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SPECTRUM DIRECTORY NOTES - 22JUL01

Full access to all drives and directories (folders) is available through the Directory screen. The extension name used is always that allocated by the calling path, i.e. if entering the directory from an ESA path button, the extension is .ESA.

On entry, the search filter is normally (see later) set at "*", e.g. *.ESA and all files matching this search path are shown.

The available calling paths are:

  *.ESA (data recorded via EPE Spectrum Analyser)
  *.Y?? (data recorded via EPE PIC V-Scope and EPE Virtual Scope)
  *.SJM (simulation data created by EPE Virtual Scope)
  *.??? (access to all files of any nature) 

It is not possible to change the extension from within the directory. 

An additional filter prefix can be added to the search path, via the Filter text box. For example, if you want to display all file names commencing with "227" and having the current extension .ESA, type in the 227 letters sequence, click on the Filter On/Off box to reveal a tick mark, whereupon any file names that match the search filter of 227*.ESA will be displayed. You may use the "wild card" question mark symbol ("?") in the same way as with Windows.

Do not add * or extension characters.

The search filter prefix may be changed while the filter tick is shown, allowing selective seaching of the file names. Clicking on the Filter tick box to turn off the tick allows the filter prefix to be ignored and the prefix "*" filter character automatically used instead.

The search filter status remains as set even when the directory is exited, allowing the same search to be used next time you enter the Directory, irrespective of which option box on the main screen you enter from. For example, if you set for 227*.ESA having entered from the Directory ESA button, and then later re-enter from the Directory Y?? box, the search path will become 227*Y??.

At the top of the Directory screen is a History box. This records all directory path changes made for the selected hard drive (usually set for Drive C). This information is stored when the Spectrum software is exited and recalled when next run. The information may be edited via file SpectrumHistory.txt, stored in the same folder as the Spectrum software.

Clicking the arrow at the right of the History box displays a drop-down menu. Any of the paths shown can be selected by clicking on the one required. This then becomes the chosen path until such time as you change it. The path history only applies to the Hard Drive since the disks in other drives can be changed manually, which would severely complicate the record keeping.

When a Drive (e.g. Drive A) has been selected from the Drive Path box, the disk in that drive can be changed and its contents displayed by clicking on the Refresh button. The Refresh button can also be used if a new file has been created via the Save Next Sample button, but which will not be immediately displayed if the Directory path is still the same as previously entered.

File details can be viewed by clicking once on a particular name, the details vary depending on the file name extension in use. The cursor arrows can be used to pan up or down the file name list, the file details being shown accordingly.

When single-clicking a name, the file is not treated as having been selected for use by the calling routine. An exit from the Directory can be made by clicking on the EXIT button.

To select a file as the active name for use by the calling routine from which you have entered, the file name should be doubled-clicked, which also causes the Directory window to be closed. 

The text box below the Path Change sub-window shows the name of the last file selected for use by a calling routine.

If a file name is too long for it to be fully shown in a particular text box, click on the text box and use the cursor keys to scan along its full length. Alternatively, double-click on the text box to activate a message window showing the full details. Note that file names cannot be changed from a text box.

Filter details are lost when Spectrum is exited. They may also be lost if the main window is minimized and then re-maximized, and if you close the Directory window via its top-right X box instead of the allocated EXIT button, you could also lose the information, plus some of the History as well.

FINDING FILES

You may also search for files (but not select for use by Spectrum) using Windows own Find facility, accessible in the usual way via the Windows Start button at the bottom left of the screen.

HARD DRIVE SELECTION

Most users have to work with Drive C as the hard drive. It is known, though, that some readers have their hard drives partitioned and may prefer to work through a partition that has a Drive letter other than C (Drive E, for example). The intention of the Drive box in the System zone of the main screen is to allow readers to choose Drive E (or other letter) should they wish to use a partition as the Default Hard Drive. This information is automatically stored to disk, in file SpectrumSettings.txt. This file stores (in order) the Port register in use and expressed in decimal rather than hex, the selected PIC unit (2 = PIC Spectrum, 1 = PIC V-Scope) and the hard drive (expressed in the form of C:\).

Note that in PCs Drive A and Drive B are typically used for the floppy disk drive, and Drive D for the CD ROM. Do not select any of these drives as the Default Hard Drive.

ADDING YOUR OWN NOTES

These notes are displayed via an "Active" text editor and you may add your own notes to them, saving them to disk in the usual way.

