FS2004 Logbook Problem

[RAFAIR100]

I recently changed computers.     On my old one (partitioned), FS2004 ran on disc F and the logbook file resided in disc C:/Documents and Settings/My Name/My Documents/Flight Simulator Files.     All ran smoothly - logbook entry was prompted on exit, and the details were logged in the logbook file in disc C.
In changing computers, I copied all Documents and Settings files - including the existing logbook file - to the new computer.      Somewhere along the way, things went wrong.      I now can't enter flights in the FS2004 logbook.     Instead, I get the following message, "You have chosen to log flight time but the logbook file Logbook (followed by umpteen small squares) does not exist............"        Can anyone suggest how I might get the system back into working order?

[wji]

"Can anyone suggest how I might get the system back into working order?"
My only suggestion is to stop using the FS9 Logbook.
I bought FS9 the day it came out and after experiencing similar messages and deleting and rebuilding my fs9.cfg file about twenty-times I concluded it was the FS9 Logbook that was screwing my FS9 setup.
I stopped using the FS9 Logbook sometime around the end of 2003 and have not had to replace my fs9.cfg since. But -- as we say out west here: "Your call, captain."

[RAFAIR100]

Thank you wji.        I take your point, but I have used the FS2004 logbook - and the FS2002 and Fs2000 ones before that - for years with no trouble at all.       Surely it can't be all that difficult to re-install a logbook file.      OK, at the moment I can't ,but I'm sure the world is full of people out there who can.

[Gypsy_Baron]

Thank you wji.        I take your point, but I have used the FS2004 logbook - and the FS2002 and Fs2000 ones before that - for years with no trouble at all.       Surely it can't be all that difficult to re-install a logbook file.      OK, at the moment I can't ,but I'm sure the world is full of people out there who can.

The "Log_File=" entry in the FS9 config  is probably corrupted. Happens alot it seems.

Go check that an re-enter the correct name for your logbook file there. here's mine for one of my four
FS9 installs on this machine:

[MISC]
COM_RATE=7
LOG_TIME=1
FOREIGN_TRANSLATOR=0
LOG_FILE=LOGBOOK_Europe

  Paul

[RAFAIR100]

Paul,      Thank you for what I'm sure is the solution to my problem.       At the moment, I can't find anything in the FS9 config file to amend.       Could I trouble you to spell out the path to the appropriate file for me?

[BFMF]

I think I stopped using the built in logbook while FS95 was still the latest

Since then, I've used other spreadsheets to log my sim time

[Hagar]

Paul,      Thank you for what I'm sure is the solution to my problem.       At the moment, I can't find anything in the FS9 config file to amend.       Could I trouble you to spell out the path to the appropriate file for me?

Open fs9.cfg in Notepad. Then click Edit/Find (or hit Ctrl + F) & type MISC in the box. Click Find Next.

I've never used the logbook. This is the entry in my fs9.cfg:

[MISC]
COM_RATE=7
LOG_TIME=0
FOREIGN_TRANSLATOR=0
LOG_FILE=

I assume the logbook file is located in the same folder as fs9.cfg & the LOG_FILE= entry would be the exact file prefix of your logbook file whatever that might be. (If FS9 still can't find it you could try typing in the full path.)

PS. From what I've read on this forum it's not unknown for logbook files to become corrupt. This apparently causes FS9 to hang or CTD on startup.

[wji]

fs9.cfg is located here:
"C:\Documents and Settings\Yourname\Application Data\Microsoft\FS9\FS9.CFG"
Once found, place a shortcut to fs9.CFG on the desktop; then, it's only a click -- well, double-click -- away. Cool.
P.S. The same goes for FSX

[Hagar]

In changing computers, I copied all Documents and Settings files - including the existing logbook file - to the new computer.      Somewhere along the way, things went wrong. I now can't enter flights in the FS2004 logbook.

Just a thought. Find the logbook file, right-click on it & select Properties. Make sure the Attributes has not been changed to Read-only. If it has you won't be able to edit it. You can easily change it back by clearing the check box.

I think that fs9.cfg entry should read

LOG_FILE=LOGBOOK

PS. Burning files to CD changes the Properties to Read-only.

[RAFAIR100]

My thanks to all of you who took the trouble to offer so much useful advice.      The trouble - as I finally tracked it down - actually had nothing to do with the logbook file.      The last installation of the program had corrupted the .cfg file so that, every time I opened it, the entry for 'LOG_FILE='  was different.    There was nothing for it but an uninstall/reinstall.      All now seems to be well.      Again, thank you all.