To add an exception to the McAfee Firewall, follow these steps:

1. Open the main McAfee window and then click on settings gear icon from the upper right-hand corner.
   
2. Now, select Firewall from the displayed context menu.
   
3. Select Internet Connections for Programs drop-down menu.
   
4. Click on [Add] button to add an exception.
   
5. Then click on [Browse…] button.
   
6. Now, browse the C drive of your computer for the LSConfigurationUtility folder using path: C:Program Files (x86)CivilGEOLSConfigurationUtility.
7. From the LSConfigurationUtility folder, select the LicenseServerConfiguration application file, and click the [Open] button.
   
8. Click the [Save] button to save the path of the application.
   
9. The exception for the LicenseServerConfiguration application is now added in the Program list.
   

This article should resolve your firewall configuration issues. If you are still having issues, contact our technical support team. They will be glad to assist you further.

To add an exception to the ZoneAlarm Firewall, follow these steps:

1. Open the main ZoneAlarm window and click on Antivirus as shown below:
   
2. From the displayed Antivirus dialog box, select Exceptions.
   
3. Click on [ADD] button to add an exception.
   
4. Now, browse the C drive of your computer for the LSConfigurationUtility folder using path: C:Program Files (x86)CivilGEOLSConfigurationUtility.
5. From the LSConfigurationUtility folder, Select the LicenseServerConfiguration application file, and click the [Open] button.
   
6. The LicensceServerConfiguration file is now added in the ZoneAlarm’s Exceptions list.
   

This article should resolve your firewall configuration issues. If you are still having issues, contact our technical support team. They will be glad to assist you further.

To add an exception to the Windows Firewall, follow these steps:

1. Click on the Windows Start button, then type Control Panel into the search box, and then press the Enter key.
   
2. In Control Panel, click on the System and Security.
   
3. The System and Security dialog box will be displayed. From the Windows Defender Firewall section, select Allow an app through Windows Firewall option.
   
4. From the displayed Allowed apps dialog box, click the [Change settings] button.
   
5. Then click the [Allow another app…] button to add an exception as shown below.
   
6. The Add an app dialog box will be displayed.
   
7. Now, browse the C drive of your computer for the LSConfigurationUtility folder using path: C:Program Files (x86)CivilGEOLSConfigurationUtility.
8. From the LSConfigurationUtility folder, select the LicenseServerConfiguration application file, and click the [Open] button.
   
9. Click on the [Add] button to add the path of the application.
   
10. Click the [OK] button to add the LicenseServerConfiguration application in the Allowed apps and features list.
    

Note: Make sure the Domain, Private, and Public check boxes corresponding to the LicenseServerConfiguration application are checked.

This article should resolve your firewall configuration issues. If you are still having issues, contact our technical support team. They will be glad to assist you further.

To add an exception to the Vipre firewall, perform the following steps:

1. Open the main Vipre window and click Manage.
   
2. Select Firewall from the left side menu and click on [Manage Rules] button.
   
3. The following Firewall Rules window will be displayed. Click on [Add App Rule] button.
   
4. Using the windows Open dialog box, browse to the LSConfigurationUtility folder. The path for this is C:Program Files (x86)CivilGEOLSConfigurationUtility
5. Select LicenseServerConfiguration.exe application and click on [Open] button.
   
6. The LicenseServerConfiguration.exe will be added to the Apps list as an exception.
7. Notice that drop-down lists for TRUSTED INBOUND, TRUSTED OUTBOUND, PUBLIC INBOUND, and PUBLIC OUTBOUND are all set to Allow.
   
8. Close the Firewall Rules dialog box and Vipre Application.

This article should resolve your firewall configuration issues. If you are still having issues, contact our technical support team. They will be glad to assist you further.

1. To add an exception to the Trend Micro Firewall, follow these steps:
2. Open the main Trend Micro window and click on Device.
   
3. In the Security Settings, click on [Configure] button.
   
4. Now, select Exception Lists drop-down from the left side menu.
   
5. Click on [+Add] button.
   
6. From the displayed Add an Item dialog box, click on [Browse…] button.
   
7. Now, browse the C drive of your computer for the LSConfigurationUtility folder. The path for this is: C:Program Files (x86)CivilGEOLSConfigurationUtility
8. In the LSConfigurationUtility folder, Select the LicenseServerConfiguration application, and click the [Open] button.
   
9. Click on [OK] button to add an exception.
   
10. Now, click on [Apply] button to add the LicenseServerConfiguration application in the exception lists.
    
11. Then click on [OK] button to complete the program exclusion.
    

This article should resolve your firewall configuration issues. If you are still having issues, contact our technical support team. They will be glad to assist you further.

To add an exception to the Norton Firewall, follow these steps:

1. Open the main Norton window and click on Settings.
   
2. From the displayed Settings dialog box, select Administrative Settings.
   
3. In the displayed Administrative Settings, scroll down to Program Exclusions under Performance Monitoring section, and click on Configure [+].
   
4. Then click on [Add] button to add an exception.
   
5. Now, browse the C drive of your computer for the LSConfigurationUtility folder using path: C:Program Files (x86)CivilGEOLSConfigurationUtility.
6. From the LSConfigurationUtility folder, select LicenseServerConfiguration application file, and click the [Open] button.
   
7. The LicensceServerConfiguration.exe is now added in the Program Exclusions list.
8. Click on [Apply] button to register the changes.
   

This article should resolve your firewall configuration issues. If you are still having issues, contact our technical support team. They will be glad to assist you further.

To add an exception to the Kaspersky firewall, perform the following steps:

1. Right click on the Kaspersky icon in the notification area.
2. Then click on Settings from the menu.
   
3. Select Threats and Exclusions from the left side menu. Notice that exceptions can be added using either Manage exclusions option or Specify trusted applications option.
   

Adding Exception Using Manage Exclusions Option

1. On selecting Manage exclusions option, as shown in step 3, the following Threats and Exclusions settings window will be displayed. Click on [Add] button.
   
2. Next, click on [Browse…] button.
   
3. Browse the list starting from My Computer to the LSConfigurationUtility folder. The path for this is C:Program Files (x86)CivilGEOLSConfigurationUtility
4. Select LicenseServerConfiguration.exe application and then click on [Select] button.
   
5. Under the Protection components label, select All components and then click on [Add] button.
   
6. The LicenseServerConfiguration.exe application will be added under the Exclusions Click on [OK] button.
   
7. Click on [Save] button and close the Kaspersky application.
   

Adding Exception Using Specify Trusted Applications Option

1. On selecting Specify trusted applications option, as shown in step 3, the following Trusted applications window will be displayed. Click on [Add] button.
   
2. Browse the list starting from My Computer to the LSConfigurationUtility folder. The path for this is C:Program Files (x86)CivilGEOLSConfigurationUtility
3. Select LicenseServerConfiguration.exe application and then click on [Select] button.
   
4. Select all check boxes under Exclusions for application and then click on [OK] button.
   
5. The LicenseServerConfiguration.exe application will be added under the Trusted applications list. Click on [OK] button.
   
6. Click on [Save] button and close the Kaspersky application.
   

This article should resolve your firewall configuration issues. If you are still having issues, contact our technical support team. They will be glad to assist you further.

To add an exception to the Bit Defender Firewall, follow these steps:

1. Open the main Bit Defender window and select the settings gear icon from the upper right-hand corner.
   
2. Now, select Exclusions from the context menu.
   
3. From the Exclusions tab, click on [ADD EXCLUSION] button.
   
4. Click on [BROWSE] button and navigate the C drive of your computer for the LSConfigurationUtility folder using path: C:Program Files (x86)CivilGEOLSConfigurationUtility.
   
5. From the LSConfigurationUtility folder, Select the LicenseServerConfiguration application file, and click the [Open] button.
   
6. Now, click on [Add] button to add an exception.
   
7. From the Displayed INFO dialog box, click on [OK] button to complete the exclusion process.
   
8. The LicenseServerConfiguration.exe is now added to the Exclusion list of the Bit Defender Firewall.
   

This article should resolve your firewall configuration issues. If you are still having issues, contact our technical support team. They will be glad to assist you further.

To add an exception to the Avira Firewall, follow these steps:

1. Open the main Avira Antivirus window and select Web Protection.
   
2. Choose Firewall and then click the settings gear icon in the upper right-hand corner.
   
3. The configuration menu will open. In the left navigation menu, select Application rules.
   
4. From the right panel, select Application rules.
   
5. The Allowed apps window will be displayed. Now, click the [Change settings] button.
   
6. Then click the [Allow another app…] button to add an exception.
   
7. The Add an app dialog box will be displayed. Click the [Browse…] button.
   
8. Browse the list starting from My Computer to the LSConfigurationUtility folder. The path of the program is C:Program Files (x86)CivilGEOLSConfigurationUtility
9. Choose “LicenseServerConfiguration.exe” and then click the [Open] button.
   
