How to install different versions of MissionPlanner ground station
I. Principle
MissionPlanner is ground control station (GCS) software used for tuning flight controller parameters and mission planning with ArduPilot firmware. Different versions (such as MissionPlanner 1.3.7x, 1.3.8x) may support different firmware features, and some users need to install multiple versions simultaneously to adapt to different scenarios or requirements.
This method achieves coexistence of multiple MissionPlanner versions by downloading installation packages for each version, extracting them, directly running the executable files (.exe), and creating named shortcuts on the desktop, thereby preventing different versions from overwriting or conflicting with each other.
II. Equipment Preparation
1. Computer Environment
- A computer running Windows operating system (Windows 10 or later recommended).
- Ensure sufficient disk space for storing the installation packages and shortcuts for each version.
2. Installation Packages - Download the required version of MissionPlanner installation package (ZIP format) from the ArduPilot official website or GitHub release page.
3. Extraction Software - Install common extraction tools (such as WinRAR, 7-Zip, etc.) for extracting ZIP packages.
III. Specific Operations
Important
Friendly reminder: MissionPlanner 1.3.82 may encounter export lag issues when exporting logs. It is recommended to use MissionPlanner 1.3.81 for log export!!!
3.1 Download and Extract
- Download packages
MissionPlanner Official Download Address
Download the required versions of MissionPlanner installation packages separately, for example, MissionPlanner 1.3.77 and MissionPlanner 1.3.80.
- Extract installation packages
Extract each package to a separate folder, for example:
D:\MissionPlanner\MissionPlanner_1.3.77
D:\MissionPlanner\MissionPlanner_1.3.80
- Locate the executable file
After extraction, find the executable file for the main program (usually MissionPlanner.exe) in the corresponding folder.
3.2 Create Desktop Shortcuts
- Locate the executable file
Open the extracted folder and confirm the executable file name, for example, MissionPlanner.exe. - Create shortcuts
Right-click on MissionPlanner.exe, select "Send to" → "Desktop (create shortcut)". Repeat the above steps to create separate desktop shortcuts for each version.
- Naming and differentiation
On the desktop, rename the newly created shortcuts to ensure the name includes version information, for example: "MissionPlanner 1.3.77", "MissionPlanner 1.3.80". This makes it easy to identify and select the required version at startup.
3.3 Test Startup
- Double-click shortcuts
Double-click the different version shortcuts on the desktop to check if the software starts normally. - Parameters and configuration
After startup, perform initial setup and parameter tuning as needed to ensure each version runs independently without interference.
IV. Q&A
Q1: Why choose the package extraction method instead of direct installation?
A: The package extraction method prevents the installer from automatically overwriting other versions, ensuring that each version's files are stored independently, facilitating multi-version coexistence.
Q2: Are there any requirements for shortcut naming?
A: It is recommended to clearly mark version information in the shortcut name (such as 1.3.77, 1.3.80) to quickly distinguish between different versions and prevent confusion.
Q3: What should I do if I encounter missing components or errors during startup?
A: Please confirm that the downloaded installation package is the official genuine version. If you encounter component missing issues, refer to the official documentation or install the required runtime libraries (such as VC++ Redistributable).
Q4: Can I install multiple versions in the same directory?
A: It is not recommended to install different versions in the same directory to avoid file confusion or configuration conflicts. It is recommended to use different folders to store each version and distinguish them through shortcuts.
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