Installing the Navigraph Database to ProSim-AR (ProSim737)
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No matter which avionics suite is used, the navigational database and approach charts will need to be kept up-to-date. Navigraph (the company) have for many years been the mainstay in supplying accurate navigational data to the flight simulator community.
The navigation database and monthly updates can be downloaded from the Navigraph website, and can either be manually installed to Flight Simulator, or alternatively you can use Navigraph’s FMS Data Manager software to install the files.
This short article will benefit only those using the ProSim-AR (ProSim-737) avionics suite Version 3. ProSim-AR Version 2 uses a different file structure and navigation path.
Database Files and Installation
Navigraph is the navigation database used by ProSim737. The database is purchased separately to ProSim-AR and navigation updates (AIRAC cycles) are released monthly.
The correct navigational database for ProSim737 to download from the Navigraph website is: ProSim737 2.24b1 (and above).
When installed the database consists of three files:
cycle.json;
cycle_info.txt; and,
nd.bb3.
Cycle-info.txt is a text file that indicates which navigation database has been installed. This is the file you need to open if you are unsure of which AIRAC cycle has been installed. The other two files relate directly to the database.
Once the database is installed or updated, the ProSim737 main module (.exe file) must be run, and the database rebuilt.
To rebuild the database, open the ProSim main module, select Config/Database and Build Database. The process to rebuild the database will take around 5 minutes. When completed, the installed database AIRAC cycle number will be displayed.
Database Fails to Update
If the database does not update, there is a possibility that either the downloaded file is corrupt, or more than likely the database has been installed to the incorrect folder structure within ProSim-AR.
In this case, download the required files from Navigraph, uncompress the files to your computer desktop (or anywhere else) and copy the three database files to:
C:/Program Data/Prosim-AR/Navdata.
FMS Database Manager Mapping page. This is where you select the folder structure to upload the AIRAC cycle to
FMS Data Manager
Navigraph have an installer (FMS Data Manager) which is a standalone program that is free to use. The Data Manager is quite a powerful program and it’s worth the effort examining what this software can do.
When setup correctly, the installer will download, uncompress, and install the Navigraph files to the correct folder structure with ProSim. The installer also will create a backup of the existing database (if selected).
Navigraph FMS Data Manager main front page. This is the page where you select Update to update the navigational database with the latest AIRAC cycle
To ensure that the database is installed to the correct folder on your computer, the Data Manager must be configured correctly. This can be done a number of ways, however, the easiest and most straightforward way is to setup the folder structure manually.
Open the FMS Data Manager and select Addon Mappings.
Select the black coloured folder adjacent to the purple coloured box named Manual.
Select the correct folder in your computer (C:/Program Data) and save the configuration.
To update the database, navigate back to the front page of the manager and select the check box adjacent to ProSim737 2.24b1 and select update.
ProSim-AR (ProSim737) main menu showing the Config page open with the Build Database page overlaid
Important Points:
Whenever you install or update the Navigraph database, rebuild the database and check the AIRAC cycle.
Final Call
Maintaining the navigation database is important if you are to get the most from Flight Simulator. Navigraph AIRAC cycles are released monthly, and it stands to reason that the FMS Data Manager should be used to streamline the installation process. Problems, when they do occur, usually relate to the FMS Data Manager trying to install files to the incorrect folder structure.