10. Click the [Add] button to add the path of the application.
    
11. To add the LicenseServerConfiguration application in the Allowed apps and features list of the Windows Firewall, click the [OK] button.
    

Note: Make sure the Domain, Private, and Public check boxes corresponding to the LicenseServerConfiguration application are checked.

This article should resolve your firewall configuration issues. If you are still having issues, contact our technical support team. They will be glad to assist you further.

To add an exception to the AVG Firewall, follow these steps:

1. Open the main AVG window and select Menu from the upper right-hand corner.
   
2. Now, click on Settings.
   
3. From the displayed entries, navigate to General and then to Exceptions. Next, click on [ADD EXCEPTION] button.
   
4. Add the exception using one of the following options:
   1. Type the specific file path and then click the [ADD EXCEPTION] button. The path of the application is C:Program Files (x86)CivilGEOLSConfigurationUtilityLicenseServerConfiguration.exe
      
   2. Or browse the list starting from “My Computer” to the “LSConfigurationUtility” folder.
   3. Choose “License Server Configuration.exe” and then click the [OK] button.
      
5. The License Server Configuration.exe will be added under Exceptions. Make sure to turn on all the options listed under “Filter by”.
   
6. Now you can close the dialog box.

This article should resolve your firewall configuration issues. If you are still having issues, contact our technical support team. They will be glad to assist you further.

To add an exception to the Avast Firewall, follow these steps:

1. Open the main Avast Premium Security window. From the displayed entries, navigate to Protection and then click on Firewall.
   
2. From the Firewall window, click on Application settings.
   
3. The Application Rules dialog box will be displayed. Click the [New Group] button and you will notice that an Unnamed drop-down section is added to the list.
4. Rename Unnamed to “License Server Configuration.exe”.
5. Now, click on the [New application rule] button and then select License Server Configuration.exe.
6. Browse the list starting from “My Computer” to the “LSConfigurationUtility” folder. The path for this is C:Program Files (x86)CivilGEOLSConfigurationUtility. Choose “LicenseServerConfiguration.exe” and then click the [Open] button.
   
7. The executable file will be added under the group License Server Configuration.exe. Click on the yellow bars and drag your mouse until all 5 bars are highlighted.
8. Click on the [Close] button to close the dialog box.

This article should resolve your firewall configuration issues. If you are still having issues, contact our technical support team. They will be glad to assist you further.

If the CivilGEO License Server stops running after an antivirus scan, then the antivirus firewall could be responsible for this. This happens when the antivirus firewall suspects the CivilGEO License Server is an unknown service and blocks it from communicating with other applications. To enable the CivilGEO License Server to establish a connection with other applications, you need to manually configure the firewall by setting exceptions.

For instructions on how to add an exception for the CivilGEO License Server, choose the antivirus software you are running from the list below:

Avast Firewall

AVG Firewall

Avira Firewall

Bit Defender Firewall

ESET Firewall

Kaspersky Firewall

McAfee Firewall

Norton Firewall

Trend Micro Firewall

Vipre Firewall

Windows Firewall

Zone Alarm Firewall

When using CivilGEO's engineering software, the Windows Open dialog box sometimes fails to locate the mapped network drives, even though it is visible in Windows Explorer. This issue can also occur while performing the installation of a CivilGEO software product on Windows 10, where you are unable to view or access mapped network drives.

This issue can be easily corrected by configuring the EnableLinkedConnections registry value.

Disclaimer: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Improperly editing the registry can lead to software corruption and data loss. Before you modify the registry, make sure you back up the registry and understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. By proceeding beyond this point, you acknowledge that you understand the risks inherent in incorrectly editing the registry and that by proceeding, you agree to accept these risks.

Follow the steps given below to configure the EnableLinkedConnections registry value:

1. Display the Windows Run dialog box by pressing the Win + R keys (using the Windows key and the "R" key simultaneously) on the keyboard. This will display the Windows Run dialog box.
2. Type regedit in the Open entry and then press the Enter key or click the [OK] button.
3. Press Yes to allow changes to be made. The Registry Editor application will be displayed.
4. Navigate to the System registry subkey by pasting or typing the following path into the Address Bar as shown below. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionPoliciesSystem
5. From the System right-click context menu, click on NEW and then select DWORD (32-bit) Value.
6. A new subkey appears in the System folder.
7. Type EnableLinkedConnections and then press the ENTER key. Note that if the EnableLinkedConnections value already exists, the user does not need to create a new DWORD (32-bit) Value, they can simply modify it using the steps below.
8. Right-click EnableLinkedConnections and then select Modify from the displayed context menu.
9. The Edit DWORD (32-bit) Value dialog box will be displayed. In the Value data field, enter 1 or modify it to 1 from 0, then press the Enter key or click the [OK] button to submit the data.
10. Close the Registry Editor application.
11. Restart the host computer and the changes made to the Registry Editor will take effect.

During the installation of a software product on any version of Windows, the software installer sometimes fails to run, and you may receive the following error message:

"Error 1603: A fatal error occurred during installation"

The error 1603 is a generic error code generated by Microsoft Windows Installer (MSI) that indicates a problem during the installation. This error is more likely to be system-related than software-specific.
You may receive this error due to one of the following factors:

• Short file name creation is disabled on the target computer system
• Corrupted Microsoft Visual C++ redistributable files
• Antivirus/Firewall settings are blocking the installation
• Windows TEMP folders are full
• Not enough disk space

This article describes how to troubleshoot the installation error 1603.

Enabling Short File Name Creation

The installation error 1603 can occur if short file name creation, i.e., eight-character file names with a three-character file extension (8.3 name creation), is disabled on the computer system.

Note that the short file name creation is enabled by default on Windows 10.

This issue can be easily corrected by changing the value of the NtfsDisable8dot3NameCreation registry entry to 0 or 2. A value of 1 or 3 indicates that this functionality is disabled.

To check the value of NtfsDisable8dot3NameCreation, navigate to the following registry entry:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem
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This section contains information about modifying the registry. Improperly editing the registry can lead to software corruption and data loss. Before you modify the registry, make sure you back up the registry and understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. By proceeding beyond this point, you acknowledge that you understand the risks inherent in incorrectly editing the registry and that by proceeding, you agree to accept these risks.

To enable the short file name creation, follow the steps below:

1. Display the Windows Run dialog box by pressing the Win + R keys (using the Windows key and the "R" key simultaneously) on the keyboard. This will display the Windows Run dialog box.
2. Type regedit in the Open entry and then press the Enter key or click the [OK] button.
   
3. Press Yes to allow changes to be made. The Registry Editor application will be displayed.
   
4. Navigate to the FileSystem registry subkey by pasting or typing the following path into the Address Bar as shown below.
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlFileSystem
   
5. Right-click NtfsDisable8dot3NameCreation and then select Modify from the displayed context menu.
   
6. The Edit DWORD (32-bit) Value dialog box will be displayed. In the Value data entry field, enter either 0 or 2 and then press the Enter key or click the [OK] button to submit the data.
   

Note that after restarting the host computer, the changes made to the Registry Editor will only be effective for new users and not for existing ones.

Reinstalling Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable Files

The installation error 1603 can also occur if the Microsoft Visual C++ redistributable packages installed on the computer system are corrupted.

Follow the steps given below to fix this issue:

1. Display the Windows Run dialog box by pressing the Win + R keys (using the Windows key and the "R" key simultaneously) on the keyboard. This will display the Windows Run dialog box.
2. Type appwiz.cpl in the Open entry and then press the Enter key or click the [OK] button.
   
3. Uninstall everything that shows Microsoft Visual C++ 2xxx Redistributable.
4. Visit this link to download and save a fresh copy of Microsoft Visual C++ redistributable packages.
   Notes:
   
   • For each Microsoft Visual C++ redistributable package, download the latest version only.
   • Both the x86 and x64 versions are needed on 64-bit systems. Only the x86 versions will work on 32-bit systems
5. Install the downloaded Microsoft Visual C++ redistributable packages.

Updating Antivirus Software

Sometimes error 1603 may also occur if antivirus software is not up to date. Please make certain that the antivirus software is up to date and/or temporarily disable your antivirus software until the installation of the software product is complete.

Cleaning up Windows TEMP Directory

The installer uses the system's TEMP directory to extract files to and run from. The error 1603 might occur if the TEMP directory does not have enough available space or has too many files that may conflict with setup files.

Follow the steps below to clean up the TEMP directory and free up hard disk space:

1. Display the Windows Run dialog box by pressing the Win + R keys (using the Windows key and the "R" key simultaneously) on the keyboard. This will display the Windows Run dialog box.
2. Type %TEMP% in the Open entry and then press the Enter key or click the [OK] button.
   
3. In the TEMP directory, press CTRL+A to select all the files and folders contained in the TEMP directory and delete them.

