Eric,
Make sure that Excel is not doing anything “helpful” for you during the CVS export. I have seen many occasions where Excel tries to help with CSV import and export and changes the data format. One example is when you have a very large number, Excel will convert it to scientific notation.
If you need help, you can email mail me and I will see if I can’t help you with the Excel / CSV file.
Eric B
From: chirp_users-bounces@intrepid.danplanet.com <chirp_users-bounces@intrepid.danplanet.com> On Behalf Of Eric Oyen via chirp_users
Sent: Thursday, March 25, 2021 10:52 AM
To: Discussion of CHIRP <chirp_users@intrepid.danplanet.com>
Subject: Re: [chirp_users] I get an "unknown file format" when importing
Hey Nigel?
I am going to ask something here, and it might get you irritated, but please understand that it is important and also within the context of this group.
Do you have any kind of visual impairment that negatively impacts your ability to use specific software on whatever platform you choose to use?
I can tell you right now, if you don’t, then you don’t have any real understanding of the problems that me and others on this list (who do) have when it comes to software. Screen readers and braille displays are pretty much a must when you can’t see the screen.
Now, someone suggested the use of Libre office. That’s all fine and good if you are on a Linux OS. Not so useful on either the OS X or windows platforms when a screen reader/braille display is in use.. This means we are limited in what we can (or can’t) use on a given platform at a given time and set of circumstances. The same is true for CHIRP. I can only use it on Linux and no where else.
Also, on the subject of CSV and TSV files, both of those are standardized formats that shouldn’t be presenting any issues. I use the 2010 version of excel and word here on the windows machine as nothing later is supported (it’s windows 7). So far, I have not encounter the issues you spoke of. If MS excel is introducing these types of errors, then they broke something and are violating standardized formats doing so.
Now, as for me, I am totally blind (literally). I have no light perception, so I expect all my tools to work in an expected fashion. If they don’t, then I am in serious trouble. This pretty much means that I have to be very conversant with them and how they work at the software/hardware level.
So, when it comes to CHIRP, I really wish it were fully accessible using braille or screen reader on platforms other than just Linux. Until that happens, I have to keep up on the latest tools (such as more specialized radio programming software that is accessible on windows or OS X), office packages that need to communicate with one another regardless of platform etc. Unfortunately, being totally blind makes that rather more difficult under the best of circumstances. So, unless you have a real understanding of how those of us without sight have to function, then you really don’t have any understanding at all. Oh, and if you *THINK* that wearing a blindfold will help you understand, no it won’t. It’s because, at the end of the day, you will still be able to take it off and use your eyes. Those of us who don’t have that option have to spend longer doing some tasks, use alternative methods to get our info, or even use radio programming software with tools designed to work around the lack of eyesight issue. The chirp package is no exception to this. If I want to use windows to program my radios, I have to use RT systems on that oS platform. I don’t get a choice. On OS X, there are NO accessible packages or methodologies that will allow me to program a radio like my UV5R, or the PK-888, the Retevus H777s, or even my midland g40. Most of these can be handled by Chirp on linux and no where else for me. Now, lets see you try and maintain 3 os platforms, on separate machines, having to know keyboard commands for each screen reader, etc. I can do it because I am cursed with an Eidetic memory. When I say cursed, I mean it. If any changes get made, I have to account for those, etc. that means my head gets full and I have no way to dump those memories. On the plus side, once I pick up something, I never lose it again, ever.
Anyway, enough of my ranting on software, accessibility, etc.
DE n7zzt Eric