ARCS
What are ARCS charts?
What is required to view/use ARCS charts?
What format are ARCS charts in?
What is the difference between the ARCS Navigator and ARCS Skipper services?
How do I buy ARCS Charts?
How much will it cost?
How do I renew/add charts to my ARCS Navigator licence?
How do I add charts or obtain an Annual/Quarterly Update to my ARCS Skipper licence?
Can ARCS be used on more than one display system?
What is the difference between Raster/Vector charts?
What happens if I change my navigational software?

ARCS Technical
I am unable to load the chart permits for a new licence that has just been created and supplied to me
I am unable to view some charts that I have recently had added to my licence.
What is the procedure for installing ARCS Update CDs and/or new ARCS RC Area Discs?
If sent ARCS permits by email how do I save them to floppy disc?
If sent ARCS permits by email in a ‘zip’ file how do I save them to floppy disc?
ARCS Error Messages

	What are ARCS charts?

	ARCS charts are exact digital copies of British Admiralty paper charts which are produced in a raster format. They have the same familiar appearance and use the same internationally recognised symbology as the Admiralty paper chart series. They provide a high quality digital image and full geographical referencing. They can be fully integrated with Geographic Positional Systems (GPS) to provide real-time navigation.

	What is required to view/use ARCS charts?

	You will need to have the following: a) A Chart Display System (ECS, ECDIS or IBS) OR computer hardware (PC or Apple Mac with a 200Mhz processor or better, 16mb RAM or better, minimum 50mb HDD storage, CD-ROM drive, 3.5" floppy drive and Windows 95 or later operating system). b) Navigational Software - a full list of ARCS compatible software manufacturers can be found at: ARCS_Compliant_OEMs

	What format are ARCS charts in?

	The Admiralty Raster Chart Service (ARCS) is stored in our proprietary Hydrographic Chart Raster Format (HCRF).

	What is the difference between the ARCS Navigator and ARCS Skipper services?

	The ARCS Navigator service is predominately aimed at the SOLAS market (ie commercial shipping). It is available as an annual subscription which includes a comprehensive weekly update service and alternatively updates via the ARCS Online Update Service (AOUS). The ARCS Skipper service is targeted towards the leisure market. Charts are supplied up-to-date at the time of purchase but are not automatically updated. However, for a small additional cost, an update service is available if required on an annual or quarterly basis.

	How do I buy ARCS Charts?

	Both ARCS services are available through an extensive, worldwide network of Admiralty Distributors. A full listing of these can be found at: www.ukho.gov.uk/ or www.admiraltyleisure.co.uk/

	How much will it cost?

ARCS Navigator

Individual Charts	£15.50
Each Area Disk	£1,100
All 11 Area Disks	£6,000

Note: Volumetric discounts available, as are reduced prices per individual chart/Area Disk dependent upon the point in the licence period. Please contact your Admiralty Distributor for further details. A minimum fee of £500 applies to each licence.

ARCS Skipper

Pre-Set Folio

£80.00 per Pre-Set Folio

(A collection of 10 charts that form standard coverage for a particular geographical area)

Customised Folio

£100.00 per Customised Folio

(10 charts of your own choice)

Extra Charts

£15.00 per single chart

(Can be bought after the minimum initial requirement of 1 folio has been purchased)

Optional Updates:

Quarterly:	An annual fee of £120 (4 updates per year)
Annual:	1 Folio = £20
	2 Folio = £30
	3 Folio = £45
	4+ Folio = £60

	How do I renew/add charts to my ARCS Navigator licence?

	Please contact your Admiralty Distributor quoting your ARCS Licence Number and chart requirements. Your Admiralty Distributor will arrange for your ARCS Licence to be updated and will supply you with new permit files and any new Area/Update CDs that may be required.

	How do I add charts or obtain an Annual/Quarterly Update to my ARCS Skipper licence?

	Please contact your Admiralty Distributor quoting your ARCS Licence Number and chart/update requirements. Your Admiralty Distributor will arrange for your ARCS Licence to be updated and will supply you with new permit files and any new Area/Update CDs that may be required.

	Can ARCS be used on more than one display system?

	ARCS Navigator Licences can be used on a Main, Backup & Reserve display system if required. This will only cost the price of one Licence. You may use the same/different software and the same/different User Permit details for each system in use. It is also possible to run ARCS on a network via a multi-user licence. Please contact your Admiralty Distributor should you require further details about multi-user licences. However, an ARCS Skipper Licence may be used on one display system only.

	What is the difference between Raster/Vector charts?

	Raster charts are scanned images of paper charts. Each raster image consists of thousands of coloured dots (pixels) that together make a flat image on one layer. Each pixel is geographically referenced enabling real-time display of your vessel position when your chart system is linked to a GPS. Vector Charts consist of digitised data that record all the relevant chart features such as coastlines, buoys, lights etc. Charts are made up of many layers of information representing these different objects and attributes, all of which are held in a database-like structure that allows them to be selectively displayed and queried creating the potential to manipulate the chart image when displayed on the screen.

	What happens if I change my navigational software?

