Relocating DXLab Applications from One Folder to Another

Unfortunately, this isn't as simple as copying files from the source folder to the destination folder; in Microsoft Windows, installed applications and their supporting components are registered in the Windows Registry; this registration includes their location in the file system. So to relocate an application, you must first uninstall that application, and then re-install it in the destination folder.

Were you to run the re-installed application, it would work - but it would be referring to data files (your log, the DXCC database, etc) in the source folder. Before the source folder can be deleted, these data files must be moved to the appropriate location in the destination folder, and the application must be configured to reference these data files in their new locations.

This step-by-step process describes how to move one or more DXLab applications from a source folder to a destination folder:

  1. create a folder named SafeStorage in a place that won't be affected by the relocation process -- e.g. not within any to-be-relocated DXLab application's source folder or destination folder

  2. within SafeStorage, create a folder for each to-be-relocated DXLab application

  3. copy the following data files from their source folder to their folder in SafeStorage

    1. from Commander's source folder

      • device data files for frequency-dependent devices, specified in the Data File panel of each device's tab in the Configuration window (if you've created such files)

      • filter group data files created using the Data File panel on the Configuration window's Filter Groups tab

      • memory files you've saved via the Config window's Memory tab

      • custom S-meter files in Commander's Smeter folder

      • BandSegments.txt (if you created it from DefaultBandSegments.txt)

      • Radios.txt (if you modified it)

      • files containing user-defined control sequences, sliders, and control sets

    2. from DXKeeper's source folder

      • log file(s); the current log file is designated in the Log File panel on the Configuration window's Log tab

      • log backup files; these reside in the folder specified in the Backup Folder panel on the Configuration window's Log tab

      • DXCC database - DXCC.mdb in the DXKeeper's Databases sub-folder (if you've made your own modifications)

      • if you have used the DXCC Credit Manager to download your DXCC credits, the DXCC Award Credit folder and its contents

      • Bands.txt (if you created it from DefaultBands.txt)

      • Modes.txt (if you created it from DefaultModes.txt)

      • Satellites.txt (if you created it from DefaultSatellites.txt)

      • any custom Log Page Display layout files you may have created; the one currently in use is specified in the Log Page Display layout file panel on the Configuration window's Log tab

      • any scripts you may have created
      • any reports you may have created

      • if you have downloaded eQSL images, the eQSL image folder and its contents

    3. from DXView's source folder

      • DXCC database - DXCC.mdb in DXView's Databases sub-folder (if you've made your own modifications)

      • LotW database - LotW.mdb in DXView's Databases sub-folder (if you've downloaded and installed it)

      • eQSL database - eQSLAG.mdb in DXView's Databases sub-folder (if you've downloaded and installed it)

      • RDA database - RDA.mdb in DXView's Databases sub-folder (if you've downloaded and installed it)

      • USAP database - USAP.mdb in DXView's Databases sub-folder (if you've downloaded and installed it)

      • Translation database - Translation.mdb in DXView's Databases sub-folder (if you've downloaded and installed it)

      • Overrides database - Overrides.mdb in DXView's Databases sub-folder (if you've downloaded and installed it)

    4. from Pathfinder's source folder

      • any search files you've modified or developed in Pathfinder's Searches sub-folder

    5. from PropView's source folder

      • Bands.txt (if you created it from DefaultBands.txt)

    6. from SpotCollector's source folder

      • spot database, the pathname for which is specified in the Spot Database File panel on the Configuration window's Spot Database tab

      • SolarHistory.txt

      • DXCC database - DXCC.mdb in SpotCollector's Databases sub-folder (if you've made your own modifications)

      • Special callsigns - SpecialCallsigns.mdb in SpotCollector's Databases sub-folder

      • sub-band definition file specified in the Sub-band Definition panel on the Configuration window's General tab (if you changed it)

      • any audio files you modified or created in SpotCollector's Sounds sub-folder

      • any macros you created and saved in files

    7. from WinWarbler's source folder

      • your minilog(s) (file named YourCallsign.ADI in your WinWarbler folder)

      • PSKBands.txt (if you created it from DefaultPSKBands.txt)

      • RTTYBands.txt (if you created it from DefaultRTTYBands.txt)

      • any macros you've saved in files

      • any .wav files you created for phone voice keying (specified in the .wav file folder setting on the Configuration window's Phone tab)

    8. from DXLabLauncher's source folder

      1. in the Configuration window, click the Workspaces button

      2. in the Workspaces window

        • click the Create Workspace button and specify a unique workspace name (e.g. RelocationBackup)

        • Select the new workspace name, and click the Update button

      3. Save the contents of the Launcher's Workpaces folder (which includes the new workspace you created, as well as any previous workspaces you created

  4. open the Windows Control Panel, run the Add/Remove Programs applet, and remove the DXLab applications you are planning to relocate

  5. if you are relocating the DXLab Launcher, then re-install it into the desired location via http://www.dxlabsuite.com/download.htm; if the Launcher is not being relocated, run it

