Mac OS X 10.3.x: Calculator crashing on currency update
MacFixIt reader Ethan writes
"When I run Mac OS X's Calculator application and attempt to update the currency exchange rates, it crashes - each and every time.
"It first happened in Jaguar, and I thought the problem would've been fixed with Panther but sadly not. I've sent numerous crash reports to Apple hoping they'll look into it. [...]
"The last time I've been able to successfully update the currency rates was February 24. It's a feature I sorely miss because I live outside of the US and buy items often from eBay."
Several other users have experienced a similar phenomenon, and have found that emptying all files in the folder:
- Home > Library > Caches > Calculator
- Home > Library > Preferences > com.apple.calculator.plist
will restore the 'Update Currency Rates' feature. In some cases several repeat attempts are required.
Feedback? Late-breakers@macfixit.com.
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Just about normal, since we STILL can't buy at the iTune store either.
And there are no conversions to Imperial measures either. (US gallons =
3.78 litres, Imperial gallons run about 4.53 litres) Not such a big deal as
we are about 2/3's through a 100-year conversion from Imperial to
metric up here (Me? Sarcastic? About a government-lead process that
takes longer than 2 generations? Nonsense!)
Maybe it's you machine. I just did a update on my PowerBook G4 with
10.2.8 with the latest security updates.
There are many currency missing but what do expect for a nearly free
program. If you really need a currency exchange to "live" you need to get
live connection since exchange rates constantly change. If you need
"live" exchange rate you need to go to something like http://
finance.yahoo.com/m3?u or your bank.
Hey! I hadn't even noticed that calculator could do this. I suddenly think to
myself
- "wow, Apple always thinks ahead!", but then...
in addition to the Canadian $ & imperial ommisions, I also notice that there's
no GB pounds - just euros.
I'm now going to forget these extra features exist, as they are not useful in
their half
developed state.
Strike that - I've just seen the Pound Sterling - I could have sworn it wasn't
there before...
all is present, Canadian dollars, imperial measurements, etc...
thumbs up again!
Interesting. Running 10.3.3, I can convert Imp. gallons to US gallons or to
liters (and vice versa) via the Volume submenu. Currency update works fine
though Canadian dollars last updated 3/24/04 vs. 4/19/04. What type of
connection are you using? Finding the common denominator might take some
digging, but if your calculator is missing all these properties, maybe re-
installing Calculator would be a place to start.
I'm also running 10.3.3 and can convert to Canadian currency as well as do litres to Imperial (and vice versa) conversions.
Here at work, currency updates work just fine, but on the weekend at home, I also noticed that Calculator would crash on update. I deleting the plist to no effect, but I'll try emptying the cache when I get home.
When I have the Convert panel open to Currency, if I select Canadian Dollar on the left or right and then click "Update Currency Rates" it'll show today's date for last update, but then if I select a different currency and then go back to Canadian, it shows 2/01/04 in red, leading me to think there's something wrong. Maybe I'll try emptying the cache here too.
Ok, I think I've discovered the problem with updating the Canadian currency. I looked at the cache file, and discovered that Apple queries the IMF site at http://www.imf.org/external/np/tre/sdr/drates/8101.htm
for the latest rates. There, you'll find missing data for the currencies of Argentina, Canada, Korea, Colombia, Mexico, Malaysia, and Pakistan.
So blame the International Monetary fund...
I, too, find that I can do all the conversions that are "missing," and have never
had a crashing problem with Calculator, BUT, I had about 3 weeks of hell with
my Cube when Panther decided, for reasons still unclear to me, to sabotage
me at every turn. It took about three repeated clean installs (after deleting
prefs., repairing permissions and doing -fsck until I was blue in the face)
before it straightened up. Now (knock on wood) no problems.
To follow up on my previous comments, After trashing the Cache at home,
Calculator no longer crashes on update.
I also note that the Canadian dollar conversion has now been updated. It
appears that it depends on the time of day. For those with their favourite
currency missing (e.g. Pounds Sterling) try deleting the cache and update
again. I for one see Pounds Sterling in the menu. Fat lot of good it does me
unless I go travelling though.
Okay, must have been an update in Calculator for OS X.3, cause I have
the Convert box open here on X.2.8, and there is no Canadian dollar
(jumps from Brunei to Chile), and no Imperial gallons, etc.
Have to wait until I upgrade later this summer. I use a local bank for
exchange rates now, and do most of them thru MobilMate's WorldMate
software on the Palm, anyway.
Try MConvert - It's far beyond the build-in
calculator-converter, but it's not for free!
- by 123 April 22, 2004 1:44 AM PDT
- The menu should also sort in the order of the currency abbreviation. I've
- Like this Reply to this comment
-
(12 Comments)heard "british pound" or "sterling pound", never "pound sterling", and it
would be much easier to find if it was "GBP - Sterling Pound"
I also don't think it should put 'popular' currencies at the top, unless users
can set the favourite currencies themselves.