Trixology
WeatherCat => WeatherCat General Discussion => Topic started by: medgasman on January 23, 2017, 12:57:04 AM
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Had to reset my Vantage Pro 2 and now Weathercat bounces in the dock and then hangs. I have tried unplugging the unit from the USB port and it does the same. Using 2.4.1 and OS X 10.11.6. Davis unit is set to 19200 baud. Seems like I need to delete a config file and setup communications again.
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I tried installer the new usb driver, but there was no change. I guess I could start deleting some files, but would can't find anything on it.
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Medgasman
Have you checked the WeatherCat Station Communications to make sure that you have Vantage Pro Station is still selected in the Station Type?
Have you tried restarting your mac?
You may have to delete the Preference file and reenter your information
It just sounds like your is no longer communicating with WeatherCat check the users manual to reset up your station to WeatherCat
Page 19
cheers
[cheers1]
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The Mac has been reset.
I have removed the batteries and powered down the Davis
After getting the Davis back running and plug back into the Mac, the same thing happens. WC just bounces and hangs up.
So, how do I delete the config file to start over?
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Dear medgasman, Randall, and WeatherCat station troubleshooters,
Had to reset my Vantage Pro 2 and now Weathercat bounces in the dock and then hangs.
We have some troubleshooting tips on the WeatherCat Wiki:
http://wiki.trixology.com/index.php?title=Davis (http://wiki.trixology.com/index.php?title=Davis)
You might want to go through those and see if any help.
The WeatherCat preference file is located here (in UNIX path convention:)
~/Library/Preferences/com.trixology.weathercat.plist
You could try moving the file to your desktop and seeing if that would now allow you restore communications with your weather station. You don't have to delete the file to see if that is the problem. If it isn't you might as well put it back where you found it since otherwise you'll have to put back all your settings "by hand."
Let us know what you discover.
Cheers, Edouard
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I could not find that file anywhere on my Mac and I did "un-hid" the hidden files. So, I dragged the whole WC folder to the trash and downloaded again. When I start the app, the same exact thing happens. WC uses some CPU%, then goes to 0. Takes about 5-6 seconds of CPU time. Looks like I'm still in that same boat.
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when you use your weatherlink software, do you see your station?
If you don't have it, find the disk and load it in. Then go from there, checking the settings on your console that permissions and all are there. If it works with their crappy software, then you know it isn't the datalogger. you could reset the logger by powering down the console or whatever you have, remove the logger. You'll remove all data that you haven't downloaded yet.
Then re install the logger and power back up . I'd do that only if the weatherlink doesn't show the station. Then call Davis as the logger might be crapped out.
It isn't necessarily a software problem.
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dragged the whole WC folder to the trash
Did that include the various com.trixology.[weathercat-local][weathercat][WeatherCatClient].plist files? Just wondering. That is usually easier than dumping an app and is also a place where corruptions can cause major problems. OTOH, I'm betting the Dev may have some protections for plist corruption events...
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Dear medgasman, Weatheraardvark, X-Air and WeatherCat troubleshooters,
I could not find that file anywhere on my Mac and I did "un-hid" the hidden files. So, I dragged the whole WC folder to the trash and downloaded again. When I start the app, the same exact thing happens. WC uses some CPU%, then goes to 0. Takes about 5-6 seconds of CPU time. Looks like I'm still in that same boat.
Your symptoms make it extremely likely that you have corrupted preference files. What do you mean you "un-hid" the hidden files? You need to expose the Library folder within your home folder. You'll find all those files there. Unfortunately the procedure to make the Library visible varies depending on the version of OS X (or macOS) you are using. Try typing the following search string into your favorite search engine:
show library folder mac yosemite
Substitute the name of the actual version of OS X or macOS that you are actually using.
You should be able then to reach the files I pointed you to in my previous posting.
Cheers, Edouard
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What do you mean you "un-hid[e]" the hidden files?
He could be referring to files starting with "." (a period). Not sure there is a way to show those in Finder, it's probably a 'defaults' set command but ******tail (http://www.maintain.se/******tail/) and OynX (http://www.titanium.free.fr) can change that setting, also.
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Dear medgasman, Weatheraardvark, X-Air and WeatherCat troubleshooters,
I could not find that file anywhere on my Mac and I did "un-hid" the hidden files. So, I dragged the whole WC folder to the trash and downloaded again. When I start the app, the same exact thing happens. WC uses some CPU%, then goes to 0. Takes about 5-6 seconds of CPU time. Looks like I'm still in that same boat.
Your symptoms make it extremely likely that you have corrupted preference files. What do you mean you "un-hid" the hidden files? You need to expose the Library folder within your home folder. You'll find all those files there. Unfortunately the procedure to make the Library visible varies depending on the version of OS X (or macOS) you are using. Try typing the following search string into your favorite search engine:
show library folder mac yosemite
Substitute the name of the actual version of OS X or macOS that you are actually using.
You should be able then to reach the files I pointed you to in my previous posting.
Cheers, Edouard
Thanks Edouard. That worked. I got the communication screen and set the the USB port. Now, I have the old preference file on the desktop. Is there a way to restore it or do I have to put all that in manually again and re-register, etc. ?
Chris
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Dear Chris and WeatherCat troubleshooters,
Thanks Edouard. That worked. I got the communication screen and set the the USB port.
Glad you found the source of your problems. It was the most likely culprit given your symptoms. Unfortunately, changes in OS X / macOS have led to more preference files getting corrupted.
Now, I have the old preference file on the desktop. Is there a way to restore it or do I have to put all that in manually again and re-register, etc. ?
