Invalid File Format

Forum for discussing PicoLog
Post Reply
John G
User
User
Posts: 3
Joined: Wed Sep 12, 2007 12:51 pm
Location: Halifax, NS

Invalid File Format

Post by John G »

I have a series of data collected into a PLW file using a TC08. I opened the file using PicoLog Player, added some notes to the file and then closed the program. Afterwards, when I went to open this file again, I get an error popup window stating "Invalid File Format". Currently the file is only 11 KB large, which concerns me since previous files of similar data were around 170 KB (I don't recall the size of this particular file prior to the corruption event). Is there any way I can recover this file and data? I've spent 2 days setting up an experiment to collect this data, so I need to do whatever I can to try and recover it. Any help is appreciated.

I've attached the invalid file

Thanks
John
Attachments
Clarks Trial 1b Sep 11,2008.PLW
(10.46 KiB) Downloaded 654 times

PeterF
Advanced User
Advanced User
Posts: 435
Joined: Thu Jun 07, 2007 10:53 am
Location: Cambridgeshire

Post by PeterF »

Hi John,
Unfortunately you appear to have overwritten a large data file with a small, empty one of the same name. The new file only contains setup info, no data. It would be very difficult to recover anything of the old file in this case, because of the over-writing. It is always best to make copy of an original file first, before doing any manipulation.
Regards,
PeterF.

John G
User
User
Posts: 3
Joined: Wed Sep 12, 2007 12:51 pm
Location: Halifax, NS

Post by John G »

That's unfortunate. Looks like I have another day's work to re-do my trials. It's too bad the program does not ask before overwriting. I was not given an option to save or create new - I simply added notes to the file that was open.

John G
User
User
Posts: 3
Joined: Wed Sep 12, 2007 12:51 pm
Location: Halifax, NS

Post by John G »

What about the fact that the file is now an invalid file format? Has anyone run into this before? It looks like I'm going to have to export data to excel as soon as I capture it so that I don't risk losing it.

ziko
Advanced User
Advanced User
Posts: 1705
Joined: Fri Dec 01, 2006 10:03 am
Location: St Neots

Post by ziko »

Hi, the fact that it says invalid file format is because the file has lost its data and has become a settings file but the extension has remained as a plw .

If you change the file extension to .pls then you can open the file as a settings file in PicoLog Recorder.

It should not do this, I and a colleague tried to recreate this problem with no success.

Is the problem repeatable, if so could you tell me exactly what steps you have taken for this to happen.

Kind regards

Ziko
Ziko

Technical Specialist

Guest

Lost Data Invalid File Format

Post by Guest »

I have lost many data files in a manner similar to John, including one regarding a case in litigation! I tried to tell the court I used to have proof the opposing expert was wrong, but I had lost the file. That went over like a turd in a punchbowl.

I wasn't able to replicate the problem regularly, but it happened so often that I started copying the files to another drectory and renaming them. I hadn't modified them, just reviewed and printed them. Printed them to pdf995 if that makes any difference. Had version R.25 that came on CD with my TC-08 usb. Hopefully the version I just downloaded will be better.

PeterF
Advanced User
Advanced User
Posts: 435
Joined: Thu Jun 07, 2007 10:53 am
Location: Cambridgeshire

Post by PeterF »

Hi,
We have found that one way of getting corruption is by trying to open .plw files by double-clicking on them instead of opening PicoLog first and going "File"\"Open". Double-clicking opens up PicoLog and loads the .plw file but only as a settings file and when you close down it re-saves the file but without some or all of the data. We will put a fix in the next issue of PicoLog which will allow safe double-clicking to load but in the meantime, avoid it! To be safe, assign the filetype .plw to notepad, not plw32.exe.
Regards,
PeterF.

Post Reply