Dan, I am not sure if it is even feasible as some of the advantages I see are rather complex inherent to Excel. 1. The ability to delete and insert columns. This feature is needed when you resort a channel group and want to re-sequence it. If you keep the channel numbers the same nothing will change once you reload it to the radio as it loads by channel number. 2. Find and replace. If you want to rename channels (with a new naming convention more suitable to multiple radios) you have to edit each channel. Excel lets you find a string and replace it in mass. 3. The ability to cut and paste. When setting up call sign routing you copy one row to multiple rows and then edit just the name and urcall fields. Also this allows you to move groups of channels from on bank to another.

In that most radio programming is based upon the spreadsheet format, any spreadsheet functions will make it easier to move and manipulate data.

73

Dave N4DIB

P.S. I agree with David that having a file type pull down would make it easier. Also when loading a file it would be very beneficial as you could look for just .chirp or .csv files My Two Cents...

-----Original Message----- From: chirp_users-bounces@lists.danplanet.com [mailto:chirp_users-bounces@lists.danplanet.com] On Behalf Of Dan Smith Sent: Sunday, November 23, 2008 9:37 PM To: Discussion of CHIRP Subject: Re: [chirp_users] CHIRP 0.1.8b3

I will qualify this though by saying 99% of the time I export the files to CSV, manipulate / sort with a text editor (or Excel) and then import back into the radio.

What features and behaviors does the chirp editor need to have to make it equally or more useful than taking it out into excel and back?

Excel is pretty complex and powerful, so making chirp able to rival the functionality may not be feasible, but it's a worthwhile discussion, I think.

You wouldn't need the ability to add and delete columns if you can renumber the channels. I guess I am not clear on how this is accomplished other than doing it one row at a time, (and that is a pain). <Maybe I missed something there..

Find and replace would be very helpful when you take the download from a 2820 (8 place names) and put it into an 800 (6 place names) .

My 2 cents...

Dave N4DIB

-----Original Message----- From: chirp_users-bounces@lists.danplanet.com [mailto:chirp_users-bounces@lists.danplanet.com] On Behalf Of Dan Smith Sent: Monday, November 24, 2008 10:42 AM To: Discussion of CHIRP Subject: Re: [chirp_users] CHIRP 0.1.8b3

1. The ability to delete and insert columns. This feature is needed

when you resort a channel group and want to re-sequence it. If you keep the channel numbers the same nothing will change once you reload it to the radio as it loads by channel number.

Do you mean rows? If you insert a column then you'll break the CSV format and it won't import.

I added add/delete rows with automatic renumbering to CHIRP a while ago. I still need to add an option to insert more than one at a time...

2. Find and replace. If you want to rename channels (with a new naming

convention more suitable to multiple radios) you have to edit each channel. Excel lets you find a string and replace it in mass.

Hmm, okay. It's definitely something I can add, although I'm not sure I'd use it personally :)

3. The ability to cut and paste. When setting up call sign routing you

copy one row to multiple rows and then edit just the name and urcall fields. Also this allows you to move groups of channels from on bank to another.

That's certainly doable too.

Thanks!