Increasing Disk Space

The error 1603 might occur on a computer system that does not have enough disk space to install the setup and store rollback files. This space is required on the root drive even if the setup may be installed to a different drive. Check that there is enough space on the root drive of the computer system. This space is required by setup to decompress files in the temp directory and store rollback information in the Windows directory of the computer.

Refer to this article in our knowledge base to check the minimum storage requirement for installing CivilGEO's software.

If there is not enough space available to install the software, remove some third-party software or run a disk cleaner utility to free up hard drive storage. Refer to this article from Microsoft to learn about various tips to free up disk space.

Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) is the infrastructure for data management and operations on all Windows-based operating systems. Its purpose is to help administrators manage different Windows operational environments, including remote systems.

WMI Aliases

An Alias is an abstraction introduced as part of the Windows command line tool. It provides simplified keywords to execute complex queries from the command line. Aliases capture the features of a WMI class that are relevant to some specific tasks such as disk or network administration. Visit this link to know more about WMI aliases.

Troubleshooting WMI Repository

When accessing WMI local or remote data in an application or script, the user may encounter errors ranging from missing classes to access denial. These errors may also affect the HEC-RAS analysis computation with a “CPU - Alias not found” error, as shown below. For such errors, WMI troubleshooting can be performed to troubleshoot possible errors.

Note that if WMI returns error messages, be aware that this may not only indicate problems in the WMI service or WMI providers. Failures can also originate in other parts of the operating system and emerge as errors through WMI.

To check whether the WMI service is running correctly or not, run WMI Diagnosis Utility.

If you encounter any issue with the WMI service, perform the steps given below to run the WMI diagnosis:

1. Open the Start menu, type cmd in the search bar, and run the Command Prompt application in administrator mode.
   
2. In the Command Prompt window, run the following command:
   winmgmt /verifyrepository
   
3. If the WMI repository is inconsistent, run the following command that will repair the WMI repository:
   winmgmt /salvagerepository
4. Run the following command again to verify that the WMI repository has been repaired successfully:
   winmgmt /verifyrepository

If the WMI repository does not self-correct even after performing Step 3 and Step 4, the user has to rebuild the entire WMI repository from scratch.

Follow the steps given below to rebuild the entire WMI repository:

1. Run the Command Prompt application in administrator mode.
2. In the Command Prompt window, run the following command to disable/stop the WMI service:
   net stop winmgmt
   
3. Then, from the Windows C drive, navigate to the following path and remove or rename the Repository folder:
   C:WindowsSystem32wbemRepository
   
4. From the Command Prompt window, navigate to the wbem folder using the following command:
   cd C:WindowsSystem32wbem
   
5. Then, run the following command:
   for /f %s in ('dir /b *.mof') do mofcomp %s
   
6. Finally, run the following command:
   for /f %s in ('dir /b en-us*.mfl') do mofcomp en-us%s
   
7. After the successful completion of the process, Done! will be displayed.
8. Now, restart the PC and the changes will take effect.

After installing any software on Microsoft Windows and trying to launch it, the following error message may appear: The above error can occur due to the following reasons:

“The code execution cannot proceed because mfc140u.dll was not found. Reinstalling the program may fix this problem.”

The above error can occur due to the following reasons:

• The mfc140u.dll file is missing from the computer system or has become corrupted.
• Antivirus or other security software is corrupting the installation.

This issue can be easily corrected by reinstalling the Microsoft Visual C++ packages.

Follow the steps below to fix this issue:

1. Display the Windows Run dialog box by pressing the Win + R keys (using the Windows key and the "R" key simultaneously) on the keyboard. This will display the Windows Run dialog box.
2. Type appwiz.cpl in the Open entry and then press the Enter key or click the [OK] button.
   
   unknown node
3. Uninstall everything that shows Microsoft Visual C++ 2xxx Redistributable.
   
   unknown node
4. Visit this link to download and save a fresh copy of Microsoft Visual C++ redistributable packages. Notes:

• • For each Microsoft Visual C++ redistributable package, download the latest version only.
  • Both the x86 and x64 versions are needed on 64-bit systems. Only the x86 versions will work on 32-bit systems.

1. Install the downloaded Microsoft Visual C++ redistributable packages. Usually, it works best to install them in the following order (newest to oldest):

• • 2015-2022 x86
  • 2015-2022 x64
  • 2012 x86
  • 2012 x64
  • 2010 x86
  • 2010 x64
  • 2008x86
  • 2008x64
  • 2005x86
  • 2005x64

1. Once all the Microsoft Visual C++ packages have been reinstalled, disable/uninstall the antivirus and other security software on the computer system.
2. Reboot the computer system and launch the software.

This article should resolve the missing mfc140u.dll system error. If you are still having issues, contact our technical support staff. They will be glad to assist you further.

While installing the GeoHECRAS software on a computer workstation running Windows 7 Service Pack 1 operating system, the application fails to install the Microsoft .NET Framework along with the GeoHECRAS installation and displays the following error message.

This issue may occur if the required trusted root certification authority (CA) certificate is not installed in the Trusted Root Certification Authorities store on the client computer.

This issue can be corrected by installing the certificate manually in the Trusted Root Certification Authorities store of the client’s computer.

Note: If the user gets the above error message, click on the [No] button to stop the GeoHECRAS installation.

To troubleshoot this issue, follow these steps:

1. Display the Windows Run dialog box by pressing the Win + R keys (the Windows key and the “R” key at the same time) on the keyboard. This will display the Windows Run dialog box.
2. Type mmc in the Open entry and then press the Enter key or click the [OK] button.
3. The following Microsoft Management Console dialog box will be displayed. Open the File menu and click the Add/Remove Snap-in menu item.
4. The Add/Remove Snap-ins dialog box will be displayed. In the Available snap-ins dialog box, select the Certificates entry and then click the [Add >] button.
5. Select the Computer account radio button entry from the Certificates snap-in dialog box and then click the [Next >] button.
6. The following dialog box will be displayed. Select the Local computer radio button entry and then click [Finish] button.
7. Click the [OK] button.
8. Using the navigation panel on the left side, select Certificates (Local Computer) > Trusted Root Certification Authorities > Certificates as shown below.
9. Examine the certificates that appear in the details pane to determine whether the Microsoft Root Certificate Authority 2011 certificate is present.
10. If the required certificate is not present in the Trusted Root Certification Authorities store, you must import the certificate.
11. First, you need to download the certificate. Click here to download the certificate file from Microsoft.
12. From the left side panel, right-click on the Certificates entry, then expand the All Tasks entry and click on Import as shown below.
13. The Certificate Import Wizard dialog box will be displayed. Click on the [Next >] button.
14. Browse to the folder where the downloaded certificate is located and click the [Next >] button.
15. Select Place all certificates in the following store radio button and then click the [Next >] button.
16. Click the [Finish] button to close the Certificate Import Wizard dialog box.
17. If the import was successful, the following message box will be displayed. Click the [OK] button.

After importing the Microsoft Root Certificate Authority 2011 certificate, you need to install the GeoHECRAS software.

If you are still having issues, contact our technical support. They will be glad to assist you further.

In the event that the CivilGEO software closes unexpectedly, the Error Report dialog box will be displayed, giving you the option to send an error report directly to CivilGEO.

It is recommended that you send these error reports whenever such incidents occur. These error reports may include valuable information about hardware limitations, active commands while error occurred, or compatibility problems with third-party software that are otherwise challenging to identify. Sending relevant details via Error Report assists CivilGEO in analyzing and troubleshooting the software crash.

After the error report is successfully submitted, CivilGEO’s automated error tracking system categorizes these errors for review by the technical support team. Subsequently, the error reports undergo analysis, and the severity of each error, as well as the number of customers impacted by the error, are taken into account for prioritization.

After a software error is deemed resolved, notice of the resolution is incorporated into either an upcoming maintenance update or the subsequent release of the software. CivilGEO also takes the initiative to inform the users who originally reported the error while submitting the error report.

The following diagram gives an overview of CivilGEO’s error reporting process.

Submitting Error Report

In the Error Report dialog box, you can enter your contact details to get notifications regarding the status of the error report. In addition, you are encouraged to document the sequence of steps that triggered the error to allow the CivilGEO software development team to reproduce it and resolve the reported error. The more details you provide, the faster a resolution can be achieved.

Here are some guidelines to follow when submitting the error reports:

• The report automatically captures the operating system version, software name and version, available memory, and the active command during which the software closed unexpectedly. Therefore, you do not need to report those details.
• Provide a summary in the “What happened?” field, outlining the events that led to the error.
• If possible, provide repeatable steps in the “Do you remember the actions that lead to this?” field to recreate the error.
• Provide as much detail as possible about the work you were doing when the error occurred.
• When possible, save a copy of the project file and include the file name as a reference in your error report. In some cases, you may be contacted about getting a copy of the project file you were working with when the error occurred.
• If you have encountered a similar error with the command in the past, check the “Does it happen every time?” option before sending the error report.
• If the user wants to share the problematic project file along with the error report, then the “You want to upload problematic data to assist developers?” option should be checked when sending the error report. This will redirect the user to CivilGEO’s ShareFile webpage where the user can upload the project file, as shown below.
  

