Help, please: How to convert Diamante backup file to .ecl Eclipse file???

[Quyen]

I'm having problems with my computer.  The hard drive might be corrupt.  I'm posting using that computer right now, but last night was having a heck of a time even getting the computer to get past the boot.  It would just freeze once it loaded up. Ran a virus check; it's clean.

Anyway, it seems to be working now, but I'm not taking down a depo, and I'm holding my breath using it, just waiting for it to crash.  I'm afraid to take it on a job and have it crash.  So just to be a wee bit prepared for the crash, does anyone know how to convert the job file from the Diamante to an .ecl Eclipse file? Is it even possible? I think the Stenograph extension is .sgx or some such. Too lazy to pull the SD card to take a look.

Help, please!  Thanks!  :)

[Kelli Combs (admin)]

Actually, I'd like to know the answer to that question too.  I bet Tech Support knows how it's done. 

[Quyen]

Thought I could come here for a quick answer, but . . . I guess not, lol.  After a little research, this is what I came up with:

There is a program that came with the Diamante CD, DateTimeToStentura.exe in the Utilities. Copy that to your desktop and launch. Put the Diamante SD card in your laptop.  Once the DateTimeToStentura program is launched, navigate to the file you want to convert and choose the destination where you want the converted file to end up. Then in Eclipse, the file could be converted. I've attached the PDF that came with the CD to explain this process in detail.

[Janet]

Hi Quyen,

I didn't respond because I couldn't remember the file extension for the steno.  It might be what you wrote above.  I have done it and have not used the program you just mentioned.  I put the SD card in my laptop.  It shows up as an external drive in Computer or My Computer.  There are folders for each month on the SD card.  Just go into the folder, right click on the steno file and click Copy.  Then go into Eclipse, CTRL F to get into the file manager, then explore, then paste (CTRL V).  Then to convert, click on Tools at the top of the main screen, Convert, From Another System, Note Files, Case Catalyst.  That will convert the steno to Eclipse.

[Jo Ann Bryce]

Instead of doing it that way, I stick a thumb drive in the back of my writer and copy it from the memory.  Then I take it and do the conversion.  I find it is much easier.

 

[Quyen]

That's very helpful, Janet and Jo Ann. Thank you.

Jo Ann, I see the USB port in the back of the machine.  I haven't looked around on the writer (Diamante) to see how to copy.  Would you mind telling me how you do the copy from the writer's memory directly to the USB drive.  Thanks!

[Jo Ann Bryce]

All you have to do is plug your thumb drive into the back of the Diamante, click on Storage and then you have the option of the SD Card, Memory, Backup.  When I have had to copy from my writer, I usually do from memory and grab my notes and translate on my computer because I'm on Eclipse.  It gives a cleaner translation.  All you have to do is highlight which file you want to copy and tell it to copy to thumb drive and, voila, it's done.

Hope that helps. 

[Quyen]

Thanks, Jo Ann.  I will have to try that just in case I have to do it one day.

[Kelli Combs (admin)]

OMG, my head is spinning.  I have no idea what you guys are talking about.  Bet I would have to make a tech call on this one.

Quyen,  what happened to where you even had to do this to begin with?  Did your computer crash or something??

[Quyen]

Yes.  My computer kept blue-screening on me. Luckily, this happened when I got home from a job and not on the job. Once I got it booted up, I couldn't get any of the programs to run. As soon as I tried to launch a program, any program, my computer would freeze and give me the BSoD (blue screen of death) and shut down.  As Murphy's Law would have it, my tech supp. contract ended just the prior week. I spent a good eight to nine hours into the wee hours of the morning (3 a.m., with a depo that same morning), trying to figure out what was wrong with it. I frantically went online and ordered a new laptop for $1,000.  Wound up having to use one of my loaners for the job in the morning. Thank goodness I already had Eclipse loaded and ready to go . . . on ALL my loaners. The loaner did fine, not great, but certainly adequate in the jam that I was in.

Came home and gave another shot at troubleshooting it.  I think what happened was, my antivirus/computer maintenance program messed up my computer's registry with a bad update. You never want to mess with the registry unless you REALLY know what you're doing.  This same program also removed all the restore points far back enough for me to resort to. Did some Internet research, ran some diagnostics and I was actually able to fix it myself.  I'm writing this post on it now. I stress-tested it and ran Eclipse, the Internet (with about 10 tabs open), Windows Explorer, Word and photo-editing program all at the same time, and it did not crash anymore. Took it on a job yesterday, and it was just fine. Used my photo-editing program, which is a pretty resource-intensive program, and it was chugging right along. As much of a tank this thing is, weighing in at 6+ lbs., I quite like it and am super happy I was able to fix it and have it back now.

Meanwhile . . . my brand-new laptop is being shipped. *sigh*

Oh well. I've been meaning to get a new real backup laptop anyway and not rely on my loaners. This just pushed me over the edge sooner rather than later. :)

[Janet]

I had registry errors before.  What a PITA.  I tried using the advanced functions of my anti-malware program and ended up with registry errors.  I was able to restore from a prior point, thankfully.

 

What photo editing software do you use, Quyen?  I've been looking for one.

[Quyen]

I use Corel Paint Shop Pro X (there are newer versions). It's an XP version, and I've got it installed on my Vista.  On Vista, almost all of the functions still work.  Just, when I close certain layers, the program crashes on me sometimes, but I just relaunch and save OFTEN, LOL.  I think PSP is a lot more user friendly than Photo Shop. There are a bunch of tutorials online that you could look up and self-teach yourself to use the program, which is what I did. I don't know if I bought a bootlegged copy for $30-some, but it only came with the CD and no user manual, haha.  I'm using it to make some banners for my sister's wedding shower next weekend.