How Should I Reconstruct My Data?

[N3FNE]

Earlier this year, I moved from Maryland to Georgia. In the process of moving to a smaller house, I got rid of my older computers, including the Windows 95 model that I used to log my paperchasing activities using Win1010. Before giving away this particular model, I backed up my data onto floppy disks and also copied over all the email upgrades I had done since 2000. However, I never actually opened these files to see what they contained; I just assumed they had everything I needed. When I arrived in Georgia and unpacked everything, I loaded Win1010 on the new computer and went to load in the data. Much to my dismay, I had backed up everything EXCEPT the chapters data. So, I have all the 10-10 numbers I've ever collected, VP numbers, etc but no points or seals for any chapters. Hoping for the best, I checked the email upgrades I saved, but they did not break the data out per call. In other words, the emails just listed the old points, new points, and total points. In digging through piles of older floppies, I found some chapter data from a full back up I did in 2003 or so. I plan to eventually load the 2003 data and since I've saved every list I've ever received (paper and electronic), I guess I can go through it all for the chapters I actively follow and update those. The question then is how do I determine which points I've already claimed. Since I also saved all the email upgrades, I could play around with the claimed points so that they match the information in the emails but they would never be 100% accurate. Has anyone else gone through an exercise similar to this one? What did you do?

[kz3t]

Pete -- I know there has to be others out there that has had similar problems and I'm not sure how they fixed their problem and there probably are a number of ways. I'm not sure mine is the best and hopefully someone else can chime in and give some input as well. I would say to input all the data from your lists. Now, if you have several lists from me (for example) you only need to use the latest list I sent you and input all that data. Once you get all that done you will need to check each chapter and see what the various point totals are and how close you come to what you had on your upgrades you saved. Then I would suggest just adding some points to other people you know you have worked since until you get to the point that the points are correct. True, it will not be 100% accurate but it eventually will be when you start working some of these people. Because if you put me down for say 1000 points for a chapter and then added 200 to make the points total match up then the next list you get from me say I then have 1300 points you would only get an extra 100 points from me instead of the full 300 because you padded 200 points in there. But, at least now my stats in your program would then be accurate. I hope that made sense and it is something that will definitely take some time to get fixed. You also might want to check with Jim, K4HAV and see what his suggestions will be. Hope this helps a little bit

[N3FNE]

Thanks for the reply. I actually did correspond with Jim when I first discovered the problem. Your recommendations are pretty much what I have thought I should do. Getting the data in the computer is going to be a bit time consuming; at least we are at the low point in the sun spot cycle!

[kz3t]

Oh yes it will be a bit time consuming for sure. I took a layoff back in the 90's and had to re-input some data and it took some doing. I'm sure you'll get it though especially, like you said, low end of sunspot cycle. Have you tried the chat room yet? Maybe we can get together and chat some time. You can get to it from the 10-10 web site under the misc tab and then under the website tools tab ... I visited family in Westminster but just after you left..

[N3FNE]

I haven't tried out the chat room yet. Perhaps I can get into it this weekend. Sorry we never got together for an eyeball QSO in Westminster. If you are going to the convention this year, I'll see you there!

[N3FNE]

In re-poking my chapter data into the program, I learned that it will likely take more time than I ever suspected. Most of the lists I've done so far require manual entry, and a fair sized list can take up to 30 minutes to type in given the points and seals. I sure do appreciate those folks who use the ML format since those take maybe 2 minutes to enter! Given that I have hundreds of lists to go, I don't think I'll have this project done in time for the convention .