably the VAFS v.24 that Brian kindly supplied a link to works fine but sadly there was no 'view_flights.htm' file visible after completing a flight.

Next step;  try a system restore point that I have then move onto the possibilities of removing/re-installing the .net framework software.... new ground, everything x'd and see how we go.

The VAFS guys ? I've nothing but admiration for what they've developed for us all to use and will just wait to see what they may come up with  

//////////

As an addendum to this;  just been on their support site and there's been a couple of other people that've got the same problem.  Seem's I'm not alone then..... which, in a funny kinda way, is good news 

[Greg Mumbach GLE141]

No, Kevin, you did not come across as unreasonable at all.

What I have found is that answers to support questions come much faster when you use the procedures set up for them (support tickets).

It's like cashing out at your friendly local grocery store. You have 4 items in your cart, but you get into a line behind 3 full carts. You'll still be successful at checking out and leaving the store, but had you gone to one of the express lanes for people with 7 items or less, you would have been taken care of more quickly, even if there had been 8 people in front of you.

(Theoretically, of course) 

All I can do is report on my own experiences - much better response/correction times when using a support ticket, when such a thing is available, than when using the forums.

[Kevin Hardy GLE144]

Well, I've had a good result;  I did a roll-back to the date of the first failed upload and after making a note of which .net framework versions were installed, I noted that the process removed version 4.  I then did a flight at the end of which all the details were successfully uploaded.  So, if anyone (in particular using XP Pro) uploads the said .NET Framework version 4 and starts having the same problem I've experienced, you know what to do 

Guys - thanks for your feedback and help with this episode, I'm just glad to see the back of it...... 

Have a great weekend everyone 

[j14g]

....you know what to do 

I'm not clear on this, Kevin. You used system restore to go back to the date before ver 4 was installed , made a VAFS flight which uploaded successfully.  So , ver 4 was the fly in your ointment.  What made you think of that  ?

But, you didn't retrieve the 'view_flights.htm' file and you never recovered your lost VAFS uploads, is that it ?

Sorry about my confusion. It's a senior thingy.

[Kevin Hardy GLE144]

Hey Jack - no problem (I know what you mean.....  )

It turned out that the problem I had was nothing to do directly with VAFS - it was down to a Micro$oft update to the .NET Framework software.  Version 4 of .NET (not VAFS) was loaded as one of those 'important updates' that come out every now and then.  After installing it there then appeared to be a conflict (on my set-up at least) between .NET Framework version 4 and VAFS4.  What I then did was to check my logs, check the date of the first failed upload to VAFS and then select the nearest restore point before that date.  Luckily it was just the day before.  When did .NET 4 install ? The day it all went belly up 
I half-suspected it to be the .net update - as I stated in my first post here - but couldn't be certain; as usual with pc's, process of elimination.....

Mike at VAFS did however confirm to me that in VAFS version 4, he did not put in the 'view_flights.htm' file as he felt there wasn't a need for it     This may possibly change now as more people come forward with this same problem I've had - who knows....  The flights I'd done which failed to upload he has kindly done manually for me - by using his version of VAFS3 (!)

I hope that's a bit clearer Jack - does get a bit confusing, eh ?