CSV Export and Import Features by G4EML

Description
Managing large codeplugs for DMR radios can be difficult using the CPS. The CSV export and Import
feature enables major edits and modifications to be made using a spreadsheet program such as
Microsoft Excel or LibreOffice Calc. Using spreadsheet programs allows the use of their powerful
editing facilities such as Copy and paste, sorting, find and replace, automatic number incrementing, etc.

A codeplug contains several different types of data. Some items such as the users DMR ID are only
entered in one place, other items consist of large tables of entries.

The CSV functions only addresses the five main lists:-

Contacts:- These define the DMR IDs of regularly used Talkgroups and Individual users.
TG Lists:- These arrange regularly used Contacts into convenient groupings.
Channels:- These are the definitions of the RF parameters needed for communication.
Zones:- These arrange channels into convenient groupings.
DTMF:- These specify DTMF tone sequences which may be used for some analogue repeaters.

The Export function extracts the data for the 5 lists from the curently open codeplug and saves that data
in 5 separate files. Contacts.csv, TG_Lists.csv, Channels.csv, Zones.csv and DTMF.csv.

The format of these files is CSV or comma separated variables. This type of file can be opened and
modified using any spreadsheet program. The 5 files are expected to be contained in a single folder.

Because the five different lists cross refer to each other it is important to keep all five files together and
synchronized. For example if you rename a channel in the Channels.csv file then you must also rename
it in the Zones.csv file.

Once the files have been modified using a spreadsheet they should be saved back as .csv files.
The Import function can then be used to import those modified files back into the currently open
codeplug which can then be loaded into the radio.
Menu Functions

The CSV functions are found in the File / CSV sub menu.

Export to CSV

Displays a dialogue asking for a folder in which to save the .csv files. It is recommended that the five
files are saved into their own folder. This can be an existing one or you can create a new one. The
folder should be named to indicate the contents of the .csv files.
Once you have selected the folder the five .csv files will be created in that folder.
A summary of the file contents will be displayed.

The exact format of the CSV files will be determined by the regional setting of your computer.
The decimal separator will be either a full-stop (period) e.g. 145.525 or a comma e.g. 145,525
The Field separator will be either a comma , or a semi colon.;

Import from CSV

Displays a dialogue asking for the folder containing the .csv files. Once you have selected the folder
the files will be read and inserted into the currently open codeplug.

Important note:- Any existing contacts, TG Lists, Channels, Zones and DTMF Lists will be deleted
and replaced with the ones from the .csv files. This is the recommended way of sorting and reloading
existing codeplugs.
After loading a summary of the new codeplug contents will be displayed.

Append from CSV

Displays a dialogue asking for the folder containing the .csv files. Once you have selected the folder
the files will be read and appended to the currently loaded codeplug.

Important note:- If the name of an entry in any of the .csv files is the same as an existing entry in the
codeplug then the codeplug entry will be overwritten with the new data. If the name of an entry in
the .csv file is unique then it will be appended to the end of the codeplug.
Matching is done using the name of an item and not the data. So it is possible to end up with, for
example, two channels with identical settings but different names.

After the appending process has completed a summary of the new codeplug contents will be displayed.
This should reflect any changes in the number of items.
Typical workflows

To rearrange an existing codeplug:-

Using the CPS:-

Download the codeplug from the radio.
Save the Codeplug as a .g77 file as a backup.

File / CSV / Export to CSV

Using a spreadsheet program such as Excel:-

Open each .csv file and edit, rearrange, modify as required. Re-save as .csv files.

Using the CPS:-

Open the saved codeplug.
File / CSV / Import from CSV.
Save the new codeplug with new name.

Check the changes have been made correctly.

Download the codeplug to the radio.

To append new channels from .csv files to an existing codeplug:-

Note:- this method is the fastest but will result in existing channels being renumbered. If the actual
channel numbers are important (for quick access in the ‘All Channels’ zone) then you need to use the
previous method to manually combine .csv files and assign channel numbers to suit.

Using the CPS:-

Download the codeplug from the radio.
Save the Codeplug as a .g77 file as a backup.

File / Csv / Append from CSV

Save the updated Codeplug with a new name.

Check the additions have been made correctly.

Download the codeplug to the radio.
CSV Files

Each .csv file can be opened with a spreadsheet program. Normally there will be a dialogue before
opening the file. Ensure that the separator or delimiter option is set correctly to semi-colon or comma to
suit your file. This will ensure that the entries are correctly assigned to columns in the spreadsheet.

When saving the files after editing make sure that they are saved in .csv format and not the normal
spreadsheet format.

