| System Dependencies | |
| Minimum PowerSDR Version: | 2.0.0 |
| Applicable Hardware: | Any SDR hardware |
Content provided by: FlexRadio Systems Engineering
Beginning with PowerSDR v2.0.0, all operational and user specific data, which includes the PowerSDR database, is no longer stored in the application folder found under ..\Program Files\.., but is kept in a user specific profile location specifically designed for data that changes during the operation of the application. The absolute path of the application data folder location and whether or not it is a hidden folder or not unfortunately changes depending on what Windows operating system you are using. Fortunately, Windows had made concessions in this regard and uses an environment variable to map the different paths to the application data folder location. This Windows environment variable is %APPDATA%. You can use this environment variable to display the path even if the folders are hidden.
To view the absolute path of the %APPDATA% environment variable and all of the other defined environment variables, just issue the set command from the Windows Run applet (WinKey + R), Windows Search box or a command window.
How to Select a Different Alternate Path for PowerSDR User Data
For each unique version of PowerSDR 2.x that is installed, there is a specific user application data folder for each version. While there is not a method for selecting a particular database to use when starting or initializing PowerSDR, there is a run-time argument or option that can be used when running the PowerSDR.exe executable that will direct it to use an alternate path for the application data folder location. This will allow you to keep separate PowerSDR databases and other files needed to operate the radio for different operating configurations or provide the ability to run multiple instances of PowerSDR on your PC at one time using a common application folder.
The run-time argument is: -datapath:[path]
Where [path] is the full path (without the brackets) to the folder that contains the user specific data for that version of PowerSDR. If the absolute path has any spaces in it, which is usually the case, then you must put double quotes ("path") around the path.
Also, there is no space between the ":" and the path statement.
The easiest way to create an alternate user data location is to make a copy of the current default user data folder (and it's sub folders) and use this as a template for defining an alternate user data folder. In the example below, an alternate user data folder will be created on a Win7 PC for PowerSDR version 2.0.0.
Step 1. - Determine the current location of the default user data folder for PowerSDR
- In the Win7 Search or Run box, enter (without the quotes) "%APPDATA%\FlexRadio Systems\". Once you enter this string, a listing of all the sub-folders will appear.
- Select the sub-folder path that contains the PowerSDR v2.0.0 folder (%APPDATA%\FlexRadio Systems\PowerSDR v2.0.0) and hit the <ENTER> key or click on OK to show the File Display dialog box.
Step 2. - Create an alternate data path folder
- Create a new alternate user data folder in any location you choose as long as you have full user level rights to access that folder. For this example, the folder will be called "PowerSDR v2.0.0 FLEX-1500"
NOTE: This folder must exist before executing the next step or you will receive an error
Step 3. - Start up PowerSDR using the -datapath:[path] run-time argument
There are several different ways to pass the run-time argument to PowerSDR 2.x when starting the application. You can create an application shortcut or start PowerSDR from the Run box or Command window. One other way is to create a small batch file to start the application. In the example below, a small batch file is used for starting PowerSDR showing the syntax of the -datapath:[path] run-time argument.
===== [ start of batch file ]=====
@echo off
REM - clear the screen of any junk
cls
REM - add some informational text...
echo.
echo Starting the FLEX-1500...
REM - change to the C: drive to make sure you are on the correct hard drive partition
C:
REM - change directory to where the PowerSDR executable is located
cd C:\Program Files\FlexRadio Systems\PowerSDR v2.0.0
REM - add some more informational text...
echo The FLEX-1500 and PowerSDR are Initializing...
REM - run PowerSDR with the -datapath run-time argument
powersdr.exe -datapath:"%appdata%\FlexRadio Systems\PowerSDR v2.0.0 FLEX-1500"
:END
===== [ end of batch file ]=====
When PowerSDR starts up it will use the database in this path location and will subsequently write any files to this path, such as wave files you create while using PowerSDR.
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