R30 CS-R30 software annoyance

[kc5igh]

Me, again . . .

I've really come to enjoy using Icom's CS-R30 "cloning" software, but I made a mistake yesterday that can definitely be attributed to "pilot error".

I was pretty tired and should have waited 'til I was more alert to do some additional programming, but what I did was to mistakenly save my data file as an Adobe Acrobat pdf document. Everything still works the way it did before. The file opens up just fine through the Icom software, but I can't get it to revert to its original format as an "icf" document. My concern seems therefore to be more about the cosmetics of having a pdf icon show up that had previously been an icf icom, and I'm tempted to leave well enough alone and get over being annoyed with myself.

I've tried dumping the pdf file in my computer's wastebasket, writing the R30's contents to the software, and saving it as a new file, but it came back up as a pdf doc anyway. I've saved everything on a microSD card just in case something goes sideways on me in the future.

Don't hesitate to tell me it's cosmetic and I should just leave it alone as long as it works.

Thanks!

-Johnnie

 

[Hit_Factor]

Just type icf for the file extension instead of pdf.

I doubt very much that a real pdf was created, it simply had the wrong file extension.

 

[kruser]

Me, again . . .

I've really come to enjoy using Icom's CS-R30 "cloning" software, but I made a mistake yesterday that can definitely be attributed to "pilot error".

I was pretty tired and should have waited 'til I was more alert to do some additional programming, but what I did was to mistakenly save my data file as an Adobe Acrobat pdf document. Everything still works the way it did before. The file opens up just fine through the Icom software, but I can't get it to revert to its original format as an "icf" document. My concern seems therefore to be more about the cosmetics of having a pdf icon show up that had previously been an icf icom, and I'm tempted to leave well enough alone and get over being annoyed with myself.

I've tried dumping the pdf file in my computer's wastebasket, writing the R30's contents to the software, and saving it as a new file, but it came back up as a pdf doc anyway. I've saved everything on a microSD card just in case something goes sideways on me in the future.

Don't hesitate to tell me it's cosmetic and I should just leave it alone as long as it works.

Thanks!

-Johnnie

Try uninstalling the CS-R30 software and reinstalling it. That may reset the file association for ICF files back to what they should be.
It sounds like you accidently named a file with the PDF extension.

edit: do try what Hit_Factor said as well. In reality, you should not need to add the file extension as the software should automatically add icf onto the file for the extension.

 

[Hit_Factor]

You dont need to uninstall and reinstall, that's what Default Apps is for.

But I think this is a typo graphic error, not a system error.

 

[kc5igh]

Try uninstalling the CS-R30 software and reinstalling it. That may reset the file association for ICF files back to what they should be.
It sounds like you accidently named a file with the PDF extension.

That's exactly what I did, Kruser. I accidentally named the file with a PDF extension.

I'm going to wait until my head is a little more clear than it is right now to reinstall the CS-R30 software. My original installation efforts were a little painful because the software version I bought (v1.01, if I remember correctly) needed to be updated to v1.10. I couldn't figure out why the software couldn't find the receiver until I asked the question in this forum and some smarter people than me (Hit Factor and N4DJC, bless them!) told me the software version needed to match the receiver's firmware version.

Thanks again!

 

[kruser]

You dont need to uninstall and reinstall, that's what Default Apps is for.

But I think this is a typo graphic error, not a system error.

That is true. I only suggested it as a way to reset the association as some are not handy with manipulating the default apps settings!
I do agree it is likely a typo of sorts in this case.

 

[kruser]

That's exactly what I did, Kruser. I accidentally named the file with a PDF extension.

I'm going to wait until my head is a little more clear than it is right now to reinstall the CS-R30 software.
Thanks again!

Hold on, try renaming the file with the icf extension first before you go to the trouble of messing with the software!

 

[kc5igh]

That is true. I only suggested it as a way to reset the association as some are not handy with manipulating the default apps settings!
I do agree it is likely a typo of sorts in this case.

Ooops! This is what I mean about waiting until I'm awake to mess with the R30.

It was actually Hit Factor and N4DJC who towed me out of previous software mire.

Thanks for your help, too, Kruser!

 

[Hit_Factor]

If he needs help with default apps I can walk him through it, 3 steps or 6 steps if we need to go that way.

 

[kruser]

If he needs help with default apps I can walk him through it, 3 steps or 6 steps if we need to go that way.

Ya can't beat that offer!

 

[kc5igh]

If he needs help with default apps I can walk him through it, 3 steps or 6 steps if we need to go that way.

Kruser's right . . . I can't beat that offer, Hit Factor!

I just tried opening the PDF file/extension again and saving it (again) as an ICF file/extension, which is the only option I have when the "save as" window opens on my old laptop. I'm not finding a default apps option.

Is this something you can respond to in this forum? Do you want me to contact you via email? Telephone?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Hit_Factor]

Use file manager, rename to .icf, click yes to warning about upsetting the system. That should be it.

If it isn't, send me your telephone number via PM and I'll give you a call. After 1800 eastern time, but before 2000.

 

[kc5igh]

Use file manager, rename to .icf, click yes to warning about upsetting the system. That should be it.

If it isn't, send me your telephone number via PM and I'll give you a call. After 1800 eastern time, but before 2000.

Thanks, Hit Factor.

I've gotta run right now, but I'll try this a little later.

Thanks again!

 

[kc5igh]

Good morning, Hit Factor.

After further research, I've decided to leave well enough alone regarding my software issue. The CS-R30 data file I saved in Adobe Acrobat still has the ".icf" file extension and continues to open correctly. I've used it to modify, update, and save data in the R30 with no problems . . . so far.

