PCD 5.1 - Paging Jeff B, Pete Schu *PIC*

[hongrn]

Thanks guys for your help with PCD 5.10. I'm trying to produce frd and zma files from scratch. Basic, basic question: I am using Arta 1.1.1 to measure frequency response and impedance. I can export the impedance to zma, but only export the fr to text. How do I convert text to frd? Am I even asking the right question? Thank you.

Hong

[philip]

> Thanks guys for your help with PCD 5.10. I'm
> trying to produce frd and zma files from
> scratch. Basic, basic question: I am using
> Arta 1.1.1 to measure frequency response and
> impedance. I can export the impedance to
> zma, but only export the fr to text. How do
> I convert text to frd? Am I even asking the
> right question? Thank you.

> Hong

Rename the txt extension to frd.

[Steve H.]

> Thanks guys for your help with PCD 5.10. I'm
> trying to produce frd and zma files from
> scratch. Basic, basic question: I am using
> Arta 1.1.1 to measure frequency response and
> impedance. I can export the impedance to
> zma, but only export the fr to text. How do
> I convert text to frd? Am I even asking the
> right question? Thank you.

> Hong

FRD *is* a text file, just save the text file with a .frd extension. ARTA may put in a title line at the top, saying what data is in what column. That you may have to remove in order for PCD to digest it... That's my guess, and I'm sticking with it...
;-)

Best,
Steve

[spence]

> Rename the txt extension to frd.

I've tried doing that a hundred times using the CLIO files supplied by PE. I've used many variations....removing the first text line, pasting to Word Pad, Microsoft Word, and even a cut and paste from the PE files saved through Explorer. I've tried to save the files in every conceivable format. I've yet to be successful. PCD doesn't even see the files when I try to open them; they aren't listed in the open box. I can't get them to open in SPL View either. I've been tracing the response curves through SPL Trace, which PCD opens opens just fine. I'm using Windoze XP and MS Office 2003. Not complaining here, cause PCD and related tools have taught me what no amount of reading could. I'd just like to know what I'm doing wrong.

[Pete Schumacher ®]

> I've tried doing that a hundred times using
> the CLIO files supplied by PE. I've used
> many variations....removing the first text
> line, pasting to Word Pad, Microsoft Word,
> and even a cut and paste from the PE files
> saved through Explorer. I've tried to save
> the files in every conceivable format. I've
> yet to be successful. PCD doesn't even see
> the files when I try to open them; they
> aren't listed in the open box. I can't get
> them to open in SPL View either. I've been
> tracing the response curves through SPL
> Trace, which PCD opens opens just fine. I'm
> using Windoze XP and MS Office 2003. Not
> complaining here, cause PCD and related
> tools have taught me what no amount of
> reading could. I'd just like to know what
> I'm doing wrong.

You have to remove the leading and trailing spaces, headers, etc. I've NEVER had a problem using PE's FRD and ZMA files in PCD. I just use NOTEPAD.

[Pete Schumacher ®]

> FRD *is* a text file, just save the text
> file with a .frd extension. ARTA may put in
> a title line at the top, saying what data is
> in what column. That you may have to remove
> in order for PCD to digest it... That's my
> guess, and I'm sticking with it...
> ;-)

> Best,
> Steve

Good guess!!!

There can be nothing in the file but three columns of numbers with something separating them. FREQ, Ampl, Phase. No leading or trailing spaces, tabs, headers, etc.

[MikeV@parts-express.com]

After you make the modifications to the file, and are about to save the file (use the save as selection), choose the file type as "All files" with the .zma or .frd file extension after the file name instead of the default text.

Hope that clears things up for you.

[Deward Hastings]

> After you make the modifications to the
> file, and are about to save the file (use
> the save as selection), choose the file type
> as "All files" with the .zma or
> .frd file extension after the file name
> instead of the default text.

An alternative which also usually works is to type the file name with its current extension . . . for example: rs52frd.txt

Changing the extension as suggested ( rs52frd.frd ) makes it easier to keep track of things, though, and is easier to load . . .

[Jeff B.]

> I've tried doing that a hundred times using
> the CLIO files supplied by PE. I've used
> many variations....removing the first text
> line, pasting to Word Pad, Microsoft Word,
> and even a cut and paste from the PE files
> saved through Explorer. I've tried to save
> the files in every conceivable format. I've
> yet to be successful. PCD doesn't even see
> the files when I try to open them; they
> aren't listed in the open box. I can't get
> them to open in SPL View either. I've been
> tracing the response curves through SPL
> Trace, which PCD opens opens just fine. I'm
> using Windoze XP and MS Office 2003. Not
> complaining here, cause PCD and related
> tools have taught me what no amount of
> reading could. I'd just like to know what
> I'm doing wrong.

