MacDive Forums

Hey Nick,

first of all great product. I bought your awesome application yesterday after re-opening my previously working but not so awesome MacDive 1.0... And I'd say it's great!

Cut to the chase: I have the following issues. (i) Used a virtual machine with WinXP to download the data from my dives onto my macbook, (ii) which decided its logic board was damaged and will not read cds nor work without a power cord attached (the battery will refuse to recharge) - EXACTLY a couple of weeks after the warranty expired.... and (iii) the copy of MacDive on that macbook does not include all the details of my dives as my dive manager on windows.

Now, what would be the procedure you'd suggest I follow to completely remove the duplication and get the 'pc' data on my macbook (which i will then backup on my iMac at home)?

Thanks for this - maybe this could be turned into a sticky....

rgds
ale

Crikey

Is all of the dive data you want in your copy of Suunto Dive Manager on the VM ? If so, you could just export it from SDM, and then import that data into MacDive 2 on your laptop, and you're done.

However, if you have some of those dives in MacDive also (or only in MacDive), then it may be worth getting the existing MacDive database off that computer, as it may contain information that SDM does not (at least in its exported data files). The "Country" comes to mind.

You could then copy the database over (/Users/your username/Library/Application Support/MacDive/MacDive.sqlite) from the old computer to the same place on the new one. Fire it up, and then import the missing dives from SDM.

So the procedure would be:

1. Copy old MacDive database to new computer
2. Start up MacDive (just to let it upgrade to the new MD2 data format)
3. Export the data you want from Suunto Dive Manager on the VM, as an SDE file
4. Drag and drop that SDE file onto MacDive 2 on your new computer
6. Go diving!
7. Have a beer

Does that help at all?

The only other thing would be to copy any images you have over.

NB: The only compulsory step, to make sure everything works 100%, is step 7.

Ok, will do that.

- yes all of the dive data is on the SDM: any particular format i should use to export these dives? (sorry, should have read all your post so ignore this question!)
- will backup existing db and then import it again.

It is extremely helpful.

NOW - for a real question, about the beauty of life etc etc.

I have lived for a short while in Singapore and i loved it. Now i was thinking about bringing my girlfriend (whom i got into diving recently - just a OWD will try and let her get a AOWD license soon) down to south east asia to dive.
Was thinking about Sipadan or any place in the Philippines. Any places you'd recommend (being a local....) and if possible a diving specialised tour operator whoc might even recommend a cruise?

thanks so much!
ale

The best format to export is SDE, which from memory is under Tools -> Export, but it's been a while so I could have that wrong.

I would 110% recommend Sipadan as absolutely amazing diving. If you can make it there, do it!

Definitely get her AOW first if you can. Lots of places around Asia (especially Thailand) are quite strict on what sites you can/can't visit, depending on your qualification. And it's good to have some more experience for the places that don't care so much, also.

For any dive trips, we mostly organised stuff ourselves. It's pretty straightforward usually. For the most part, any half decent dive operator will be able to help you with transfers/accommodation etc, so you really just need to get yourself there. But it all really depends where you decide to go.


Edit - Sipadan photos:

http://www.mac-dive.com/photos/index.html

wow - these pics are stunning!

will fwd to GF and let her decide!

Even better in real life!

update - we're most likely going to maldives/sri lanka cause we found little accomodation in sipadan.... next time there!

That's part of the charm, I think. It's a bit of mucking around to get there, and your options there are limited. There's also a permit system, where only a certain number of divers can actually dive Sipadan itself each day. The resorts have an allocation and have to work this out. Thankfully the surrounding areas (Mabul especially) are also very good, so as long as you get a day or two on Sipadan itself then it's well worthwhile. The place we stayed would guarantee one day on Sipadan (4 dives) if you stayed for 4 days. We managed to get two days out of our four full diving days, so it was awesome.

It's a little annoying, but it's all part of what makes it so good I guess. And even one day there is worthwhile.

Nick.
your pictures are beautiful, (maybe missing some ligth for some ones ) ... what kind of camera are you using ?

Well don't laugh too hard - it was a Canon Ixus 65.

The only reason they look even half decent is thanks to an underwater action I found for Photoshop which does a fairly decent job of faking back the red etc. I wasn't using a flash (except where it's obvious in a couple of photos with backscatter etc).