If you have a backup of your system like Time Machine, you could restore the file from a version that predates when the problems started. If you go this route. Obviously quit WeatherCat, restore the file and reboot - before - attempting to launch WeatherCat. Part of the problem that has led to corrupted preference files is that Apple now caches the contents of the preference files. The only way to get a "fresh" copy of the settings is to reboot.
If you don't have a backup, honestly it is probably easier at this point to re-enter all the settings including your registration code. The .plist files are in a standard format and they can be edited with tools like the Property List Editor that comes with Apple's development tools. You could try to repair the preference file using a tool like that or a shareware equivalent. However, that is assuming the file can be "uncanned" by these tools. If the corruption is too severe - there is no alternative.
Some of us have started to keep a dedicated backup copy of these files because this problem has been more common.
I hope this helps,
Edouard
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Some of us have started to keep a dedicated backup copy of these files because this problem has been more common.
I know this is too late for this time, but for next time, you will want to keep a backup copy of your uncorrupted plist file.
See this article, which I just posted in the Wiki ==> http://wiki.trixology.com/index.php?title=How_to_create_and_use_a_backup_of_your_WeatherCat_preferences_file
If anyone has any edits or suggested changes to the wiki article, let me know. This has come up so many times, I thought it would be easier to put it in the Wiki than to hunt around for the forum thread.
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RESOLVED. As soon as I restored then file from Time Machine and rebooted, it came right up with all of my preferences saved. Thanks all. Maybe add that to a FAQ somewhere.
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Dear Chris, Blick, and WeatherCat troubleshooters,
RESOLVED. As soon as I restored then file from Time Machine and rebooted, it came right up with all of my preferences saved. Thanks all. Maybe add that to a FAQ somewhere.
Glad that you are back in business Chris! :) yes indeed, Time Machine is everyone's friend! ThU32:-)
I know this is too late for this time, but for next time, you will want to keep a backup copy of your uncorrupted plist file.
See this article, which I just posted in the Wiki ==> http://wiki.trixology.com/index.php?title=How_to_create_and_use_a_backup_of_your_WeatherCat_preferences_file
If anyone has any edits or suggested changes to the wiki article, let me know. This has come up so many times, I thought it would be easier to put it in the Wiki than to hunt around for the forum thread.
Thanks for writing this up Blick! (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/thanks_sign.gif)
There are a few things that perhaps need to be added to this Wiki article, but I can't think of exactly how to go about it.
- Probably should say something about restoring this file using a system backup. Perhaps ponder if multiple backups are really necessary?
- Perhaps list the symptoms that indicate a preference file is corrupted?
- WeatherCat has multiple .plist files now. Which should we make backups of - which are unlikely to be corrupted?
Hey WeatherCatters, what do you 'all think? ???
Cheers, Edouard [cheers1]
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My 2 cents (keep the change!). [blush]
Perhaps mention should refer to multiple "types" of backups. While TM is great and has been used dozens of times by me, it is not really more useful for individual, incremental restoration of particular files or even folders. Carbon Copy Cloner or Super Duper are better at more complete System restoration even though. It can also replace individual items. Of course those two apps can make bootable backups, which TM cannot.
Rather than try to decide which .plist to backup, I use the 'backup-very thing-now-and-worry-about-the-details-later' approach. [lol] Drives are cheap, .plist files are usually small, any of them can eventually be corrupted, you may never know until it's too late. ;)
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Dear X-Air and WeatherCat "peeking under da' hood" of software types,
Okay, let me try to point out what may or may not be worth adding to Blick's Wiki entry.
In the ~/Library/Preferences folder you will find these WeatherCat preference files
- com.trixology.Sylvester.plist
- com.trixology.weathercat.plist
- com.trixology.WeatherCatClient.plist
The middle file is the one that can potentially cause the most damage, but losing your Sylvester or WeatherCatClient preferences could be annoying.
In the ~/Library/Application Support/WeatherCatTemp are two preference files:
- WeatherCatDaily.plist
- WeatherCatLastWundergroundUpload.plist
However, these are changing all the time. Trying to back these up explicitly would be difficult.
Finally in the ~/Library/WeatherCatData folder there are (lucky) 13 preference files:
- CustomWebUploads.plist
- DayTypeList.plist
- RainEditList.plist
- SnowEditList.plist
- SylvesterTweets.plist
- SyntheticChannels.plist
- VantageChannelNames.plist
- WeatherCat2 rules.plist
- WeatherCatCurrentConditionsRules.plist
- WeatherCatCustomGauges.plist
- WeatherCatCustomGraphs.plist
- WeatherCatToolsPersistenceData.plist
- WeatherFacts.plist
So as you can see there are a whole bunch of .plist files that WeatherCat uses. Now I'm not aware of anybody have a corrupted file besides the com.trixology.weathercat.plist main preference file. Perhaps this is the only file that is really at risk, so that Blick's Wiki entry should stand as is.
Further complicating matters is how OS X caches preference files. Does OS X force Stu to use their caching scheme for any of these files or is only the files in the preference folder (like com.trixology.weathercat.plist) actually cached by the operating system?
We might just have to find a time when Stu isn't too busy and ask him.
In those immortal words of Sylvester the cat:
S-S-S-S-S-Simple, . . . . . .isn't it? . . . ???
Cheers, Edouard
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Thanks Edouard. I already listed the two symptoms that I know of that indicate a corrupt weathercat.plist file. What are some that I didn't list?
I agree that really, the only one that has ever given anyone trouble is this one.
Good points, X-air, but beyond the scope of a wiki post about backing up one file. Excellent points for another wiki article though (one written up by another pilot, in Texas? - How about it DFW?)