Flight Logs / Blog: Recent posts

We were recently notified of an installation bug in the 64-bit version of Flight Logs, release 8.5.2 BETA. When a user attempted to install the Flight Logs software, it would indicate that a file was missing and could not continue.

Upon being notified of the issue, we discovered that the download file on SourceForge was corrupted. This file was removed from the downloads listing and a new version was uploaded.... read more

This post is to provide a quick update on the status of the Flight Logs software. I am afraid the news is not encouraging. You may have noticed that updates to the software has basically stopped. Let me explain what has happened.

Back on August 8, 2022, Microsoft announced that Windows updates would block VBA macros that originate from the Internet (https://learn.microsoft.com/en-gb/DeployOffice/security/internet-macros-blocked). Further, a banner would be displayed indicating that there is a security risk involved in running the software.... read more

The first BETA release of the Flight Logs database program is now available for download from SourceForge. The bulk of the work performed since the 0.7.5 release has been devoted to correcting bugs and other issues that are present in the software. This round of updates saw the following issues corrected:

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Summary

• 3D Printer Preferences - Tab moves to new record
• 3D Printer Preferences - Tab Order
• All Forms - Set Focus based on tab clicked
• Builder & Maintenance Preferences - tab goes to new record
• Builders Log-Tab Order
• Damage Assessment-Add option
• Design Preferences - All tabs Type-tab goes to new record
• Design Preferences Rocket Type-tab order
• Fleet Record - Plan Info Button still a macro
• Fleet Record - Refresh Database
• Fleet Record - Scratchbuilt Info Button still a macro
• Fleet Record - Tab Order
• Fleet Records - Engine Delay
• Fleet Records - Form Tabs
• Fleet Records - Glider Option Not Selected on Lifting Body
• Fleet Records - Glider Specifications "Invalid use of Null"
• Fleet Records - Preferences
• Fleet Records - Refresh database
• Fleet Records - Tab Order
• Fleet Records - Vehicle Specifications "Invalid use of Null"
• Fleet Records Screen - Recovery Options
• Fleet Records - Status dropdown activates wrong log button
• Fleet Records-Completion Date
• Flight Card Listing - Center Data Fields
• Flight Card Listing - Center Motor Info
• Flight Card Listing Report - Extend lines under data fields to left
• Flight Card Report Date Criteria - Start and end date loop
• Flight Card should only show active rockets in drop down
• Flight Card-Combo Box Headers
• Flight Card-Retain previous entry
• Flight Log - First Flight default selection in Rocket Name Drop-down
• Flight Log Form - Engine Manufacturer Required Entry
• Flight Log Form - Rocket Name Error after selection
• Flight Log Form - tab goes to next record
• Flight Log Form - Tab Order
• Flight Log Form - Time Display
• Flight Log form - Time missing leading 0
• Flight Log Form and Report - minimize form when report is displayed
• Flight Log-Combo Box Headers
• Forms (all) - check for tab order and cycling through all records
• Help File - Preferences Landing Page
• Help File - Preferences Program and Data
• Individual Flight Card - Color data
• Individual Flight Card - Only displaying 1 card per page
• Nartrek form - tab order is incorrect
• Need Scale and Glider type
• No Link to Web Site from Help File
• Personnel Form - Tab Order
• Personnel Form-Web site addresses
• Report Date Criteria Form - Cancel brings up error
• Scratch Built Info - tab cycles to new record
• Update Flight Status - tab ignores OK button
• User name/organization changes to a white bar if clicked on
• Vendor Preferences - Tab Order
• Wrong web site address... read more

You may remember that after our last release of the Flight Logs database program, we indicated that the overall development was locked and that the program was entering a bug finding period. So far, there have been over 75 issues that have been identified and corrected. We are still working on this initial round of bug fixes, so that number will likely continue to grow.

Our hope is to have our first BETA release by the end of this month. There will be no new features, nor will there be any updates to the Help file. Help file updates will begin after the BETA period is over.... read more

We are pleased to announce the latest release of the Flight Logs software version 0.7.5. Updates in this release include the following:

Programmatic Updates

Flight Cards
If you have been to a NAR sanctioned launch you know that they use flight cards to track each and every launch. These paper forms are typically filled out on the launch site and then turned in during rocket check-in and safety check. ... read more

We have recently posted our first Arduino rocketry project to the SourceForge site. It is an Arduino Launch Control System. It features a small weather station, automated countdown and more. You can find the project at https://sourceforge.net/projects/arduino-launch-control-system/

Rocketry Research Journal
Don't forget that we have a web site and a blog that is dedicated to model rocketry. It includes model builds, tech reports, rocketry history and more. Visit us at https://rocketryjournal.wordpress.com/

Just a quick note to let you know that the web site has been changed. We are now located at https://rocketryjournal.wordpress.com and are standing down our old Google site. The new site allows us to do things we simply couldn't do on our old platform. So stop by the new site, update your bookmarks, and let us know what you think.

