This is a bit long, but I've read all I can find, and I am at my wits end. I have downloaded Tuner Pro RT, sneakernetted it onto my laptop, but I cannot get it configured for my car. The first problem I notice is that it does not recognize the ALDL cable. I have purchased an ALDL/USB cable from aldlcable.com and loaded the driver for it. The device manager now shows USB Serial Port as COM3, and in Tuner Pro RT I have changed the port setting under Tools, Preferences to COM3. Tuner Pro still shows a red tab at the bottom indicating no ALDL detected. I don't think that is right... The next problem is the issue of configuring Tuner Pro for my car (1990 GTA, 305 TPI, 5spd). I have downloaded and sneakernetted the ALDL definition 1227730_8D_ads.mht and the BIN definition Super_8dm2_ecu I have attempted to install them per the directions I found courtesy of JP86SS as follows: "When you put the floppy into the laptop, copy the files into the TP directory folders under the main TP directory where it was installed. Should be "bin definitions" folder for the XDF's and "datastreams" folder for ADS's. 1.) Copy them there, then... 2.) Open TP then go to the XDF menu and do the "Select XDF", browse to get wherethe file is. Once you select the XDF, 3.) Go to the "Tools" menus, "ALDL/Logging" then "Setup" and click "browse" on there to find the ADS file. Then... 4.) Go to the "XDF" menu item and select "edit header info". 5.) Select the "ALDL association" tab. Browse for the ADS file and click open. 6.) Then apply the change with OK or apply and close. Then... 7.) Save the XDF file. That will now associate the two files together and the datatracing function will work as well (If items are defined to use it) HTH." My problems start with instruction #2: Browsing to get the files, since the BIN file does not end in .xdf I have to open all files to find it (Seems minor to me, but it's the first red flag for me). Then, once I have selected that file (Super_8dm2_ecu) I am not sure what I am supposed to do with it, but I have to do something with it in order to proceed to #3 ("Tools" menu is not available while the "XDF" menu is in use. If I select the file and click "Open", the XDF window closes, and I can then proceed to instruction #3...but I cannot see that anything was accomplished in step 2. The program still thinks no BIN definition has been selected. Continuing with instruction #3, I basically have the same issue as with #2. I can go find the ADS file, but once I have found it and highlighted it, I cannot proceed to #4 until I have closed the Setup window. At least in this window, when I apply the change it does actually apply it. Instructions 4-6 are where I get absolutely nowhere. When I browse for the ADS file and click open absolutely nothing happens. It does not show up in the ALDL definition box, and in fact, when I try to put the cursor in that box and manually type in the "1227730" address I cannot type in a single character. Consequently, nothing happens to get this information established so that the program can communicate with the car. My apologies for the length of this. I am quite stuck, and I suspect the problem is something very basic.

What does sneakernetted mean ? Have you read the help file Mark included with tunerpro? All of your questions are addressed in the help file. It might be easier to go to Craig Moates' site (Moates.net) and follow the links to his download pages and download an already converted xdf file.

I didn't think I personally attacked you?

Sneakernet would be where you take something on disc from one machine to another. In this case the laptop I am using for the car is not set up for web use, and I have no intention of setting it up for web use.

I would love to know more about the help file Mark has created. I went through the FAQ portion of his site before I posted this question, and I posted this question because I could not find the answers I am looking for. Perhaps I don't know what I am looking for and you do. Is it too much to ask for a little help?



With regard to the link to the Craig Moates site, should I conclude that the files on Marks' site are not functional? What is the difference between them? It's an honest question.

I have all of the same questions. I am not sure where to locate Marks help file either. This post added no value and was unnecessarily derogatory. If you could take the time to type all of this why not throw us poor idiots and bone with a link or two huh?

Wow are you guys ever sensitive. In no way did i intend to sound that way. I asked a simple question the same as you did. I honestly never heard the term sneakernetted before and asked what it is. The help file is included with the tunerpro download and can be accessed by clicking on the help icon at the top of the tunerpro window. The files on Marks site seem to be a little out dated but they work fine they just need to be converted from the ecu format to the newer xdf format. I thought it would be simpler for you to download an already converted file from craigs site.

Thank you for the reply.

If I seem "sensitive" it is likely the result of frustration with an inability to find information and figure out a long list of problems (i.e. trying to get this software to work is just one step in trying to sort out my car).

Thank you for explaining where to look for Mark's help files. It's a simple answer, but it is one I needed. I spent several hours looking, but that is not one of the places I looked. Sometimes someone needs to point out the obvious.

Thank you also for explaining the reason why I would need Craig Moates' files: I had no clue there were multiple formats for these files. I don't know what the differences in the formats are, and I certainly don't want to put myself in the position of needed to convert one format to another. I am sure there is a history to this, but I have never before been involved in this arena. I am simply trying to learn enough to be able to work on my own car.

Thank you for the help.

You guys are funny. Try looking in the "help" menu of TunerPro (or hit F12 in the TunerPro window). =)


1227730_8D_ads.mht indicates you downloaded the wrong file. Go to the TunerPro site bin definitions page (http://www.tunerpro.net/downloadBinDefs.htm), right click and use "save as" on the 8D ECU and ADS files.

Once you download the .ecu and .ads files, drag and drop them, individually, into the main TunerPro window. Load the bin for your vehicle (I'm assuming you already have this, either from reading your stock chip or via download from the many locations they're available on the web).

Once you load in the ECU, you can save it to XDF simply by using XDF->Save XDF As. This keeps you from having to drag-and-drop it in the future.