3 converting the file, 4 repairing/converting corrupted files – Campbell Scientific RTDAQ Software User Manual

Page 275

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Section 10. Utilities

Store Time Stamp - The time stamp can be omitted from the file by clearing
the Store Time Stamp check box.

10.1.3 Converting the File

Once the file and conversion settings are selected, press the Start Conversion
button. CardConvert will begin processing the file. When the file is being
processed, the estimated number of records and a percentage of the conversion
completed will be displayed at the bottom edge of the window. Note that the
values reflect an estimate of the amount of data in a table. If the table is set to
a fixed size, CardConvert returns a fairly close estimate. However, if the table
is set to auto-allocate, CardConvert essentially returns an estimate that reflects
the maximum number of records that can be stored based on card size (even if
the table is not completely full). Because of this, you may see the progress
reported as something less than 100% when the conversion is complete.

If a conversion is in progress and you wish to stop it, press the Cancel
Conversion
button.

After file conversion is complete, summary information is provided in the field
below the file list. The summary provides a listing of the new files that were
created, and the total number of records converted for each table (if filemarks
are being processed for a table, the number of records returned is the
cumulative number of records for all files).

10.1.4 Repairing/Converting Corrupted Files

If you attempt to convert a file and receive a message that the input file
contained no data, you may want to consider using the Repair File option.
You may also want to consider using the Repair File option if you think there
is additional data on the card that is not being converted and included in the
output file. With either case, it is possible that data on the card has become
corrupted. The Repair File option will attempt to scan the card for good
frames of data and output that data to a new binary file.

In some instances, data on a card can become corrupted. Corruption can occur
if the card is subjected to electrostatic discharge or if it is removed when data
is being written to the card (e.g., the card is removed from the CFM100
without pressing the Card Control button to stop data storage to the card). This
corruption can be at the beginning of the data file or anywhere within the
stored data. Using the standard conversion option, CardConvert will stop if it
encounters a corrupted frame of data because it assumes it has come to the end
of the data file. If corrupted frames of data are found at the beginning of the
file, CardConvert will display a message indicating that no data could be found
on the card. If corrupted frames of data are found within the data file, you may
get some, but not all, of the data that you expect in the converted file.

CardConvert offers a repair option, which will attempt to scan the card for
good frames of data and output that data to a new binary file (the original file
is unchanged). To start the repair of a file, highlight the suspected corrupt file
in the list of Source Filenames and right-click to display a floating menu.
Select the Repair File option from the list. The repair process will create a
new TOB3 file (the default name is Repair_existingfilename), which can then
be converted to an ASCII file using the standard CardConvert process.

10-5

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