[Dx4win] Crash

[Doug Hutchison]

I see, the list reply system is changed back again...thank you.
Thank you to Kris otherwise this would not have come to list.


Whenever there is situation which stops DX4 without a normal shut down, DX4
will, on restarting, issue a warning that a backup file exists and asks
whether or not is should be saved. If yes is given as the answer then a file
name will be requested via a normal file naming window. The file will
automatically be given the DXT extention and placed in
the SAVE folder. See SAVE in the help system.

The method used, I believe, is that the system automatically maintains a
backup in accordance with preferences set up and, should the system fail, it
compares the backup DXB file and the current log on restart. If the DXB is
younger than the log then an abnormal termination is indicated and you are
asked if you wish to save the backup as a log file ie DXL.

If, when your system came back up, you went through the above routine then
all you are looking for are log files in the SAVE folder.

If you did not go through the routine, you answered NO, then the backup will
have been discarded ie it reverted automatically to the last saved version
of the currently specified logbook.

The habitual use of  Alt S after new entries or changes will ensure that the
logbook is maintained in its most recent state and reduce reliance on the
backup.

Best regards, Doug, MM0BJA

----- Original Message -----
From: "Kris Mraz" <kilo.mike@gte.net>
To: "DX4WIN List" <dx4win@mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Friday, January 04, 2002 04:30
Subject: Re: [Dx4win] crash


> Courtney,
>
> Just use Window's search utility. start->search. Look for the log file
> name, probably k4wi.dxl. If you can't remember the file name just look
> for all .dxl files. To find the previous version look for the .~xl
> extension file. There's also a file called DX4WIN.DXB which is the file
> that is automatically saved if you don't do a manual save. See below
> for more info on DX4WIN.DXB.
>
> Here are the specific directories on my system:
>
> C:\Program Files\dx4w503\DX4WIN.DXB
> C:\Program Files\dx4w503\save\n5km.dxl
>
> If you installed in the default recommended directories then it should
> be the same on your system.
>
> DX4WIN.DXB
> ----------
> dx4win maintains an autosave log file called DX4WIN.DXB.
> Let's say DX4WIN.DXB doesn't exist (which is the case when dx4win is
> first started).
>
> If you log a QSO and let dx4win automatically save, it will create
> DX4WIN.DXB in C:\Program Files\dx4w503 and save your log there.
>
> If you subsequently do a manual save your normal log, probably k4wi.dxl,
> will be updated but DX4WIN.DXB will remain the same, that is, not
> updated.
>
> The next time you let dx4win automatically save the DX4WIN.DXB file is
> renamed to DX4WIN.~XB and your log is saved to DX4WIN.DXB.
>
> This rolling of DX4WIN log files continues for every autosave until you
> exit the program. At this time the DX4WIN.DXB file is deleted and the
> DX4WIN.~XB file is retained.
>
> So based on your crash experience you may or may not have either of the
> DX4WIN log files depending on any automatic log saves prior to the
> crash.
>
> dx4win can detect a crashed version of your log file so you
> might want to try restarting dx4win. If it detects the DX4WIN.DXB file
> on startup it assumes the program crashed without going through the
> normal exit (deleting DX4WIN.DXB). You will be given the opportunity
> to save it. Save it with a name like crash.dxl. Then open crash.dxl and
> examine it for the missing QSO's. If you're lucky they will be there. If
> it crashed before your QSO's were autosaved you're out of luck. If you
> find them then just rename crash.dxl to k4wi.dxl.
>
> Your last chance is to look for DX4WIN.~XB. If this exists, rename it to
> something like oldlog.dxl and put it in your save directory
> (C:\Program Files\dx4w503\save). Open it and inspect it for the lost
> QSO's. If you find them rename oldlog.dxl to k4wi.dxl. Note: its not
> possible for DX4WIN.~XB to have ALL of your QSO's. By definition some
> will be missing.
>
> Good Luck.
>
> Kris N5KM
>
>
> PS: Based on this analysis it would appear that a better program exit
> strategy would be to rename DX4WIN.DXB to DX4WIN.~XB then exit. This
> would allow more QSO's to be recovered in case DX4WIN.~XB is the only
> thing left to salvage after a system crash.
>
> Courtney Judd wrote:
> >
> > Flame out here! computer crashed and I lost the few qso's that I had
logged.
> > It saved it somewhere but I can't remember where. Anyone know where to
look?
> > I really wouldn't care but I just had worked OX3OX on six meters and was
a
> > new one for me. Thanks
> > Courtney Judd K4WI
> > 2300 County Road 61
> > Uniontown, Al. 36786
> > e-mail= k4wi@earthlink.net
> >
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