As a Mac user and a new ham operator starting to play with digital modes (mainly JT65, PSK31 and RTTY) I’ve been envious of the variety of Windows based apps available compared to what’s available on the Mac. For the past few weeks I’ve been mainly using the following:
- RUMLog – as my main logging app
- FLDIGI or CocoaModem as my digital mode app
- JT65-HF ported to the Mac
These have all been working fine, but from seeing videos online of people using HRD and the integrated digital mode app together with the HRD logging, it kept bothering me every time I had to manually type in details from a QSO into my logging app.
Since we have a HP Mini netbook running Windows 7, I decided to check out the still (up until fairly recently) free version of Ham Radio Deluxe (5.24), and was surprised to find I couldn’t work out how to make my updates to my PSK macros save. Every time I made changes in the Macro Manager, they would never be reflected in the app.
It turns out that from a new installation, HRD either protects the directory where your macros files are saved, and/or installs the default macro files as read-only, so no matter what you do in the app, you can never save any updates to your macro files. What’s worse, the app doesn’t give any indication that it’s failing to save your updates, it just carries on regardless.
Luckily I can across this thread and once I took off the r/o flag on the macro files I was able to save my edits.
Now that HRD 6.x+ is $100, I’m not sure if I’m that enthusiastic about spending $100 on an app that doesn’t by default allow me to customize my preferences, and worse still, doesn’t tell me when something is failing (incorrect permissions to write to a file). Still, I am impressed with the digital modes and log integration, so I’m going to be trying it out for a while and see how it goes.
Bonjour Cher OM
Je rencontre les meme problemes que vous !
Impossible d’enregistrer mes macros avec la version “Free” 5.24.036
Avez vous une solution a me proposer ??????
73
Bernard F4GHG
Bernard – the link in my post discusses this issue and a solution – you have to remove the read-only property on a number of the files used to store the macros.
73, Kevin KK6DCT
Since the original post you link to is gone, but the problem still exists for many, it would be very useful if this post detailed exactly what needs to be done. I’m a Linux user and I have no idea what HRD does with it’s Macro files. Could you enlighten me? Kindest regards. M1GEO
I did’t continue using HRD in the end as it was too sluggish on the HP Mini that I had it installed on and the alternative apps I’m using on my Mac meet my needs.
To remove the readonly flag you right click the DMMacroDefns.xml file, and uncheck the ‘Read Only’ property. On Windows XP it looks like this file is in C:Documents and SettingsusernameApplication DataSimon Brown, HB9DRVDigital Master 780. On Windows 7 I think the same file will be in (I don’t have a Windows 7 machine at hand to check right now) C:UsersusernameApplication DataSimon Brown, HB9DRVDigital Master 780
If you’re not seeing the ‘Application Data’ folder then you need to select ‘Show Hidden Files and Folders’ in Windows Explorer/Tools/Folder Options/View/Files and Folders. Hope that helps. 73.