When an error report is submitted to CivilGEO, it is transmitted in an encrypted format through the Internet. Upon receiving the information, CivilGEO employs security technologies and procedures to safeguard your personal information against unauthorized access, use, or disclosure.

After sending the error report, the software will continue to operate normally. However, it is advisable to save your project data and then restart the software before you begin to use the software again. If you continue to encounter issues, contact our technical support team. They will be glad to assist you.

A hardware problem, power failure, or software problem can cause the program to terminate unexpectedly. This article describes the backup and autosave files that are available to help you recover your project data should this happen.

Autosave Files

Automatic saving of project files—commonly referred to as "autosave" files—are backup files created automatically by the Autosave feature. As you work in the software, the changes you make are automatically saved after an interval of time (every 5 minutes by default). Using the Save or Save As command will halt the automatic save timer until an edit is made to the project. Automatic saves are only done if the project has been modified after the last save.

If the user successfully saves the project and then closes out of the software, the autosave file is then automatically deleted.

Configuring Autosave Setting

Select File | Options to display the Options backstage page. This backstage page allows the user to modify the time interval in which the autosave operation is to run. The default interval is 5 minutes.

Note: Disabling the Autosave option prevents the software from creating any interim files while you work. In the event of a crash, there will be no autosave files available for data recovery.

Note: The Autosave function is not a substitute for the Save command. You should use the Save command (Ctrl+S) to save your project.

Recovering Autosave Projects

If the software crashes or an unusual termination occurs, then you may recover the project using the autosave file. The autosave file contains the project data as of when the last autosave was done. To open an autosave file, select File | Open. Then, in the Open dialog box, select the autosave file extension in the file type dropdown combo box listing. Then, select the autosave project file to open.

Autosave File Location

If the project file has previously been saved, then the autosave file will be contained within that same folder that contains the project file. However, if the project has not yet been saved, the autosave file will be contained within the current user's Local AppData folder. For example, if the computer user's name is "Bob", then the autosave file will be found in the "C:UsersBobAppDataLocalCivilGeoAutorecovery" folder.

You can find your current (updated) model at the above location, but, if you have already saved your model through the Save As option, then check the Current Project Directory location where you have saved it.

Backup Files

When you save your project, the software makes a backup copy of the previous version of the project (that is, the project file before the current save). This backup file will have the same name as the project, with the file extension "ghr_backup" and will be located in the same directory as the project file.

Backup files help ensure the safety of your project data. If a problem occurs, you can restore a project backup file.

Computer hardware problems, power failures or surges, user mistakes, or software problems can cause errors in a project. By saving your work frequently, you can ensure a minimum of lost data if your system fails for any reason. If a problem occurs, you can restore a project backup file.

In order to open a backup file, either rename the file extension to "ghr" or from the File | Open dialog box, select the project backup files in the file type dropdown combo box listing. If you are renaming the file extension, you may want to also rename the file to avoid overwriting the original project file.

A hardware problem, power failure, or software problem can cause the program to terminate unexpectedly. This article describes how the Project Recovery Manager can help the user recover project data in the event of the aforementioned occurring.

Note that the recovery of a project will only be possible if the user has an autosave feature set in the software. If the autosave option is enabled, then the user can retrieve the latest saved copy of the project from the default save location. By default, CivilGEO software creates a backup file when saving and initiates an autosave process every 5 minutes.

The user can enable/disable and set the time interval for the autosave feature in the “Autosave project every” checkbox entry field from the Option backstage page as shown below.

Project Recovery Manager

The Project Recovery Manager helps with the task of locating and opening projects that were last open when the software crashed, as well as any backup and autosave files associated with those projects.

When the user launches the software after a crash, the Project Recovery Manager dialog box will automatically be displayed. Alternatively, the user can also display this dialog box by selecting the Recovery command from the File ribbon menu.

The Project Recovery Manager dialog box determines which projects were active when the crash occurred and displays those projects and the associated backup and autosave files in a single, easy-to-use interface.

The Project Recovery Manager dialog box contains three sections, which are described below:

• Available Files This section displays the list of available project files that can be recovered.
• File Details This section displays the details of the file location, the last autosaved project file date and time, and the size of the file.
• File Preview This section displays the preview of the selected project file in the Available Files section.

Using the Project Recovery Manager, the user can open backup and autosave files directly without having to manually locate and rename the files. The first time a user attempts to save a backup or autosave file, the user will be prompted to rename the file.

To open a file from the listing, either double-click on the file or right-click and choose Open from the displayed context menu. To rename or save a file from the listing, right-click and choose Save As from the displayed context menu. To remove a file from the listing, right-click and choose Remove Project from Listing from the displayed context menu.

Clicking the [Clear List] button clears all the listed project files from the Available Files section and closes the dialog box.

Notes:

• The project, backup, and autosave files are listed in the order that they were last saved.
• The Project Recovery Manager is only useful after a crash has occurred and will only display information about project files that were active during a session that crashed. You cannot launch the Project Recovery Manager during a normal working session and have it show you the backup and autosave files for the current project.

Send an Error Report Automatically to CivilGEO

If the program encounters a problem and closes unexpectedly, the software will display an error report dialog box. The user can choose to send the error report to CivilGEO in order to help our software developers diagnose problems with the software. The error report includes information about the state of the user system at the time the error occurred. The user can also add other information, such as details relating to what the user was doing at the time of the error.

A hardware problem, power failure, or software problem can cause the program to terminate unexpectedly. This article describes the options available to help you recover your project data should this happen.

Autosave Files

Automatic saving of project files—commonly referred to as "autosave" files—are backup files created automatically by the Autosave feature. As you work in the software, the changes you make are automatically saved after an interval of time (every 5 minutes by default). Using the Save or Save As command will halt the automatic save timer until an edit is made to the project. Automatic saves are only done if the project has been modified after the last save.

If the user successfully saves the project and then closes out of the software, the autosave file is then automatically deleted.

Configuring Autosave Setting

Select File | Options to display the Options backstage page. This backstage page allows the user to modify the time interval in which the autosave operation is to run. The default interval is 5 minutes.

Note: Disabling the Autosave option prevents the software from creating any interim files while you work. In the event of a crash, there will be no autosave files available for data recovery.

Note: The Autosave function is not a substitute for the Save command. You should use the Save command (Ctrl+S) to save your project.

Recovering Autosave Projects

If the software crashes or an unusual termination occurs, then you may recover the project using the autosave file. The autosave file contains the project data as of when the last autosave was done. To open an autosave file, select File | Open. Then, in the Open dialog box, select the autosave file extension in the file type dropdown combo box listing. Then, select the autosave project file to open.

Autosave File Location

If the project file has previously been saved, then the autosave file will be contained within that same folder that contains the project file. However, if the project has not yet been saved, the autosave file will be contained within the current user's Local AppData folder. For example, if the computer user's name is "Bob", then the autosave file will be found in the "C:UsersBobAppDataLocalCivilGeoAutorecovery" folder.

You can find your current (updated) model at the above location, but, if you have already saved your model through the Save As option, then check the Current Project Directory location where you have saved it.

Backup Files

When you save your project, the software makes a backup copy of the previous version of the project (that is, the project file before the current save). This backup file will have the same name as the project, with the file extension "ghr_backup" and will be located in the same directory as the project file.

Backup files help ensure the safety of your project data. If a problem occurs, you can restore a project backup file.

Computer hardware problems, power failures or surges, user mistakes, or software problems can cause errors in a project. By saving your work frequently, you can ensure a minimum of lost data if your system fails for any reason. If a problem occurs, you can restore a project backup file.

In order to open a backup file, either rename the file extension to "ghr" or from the File | Open dialog box, select the project backup files in the file type dropdown combo box listing. If you are renaming the file extension, you may want to also rename the file to avoid overwriting the original project file.

Project Recovery Manager

The Project Recovery Manager helps with the task of locating and opening projects that were last open when the software crashed, as well as any backup and autosave files associated with those projects.

When you launch the software after a crash, the Project Recovery Manager dialog box will automatically be displayed. (You can also display this dialog box by selecting File | Recovery.) This dialog box determines what projects were active when the crash occurred and displays those projects and the associated backup and autosave files in a single, easy-to-use interface.

Using the Project Recovery Manager, you can open backup and autosave files directly without having to manually locate and rename the files. The first time you attempt to save a backup or autosave file, you will be prompted to rename the file.

