Data conversion between trunking programs

[DaveNF2G]

OK, I've searched the forums here and at Yahoogroups, going back a couple of years, and I can't find the previous discussions about this.

How can we convert hundreds of collected talkgroups and radio IDs from DOS-based Trunker and its kin into Windows (or Linux or Mac) trunk tracking software formats?

One of the major problems with upgrading to Windows-based trunk tracking software is the obsolescence of data that we've spent lots of time accumulating and validating. Maybe this thread can serve as a collection point for information on conversion utilities and techniques for salvaging our trunking info when changing programs.

Eventually, the information could be summarized into the Wiki.

 

[SCPD]

How can we convert hundreds of collected talkgroups and radio IDs from DOS-based Trunker and its kin into Windows (or Linux or Mac) trunk tracking software formats?

You don't need to do anything. The Windows compatible versions of Trunker (as opposed to running DOS emulation on Windows) use the same text files.

One of the major problems with upgrading to Windows-based trunk tracking software is the obsolescence of data that we've spent lots of time accumulating and validating. Maybe this thread can serve as a collection point for information on conversion utilities and techniques for salvaging our trunking info when changing programs.

Unitrunker provides a silent import feature. I think Trunk88 can import / export trunker files. Other programs like pro96com don't have a DOS compatible predecessor so the issue does not apply.

 

[DaveNF2G]

To get the silent import, what do I have to do? Is it as simple as placing my Trunker files in the UniTrunker directory? Is there a menu selection for using external files that I can't find?

 

[SCPD]

To get the silent import, what do I have to do? Is it as simple as placing my Trunker files in the UniTrunker directory?

You got it. Here's the paragraph describing this in the documenation:

Hint for Importing Trunker Data Files
The program has very limited support for importing Trunker/ETrunker group and radio id data files. It's also very simple and (I think) foolproof. Place the XXXXGRP.TXT and XXXXIDS.TXT files into your working directory (the directory where UniTrunker saves all of its trunked system data files. When Unitrunker discovers a new system, it attempts to load the system information from these data files. If the program can't find UniTrunker GID and RID files, it will attempt to open and load the Trunker GRP and IDS files. It will only do this once. Once UniTrunker data files are available, the program stops looking for the Trunker data files. The program does NOT attempt to write to or modify your Trunker data files.

For the above trick to work for EDACS, you can rename (or copy) the ETrunk data files from "1234GRP.TXT" and "1234IDS.TXT" to "00XXGRP.TXT" and "00XXIDS.TXT" where "XX" is the two digit hexadecimal site number of the EDACS system you are monitoring.

 

[slicerwizard]

I think Trunk88 can import / export trunker files.

Coversions to/from Trunker files are handled by separate utilities (Trnk2T88.exe and T882Trnk.exe), not by TRUNK88 directly.

 

[DaveNF2G]

Thanks, rf. I feel really dumb now. I did RTFM but missed that somehow. :-/