Import/Export of memories (FT-817, FT-847, FT-857, FT-857D, FT-897 and FT-897D only)

Contents - Index - Previous - Next

Import/Export of memories (FT-817, FT-847, FT-857, FT-857D, FT-897 and FT-897D only)

This feature allows you to create or read memory definition files in a format that can be easily read by other programs, such as spreadsheets and word-processors. These files contain ONLY memory definitions and do NOT contain everything that is required for 'cloning' into a FT-817, FT-847, FT-857, FT-857D, FT-897 or FT-897D.

The file format is called Comma Separated Variables (CSV), and the format of the data used by FTBasic is shown here. The Memory Grid can also create and use these CSV files.

Preparing to Import or Export

Open the Dump/Change/Restore window by choosing the Clone command from the Tools menu.

Before you can Import or Export a CSV file you must first load a valid total rig image. This is done by either reading the image directly from the rig using the Read FT817/FT847/FT857/FT857D/FT897/FT897D button, or by loading a previously saved image using the Read Disk File button.

You can load both the current rig image as well as a previously saved image. Use the Show FT817/FT847/FT857/FT857D/FT897/FT897D button or Show File button to switch between them.

Exporting to a CSV file

To Export the memories currently shown in the grid, click the Export CSV button. Follow the usual actions for saving a file. A header record is written as the first row so that you can identify what is in each column. The first item of each row written contains the memory number. This can optionally be used to reload a memory into the same place when you do an Import.

To get an example of the header record needed in the CSV file, perform an export of your present memories and open the CSV file in a spreadsheet program.

Importing from a CSV file

To Import to the memories currently shown in the grid, click the Import CSV button. Follow the usual actions for opening a file. The first row must be a header row, and the items in each row must be in the same sequence as those for an Export.

After you have chosen which file to open you are asked a question:

Does this file include a memory number as the first item in each row?
If Yes then ONLY matching memory numbers will be changed
If No then ALL memories will be replaced by the imported file

If you choose the Yes button then you have full control of which memory goes into which memory number. If you choose No then the existing memories are erased, and the file is imported starting at memory 1. Note that even though the file may actually have memory numbers in it, you can still reply 'No' and have the program ignore them.

After you have made your choice you are then presented with another question IF you replied Yes (memory numbers exist in the import file).

Do you want to clear all of the existing memories before importing?

If you choose Yes then all existing memories are erased before importing the file. If you choose No then the imported file is merged with the existing memories using the memory number to decide which memory is replaced. The input file does not need to be in ascending memory number.

The Import process is a two stage process. The import file is read and validated before attempting to apply any updates. If any problem is found then the import is aborted. If the validation completes then the file is re-read and the updates are applied.

The most frequent cause of problems when importing CSV files is that the name of a memory is not present (the last field of a memory record) and that the trailing comma is missing. The trailing comma is required as there must be a fixed number of fields present for the program to read for each memory record.

After the Import is complete you can make further editing changes if you wish and then either save to disk (as an image file) or write the image to the rig.