	You will need to contact your Admiralty Distributor to advise them of new User Permit/PIN details. You Admiralty Distributor will then arrange for your original ARCS licence to be cancelled and a new one created. If you have subscribed to the ARCS Navigator service this is carried out free of charge as the same charts and original expiry date are transferred to a new licence. However if you have an ARCS Skipper licence an administration fee of £30 is payable. This is because when a new licence is created all the charts are re-supplied fully updated.

TECHNICAL ARCS FAQ’s

	I am unable to load the chart permits for a new licence that has just been created and supplied to me.

	There could be a number of reasons for this: a) Check that your ‘dongle’ is attached securely to the PC being used for displaying the ARCS charts. b) Incorrect User Permit details have been supplied to your Admiralty Distributor. In this instance you should contact your equipment manufacturer to confirm that the User Permit details used to create the licence match the dongle being used. c) The chart permits could have been corrupted during email transmission. You should ask your Admiralty Distributor to re-supply the permits, preferably via a zip file if re-sent by email.

	I am unable to view some charts that I have recently had added to my licence.

	There could be a number of reasons for this: a) You have not loaded the chart(s) from their ‘home location’ (relevant RC Area Disc) or the Update CD. Please refer to the Chart Availability list on the UKHO Website www.ukho.gov.uk/chartList to verify the ‘home location’ of the charts and then ensure you load the relevant RC Area Disc or Update CD to install the chart(s) onto your chart display system. b) You are not using the latest permit file supplied. You should open the Gb.ncp/Gb.scp file in ‘Notepad’ to check whether the missing chart(s) are actually listed. If not please contact your Admiralty Distributor to re-supply the latest set of permits to you.

	What is the procedure for installing ARCS Update CDs and/or new ARCS RC Area Discs?

	The procedure for installing ARCS Update CDs and new ARCS RC Area Discs varies from one software system to another. However as a guideline the following procedures should be followed but the specific system functions to achieve this should be detailed in your software system manual. a) UPDATE CD and NEW RC DISC: When you receive a new RC Disc you will be required to reload ALL charts purchased from the RC Disc. Then perform the update using the Weekly Update CD-ROM that accompanies the new RC Disc. b) NEW PERMITS and UPDATE CD: If you receive new permits these should be installed first, then new charts/new editions loaded from the Weekly Update CD-ROM, the update should then be applied. c) NEW PERMITS and UPDATE CD and NEW RC DISC: As above, but also install any new charts/new editions from the RC and Update CD-ROMs. Then apply the update. d) UPDATE CD ONLY: The Update CD-ROM should be applied upon receipt. NOTE: New Charts/New Editions are contained on the Weekly Update CD-ROM. Updates are cumulative ie you only need apply the latest Weekly Update CD-ROM. The error message ‘This chart is of a new edition, please load the new edition from the RCXX’ means that the user has not loaded New Charts/New Editions from the latest media. This is probably due to the fact that the user does not have the latest versions of some of the RC Discs or has not installed the latest permits. As a general ‘rule of thumb’ if new permits are received these should be loaded first, then install charts from the RC Area Disc/Update CDs and then update all the charts using the latest Weekly Update CD-ROM.

	If sent ARCS permits by email how do I save them to floppy disc?

	Upon receipt of the email: a) Insert a formatted floppy disc into your A: drive. b) Left mouse click on the first file icon to highlight it. c) Right mouse click on that file icon. d) Click Save As… e) The Save Attachment window now appears. f) Ensure that the Save in: window is set to the A:drive. g) Highlight the file name in the File name: window. h) Click on Save. i) If applicable repeat the process for ‘backup’ permits, copying them to a separate floppy disc.

	If sent ARCS permits by email in a ‘zip’ file how do I save them to floppy disc?

	Upon receipt of the email: a) Open the zip file. Then left mouse click on the first file icon (‘gb.lcn’) contained in the zip file to highlight it b) Hold down the ‘Shift’ key and left mouse click on the last file icon (‘gb.ncp’ or ‘gb.scp’ depending on whether the permits are for the ARCS Navigator or ARCS Skipper Service). Both permit files will be highlighted. c) Select ‘Extract’ from the toolbar. d) The ‘Extract’ window now appears. e) In the ‘Folders/drives:’ window highlight the ‘3½ Floppy (A:)’ drive. f) The ‘Extract to’ dropdown box will then default to ‘A:\’. g) Insert a formatted floppy disc into your A:drive and click on the ‘Extract’ button. h) If applicable repeat the process for ‘backup’ permits, copying them to a separate floppy disc.

ARCS Error Messages

To help you with fault diagnosis each ARCS compatible system has been designed to display a set of generic ARCS error messages. There are 18 ARCS error messages, numbered ARCS 01 to ARCS 18. The table below contains a useful precise of each ARCS error message. Each one is accompanied with explanatory text designed to highlight the problem that has occurred.

Although the ARCS error number will mean the same, the wording can differ slightly with each ARCS manufacturer’s system. ARCS error messages always start with ARCS XX or HCRF XX where XX is the error number. Error messages that do not have this format are specific to the given manufacturer and are not covered in this document.

