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1992-01-21
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InstantTrack 1.00
Patch Release #1
January 21, 1992
The program ITPATCH1.EXE that came with this document installs patch #1
to InstantTrack 1.00, converting it to InstantTrack 1.00a.
What Does This Patch Fix?
=========================
Lately NASA and Spacecom (NORAD) changed the way they issue keplerian
elements in the 2-line or NASA format. Each line of numbers has
always had a checksum on it, to help protect against errors that may
occur in transmitting the data. InstantTrack checks this checksum,
and rejects any set of elements with a bad checksum. Unfortunately,
recent NASA elements figure the character "+" into the checksum
differently than older NASA sets did, with the result that
InstantTrack 1.00 rejects any element set which happens to contain
the "+" sign.
The patched version (1.00a) of InstantTrack will accept either old
element sets or new element sets. This weakens the error protection
provided by the checksum, but it allows you to ignore the issue of
how the "+" sign is handled forever. It's worth it if you regularly
use NASA-format element sets.
Who Can Use This Patch?
=======================
Any licensee of InstantTrack 1.00 can and should apply this patch.
(Beta test copies before or after the released 1.00 version will NOT
work with this patch!) Please feel free to distribute copies of this
patch (with this doc file, please) to anybody you know who purchased
InstantTrack but hasn't received the patch yet.
How Do I Apply The Patch?
=========================
The first step is mandatory. You MUST make sure you have a backup copy
of the original unpatched version of IT.EXE and/or ITNCP.EXE, whichever
you use. If you still have the original InstantTrack distribution disk,
that will probably be sufficient. Even so, to be safe you should make
a copy of IT.EXE and/or ITNCP.EXE on a floppy disk and put it away before
you try to install this patch. You have been warned!
The rest is easy:
2. Set your current drive and directory to the directory where you store
the InstantTrack program files. For example, you might type
C:
CD \IT
3. Copy ITPATCH1.EXE from the distribution archive or diskette into that
same directory. For example, you might type
COPY A:ITPATCH1.EXE
4. Run ITPATCH1, by typing
ITPATCH1
ITPATCH1 will look in the current directory for IT.EXE and ITNCP.EXE.
It will tell you what it found, and then ask your permission to go ahead
and patch the file(s) it found. If you hit the Y key to say yes, it will
make the patches and advise you of its success or failure. If it fails,
it will do its best to tell you why so you can fix the problem.
That's all there is to it. Your patched version of InstantTrack will
identify itself as 1.00a on the title screen, and it will accept both
old and new NASA element sets. Everything else will be exactly as
before.
A Note About Virus Checkers
===========================
There are some programs out there that try to combat "virus" programs
by checking to see if .EXE files have been modified. ITPATCH1's whole
purpose is to modify IT.EXE and/or ITNCP.EXE, so if you are running
such a virus checker, it will probably complain about what ITPATCH1
has done. Don't be alarmed.
If You Have A Problem
=====================
If you have a problem installing the patch, please feel free to contact
me as follows:
Paul Williamson, KB5MU
Internet: pwilliamson@qualcomm.com
Compu$erve: 75265,367
Pacsat: AO-16 or LO-19
Packet BBS: KB5MU @ KC6NZN.#SOCA.CA.USA.NA
as a last resort, snail mail at:
5331 Channing Street
San Diego, CA 92117
If you expect a postal response, please include an SASE.
If you expect a diskette in response, send it formatted in a reuseable
mailer with sufficient return postage.
Good Luck! 73 -Paul KB5MU