To open a file from the listing, either double click on the file or right click and choose Open from the displayed context menu. To remove a file from the listing, right click and choose Remove from the displayed context menu.

Note: The project, backup, and autosave files are listed in the order that they were last saved.

Note: The Project Recovery Manager is only useful after a crash has occurred and will only display information about project files that were active during a session that crashed. You cannot launch the Project Recovery Manager during a normal working session and have it show you the backup and autosave files for the current project.

Send an Error Report Automatically to CivilGEO

If the program encounters a problem and closes unexpectedly, the software will display an error report dialog box. You can choose to send the error report to CivilGEO in order help our software developers diagnose problems with the software. The error report includes information about the state of your system at the time the error occurred. You can also add other information, such as what you were doing at the time of the error.

CivilGEO's software helps engineers create hydrology projects with eye-catching details, making them easier to understand, analyze, and present, giving them an edge over competitors. By using OpenGL's powerful features, our software produces stunning graphics, making the project design process more exciting. OpenGL is a widely adopted 2D and 3D graphics API (Application Programming Interface) that is used to create high-performance graphics software applications in fields such as CAD (Computer Aided Design), game development, virtual reality, etc.

When you start up CivilGEO software, you might encounter an unusual error caused by incorrect initialization of OpenGL as shown below, which relies on your graphics card's driver package.

This type of error usually occurs when the graphics or display card of the computer is corrupted or does not meet the minimum requirements for operating CivilGEO software. Refer to this article in our knowledge base to learn more about minimum software system requirements.

However, the user may find the above error misleading/false, even if their computer's graphics card meets the software's system requirements. This error message displayed in this scenario may occur due to corrupted OpenGL drivers associated with the graphics card.

To fix the corrupted OpenGL graphics driver issue, the user can typically update or reinstall the graphics card of the computer.

Updating Graphics Driver

To fix the issue, follow the below troubleshooting steps:

1. Search "GPU-Z" on your web browser. GPU-Z is a lightweight system utility developed by TechPowerUp that provides vital information about your computer’s video card and graphics processor.
2. After finding the GPU-Z utility, click on the [Download] button on the webpage to download the latest executable (.exe) file of the utility, as shown below.
   
3. Once the .exe file is downloaded, double-click on it to run the GPU-Z utility.
   
4. From the GPU-Z utility window, select the Graphics Card tab. This tab displays the associated details of the graphics cards available on your computer. Detailed information for each graphics card can be viewed by changing the graphics card selection from the dropdown menu at the bottom of the tab.
   
5. For all available graphics cards, we are particularly concerned about the version of OpenGL. A minimum OpenGL version of 3.2 or higher is required to comply with the minimum software system requirements. Refer to this article in our knowledge base to learn more about the graphics/display card requirement.
   
6. If the version of OpenGL is less than 3.2, the user needs to upgrade the graphics card of the computer to match the minimum requirements necessary to use CivilGEO software.
7. If the OpenGL version meets minimum system requirements and the user encounters the "Unsupported Graphics Card" error, the below steps should be followed to troubleshoot drivers associated with the graphics card.
8. Open the Start menu and search “Device Manager”. Then, click on Open to launch the Device Manager application.
   
9. In the Device Manager application, expand the Display adapters menu. The available display adapters/cards installed on your computer will be displayed.
   
   Note: By default, the CivilGEO software is programmed to utilize the graphics card of the higher configuration to manage OpenGL without any compatibility issues. The configuration of the graphics card can be viewed in the GPU-Z utility in Step 2.
10. Right-click on the graphics card of higher configuration and select Update driver from the displayed context menu.
    
11. A driver update wizard will be displayed. Select the Browse my computer for drivers option to locate and install a driver manually.
    
12. Then, select the Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer option and click on the [Next] button.
    
13. Select the graphics card whose driver needs to be updated and then click on the [Next] button.
    
    Note: The number of drivers can differ depending upon the graphics card specifications.
14. Windows will successfully update and repair the associated graphics card drivers and the following message will be displayed.
    
15. Now, restart the computer and launch the CivilGEO software. This should initialize OpenGL and the software will be launched successfully.

Reinstalling Graphics Driver

Refer to this article in our knowledge base to learn how to reinstall the problematic graphics driver of the computer.

If you are still encountering issues, contact CivilGEO technical support. They will be glad to assist you further.

Engineering software—such as CivilGEO’s engineering software—are resource-intensive programs. Even computers with the most modern hardware capabilities can become slower with regular updates to these software programs. A computer system running civil engineering software can be sluggish for a variety of reasons, including compatibility issues and bugs, slow operating system performance, viruses, or other kinds of malware, increased graphical workload, and more.

If you notice that your computer is getting slower, it does not necessarily mean you have to replace it immediately. A few simple optimizations can significantly speed up the performance of your computer.

This article describes various techniques that can be used for optimizing the performance of a computer.

Optimizing Windows for Better Performance

Microsoft Windows 11 is a fast operating system, especially on modern hardware. At times, however, factors such as time-consuming antivirus checks, unnecessary background, and startup software, low hard disk space, and defective device drivers can degrade the computer's performance. The overall performance of a computer can be significantly improved by adjusting some basic settings in Microsoft Windows.

The following sections describe how to optimize the performance of a computer:

Enabling Hardware Acceleration

The Windows hardware acceleration (introduced with Windows 10 May 2020 update) feature helps users boost Windows performance and run the software hang-free. Hardware acceleration shifts the processing load of the general-purpose processor (CPU) to other specialized hardware to improve the CPU's processing power and the system's overall performance.

Note that the hardware acceleration feature is only supported on the recent graphics cards that have the necessary hardware, combined with a WDDMv2.7 driver that exposes this support to Microsoft Windows.

To enable hardware acceleration in your computer, follow the steps below:

1. Right-click anywhere on the desktop and select the Display settings option from the displayed context menu.
2. The Settings window will be displayed. Scroll down and click on Graphics under the Related settings section.
3. In the Graphics panel, click on the ‘Change default graphics settings’ option under the Default settings section.
4. On the Default graphics settings screen, turn on the Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling toggle switch.
5. Restart your computer and the change will take effect.

Configuring Software to Use High-Performance Graphics

Many modern computers contain integrated graphics (graphics card inbuilt into the motherboard) for basic graphics display and a discrete high-performance graphics card for more demanding graphical tasks to reduce power consumption.

When working with graphically intense software, such as CivilGEO engineering software, switching the graphics adapter in the middle of operation can lead to display and performance issues or software crashes. Also, by default, the system may load the software with the low-end video option and not switch to the high-performance GPU (Graphics Processing Unit). Therefore, configuring the system to always use high-performance discrete graphics for the software will avoid these issues.

Beginning with Windows 10 20H1, the Windows operating system has its own option to assign high-performance graphics card to use for the software. It overrides any settings made in the graphics card's control panel.

To assign the high-performance graphics card for engineering software, follow the steps below:

1. Right-click anywhere on the desktop and choose the Display settings option from the displayed context menu.
2. The Settings window will be displayed. Scroll down and select the Graphics option.
3. The Graphics panel will be displayed.
4. Click the [Browse] button under the Custom options for apps section.
5. Navigate to the folder where you have installed the software and choose the name.exe file. As an example, for GeoHECRAS software, this would be C:Program FilesCivilGEOGeoHECRASBinGeoHECRAS.exe.
6. Double-click the name.exe (For example GeoHECRAS.exe) file to add it to the list.
7. Select the software name (GeoHECRAS) and then click the [Options] button.
8. The Graphics preference dialog box will be displayed.
9. Select the High performance radio button option and then click the [Save] button.
10. Now, restart the computer and the changes will take effect.

To learn how to enable GPU rendering on a remote desktop, refer to this article in our knowledge base.

Changing the Run Priority of Software

The user can change the priority of any software in Task Manager to guarantee that it runs smoothly. When the priority of any software is set to highest, Windows will prioritize that software above less essential software and distribute system resources accordingly.

To prioritize your engineering software over other software, follow the steps below:

1. Press the Ctrl+Shift+Esc keys to open the Task Manager.
2. Select Details from the left-side menu and locate your engineering software. For example, GeoHECRAS.exe.
3. Right-click on the software name (GeoHECRAS.exe), click on the Set priority option, and then select the Realtime option (denoting the highest priority) from the displayed context menu.

Note that the allotted priority will only remain active until your engineering software session is active. Once the software is closed or the system is restarted, the changes made will return to default settings.

Switching to High Performance Power Plan

Microsoft Windows provides different power plans (Balanced, Power saver, and High performance) to optimize the computer’s performance based on users' needs. The High performance power plan option improves computer performance allowing the computer to consume more power and run faster.

To switch to High performance power plan, follow the steps below:

1. Press the Win + R keys to display the Windows Run dialog box. Type powercfg.cpl and press the Enter key or click the [OK] button.
2. The Power Options window will be displayed. Click the dropdown arrow on the right side to Show additional plans section.
3. Select the High performance radio button option.