We are releasing the ninth update to the Flight Logs Access database software. This version has no new updates and is considered a bug release. It should still be considered ALPHA level software and not for use in a production environment. It corrects the following issues:

• The first issue occurs with the Access Trusted Location. This is experienced when you installed the database but it wouldn't open. The error message would have indicated that the database table was linked to the previous database path.
• The second update occurs during the boot process and the display of the Main Menu. A black dialog box with a yellow triangle icon is displayed, but no text is visible. This error was associated with the custom icon option in preferences. This has also been corrected.
• The MESS Report would report an error if no records were available.
• NARTREK reports could be activated before any personnel were entered into the database.
• Several reports would display an error message if no data was present.
• Removed erroneous default data from the launch sites table and the 3D printer tables.... read more

Flight Logs Version 0.7.4 Released

On November 1, 2021 the latest edition of the Flight Logs software was released. This latest edition is still in the Alpha development stage, but it is steadily working towards the 1.0 release.

Flight Logs is more than just a database to log your rocket flights – a lot more! The current release contains the following options:

Fleet Records
This section is where you enter all of the rockets in your fleet. You can indicate the type of rocket, the recommended engines for the rocket, the type of launch and recovery systems used, and more. ... read more

It has been a while since we have been able to release an update to the Flight Logs database. It will still be a little bit before the new release is posted to SourceForge, but we wanted to let you know what we have been working on and what you can expect in the next release.

NARTREK
Creating the certification packages for the NARTREK program has been a major goal during this development cycle. The next version of Flight Logs will be able to process packages for the Mercury Cadet level as well as the Bronze, Silver and Gold packages.... read more

We are pleased to announce the release of Flight Logs Version 0.7.3. This version continues the development of the database as we work towards the 1.0 release.

3/17/2021 Update: The 32-bit version of Flight Logs is now available for download in addition to the 64-bit version and the Developers version.

This release is the first to incorporate an installation program. This provides a number of advantages going forward. The installation program sets up the Trusted Location automatically, alleviating that aspect from the program itself. It provides an icon on the desktop and in the Start menu, and it provides the expected method to uninstall the software through the Add/Remove Programs in Windows. Another advantage of this installation program is that it will see if the Access runtime is required and if it is, it will prompt you to download and install it. We no longer need to create distributions that include the runtime modules.... read more

Work continues on the Version 0.7.3 release. This release will be the first of two focusing on the reporting capabilities of the database. The primary update that you will notice in this release is the ability to create your own custom reports. This has taken the bulk of the development time for this particular release (far more than I thought it would). For this reason, we will release Version 0.7.3 with the Custom Report Designer and several other improvements, then continue our standard report development for an upcoming 0.7.4 release. Our hope is that the 0.7.4 will be our last ALPHA level release, and starting with the 0.8.0 we can move into the BETA testing stage of development. Our goal is to have the 0.7.3 release available for download in March 2021. We will keep you updated on our progress.

We are pleased to report that we have released the latest update to the Flight Logs database program. This update includes a number of new features that include:

• A Builder's Log that will help you record your progress during construction of your rockets. Including time spent, costs, and adding attachments
• A Maintenance Log that records any maintenance you do on your rockets.
• The start of NARTREK package submissions, beginning with the Bronze level package
• Themes allow you to change backgrounds on the Home Page and a choice of six different color schemes
• Updated Help File

Please remember this is considered ALPHA level software, and should not be used in a production environment. Future updates may break previously released versions, and could result in a loss of data.

We hope you enjoy this latest version software and the upcoming holiday season. We will be taking a break as well to spend time with friends and family and will pick back up with development after the new year.... read more

On November 14 we posted about an issue that affects those users trying to install Flight Logs alongside their 64-bit version of Microsoft Office. Today we are releasing a bug fix for this issue.

What Happened
We were notified of an issue that some users were having when they attempted to install Flight Logs. We discovered that the core of the problem was that applications written in the 32-bit version of Access are incompatible on systems that have a 64-bit version of Microsoft Office installed. ... read more

OK, this is going to get confusing. If you are attempting to install Flight Logs on a computer that has any 64-bit version of Microsoft Office (2010 or greater) installed, you will likely receive an error message and the installation stops. This is due to Flight Logs and the Access run-time module being developed and compiled in 32-bit mode. Microsoft will not allow both a 32-bit version of a Microsoft Office app and a 64-bit Office app on the same machine.... read more

We are pleased to announce the latest release of the Flight Logs Database software on September 15. With this release the user will discover a number of new reports are available. The Help File has also been greatly expanded, providing not just explanations of the various forms and reports used by the database, but also information on the formulas used by the software to calculate altitude and to convert values between metric and Imperial units.... read more

Development continues on the next version of Flight Logs. Here is some of the items we have updated

Work Completed

• Providing a choice between the background graphics and plain color graphics. The background graphics could hamper the use of the software on older machines, so we have provided an option on which style you wish to use.
• In the motors section of the flight logs you can now specify which stage the motor was used.
• The MESS report has been redone to match the new reporting form, including the ability to add a picture of the CATO'd motor. In addition, you have the option of completing the MESS report through the Flight Log software and submitting it by email, or you can fill out the report online through the MESS web site.
• We have added the ability to enter your name and organization as the registered owners and have this appear on the main menu screen.
• We have added a "One Button" backup option, allowing you to easily make backups of your data.
• We have added a "One Button" compact and repair database option. ... read more

**Version 0.6 of the Flight Logs Database ** should be released on May 15. Development on the current version has ceased and we are working on the final bits of documentation as well as the various installation packages. It has been over a year since our last release. We are glad tp be able to be back working on the software once again.

Updates
One of the first things you will notice about the software is the overall change in appearance. We have tried to give it a more "space industry" look, using backgrounds of dark metal grills and aluminum. If you don'tparticularly care for this scheme, our next release will allow you to use just plain background colors.... read more