AC Explorer Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

NOTE: Most of these answers pertain to AC Explorer Pro.  The free version of AC Explorer is unsupported, and these answers may not work in that version.

If you are having trouble with your license or registration code, please see the eLicense FAQ.

Questions/Problems:

  1. I found a new location!
  2. AC Explorer crashes when I try to update the database.
  3. AC Explorer crashes when I click on one of the Map tabs.
  4. The Find Route button doesn't work
  5. Do you support Decal?
  6. The locations on my map are gone or messed up?
  7. The Tracking feature doesn't work.
  8. There is a Virus in my AC Explorer!
  9. I get an Access Violation when I run AC Explorer

I found a new location!

Great! There are two ways to add it to your copy of AC Explorer.

  1. Click the Edit tab, click the New button, then fill in the information for the new location.  This only adds the location to your local copy of AC Explorer.  Nobody else can see these changes.
  2. Go to the AC-Spedia database and add your new location there.  Then, use the Update/Update Database menu option to download the new database from AC-Spedia.  Using this method, your changes will be seen by everyone else using AC Explorer.  The AC-Spedia URL is also given in the Help/About box in AC Explorer.

AC Explorer crashes when I try to update the database

This problem occurs in the free version of AC Explorer when the AC-Spedia database moves.  You must edit the ACXPLORER.INI file using Notepad and change the URL line to point to the new location of the database.  The current location of AC-Spedia is: http://www.clarkzoo.org/asheronscall/explorer/places.dat

AC Explorer crashes when I click on one of the Map tabs

There are two causes to this problem:

  1. You might have a corrupted INI file.  Delete the ACXPLORER.INI and MAP.INI files and then run AC Explorer again.
  2. Your video driver might have a problem.  Go to the web site for your graphics card and download the latest drivers for your version of Windows.

The Find Route button doesn't work

If the Find Route isn't using a portal that you think it should, click on the portal and then click the Edit tab and make sure there is a Destination set for the portal.  Some portals in the AC-Spedia database do not have exit information set correctly.  Go to the AC-Spedia web site and add the correct exit location so that it will work for other users.

If the Find Route is using a portal and you don't want it to, then disable the portal.  Right-click on the portal and disable it.

You can also restrict the portals being used using the Level feature.  Set the minimum and maximum levels for each portal, then set your level in the Route page.  Now only portals that can be used by the given level will be included in the route.

Do you support Decal?

Because Decal is a free system and AC Explorer is a commercial product, I cannot officially support Decal.  However, users have reported that AC Explorer is compatible with Decal.  In some cases you need to calibrate the ACX Server when Decal isn't running.

AC Explorer supports a COM Automation API that can be used by Decal plugins.  However, there is no official AC Explorer plugin available from Zugg Software.  Check the Decal site for the latest information.

The locations on my map are gone or messed up

To restore the default location database, delete the PLACES.DAT, USER.DAT, MASTER_PLACES.DAT, and UPDATE_PLACES.DAT files.  Then run AC Explorer and use the Update/Update Database menu option and do a FULL update from the AC-Spedia site.  This will restore your location database to the most current default settings.

The Tracking feature doesn't work

First, make sure you have read the online help file for setting up the ACX Server.  If the tracking used to work but now it doesn't, try recalibrating the ACX Server.  Recalibration is required after most major AC monthly updates from Turbine.

If the auto calibration isn't working, try it again in a different location.  Also make sure you are not in a building or dungeon.  If auto calibration doesn't work after several attempts, try the manual calibration.  See the help file for more details.

There is a Virus in my AC Explorer

No, this is a false warning.  All files on www.zuggsoft.com are regularly checked for viruses.  However, some older versions of virus protection software, such as McAfee, incorrectly detect the eLicense copy protection system used in AC Explorer as a virus.  Update your virus software to the latest version.  AC Explorer is tested with Norton Antivirus and with McAfee.  If you are using a different virus checker and still have a problem, contact them directly and tell them their software isn't compatible with eLicense (www.elicense.com).

I get an Access Violation when I run AC Explorer

This usually means one of your data files is corrupted.  Try deleting all of your AC Explorer files and then reinstall a fresh copy.