Disabling Background Applications

Certain software can continue running in the background even when they are not being used. This consumes computer resources and can slow down the computer's performance. To speed up your computer performance, you can deactivate such software running in the background or allow only specific software to run in the background.

Refer to this article from Microsoft to learn how to disable unnecessary background software.

Include Antivirus Exceptions

Antivirus scans typically results in performance problems because failure to correctly define antivirus exclusions may cause software and services to fail due to resource contention. To avoid issues with the antivirus software, create exceptions for reading, writing, or scanning your engineering software in accordance with your corporate policy.

Disclaimer: Implementing antivirus exceptions may increase vulnerabilities to computers or networks by malicious users or malware or viruses. Before making any changes, it is recommended that the attack vulnerability risks associated with implementing these settings be evaluated.

Refer to this link in our knowledge base to find articles on how to add an exception to antivirus software.

Performing Disk Defragmentation

Fragmentation occurs when the computer is unable to provide contiguous space to store the entire file as a single unit. In turn, the computer stores the files in multiple different areas of memory scattered throughout the hard drive. Due to this, the computer becomes slow as a hard drive is required to perform additional work to access data from multiple locations.

Disk defragmentation can help reorganize the fragmented data and make the hard drive run more efficiently. Disk defragmentation can be scheduled or performed manually. Refer to this article from Microsoft to learn how to perform a disk defragmentation.

Increasing Page File Size

In Microsoft Windows, a page file is a hidden file on the hard drive used to extend the random-access memory (RAM) and temporarily transfer data from RAM to disk storage and vice-versa. Page file acts as an overflow of the system memory and holds data for currently running software. Computers do not use page file until the physical memory has been exhausted, and extra space is required to hold additional information.

Increasing the page file size can help the computer to handle large software applications (such as engineering software) more efficiently and boost the system's performance.

To modify the page file size, follow the steps below:

1. Press the Win + R keys to display the Windows Run dialog box. Type sysdm.cpl and press the Enter key or click the [OK] button.
2. The System Properties dialog box will be displayed. Select the Advanced tab and click the [Settings] button under the Performance section.
3. The Performance Options dialog box will be displayed. Select the Advanced tab and click the [Change] button under the Virtual memory section.
4. The Virtual Memory dialog box will be displayed.
5. Uncheck the Automatically manage paging file size for all drives checkbox to enable the Paging file size for each drive section. By default, this checkbox is checked.
6. Select the drive where you want to reserve a portion for the page file.
7. Select the Custom size radio button option to specify the size of the page file.
8. Specify the initial and maximum size for the page file in the Initial size (MB) and Maximum size (MB) entry fields. The initial and maximum size should be specified based on the available physical memory (RAM) in the computer. Generally, the initial size is set to 1.5 times the total available physical memory and the maximum size to 3 times the total available physical memory (RAM). For example, for a system running on 4GB (4096 MB) of RAM, the initial page file size would be 1.5 × 4096 = 6144 MB, and the maximum allowed page file size would be 3 × 4096 = 12288 MB.
9. Click the [Set] button and then the [OK] button.
10. Now, restart the computer and the changes will take effect.

Improving Software Performance

The performance of any engineering software is not only influenced by the operating system environment. Factors within the software, such as the format and location of the source data, the properties defined for different layers, and the version of the software in use, can all slow down the system's performance.

Implementing the below recommendations can significantly improve the performance of your computer while running any of the engineering software:

• Keep your engineering software up to date with the latest service packs and hotfixes to have a smooth performance and keep it free from bugs. Refer to this article in our knowledge base to learn how to install the latest service pack for CivilGEO's software.
• Remove unimportant data layers from the project.
• Use base map layers to optimize drawing performance.
• While working with multiple data layers, try to keep all data in a single projection. When all layers are in the same projection, the performance penalty incurred by on-the-fly projection calculations can be avoided.
• Keep the data locally on the computer rather than on a remote machine for the best performance.
• When running graphics-heavy engineering software in a Remote Desktop environment, modify the group policy on the host computer to allow the use of GPU rendering during a Remote Desktop session and smooth working of the software. Refer to this article in our knowledge base to learn how to modify the group policy on the host computer.
• Many engineering software includes hardware acceleration options within the application to improve graphics performance and productivity. You can toggle the hardware acceleration option in such applications to see which settings increase computer performance.

Note: The user can also refer to these suggestions from Microsoft to improve the performance of Windows.

Some software—such as CivilGEO’s engineering software—uses powerful display graphics and the GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) for quick rendering of the display. However, running engineering software and other graphics-heavy software in a Remote Desktop environment can be challenging for the principal reason that Microsoft Windows Remote Desktop does not allow GPU rendering by default. Starting up the graphics-heavy software can generate errors as the software attempts to initialize DirectX or OpenGL GPU display drivers on the host computer.

This issue can be easily corrected by modifying the group policy on the host computer to allow the use of GPU rendering during a Remote Desktop session.

To fix this issue, follow the steps below:

1. Display the Windows Run dialog box by pressing the Win + R keys (the Windows key and the “R” key at the same time) on the keyboard. This will display the Windows Run dialog box.
2. Type gpedit.msc in the Open entry and then press the Enter key or click the [OK] button.
   
3. The Local Group Policy Editor application will be displayed. Using the navigation panel on the left side, select Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Remote Desktop Services > Remote Desktop Session Host > Remote Session Environment > RemoteFX for Windows Server as shown below.
   
4. On the displayed panel, right-click the Configure RemoteFX entry and then select Edit from the displayed context menu.
   
5. The following dialog box will be displayed. Select the Enabled radio button entry and then click the [OK] button.
   
6. Select and right-click the Optimize visual experience when using RemoteFX entry and then select Edit from the displayed context menu.
   
7. Select the Enabled radio button entry and then click on the [OK] button.
   
8. Select and right-click the Optimize visual experience for Remote Desktop Service Sessions entry and then select Edit from the displayed context menu.
   
9. Select the Enabled radio button entry and then click on the [OK] button.
   
10. Notice that the Configure RemoteFX, Optimize visual experience when using RemoteFX and Optimize visual experience for Remote Desktop Service Sessions Group Policies status are set to Enabled.
    
11. From the navigation panel on the left side, select Remote Session Environment as shown below.
    
12. On the displayed panel, right-click the Use the hardware default graphics adapter for all Remote Desktop Services sessions entry and then select Edit from the displayed context menu.
    
13. Select the Enabled radio button entry and then click on the [OK] button.
    
14. Select and right-click the Configure compression for RemoteFX data entry and then select Edit from the displayed context menu.
    
15. Select the Enabled radio button entry and then click on the [OK] button.
    
16. Select and right-click the Use WDDM graphics display driver for Remote Desktop Connections entry and then select Edit from the displayed context menu.
    
17. Select the Disabled radio button entry and then click on the [OK] button.
    
18. Notice that the Use the hardware default graphics adapter for all Remote Desktop Services sessions and Configure compression for RemoteFX data Group Policies status are set to Enabled while the Use WDDM graphics display driver for Remote Desktop Connections Group Policy status is set to Disabled.
    
19. Restart the host computer and the changes made to the Group Policy will take effect. The engineering software can then be operated from the host computer using Remote Desktop.

For every single pixel on a computer screen, whether it is the text from Microsoft Word or a drawing detail from AutoCAD, that pixel is drawn by a graphics display card (sometimes referred to as a graphics card or graphics adapter). For the Windows operating system and installed software to communicate with the graphics card, a graphics driver acts as the intermediary to the graphics display card.

As the Windows operating system gets updated and, computer BIOS updates are applied to a computer, the graphics display driver needs to be updated as well. If you are experiencing issues with the display flickering or not displaying correctly, updating the graphics display driver will usually correct these issues.

This article discusses how to update the graphics display driver.

Identifying the Graphics Card

There are several ways to identify the computer graphics display card. However, the easiest way is the following:

1. Click on the Windows Start button, then type System Information into the search box, and then press the Enter key.
   
2. The following System Information dialog box will be displayed. From the left side panel, expand the Components entry and then select the Display entry. On the panel displayed on the right side, the graphics display adapter will be listed in the Adapter Type or Adapter Description entries.

If you see both Intel and NVIDIA display hardware listed, like above, your system is likely to use switching technology to intelligently switch between the two display cards depending on the current system requirements. For example, for high-end CAD operations, the NVIDIA display card would likely be used. When using a laptop in low power battery mode for email and word processing, the Intel onboard display card might be used to limit power usage. If your computer has two display cards listed, you need to update the graphic display drivers for both sets of hardware.

Updating Windows Graphics Drivers

This video explains how to update your computer’s Windows Graphics Driver.

