Idea: Scanner Data Files to .PDF for Debug.

[Boomeranger]

Too bad scan control software won't let users print their scanner's data window screens to a single Acrobat PDF multi-page file for users to upload for review and debug assistance.

Every scannist would need to own Acrobat to "print to .pdf."

The file format is compact for bandwith and storage.

Anyone could potentially review submissions for problems with almost "at a glance" ease, without having the scanner control software designers having to derive a multi-scanner file format to make it work. Acrobat would be the answer.

Creat a Scanner .PDF Debug forum for submissions and reports.

Oh well.

Andy
Scannist

 

[ka3jjz]

Unfortunately I don't know of any packages that can import .pdf files - that would be a necessary step, in some cases, in order to debug a problem, particularly if that person was in the same area as you.

The closest 'lingua franca' for scanner files are (I know I'm going to get flamed for this, but...) .csv (comma seperated values) files and, at least for the DMA scanners, UASD files. CSV files are a little iffy, since there really is no one standard to insure a certain column is in the same spot for every package, but it's probably as close as you can get.

73s Mike

 

[Boomeranger]

Unfortunately I don't know of any packages that can import .pdf files - that would be a necessary step, in some cases, in order to debug a problem, particularly if that person was in the same area as you.

Mike,

NO need to import .pdf.

.pdf would be the final resultant file printed FROM the scan control software that anyone with Acrobat reader could view and review and debug.

The software developers would've only had to know how to print to Acrobat as a print function.

Andy
Scannist

 

[Butelsoftware]

Too bad scan control software won't let users print their scanner's data window screens to a single Acrobat PDF multi-page file for users to upload for review and debug assistance.

Just install a free PDF utility like PDF4FREE and you can create PDF files from any program that has a print option.

Gommert
www.butelsoftware.com

 

[brscanning]

I am not sure what the advantage is of using PDF files. First, they are not as simple to create as a text file. Text files can be read with a simple text editor or imported into Excel and other applications.

Second, PDF files not as easy to import into other applications for sorting, etc. In fact, you will find very few applications that read PDF files, much less allow you to edit them.

 

[Boomeranger]

Just install a free PDF utility like PDF4FREE and you can create PDF files from any program that has a print option.

Gommert
www.butelsoftware.com

.pdf being the lowest common demoninator for peer review/debug, I meant a .pdf snapshot of a scanner so others could "at a glance" see a user's scanner settings. No interchange import/export mechanism. That would be the beauty of the .pdf Debug.

I'm not familiar with the pdf4free but that solves the user end of the problem.

The developers, such as yourself would have to add the print to .pdf debug mechanism for casual users to submit screenfuls of data for peer review!??

Andy
Scannist

 

[Butelsoftware]

You can already do that,
start ARCxxx, open the Virtual control screen, hit ALT-PRINT SCRN.

Now open Paint or Wordpad or Word, hit CTRL- V and the screen shot is imported. Now select Print and print to PDF using for example PDF4FREE .

Gommert
www.butelsoftware.com

 

[morfis]

You can already do that,
start ARCxxx, open the Virtual control screen, hit ALT-PRINT SCRN.

Now open Paint or Wordpad or Word, hit CTRL- V and the screen shot is imported. Now select Print and print to PDF using for example PDF4FREE .

Gommert
www.butelsoftware.com

Though there is little point in going the step to pdf as the screenshots contain all the info needed anyway!

 

[Butelsoftware]

I agree but OP wants result in PDF format.

Gommert
www.butelsoftware.com

 

[Boomeranger]

You can already do that,
start ARCxxx, open the Virtual control screen, hit ALT-PRINT SCRN.

Now open Paint or Wordpad or Word, hit CTRL- V and the screen shot is imported. Now select Print and print to PDF using for example PDF4FREE .

Gommert
www.butelsoftware.com

I meant printing the user's saved "profile" (in ARCxxx) data. Not a screen capture of the virtual control screen which has no info for debug purposes.

Print .PDF Debug would print all systems in a profile in a hierarchical manner, displaying all window layers so, if someone says why doesn't my XYZ MOT Type II trunking system work, others could scroll to that portion and see every setting associated with it for debugging.

It could be done in a text dump but a GUI view does make things of this nature a little more intuitive, both for people familiar with the scan software and others.

Andy

 

[fmon]

Print .PDF Debug would print all systems in a profile in a hierarchical manner, displaying all window layers so, if someone says why doesn't my XYZ MOT Type II trunking system work, others could scroll to that portion and see every setting associated with it for debugging

I'd rather review a file then a pdf for trouble shooting. Most active software Guru's offer opportunities for review of files in software Yahoo Groups. These files are then scrutinized by many interested users for problems. These RR forums (radio, state and software) are loaded with scanner files for review by others. Usually a couple of clicks into these files will isolate the problem. Even a good file might be improved by this method.

 

[loumaag]

As Frank points out, the actual file is really better for this purpose. However, Boomeranger I think has the idea (and this is Butel's fault for not adequately explaining the data dictionary) the the profile has anything to do with problems. The profile actually is nothing more that a list of the actual files needed to form a setup or load into the radio. The files that really mean anything are still the "mem" files (which for newer radios have different extensions now).

The answer is for for people to figure out what system is giving them trouble and then zip and upload that file alone when asking for assistance.

 

[Boomeranger]

As Frank points out, the actual file is really better for this purpose. However, Boomeranger I think has the idea (and this is Butel's fault for not adequately explaining the data dictionary) the the profile has anything to do with problems. The profile actually is nothing more that a list of the actual files needed to form a setup or load into the radio. The files that really mean anything are still the "mem" files (which for newer radios have different extensions now).

The answer is for for people to figure out what system is giving them trouble and then zip and upload that file alone when asking for assistance.

Perhaps it's an idea before it's time.

A .PDF Debug Mem file is a good idea but a complete view of a scanner's current "installation" is what I was thinking.

I was trying to come up with a universal platform for all scannists, regardless of the scanners they own, to assist other scannists.

I was talking about all scanner control softwares, not only Butel's offerings.

Andy