Settings/Pattern spreadsheet

[The Beep Goes On]

Hi folks,

Below is the intro comment in the file (finally got it finished)...

http://www.thebeepgoeson.com/display.asp?page=E-Trac_Settings

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Originally, this file started as an experiment in recreating an E-TRAC pattern in an Excel spreadsheet. It grew from there into what could be an active and long-term repository for all the settings and pattern information you may encounter and wish to document.

The motivation came from a wish for the capability to work with settings and patterns within a standard computer framework. You know, be able to live it, eat it, breathe it and pass it through my lower intestine. The large pattern grids and emphasis on documentation bear witness to these goals.

PC Xchange can only upload to the E-TRAC pattern files created on an E-TRAC. The E-TRAC Emulator can import emulator created pattern files as well as E-TRAC created pattern files. The emulator cannot export pattern files that will upload into an E-TRAC. In both cases, pattern creation requires the use of an E-TRAC, whether real or virtual. I am hoping to be able to import E-TRAC and emulator patterns and export emulator patterns in the next version, if possible.

For a casual user this utility might be interesting for a while. For a serious detectorist there are multiple purposes which this utility can address...

- A starting point for setting up your E-TRAC
- A repository for your settings and patterns which can easily be added to as you acquire new information
- For someone who records target information, this file provides a natural, free-form type of documentation
- Bench testers can benefit by recording their results as patterns (primitives)
- Can easily print, take screenshots, share pattern coordinates or the entire file
- Depending on your acquired data, new insights may be deduced using the Pattern Mixer

It remains to be seen whether this utility will be useful or not, but I hope it aids, informs or entertains you in some form or fashion.

Regards,
TBGO

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Welcome screen...

 

[david.di]

You've put in a great deal of effort and I really hope you work out the way to have full editing control of the *.ptrn and mode files for the E-trac on a pc and in such a way that they can be saved to work on the E-trac.

Now that would be so useful, if it were possible.

david di.

 

[The Beep Goes On]

You've put in a great deal of effort and I really hope you work out the way to have full editing control of the *.ptrn and mode files for the E-trac on a pc and in such a way that they can be saved to work on the E-trac.

Now that would be so useful, if it were possible.

david di.

Thanks David!

I spent a few hours looking at the binary/hex/decimal code of various .ptrn files and deduced the encoding method I am writing the import/export code now. It should have similar import/export functionality as compared to the E-Trac Emulator. From what I've been told and seen, can't do E-Trac acceptable files (but it would be fun to try...j/k lawyers). I am shooting for import/export of E-Trac and Emulator files and export of Emulator files. It looks promising, but I've just started and who knows what I'll run into. I'll post results later.

I had not given thought to saving mode/univeral/preferences for Xchange, but it's not a bad idea. After looking at a .mode and a .glb file (can't save preferences to a file) it looks like it might be possible, but I'd have to get lucky and/or put some time into trying to understand the encoding schemes...who knows.

Thanks,
Beep

 

[The Beep Goes On]

The import/export is finished, at least basically. I still have some finalizing to do. The import was relatively easy compared to the export; binaries have to exact in size and every bit in it's place. This is a screen shot of the simple UI for the import/export. You can name the file or grid whatever you want when exporting or importing respectively. I've tested a lot of files so far without any issues.

 

[CT Todd]

Geeze

 

[The Beep Goes On]

It looks like the modes and global settings can be imported/exported as well, but I do not know if the resulting files will go into the E-Trac thru Xchange. If the modes/globals will not import into the E-Trac, than it won't be worth doing. The patterns are a bit different since we have the emulator.

Beep