Beta versions

What is beta software?

Beta software is an updated version of an existing program designed to either fix some particular problem, or to experiment with various new features which may, or may not be in the next version of the program.
A full release of the program will have been widely tested (through the beta process), and will contain all the files required for running the program such as data files and, where applicable, update Help files. A beta version, by contrast, may contain just the program and some basic release notes, and none of the other files required for the program to function.

Before using any beta software, you should have a full current version of the program installed, and it should be working correctly.

This beta software:

requires the current, released version to be installed and working
is updated without notice
has no support available
has features that may not be in the next released version
is not guaranteed to work
may have time-limited functionality
may crash or give false results
requires that you read the release notes
.. so use at your own risk!
.. and please keep a working backup!

How do I use beta software?

As opposed to a full installation, beta software may just contain just an updated executable file, and will therefore need some additional steps in installing. If you are not comfortable following steps like those listed below, please be patient and wait for the next released version. Be sure to have the current released version installed and working before applying a beta update!

Updating a typical program

Make sure you have the most recent release version of the software installed and working properly.
Visit my Web site, download and save the beta of the MSG Data Manager from the page.
Right-click the saved file, Properties, and click the Unblock button if one is present.
This Zip file contains an updated MsgDataManager.exe program file and an updated MsgDataManager.txt "read-me" file.
Locate your existing installation of the MSG Data Manager. Most likely this will be (for an English language install):
C:\Tools\SatSignal\MsgDataManager\
In the case of the MSG Data Manager, this folder will contain files named e.g. WaveletDLL.dll as well as the MSG Data Manager program file.
Stop the MSG Data Manager and close the program down.
Rename the existing executable file:
MsgDataManager.exe
to, for example:
MsgDataManager-old.exe
Copy the new MsgDataManager.exe from the Zip file you downloaded in step 1 to the folder you located in step 3.
If there were more file in the beta download, copy those as well having backed up your working versions.
Restart the MSG Data Manager.

Reverting to the original program

Stop the MSG Data Manager and exit the program.
Rename the new executable file:
MsgDataManager.exe
to, for example:
MsgDataManager-new.exe
Rename the previous executable file you renamed in step 6:
MsgDataManager-old.exe
back to:
MsgDataManager.exe
Copy any other files you backed up to the appropriate directory.
Restart the MSG Data Manager.

The same general procedure is true for all my beta updates. Please be aware of the limitations of beta software which are listed above.

What are these MD5 signatures?

They are a way you can check if you think your download might be corrupt - very unlikely, but... Please see: http://www.fourmilab.ch/md5/

Runtime update required

If you get a message like: Ipl.dll function iplAllocateImageFP not found (error 126) you will need to close any of my programs which are currently running, uninstall, and update the runtime Library Bundle you have installed at the moment. This update includes the function listed above, which will make some of my software run more quickly.

Current beta-test versions:

As I know that testing by users is far more likely to detect errors that just testing by me alone, I am making programs available here. Please make a backup of your working version before installing these programs, and please only install them on top of a working version. You will need a licence for the current release version of the software.