I have never had a problem importing PE's files into my program. I follow the same steps the Pete mentions.

[Jeff B.]

> Thanks guys for your help with PCD 5.10. I'm
> trying to produce frd and zma files from
> scratch. Basic, basic question: I am using
> Arta 1.1.1 to measure frequency response and
> impedance. I can export the impedance to
> zma, but only export the fr to text. How do
> I convert text to frd? Am I even asking the
> right question? Thank you.

> Hong

Hong,

The zma file you sent me failed to load, which was why you got the error when you tried to use the Auto-initialize routine. I corrected the file and will send it back to you. It had some invisible character in the first line and imported fine once I deleted it. Unfortunately, the program won't initialize textbook filter values using the zma file for a ribbon tweeter. This is pretty much the only exception I have found. I have to use some logic to determine the Re value of the driver and the dropping impedance of a the ribbon messes with the logic used. I think I have come up with a way to get around this which will produce more accurate results for any driver, but that will have to wait on the next update (if there ever is one). You can use any textbook calculator (like my Passive Crossover Design Calculator to get the values you need though). I will send the file later.

Jeff B.

[chuck]

> You have to remove the leading and trailing
> spaces, headers, etc. I've NEVER had a
> problem using PE's FRD and ZMA files in PCD.
> I just use NOTEPAD.

This is a problem that all newbies seem to go through. You need to use NOTEPAD to convert txt to frd or zma. When I first started to learn SpeakerWorkshop none of the tutorials said anything about this (are you listening Roman?) and it took me a week to figure it out on my own.

[Jeff B.]

> This is a problem that all newbies seem to
> go through. You need to use NOTEPAD to
> convert txt to frd or zma. When I first
> started to learn SpeakerWorkshop none of the
> tutorials said anything about this (are you
> listening Roman?) and it took me a week to
> figure it out on my own.

This is a very good point. Word processors will not work because when we edit with them they add hidden characters. Notepad is a text editor and it, or another text editor, must be used to avoid this occuring when modifying these txt,zma,frd files.
Jeff B.

[zachc]

Instead of using notepad, etc. I change the way XP is set up a little.

my computer,tools, folder options, view, un-check "hide extensions for known file types".

Now all of your files will show the extension without opening them, and you just rename and save the new type. I just leave it this way so it's easy to convert right on the desktop.

Zach C.

[hongrn]

Another thing that makes it easy to identify the file extensions also is to go the "Folder Options", select the "View" tab, then deselect the "Hide extensions for known file types" option. All file extensions such as .txt, .frd and .zma will be visible and changed readily.

Thanks for your help.

Hong

[Jeff B.]

> Instead of using notepad, etc. I change the
> way XP is set up a little.

> my computer,tools, folder options, view,
> un-check "hide extensions for known
> file types".

> Now all of your files will show the
> extension without opening them, and you just
> rename and save the new type. I just leave
> it this way so it's easy to convert right on
> the desktop.

> Zach C.

Yes, this is what I do too, but if editing of the file is required it must be done in a text editor and not with a word processor.

[Pete Schumacher ®]

> This is a very good point. Word processors
> will not work because when we edit with them
> they add hidden characters. Notepad is a
> text editor and it, or another text editor,
> must be used to avoid this occuring when
> modifying these txt,zma,frd files.
> Jeff B.

Excel works fine too. Just save as a text file, tab separated.

[Pete Schumacher ®]

[dthomas]

> Thanks guys for your help with PCD 5.10. I'm
> trying to produce frd and zma files from
> scratch. Basic, basic question: I am using
> Arta 1.1.1 to measure frequency response and
> impedance. I can export the impedance to
> zma, but only export the fr to text. How do
> I convert text to frd? Am I even asking the
> right question? Thank you.

> Hong

Hong,

I use this program also what you need to do is when you save a measurement select ASCII not the .pir option. Go ahead and save it as a .txt file this is default for the program. When you have it saved open the file and copy all the data except the header lines at the top that tell you your test setup. Paste this copied data into Notepad and save as ????.frd.

You should then have a file that will work in PCD or any of the other FRD Consortium tools.

Dave

[Jeff B.]

> Another thing that makes it easy to identify
> the file extensions also is to go the
> "Folder Options", select the
> "View" tab, then deselect the
> "Hide extensions for known file
> types" option. All file extensions such
> as .txt, .frd and .zma will be visible and
> changed readily.

> Thanks for your help.

> Hong

Check you mail for a full breakdown on issues.
Jeff B.

[spence]

> You have to remove the leading and trailing
> spaces, headers, etc. I've NEVER had a
> problem using PE's FRD and ZMA files in PCD.
> I just use NOTEPAD.

Pete,

Thanks for the tip. Yep, the problem was trailing imbedded spaces. I knew about the headers, but never gave the bottom of the page a second look.