Before you start updating your computer’s Windows Graphics Driver, make sure you are logged in as administrator (i.e., not a standard user). Then, follow these steps:

1. Display the Windows Run dialog box by pressing the Win + R keys (the Windows key and the “R” key at the same time) on the keyboard. This will display the Windows Run dialog box.
2. Type devmgmt.msc in the Open entry and then press the Enter key or click the [OK] button.
   
3. The following Device Manager dialog box will be displayed. Expand the Display Adapters entry, then right-click the name of the graphics card and then select Update Driver from the displayed context menu.
   
4. Select Search automatically for updated driver software.
   
5. Your computer will scan for available updates and download and install them automatically.
6. Once the updated graphics display driver is installed, you will be informed and asked to restart your PC.
7. Restart your computer, and the graphics display driver will have been updated.

If the above steps fail, another way to update the graphics display driver is to manually download the driver directly from the graphics hardware manufacturer website. Make certain to match the downloaded driver with the graphics adapter that was listed in the Device Manager dialog box.

• If it starts with NVIDIA, go to nvidia.com
• If it starts with AMD, go to amd.com
• If it starts with Intel, go to intel.com

Download the drivers and install them using the provided setup program.

When using CivilGEO software, users may encounter an unusual error where the Map View turns into a blank white screen as shown below. This type of issue usually occurs because the software is unable to communicate with the graphics or display card of the computer (i.e., either the graphics drivers are not installed properly, or the drivers associated with the graphics card are corrupted).

This article describes how to resolve the issue associated with the graphics or display card of the computer.

The user can typically resolve the issue with the Map View display by updating or reinstalling the graphics driver.

Updating Graphics Driver

Refer to this article in our knowledge base to learn how to update the graphics driver for troubleshooting the Map View display.

Reinstalling Graphics Driver

To reinstall the computer’s graphics driver, follow the steps below.

1. Open the Start menu and search “Device Manager”. Then, click on Open to launch the Device Manager application.
   
2. In the Device Manager application, expand the Display adapters menu. The available display adapters/cards installed on the computer will be displayed. By default, CivilGEO software is programmed to utilize the graphics card of the higher configuration for the best user experience.
   
3. Right-click on the graphics card of higher configuration and select Uninstall device from the displayed context menu.
   
   Note: Refer to this article to learn how to check the configuration of the graphics card(s) (GPUs) available on the computer.
4. The Uninstall Device dialog box will be displayed. Check the “Attempt to remove the driver for this device” checkbox option and click the [Uninstall] button.
   
5. The selected graphics driver will be uninstalled.
   
6. Now, restart the computer and reopen the Device Manager application. The uninstalled graphics driver will be automatically reinstalled after the computer restarts.
   
7. If the uninstalled graphics driver is not displayed even after restarting the computer, click the “Scan for hardware changes” option. This will refresh and display the reinstalled graphics driver.
   
8. Now, launch the CivilGEO software. This should initialize and display the Map View of the software successfully without any issues.

If you are still encountering issues, contact CivilGEO technical support. They will be glad to assist you further.

The Geospatial Data Abstraction Library (GDAL) is a computer software library for reading and writing raster and vector geospatial data formats. The Hierarchical Data Format (HDF) is a data model, file format, and I/O library designed for storing, exchanging, and managing complex data including scientific, engineering, and remote sensing data. The latest HDF5 format allows the user to handle GDAL’s raster and vector geospatial data formats.

While loading GeoHECRAS or running an analysis of the HEC-RAS project, the user might encounter an uncommon error associated with GDAL or HDF5 project library files. Typically, this error occurs due to an outdated version of project libraries and their dependencies located in an incorrect system pathway.

It is common for multiple versions of the same dynamic-link library (DLL) to exist in different file system locations within an operating system (OS). You can control the specific location from which any given DLL is loaded by specifying a full path. However, if you do not use that method, then the system searches for the DLL at load time.

The Windows operating system strictly manages the dynamic-link libraries (DLLs) search order for security concerns related to potential computer viruses. This search order is outlined in the operating system's hierarchy, as shown below.

Unlike most software that associates all required project libraries in a single directory, GeoHECRAS uses a combination of modern and legacy code. To accommodate both 32-bit and 64-bit functionalities, separate directories for different versions of identical files are essential. Therefore, GeoHECRAS maintains bin32 and bin64 subfolders within the primary software installation, as well as bin32/bin64 directories within our GDAL folder. To ensure that the correct files are accessed, GeoHECRAS modifies the PATH environment variable at runtime for the active GeoHECRAS process exclusively, preventing adverse effects on other system operations.

However, adding these directories to the PATH constitutes the 6^th search order, replaced by the 2^nd and 4^th DLL search order, as shown above. In certain instances, other programs incorrectly place their installed DLLs directly into these directories, hindering the use of different (newer) versions by other software.

Troubleshooting File Dependencies

To rectify the file dependencies issue, identifying and uninstalling the conflicting software can be challenging. In addition, diagnostic steps requiring administrator privileges on the local machine can help in this process. In regards to this issue, the directories of concern are:

• C:Windows
• C:WindowsSystem32
• C:WindowsSysWOW64

While the potential file conflicts can vary, you may inspect the following directories for the DLL files created on installing GeoHECRAS, as shown below:

C:Program FilesCivilGEOSharedHDF1.10.6.1bin32 Or C:Program FilesCivilGEOSharedHDF1.10.6.1bin64

C:Program Files (x86)CivilGEOGeoHECRASHEC-RAS Engines6.4.1GDALbin32 Or C:Program Files (x86)CivilGEOGeoHECRASHEC-RAS Engines6.4.1GDALbin64

The presence of the above-mentioned DLL files in the system directories is likely to conflict with certain GeoHECRAS processes.

If the initialization error of the GDAL path variables persists while using GeoHECRAS or during HEC-RAS analysis, the following measures can be taken to troubleshoot the situation:

Identifying Specific Discrepancies

• Verify Installation Location: Ensure that the software is installed in the expected directory. Sometimes, accidental installation in a different location can lead to path discrepancies. Check the documentation or installer settings for the specified installation path.
• Review Error Messages: During software installation, pay close attention to any error messages that mention "path," "environment variable," or similar terms. These messages often pinpoint the problematic variable or folder. For example, an error might say "The installer cannot find [specific file]. Make sure it is on the system path."

Checking GDAL Path Environment Variables

• GDAL_DATA Variable: Check the “GDAL_DATA” environment variable to verify that it is correctly set. This variable should point to the directory where GDAL's supporting data files are located. Refer to this article in our knowledge base for more information.
• Path Variable: Confirm that the “Path” environment variable includes the path to the GDAL installation directory. This allows the system to locate GDAL executables and libraries.

Reconfiguring GDAL Path in GeoHECRAS

Access the settings or preferences related to GDAL within the GeoHECRAS software. Verify that the path specified for GDAL is accurate and matches the actual location of the GDAL installation on your system. Reconfigure the path if necessary.

Reinstalling/Updating Software

Consider reinstalling GeoHECRAS software or updating it to the latest version. Sometimes, software updates can fix known issues related to environment variables. This step is crucial if the current GDAL installation is outdated or if errors persist despite previous software installations. Refer to this article in our knowledge base for more information.

Rebooting System

Perform a system restart after making any changes to the GDAL configuration. Sometimes, a reboot can resolve configuration-related issues by allowing the changes to take effect.

Note that the specific steps for resolution may vary based on individual system setups and the underlying cause of the error. If you are still having problems with this issue, contact our technical support. They will be glad to assist you further.

Raster pyramids are a set of reduced-resolution representations of a raster dataset. They are used to enhance the display performance of raster data by retrieving only data at a specific resolution that is required for the display. Raster pyramids are created by downsampling the original raster dataset at a scale of 2:1. This means that each successive layer of the pyramid is half the resolution of the previous layer. For example, if the resolution of the original raster dataset is 100x100 pixels, the first downsampled layer of the pyramid will be 50x50 pixels, the second downsampled layer will be 25x25 pixels, and so on.

When a raster dataset is displayed, the software will automatically choose the most appropriate pyramid level based on the user's display scale. For example, if the user is zoomed out to a large scale, the software will use the lowest resolution pyramid level. As the user zooms in, the software will automatically switch to higher-resolution pyramid levels.

This article explains how to customize the default location of raster pyramid files in CivilGEO software. It can be useful if the user needs to free up space on their system drive or keep the raster pyramid files organized.

The following image shows the default location of the raster pyramid files in CivilGEO software.

The Images folder refers to a storage location where images or graphic files related to a specific project are stored.

The Point Clouds folder refers to a storage location where point cloud data are stored. Point cloud data represent a collection of 3D coordinate points in digital format, usually captured using remote sensing technologies such as LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging). By organizing point cloud data in a dedicated folder, the software can easily manage and access the captured data. This folder may contain multiple point cloud files, each representing a specific survey area, project phase, or data collection date. In addition, associated metadata, such as coordinate systems, timestamps, and data acquisition parameters, may also be stored to ensure accurate data interpretation and analysis.