I searched for more information about .icf files and found out that they're "backup copies of the configurations and settings entered by the user of a Zoom network device, and these Zoom router configuration files are integrated with encoding specifications proprietary to Zoom Telephonics". My 15-year-old granddaughter probably understands that statement much better than I do (she's been able to load software in a computer since she was three years old), but it seems to me that my R30 must be a "Zoom network device," and that as long as that data is stored in my computer and the CS-R30 software with an .icf extension, everything will probably continue to work okay.

It therefore seems logical to assume that .icf files were meant to be the default app for the R30 and its software. If that's so, trying to change the file extension from .icf to .icf won't make much sense. Saving the original .icf file as an Adobe Acrobat document didn't change the file extension to .pdf, so all of this is probably cosmetic; if it had done so, I'd probably be in real trouble and would definitely need to find out what the original file extension was and would need your help to make .icf the default app for the Icom software. I still don't understand why I can't save the .icf file in something other than Adobe Acrobat, but I didn't recognize or know what the original icon was anyway. It might have been "Microsoft Notepad," according to my research, but I don't know how to confirm that without uninstalling and reinstalling the software to see what shows up.

You and kruser know much more about these issues than I do, so don't hesitate to let me know if I've made some erroneous assumptions. (I'll be 70 years old in a couple of months, and I still believe there's some kind of "magic" going on inside my computers that will trigger the collapse of western civilization if I accidentally hit the wrong buttons.)

Thanks again, and please let me know if I'm floating toward a gigantic waterfall!

In the meantime, I'm very happy with my R30 . . .

-Johnnie

 

[Hit_Factor]

Icom ICF files have nothing to do with Zoom. It's a coincidence, forget all that you read.

Glad it's working for you. We'll help you out when you have questions.

 

[kc5igh]

Icom ICF files have nothing to do with Zoom. It's a coincidence, forget all that you read.

Glad it's working for you. We'll help you out when you have questions.

Thanks, Hit Factor.

Just for the heck of it, I found time to uninstall and reinstall the CS-30 software (and update it again from version 1.01 to 1.10 so that it matched the radio's firmware version). I also deleted the PDF files I'd previously created to give it a fresh start.

My computer still thinks the file I saved is a PDF document, but the file extension remains ".icf", and the software receives, stores, and transmits ("clones", in Icomspeak) data with no problems.

As long as it continues to function correctly, I'm going to leave it alone.

Thanks again for your help!

-Johnnie

 

[kruser]

Thanks, Hit Factor.

Just for the heck of it, I found time to uninstall and reinstall the CS-30 software (and update it again from version 1.01 to 1.10 so that it matched the radio's firmware version). I also deleted the PDF files I'd previously created to give it a fresh start.

My computer still thinks the file I saved is a PDF document, but the file extension remains ".icf", and the software receives, stores, and transmits ("clones", in Icomspeak) data with no problems.

As long as it continues to function correctly, I'm going to leave it alone.

Thanks again for your help!

-Johnnie

I found that .icf files are NOT associated to any program at all. Probably because many of Icom's software programs use the same file extension.
I purposely added and association to my icf file for Acrobat.
Guess what, I could not use the Default Programs application to remove it!
I had to manually edit the registry to get them back to normal. If you will only ever have this one Icom app for the CS-R30 software, then you can set icf file types to always open in that software and you will be fine.
But... if you think you may ever add any other Icom software down the road, I'd leave well enough alone.

The reason my idea of uninstalling CS-R30 and reinstalling it does not work is because of the fact the .icf files are never added with any file or application association.

I think Hit_Factor mentioned this but you may be able to right click on one of your icf files and left click to open with. Then navigate to the Icom CS-R30 program and make sure the box is checked to always use this program to open this file type and it will set the icf fill association to the Icom program.

 

[Hit_Factor]

I think Hit_Factor mentioned this but you may be able to right click on one of your icf files and left click to open with. Then navigate to the Icom CS-R30 program and make sure the box is checked to always use this program to open this file type and it will set the icf fill association to the Icom program.

Exactly, there are several ways to fix this. This is the easiest.

Editing the registry manually is the hardest, so good job.

KC5IGH, acrobat has nothing at all to do with the file. Continuing to describe the file as a PDF will distract anyone trying to help you.

You simply have an incorrect file extension associated to acrobat.

If you are not going to fix it, perhaps this thread should be closed.

 

[kruser]

Exactly, there are several ways to fix this. This is the easiest.

Editing the registry manually is the hardest, so good job.

KC5IGH, acrobat has nothing at all to do with the file. Continuing to describe the file as a PDF will distract anyone trying to help you.

I did find it odd that a file association cannot be removed with the Default Programs application.
Searching for and removing the primary .icf file from the registry was not hard though and that was the only way I could remove that extension.
I did create an association to the CS-R30 app but of course, each time I clicked an .icf file, it opened it with the R30 version of the cloning software instead of whichever version was really needed.
I have the V8000, R1500/2500, R86000 and R30 models installed here along with each models respective cloning software. That's when I realized there is really no way to set a specific association for the file type unless you only intend on using a single cloning version.

Of course I could still open the proper icf files from their respective cloning software application as they all still remembered my stored file locations for each different version as well as the last four files opened for each.

Now that I know this, I need to play with it and see if an R8600 icf file will open and write to an R30 correctly and vice versa. Same goes for all my R2500 files!

Agree on closing the thread before others make a similar mistake.

 

[Hit_Factor]

Icom has missed the boat with the ICF file extension. I presume it means Icom Configuration File.

They really need to change and adopt an approach similar to what RT Systems does with making the model number part of the file extension. If they did that, then the correct app would open on doubleclick.