  6. use the Launcher to re-install DXLab applications in the desired location by specifying that location in the application's Program Path setting in the Launcher's Configuration window, and then clicking the application's Install button (requires Launcher version 1.5.0 or later)

  7. restore each file saved in step 3: copy that file from SafeStorage into the appropriate location in each re-installed applications's folder structure

    1. into Commander's destination folder
      • device data files for frequency-dependent devices
      • filter group data files
      • memory files
      • custom S-meter files to Commander's Smeter folder

      • BandSegments.txt (if you modified it)

      • Radios.txt (if you modified it)

      • files containing user-defined control sequences, sliders, and control sets

    2. into DXKeeper's destination folder
      • log file(s) into DXKeeper's Databases sub-folder
      • log backup files

      • DXCC.mdb into DXKeeper's Databases sub-folder (if you modified it)

      • Bands.txt (if you modified it)

      • Modes.txt (if you modified it)

      • Satellites.txt (if you modified it)

      • custom Log Page Display layout files
      • script files
      • report files
    3. into DXView's destination folder

      • DXCC.mdb into DXView's Databases sub-folder (if you modified it)

      • LotW database - LotW.mdb into DXView's Databases sub-folder (if you'd downloaded and installed it)

      • eQSL database - eQSLAG.mdb into DXView's Databases sub-folder (if you'd downloaded and installed it)

      • RDA database - RDA.mdb into DXView's Databases sub-folder (if you've downloaded and installed it)

      • USAP database - USAP.mdb into DXView's Databases sub-folder (if you'd downloaded and installed it)

      • Translation database - Translation.mdb into DXView's Databases sub-folder (if you've downloaded and installed it)

      • Overrides database - Overrides.mdb into DXView's Databases sub-folder (if you've downloaded and installed it)

    4. into Pathfinder's destination folder
      • search files into Pathfinder's Searches sub-folder (if you modified them)

    5. into PropView's destination folder

      • Bands.txt (if you modified it)

    6. into SpotCollector's destination folder

      • spot database into SpotCollector's Databases sub-folder

      • SpecialCallsigns.mdb into SpotCollector's Databases sub-folder

      • SolarHistory.txt

      • sub-band definition file (if you modified it)
      • audio files (that you modified)
      • macros files

    7. into WinWarbler's destination folder

      • minilog file(s)

      • PSKBands.txt (if you modified it)

      • RTTYBands.txt (if you modified it)

      • macro files
      • .wav files
  8. run each relocated DXLab application, and update its settings to reflect the change in data file locations
    1. in Commander

      • device data files for frequency-dependent devices, specified in the Data File panel of each device's tab in the Configuration window

      • filter group data file, specified in the Data File panel on the Configuration window's Filter Grps tab

      • memory files via the Config window's Memory tab

      • custom S-meter files

      • user-defined control sequences, sliders, and control sets

    2. in DXKeeper

      • log file, designated in the Log File panel on the Configuration window's Log tab

      • log backup files, whose folder is specified in the Backup Folder panel on the Configuration window's Log tab

    3. in SpotCollector

      • spot database, the pathname for which is specified in the Spot Database File panel on the Configuration window's Spot Database tab

      • sub-band definition file specified in the Sub-band Definition panel on the Configuration window's General tab (if you changed it)

      • audio files specified in the Audio Alarm panel on the Configuration window's General tab (if you changed them

      • Log file reference for award purposes panel on the Configuration window's Spot Database tab: if your DXKeeper log was relocated, then

        • if Log last opened by DXKeeper is selected, then running DXKeeper will convey the relocated log's location to SpotCollector

        • if Use log in specified pathname is selected, specify the pathname of the relocated log

        • if Query operator when DXKeeper log changes is selected, then running DXKeeper will convey the relocated log's location to SpotCollector

    4. in WinWarbler

      • any .wav files you created for phone voice keying (specified in the .wav file folder setting on the Configuration window's Phone tab)

  9. rename any remaining source folders (e.g. if the source folder for WinWarbler is c:\program files\winwarbler and this folder was not deleted by the Add/Remove Programs applet, rename it to c:\program files\old_winwarbler

  10. delete any desktop shortcuts to DXLab applications that reference the source folder

  11. run each relocated DXLab application and verify correct operation
  12. delete the remaining source folders renamed in step 9

Note that the RelocationBackup workspace created in step 3h was not used in this process. Uninstalling and re-installing a DXLab application should not modify its settings; should there be a problem, however, these settings can be recovered from the RelocationBackup workspace by

  1. clicking the Workspace button on the Launcher's Configuration window

  2. selecting the RelocationBackup workspace in the Launcher's Workspaces window

  3. clicking the Update button

After recovering settings in this way, you'll need to repeat step 8

Post a question or suggestion on the DXLab Discussion Group

Getting Started with DXLab

MovingBetweenFolders (last edited 2023-11-06 19:52:14 by AA6YQ)