The Raster Pyramids folder refers to a storage location where raster pyramid files are stored. Raster pyramid files contain pre-generated pyramidal representations of raster datasets, such as digital elevation models (DEMs). These pyramids are created to provide efficient and optimized access to different levels of detail within the raster data.

To change the default location of raster pyramid files, follow the steps below:

1. Open the Start menu, type “env” into the search bar, and then press the [Enter] key or click [Open] under Edit the system environment variables.
2. The System Properties window will be displayed. Click the Advanced tab, if not already selected.
3. Click the [Environment Variables…] button.
4. The Environment Variables dialog box will be displayed. Under the System variables section, the user can set the environment variables as needed.
   • The [New…] button allows the user to create a new environment variable.
   • The [Edit…] button allows the user to modify the existing environment variable.
   • The [Delete] button allows the user to delete the selected variable.
5. Click the [New…] button.
6. The New System Variable dialog box will be displayed. This dialog box allows the user to modify/configure the path of any cache folder (i.e., Images, Point Clouds, and Raster Pyramids) and the maximum size of a cache folder.
7. In the Variable name entry field, the following environment variable names can be used to define the cache directory path:
   • CG_CacheImagesDirPath: It can be used to define the Images cache directory path. The default path is “C:ProgramDataCivilGEOStoreImages“.
   • CG_CachePointCloudsDirPath: It can be used to define the Point Clouds cache directory path. The default path is “C:ProgramDataCivilGEOStorePoint Clouds“.
   • CG_CacheRasterPyramidDirPath: It can be used to define the Raster Pyramids cache directory path. The default path is “C:ProgramDataCivilGEOStoreRaster Pyramids“.
   • CG_CacheDirSizeInMB: It can be used to define the maximum size of a cache directory. The default size is 5120 MB (5 GB).
8. In the Variable value entry field, enter the desired directory location where you want to store raster pyramid files. Alternatively, click the [Browse Directory…] button to specify the directory location.
9. After defining the environment variable, dismiss all of the dialog boxes by choosing the [OK] button.Note: The graphical user interface for creating environment variables may vary slightly, depending on the specific Windows version.
10. Restart the PC and the changes will take effect.
11. Raster pyramid files will now be stored in the specified location rather than the default ones.

Note: Raster pyramid folders should not be stored in a network location as the user can experience data transmission delays. Also, the user may experience some difficulties in loading data due to an unstable network connection.

If you are still having issues, contact our technical support staff. They will be glad to assist you further.

Note that a previous LizardTech application incorrectly set the system environment variables PROJSO and PROJ_LIB. These environment variables are used by GDAL (Geospatial Data Abstraction Library) to work with coordinate reference systems (CRS). This issue has since been remedied by a LizardTech software upgrade, but the system environment variable issue remains until the end user manually corrects the problem.

When our software starts up it checks if these system environment variables are defined. If it finds that these have been defined, will report the issue in the following dialog box.

Clicking the [OK] button will shutdown our software since the software is able to correctly manage coordinate reference systems (CRS) with these environment variables defined.

This article describes how to correct this issue by deleting the system environment variables PROJSO and PROJ_LIB.

Environment Variables Description

Environment variables are a set of dynamic named values that can affect the way a program will behave on a computer. They are classified into two types:

1. System Variables: You must be an administrator to modify a system environment variable. The variables here are defined by Windows and apply to all computer users.
2. User Variables: Any user can add, change, or delete a user environment variable, which is primarily established by Windows Setup or by programs installed on the computer, and by users.

This video describes environment variables in depth.

Deleting PROJSO and PROJ_LIB Environment Variables

To delete the PROJSO and PROJ_LIB environment variables, follow these steps:

1. From Windows Start menu, right-click on Computer and select Properties.
2. The following screen will be displayed.
   
3. Click on the Advanced System Settings option.
4. If you have administrator rights, move to step 5. Otherwise, a User Account Control dialog box will appear asking for the administrator user name and password. Fill-in the administrator name and password and click the [OK] button.
   
5. The System Properties dialog box will appear. Select the Advanced tab. Next, click the
   [Environment Variables...] button.
   
6. The following dialog box will be appear. Locate and select PROJSO and PROJ_LIB in both the User Variables and System Variables sections.
   
7. Click the [Delete] button to remove the selected environment variables.

This should resolve the PROJSO and PROJ_LIB environment variable issue. If you are still having problems with this issue, contact our technical support. They will be glad to assist you further.

For CivilGEO’s software to access the ArcGIS MDB personal geodatabases†, Microsoft’s ODBC (Open DataBase Connectivity) drivers are utilized. These drivers are automatically installed with Microsoft Office (also referred to as MS Office). If you install MS Office 32-bit version, then the 32-bit ODBC drivers get installed. Similarly, if you install MS Office 64-bit version, then the 64-bit ODBC drivers get installed. Unfortunately, you cannot have both the 32-bit and 64-bit ODBC drivers installed on the same computer.

So, if you have MS Office 32-bit installed, then the 32-bit ODBC drivers are utilized, and only 32-bit applications can access the drivers. As such, 64-bit applications cannot connect to the 32-bit ODBC drivers.

Note that the application that needs to connect to the MDB file must be consistent with the installed ODBC drivers.

CivilGEO’s engineering software are 64-bit based—because 64-bit memory processing is faster and can handle larger project files. Hence, CivilGEO's software cannot access the ArcGIS MDB personal geodatabases if MS Office 32-bit is installed.

Note that if Microsoft Office 64-bit is installed, or no version is installed at all, the updated 64-bit database drivers can be downloaded and installed from Microsoft Access Database Engine Website.

While installing our software, our software installer will attempt to install the Microsoft Access Database Engine 64-bit ODBC Drivers redistributable on to your computer. To avoid the issues previously described, our software installer checks which version of MS Office is installed on your computer. If MS Office 32-bit is installed, the following informational message dialog box is displayed.

Resolving ArcGIS MDB Geodatabase Connectivity Issue

Follow the steps given below to resolve the ArcGIS MDB geodatabase connectivity issue:

1. Uninstall Microsoft Office 32-bit version from the computer. If desired, install Microsoft Office 64-bit, which has no conflict with the Microsoft Access Database Engine 64-bit ODBC Drivers redistributable.
2. Then, uninstall and reinstall CivilGEO’s software. The Microsoft Access Database Engine 64-bit ODBC Drivers will then be installed.

If you are still having issues or questions concerning this issue, contact our technical support team. They will be glad to assist you further.

† ESRI ArcGIS uses different GIS database formats (called a geodatabase) to store their spatial GIS information. One of the geodatabase formats that ArcGIS utilizes is the MDB (Microsoft DataBase) file format. ESRI refers to this file format as a personal geodatabase.

Georeferencing orthomosaic and other aerial imagery can have issues if no projection information is associated with the image file. When loading the image file, the software will place the image in its own pixel coordinate system if there is no projection information available.

In addition, the software will not allow you to assign a coordinate reference system (CRS) to the loaded image when there is no spatial information defined for the image file relative to what size each pixel occupies (i.e., 1 pixel = 3 ft x 3 ft). The aerial image layer Properties dialog box Spatial Reference tab will have grayed out entries, not allowing the user to assign a CRS.

Assigning Non-georeferenced Image to Map View

To assign a non-georeferenced aerial image to the Map View, follow these steps:

1. Load a base map (i.e., Google Map, Bing Map) into the Map View.
   
2. Assign the appropriate coordinate reference system (CRS) to the project site.
   
3. Zoom into the project site in which the aerial image is to be located.
   
4. From the Map Data Layers panel, click on the aerial image layer in the Map Data Layers panel and drag onto the Map View where the image should be located. Then, release the mouse button and the image will drop to that location.
   
5. The software will place the image on top of the Base Map.
   
6. You can check that the correct CRS has been assigned to the image file by displaying the Properties dialog box.
   
7. Grab the corners of the image and resize the image to fit the location. If the image grips are not shown, make certain that the Select Tool is active. Then, select the layer in the Map Data Layers panel so it is highlighted and then press Function Key F2. The grips will show up along the image boundary. Use landmarks on both the image file and the Base Map to correctly size and orient the image. Click in the middle and drag the image to better locate it. The Rotation Tool can be used to rotate the image. The corner grips can be used to skew the image.
8. To better georeference the image, display the Properties dialog box of the image file and change the transparency of the image so that you can see through the image to the background Base Map. A transparency value of 40 to 50% works well.
   
9. Final placement of the image takes patience.
   

Georeferencing Other Map Data

Other map data can be georeferenced similarly, including AutoCAD drawing files, ESRI GIS shapefiles, and even project models. Apply the same process as detailed above.