BUFR Viewer - V2.0.3.74 - Use Francis Breame's more recent extractor, detect AMV files containing '-MSGAMV' in the name.
MD5 signature: E26A722675F6512C48C8495A0DC67585
BUFR Viewer - V2.1.1.75 - Version for newer AMV data - results need to be checked before use! Newer Francis Breame's extractor.
MD5 signature: D9CD4D16A10A1D9CCB712DB448E3F53C
FastWXtrack - V1.1.2.15 - Experimental program for faster DDE tracking and Doppler updates. Option to force Doppler text to upper-case, add setting of radio mode, freeze updates while mode list is dropped down, layout enhancements, issue with date/time display on Win-10 Creators noted and worked-round, honour Windows themes, reduce the frequency of some displayed data (makes it easier to read the values, but Doppler and pointing still calculated as fast as possible), high-precision DDE option.
MD5 signature: AA81A4004B45486FDCCA5B74C135ED3A
GeoSatSignal - V8.2.5.1180 - Start FY-2H support, recognise FY-2H in World View, support PPVA.gif overlay 1076x790 pixels with more tolerance on the file name - latest used, add pop-up hint to IR thumbnail with file and overlay paths, change to user licence keys - try entering your present key without Run as Administrator but contact me if there are problems and I can send a new key, faster remapping (with new runtimes), trap error at program exit on a couple of systems where HTMLhelp may not be installed? New runtime Library Bundle optional.
MD5 signature: 0B284A10569079EB02A1B75978A51184
GRIB Viewer - V4.0.5.266 - Update for revised FIR data.
MD5 signature: 449B8B2D8E685C0860AE74F9A752836D
HDF Viewer - V2.0.3 - Update for recent FRM changes, support MSG-Disk size (3712 x 3712) data, faster loading (enter the licence key in USER, not ADMIN mode).
MD5 signature: C78F7AF419412A4A1EA8A2846E495780
HRPT Reader - V3.0.11.824 - Extend Meteor-M support - files named like: 2_HRPT_20210227_1506_MN2.dat, start Meteor-MN2-2 support files named like 2019-07-18_1429_MN22.dat, add simple .KML reader option for boundaries, correct error in "FY-3C ?" Kepler request, experimental histogram equalise in RGB|Adjust.
MD5 signature: 7E67248C7426118D8CDBEE807B65C13
Map-to-GEO - V2.0.5.57 - Support PNG input interactively, support TIF input interactively, support NESDIS GOES-E and GOES-W subsets (will look for .TFW file in the same directory, but provide defaults if .TFW is not present, batch operation supported, remapping to EUMETCast GOES-E/W projections), add GOES-16 (as GOES-E) segment (typical output filename: GoesEast04I22530245.bmp), move GOES-W to 128° W, add GOES-17 (as GOES-W), support FY-2H data at 79° E.
MD5 signature: F71F2B2274FD7955A5F7B10CD344D9AB
Metop Manager - V3.0.5.356 - Make "display times" the default in the browser tab, make GAC Composite Image from thermal channel, add option for PyTroll users to save source files as received, clarify "Is NOAA-19 handler" checkbox (uncheck not to delete processed NOAA-19 images and enter a dummy directory not to process NOAA-19 data).
MD5 signature: 84BCC0D9FA9AA7D6C023E8DB1F1F9FD5
MODIS L1 Viewer - V4.0.3.158 - Set up/down text colour to blue for blue channel, prevent one variable not being initialised, more choice in the File, Open dialog, accept "Australian" MODIS file names.
MD5 signature: 5C14F91763D8024E7F062816952A158F
MSG Animator - V3.1.7.313 - Support 10-minute GOES-17 data, cities on zoomed animations, option for always-on-top ("-OnTop on command-line)". Faster start-up - you may need to enter your licence key again, but this time NOT using Run as Administrator.
MD5 signature: 8821DD286D205E467F8CF3BA160D2BAF
PassControl - 4.0.1.67 - Update for current satellites and frequencies, stop pass if it was started late or ends earlier than (start + duration) would predict, layout changes for DDE string, only save & restore form location, not size.
MD5 signature: D8CB0763B64F6ED50B6664D7DD0248F8
RSS Holiday - 2019.04.05.3 - New program to rename MSG-2 rapid-scan files to MSG-3 - avoids having to restart the MSG Data Manager during MSG-3 holidays (where it does some full-scans to exercise the mechanism!). Now has a nice icon, and a -MIN parameter to minimise.
MD5 signature: F7D215086060D699B4312373C43CF3A8
SatSignal - V6.0.1.567 - Restore some missing items from the Overlay options dialog.
MD5 signature: F106F9846ED310814B58961A1A859E08
Sentinel2 to JPEG - V1.4.1.30 - Right-click on image to invoke Options dialog. Experimental features: accept two .TIF files for drag-and-drop or command-line, accept Landsat-7 data (blue file name - must end B1.TIF, green file name - must end B2.TIF, red file name - must end B3.TIF, file names must start "LE07" or be 8011 (W) x 6911 (H) images).
MD5 signature: 765951FF1807A734D37EAA3BE002DAB4
Solar Outage SNR (for BDADataEx and solar outage periods) - Experimental programs to record and plot SNR values from BDADataEx during the forthcoming solar outage periods. Set the expected earliest outage start (minus 5 minutes, say) and the latest expected finish (plus 5 minutes). Check the Device 1 box to add "1" to the SignalEx.exe command. Add control of sampling interval, default 5 seconds. Error message if SignalEx.exe is not found.
The plotting program takes a filename wildcard as its parameter, choice of smoothing, display value under cursor, text and graphical display of actual maximum SNR reduction date and time, accept one predicted maximum time in the log file and display it. Sample plots included.
MD5 signature: F5CEF60F6C649A3F0952024201551F2D
SweepGen - V3.8.1.39 - Remove initial set of RHS-trigger, UI enhancements.
MD5 signature: 098FD313F50FD97945952DA3ED79DB12
Sea-Ice & SST Viewer - V1.5.5.72 - Update for mixed DMI/NOR sea-ice data.
MD5 signature: A1B271AD2CC2C0FECA91BEB2F6F42500

I recommend Fred van den Bosch's software DownloadPrograms - which will help to keep an eye on the version numbers and updates for you! Sadly this is now discontinued. If anyone can update a copy that would be appreciated.