Message*	ARCS Process	Description	Impact on ARCS software	Remedial Action
ARCS 01 (Navigator & Skipper Licences)	Loading Licence File (gb.lcn)	Licence Invalid or Corrupt. The licence file has been altered or accidentally corrupted.	The ARCS viewing s/w will continue to function normally but will display a prominent ARCS 01 warning message with the licence data.	Contact your ARCS distributor to correct this error.
ARCS 02 (Navigator & Skipper Licences)	Loading Chart Permits (gb.ncp)	Permit(s) Invalid or Corrupt. Permits not for the loaded ARCS s/w or Permit(s) have formatting error.	ARCS 02 error message displayed. The ARCS viewing s/w will not load those charts with invalid or corrupted permits.	Re-load from original media. If unsuccessful contact your ARCS distributor to obtain new permits.
ARCS 03 (Navigator & Skipper Licences)	Loading Updates	Loaded chart (RC) is older and as such incompatible with the update being installed.	ARCS 03 warning message displayed and update action denied.	Contact your ARCS distributor to obtain latest Area Disc (RCXX).
ARCS 04 (Navigator & Skipper Licences)	Loading Updates	Update CD is older and as such incompatible with the installed Area Disc (RC).	ARCS 04 warning message displayed and update action denied.	Contact your ARCS distributor to obtain latest Update CD (WKNN/YY).
ARCS 05 (Navigator Licences only)	Loading Updates	Permit expired. Permit has expired in respect of the System date (computer clock) and/or Date of Publication of the Update CD.	ARCS 05 warning message displayed and update action denied.	Check system clock is correct otherwise contact your ARCS distributor to obtain new permits.
ARCS 06 Skipper Licences only)	Loading Updates	Chart permit is valid for a later Update CD.	ARCS 06 warning message displayed stating that the chart is not up to date.	Contact your ARCS distributor to obtain the Update CD relevant to when permits were issued.
ARCS 07 (Skipper Licences only)	Loading Updates	Chart permit is valid for an earlier Update CD.	ARCS 07 warning message displayed and update action denied.	Contact your ARCS distributor to obtain new permits OR use an earlier week’s Update CD.
ARCS 08 (Navigator Licences only)	Loading Charts	Licence expires in under a month.	ARCS 08 message displayed on screen warning the user that the licence expires in less than one month. Unrestricted access to charts and updating.	Contact your ARCS distributor for a licence renewal.
ARCS 09 (Navigator Licences only)	Loading Charts	Licence has expired within the last month.	ARCS 09 message displayed on screen warning the user that the licence has expired and that the displayed chart may not be up to date. Unrestricted access to charts but updating denied.	Contact your ARCS distributor for a licence renewal.
ARCS 10 (Navigator Licences only)	Loading Charts	Licence has expired over a month ago.	ARCS 10 message displayed on screen warning the user that the licence has expired. ARCS charts can not be displayed. Access to charts denied (blank screen).	Contact your ARCS distributor for a licence renewal.
ARCS 11 (Navigator Licences only)	Loading Charts	Loaded charts are out-of-date in respect of the chart permits.	ARCS 11 message displayed prompting the user to load more recent charts. Chart access denied (blank screen).	Contact your ARCS distributor to obtain latest Area Disc (RCXX).
ARCS 12 (Navigator Licences only)	Loading Charts	Permits are out-of-date in respect of charts being loaded.	ARCS 12 message displayed prompting the user to obtain a new licence. Chart access denied (blank screen).	Contact your ARCS distributor for a licence renewal.
ARCS 13 (Skipper Licences only)	Displaying Charts	Trying to load a newer version of the chart than the permit allows.	ARCS 13 message displayed and the chart won’t load.	Contact your ARCS distributor for confirmation of the correct RC Area Disc to be used or to obtain new permits.
ARCS 14 (Skipper Licences only)	Displaying Charts	Trying to load an older version of the chart than the permit allows.	ARCS 14 message displayed and the chart won’t load	Contact your ARCS distributor for confirmation of the correct RC Area Disc to be used.
ARCS 15 (Skipper Licences only)	Displaying Charts	Permit valid for an older version of the chart.	ARCS 15 message displayed and the chart won’t load.	Contact your ARCS distributor to obtain new permits.
ARCS 16 (Skipper Licences only)	Displaying Charts	Permit valid for an earlier Update CD.	ARCS 16 message displayed and update action denied.	Contact your ARCS distributor to obtain new permits OR use an earlier weeks’ Update CD.
ARCS 17 (Skipper Licences only)	No Update or Incorrect Update Loaded	Permit valid for a later Update CD.	ARCS 17 message displayed stating that the chart is not up to date.	Contact your ARCS distributor to obtain the Update CD relevant to when permits were issued.
ARCS 18 (Skipper Licences only)	No Update or Incorrect Update Loaded	No update loaded for that chart.	ARCS 18 message displayed stating that the chart is not up to date.	Load the relevant ARCS Update CD.
* Error messages may not always have the prefix ARCS, i.e. for systems that are both ARCS and Seafarer compliant. These may be prefixed by the generic term HCRF.