HAM Radio 1/HamRadio.cdr/misc/scanutil/filecnvt.doc

Text File | 1990-08-11 | 6KB | 130 lines

                         S C A N N E R   B U F F !

                          File Conversion Utility

                               Version 1.00ß



    August 11, 1990



    This utility was put together quickly as a tool for Scanner Buff!
    users.  The purpose of FILECNVT is to convert ASCII delimited files
    to Scanner Buff! .MDF files, as well as to output ASCII delimited
    files from Scanner Buff! .MDF files.  As a bonus, FILECNVT will also
    reorganize an ASCII delimited file so that FILECNVT can convert its
    new order to an .MDF file.  Although FILECNVT was put together
    quickly, it does exactly what it is supposed to do.  This is a beta
    release, however, and users are encouraged to provide me with
    suggestions, comments, or bug reports.  Instructions aren't really
    necessary for most operations, but I'll give a little explanation
    regardless.


    Converting A .MDF File To Sequential

    Almost every database program I have seen or used is able to read
    delimited ASCII files.  These are the files that contain field data
    between quotation marks, and each field is separated by a comma.
    FILECNVT is able to read a Scanner Buff! .MDF file and output a
    delimited ASCII file so that you may use the contents of the new file
    in another program, such as Scanner Buff! On-Line v3.xx (this is the
    door version).

    To do this, the .MDF file must be in the same directory as the
    FILECNVT program.  Accept the first menu item and you will be asked
    for the name of the file to convert.  Enter this name without the .MDF
    extension.  If the file is not found you will abort to the main menu,
    otherwise, you will be asked to input the name of the delimited ASCII
    file to create.  Once you have done this a delimited ASCII file with
    an extension of .TXT will be created.  All fourteen Scanner Buff!
    fields will be exported, regardless of their value to you.


    Converting A Sequential File To .MDF

    Many users of Scanner Buff! have delimited ASCII files obtained from
    other sources.  These files may be converted to .MDF files that
    Scanner Buff! may read.  This is assuming that the order of the data
    is in the proper order of Agency, Frequency, Callsign, City, County,
    State, Group and Comments.  There are other fields used by Scanner
    Buff!, but these given here are the only significant ones.  If your
    file contains this information, but is in a different order, see the
    next section called Reorganizing.  Otherwise, follow these
    instructions to convert your sequential file to a .MDF file:

    Selecting the menu item Sequential To MDF will prompt you for the name
    of the sequential file to convert.  Enter this file name without the
    extension.  If this file exists in the program directory you will be






    asked to enter the output .MDF file name.  Enter this name without the
    extension.  Your sequential file will be converted to a .MDF file.
    YOU are responsible for the order that data appears in the .MDF file.
    If you use a file with a different field order weird data may appear
    in Scanner Buff! fields.


    Reorganizing A Sequential File

    This is probably the most useful function to you.  It will allow you
    to create a Scanner Buff! ordered sequential file from nearly any
    delimited ASCII file.  Once you have accomplished this, you may also
    convert the created file to a .MDF file.  There are several steps
    required to do this:

    Step 1:  View your sequential file with an editor and determine what
    fields appear in what position.  An example of this would be Agency =
    position 1  -->  "Temple City Station","483.2375","WII803" , Callsign
    = position 3, and Frequency is in position 2.  You will need to know
    this information for the next step to work, so view your file and
    write down the order on a piece of paper.

    Step 2:  Accept the menu item Reorganize and enter the file name of
    your sequential file without the extension.  If this file exists you
    will be asked to enter the name of the sequential file to create.
    Enter this without the extension.  Once these names have been
    determined you will be shown a screen asking you to enter the position
    information that you determined on your own.  Enter this field
    information where indicated.  All cursor keys are available to you to
    move around the screen.  Enter a number equal to or greater than the
    number of fields if the field position does not exist in your file.
    Zeros in any field are not accepted.

    The last item asked for on this screen is the total number of fields
    in YOUR sequential file.  FILECNVT will be creating a temporary
    database and your data will be read in.  By telling FILECNVT how many
    fields you have your chances increase for a successful reorganization.

    You may have up to 99 fields in your sequential files, although I
    doubt any of you have files this large.  Regardless, FILECNVT will now
    read your sequential file and transpose the order of each record to
    Scanner Buff! order of Agency, Frequency, Callsign, City, County,
    State, Group, and Comments.  As you can see, even if you have 99
    fields only the Scanner Buff! significant fields will be transferred
    to your output file.

    Step 3:  Once you have reorganized your sequential file you can then
    convert it to a .MDF file by following the steps required in menu item
    2.

    FILECNVT will always alert you if your outfile file is going to be
    overwritten, or your input file does not exist.  FILECNVT will not
    monitor disk space, so if you are in doubt do some house cleaning
    (what do you expect for quick and dirty programming... and free?).

    This covers your quick tour through FILECNVT, the Scanner Buff! file
    conversion utility.

    Bob Ricci
    A Scanner Buff!