When modifying the file it is important to ensure that the columns remain in the same order. For
example when creating a new channel it is easiest if you copy the entire line of an existing channel and
then paste it as the new channel. Then edit the contents of that new channel. This ensures that all
columns contain valid data.

Each cell of the spreadsheet can contain a number or text depending on their use. It is important that the
text used in some columns is exactly correct including captalisation. For example ‘No’ is not the same
as ‘no’.
For this reason it is best to copy and paste from another cell with a similar setting. Valid values are
listed below.

You may find that some entries are preceded by a Tab character, this is used when a column contains
numbers and may be interpreted incorrectly by the spreadsheet program. Adding a leading Tab forces
the field to be treated as a string. The extra character is removed when re-imported into the utility.

Contacts.csv

The first line is the Header line and should not be changed.
The 4 Columns are as follows:-

Contact Name:- Displayed name of the Contact.

ID:- ID number used for this contact.

ID Type:- ‘Group’, ‘Private’ or ‘AllCall’

TS Override:- ‘Disabled’, ‘1’ or ‘2’

TG_Lists.csv

The first line is the Header line and should not be changed.
The 33 Columns are as follows:-

TG List Name:- Displayed name of the TG List.

Contact1-Contact32:- Text entries for each member of the TG List. These names must match exactly
the names defined in contacts.csv. A maximum of 32 entries. Can be left blank if not needed.
Zones.csv

The first line is the Header line and should not be changed.
The 81 Columns are as follows:-

Zone Name:- Displayed name of this Zone.

Channel 1 – Channel 80 :- Channel name for each member of this zone. These names must match
exactly the names defined in channels.csv.

Channels.csv

The first line is the Header line and should not be changed.
The 24 Columns are as follows:-

Channel Number:- A number that defines the ‘All Channels’ channel number for this entry.

This can be between 1 and 1023. When loaded into a radio that is set to the ‘All channels’ zone the
channel can be directly accessed by keying in this number. Numbers do not have to be sequential and
can have gaps but they do have to be unique. It is recommended that this column is renumbered after
any editing of the spreadsheet. Also note that if you use the ‘Append CSVs to Codeplug’ option this
number is ignored and all existing channels will be compacted and numbered sequentially.

Channel Name:- Displayed name of the Channel.

Channel Type:- ‘Digital’ or ‘Analogue’

Rx Frequency:- A numeric entry. Can use comma or full-stop as the decimal separator.

Tx Frequency:- A numeric entry. Can use comma or full-stop as the decimal separator.

Bandwidth kHz :- ‘12.5’ ‘12,5’ or ‘25’ (blank for a digital channel as these are always 12.5kHz)

Colour Code:- 0-15 (blank for an analogue channel)

Timeslot::- 1 or 2 (blank for an analogue channel)

Contact::- Can be a name in the Contact list or ‘None’ if not used. (blank for an analogue channel)

TG List:- Can be a name in the TG List or ‘None’ if not used. (blank for an analogue channel)

DMR ID:- DMR ID Override value or ‘None’ if not used. (blank for an analogue channel)

TS1_TA_Tx:- ‘Off’ , ‘APRS’ , ‘Text’ , ‘APRS+Text’ (blank for an analogue channel)

TS2_TA+Tx:- ‘Off’ , ‘APRS’ , ‘Text’ , ‘APRS+Text’ (blank for an analogue channel)

Rx Tone:- ‘None’, ‘nnn.n’ if CTCSS, ‘DnnnI’ or ‘DnnnN’ if DCS (blank for a Digital channel)

Tx Tone:- ‘None’, ‘nnn.n’ if CTCSS, ‘DnnnI’ or ‘DnnnN’ if DCS (blank for a Digital channel)

Squelch:- ‘Disabled’, ‘Open’, ‘nn%’ or ‘Closed’ (blank for a Digital channel)

Power:- ‘Master’, ‘P1’, ‘P2’, ‘P3’, ‘P4’, ‘P5’, ‘P6’, ‘P7’, ‘P8 , ‘P9’ or ‘-W+’

Rx Only:- ‘No’ or ‘Yes’

Zone Skip:- ‘No’ or ‘Yes’

All Skip:- ‘No’ or ‘Yes’

TOT:- 0-495 in steps of 15.

VOX:- ‘Off’ or ‘On’

No Beep:- ‘Yes’ or ‘No’

No Eco:- ‘Yes’ or ‘No’

DTMF.csv

The first line is the Header line and should not be changed.
The 2 Columns are as follows:-

Contact Name:- The displayed name for this contact.

Code:- The DTMF sequence for this contact. Only characters 0123456789ABCD*# are valid