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Author Topic: is there PDS reader/exporter written in Pascal  (Read 632 times)

Weiss

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is there PDS reader/exporter written in Pascal
« on: July 08, 2026, 09:00:40 pm »
bumped into data with file extension *.PDSReplayer . I played with changing extensions, and unpacking compressed file. All data turned out to be in binary or hex format, except strings, like names of parameters and things like that. I can get peekaboo view of actual data through some on-line PDS converters, so it is not encrypted, but rather is in a proprietary wrapper.

Is there PDS converter or reader written in Pascal that I can tap into? Or at least any information on how PDS data is organized so that I can mess with building my own reader.

Before you ask, this is all kosher.

dbannon

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Re: is there PDS reader/exporter written in Pascal
« Reply #1 on: July 09, 2026, 04:50:27 am »

A quick google indicates it might be one of -
  • Planetary Data System
  • PowerDirector Script
  • Personal Data Sheet

or quite a lot more. Only you know what sort of data you expect so, maybe you need to google yourself ?

Davo
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CM630

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Re: is there PDS reader/exporter written in Pascal
« Reply #2 on: July 10, 2026, 08:20:34 am »

A quick google indicates it might be one of -
  • Planetary Data System
  • PowerDirector Script
  • Personal Data Sheet

or quite a lot more. Only you know what sort of data you expect so, maybe you need to google yourself ?

Davo


bumped into data with file extension *.PDSReplayer ....
:D

...Kongskilde Agriculture equipment... sounds quite hopeless to find a ready solution, but if you have a tool to generate data, maybe it will not be impossible to make a converter.
Лазар 4,8 32 bit (sometimes 64 bit); FPC3,2,2

cdbc

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Re: is there PDS reader/exporter written in Pascal
« Reply #3 on: July 10, 2026, 08:59:50 am »
Hi
With this searchmask: "Kongskilde Agriculture equipment + PDSReplayer",
I quickly found THIS with google...
Regards Benny
If it ain't broke, don't fix it ;)
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Weiss

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Re: is there PDS reader/exporter written in Pascal
« Reply #4 on: July 11, 2026, 06:55:58 am »
of course I have seen that one, just like you, by googling my first 5 minutes. The question was, "exporter written in Pascal". I can see how PDSReplayer thing can be un-wrapped, I can guess the rest of the files structure. I was hoping that someone have already done this.

Aruna

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Re: is there PDS reader/exporter written in Pascal
« Reply #5 on: July 11, 2026, 04:13:54 pm »
of course I have seen that one, just like you, by googling my first 5 minutes. The question was, "exporter written in Pascal". I can see how PDSReplayer thing can be un-wrapped, I can guess the rest of the files structure. I was hoping that someone have already done this.
It is difficult to determine the exact nature of the file without looking at it directly. If possible, please share a link to the .PDSreplayer file you found. That will allow us to inspect its contents and figure out its internal structure.Since you have already tried unzipping the archive and peeking at its contents, I have attached a simple, pure Pascal ZIP example for you to test. While it might not match your exact needs, it should give you a solid starting point.When you mentioned an "exporter written in Pascal," what is your main goal? Are you trying to open the .PDSreplayer file and extract all its internal files, or do you have a different workflow in mind?

jamie

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Re: is there PDS reader/exporter written in Pascal
« Reply #6 on: July 11, 2026, 04:38:58 pm »
its farm data from what I can gather and it's in XML/JSON which means it most likely can be viewed with the proper web interface which many apps on hand devices use because it's simple and portable.

 So, the uncompressed file should present basic structures, however, in order to view it properly, you do need to original UI, it looks like it's an on-the-fly system and subjected to changes and most likely has version info at the start of the file.

Jamie
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Dzandaa

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Re: is there PDS reader/exporter written in Pascal
« Reply #7 on: July 11, 2026, 05:44:58 pm »
Hello everybody,

@Weiss:

Have a look at:

https://pds.nasa.gov/tools/about/

And

https://github.com/OSGeo/gdal/tree/release/3.13/frmts/pds

I worked with NASA (JPL) a very, very long time ago, and I know that their data format is complicated to decipher if you don't have the headers.

Good luck.

B->

« Last Edit: July 11, 2026, 05:48:49 pm by Dzandaa »
Regards,
Dzandaa

jamie

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Re: is there PDS reader/exporter written in Pascal
« Reply #8 on: July 11, 2026, 07:01:12 pm »
Sure I can whip that up in no time!  :D

I do not see the "randataset" files however ?

Maybe its part of the Dev tool chain that was used ?

Jamie
The only true wisdom is knowing you know nothing

Weiss

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Re: is there PDS reader/exporter written in Pascal
« Reply #9 on: July 15, 2026, 07:42:56 am »
this is ship's propulsion plant data from one of the ships I am working on. I changed my mind about trying to view the data. I will be twisting arms and wrenching a proper licensed viewer or csv exporter for that vessel. The software exists, it is a matter of pissing match now between ship owner and automation system installer.

Sorry for wasting your time, folks.


Weiss

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Re: is there PDS reader/exporter written in Pascal
« Reply #10 on: July 15, 2026, 10:47:53 am »
what is your main goal? Are you trying to open the .PDSreplayer file and extract all its internal files, or do you have a different workflow in mind?

I wanted to see csv data for each parameter, so that it can be used as arrays of numerical values (pressure, temperature etc) for calculations, like heat exchange, energy calculations etc.

By the way, Aruna, thanks for the quick PDSViewer project, works awesome. Did AI bot create it? Look similar to what AI bot wrote for me. Does AI walks around pillaging other people's code?

I opened some PDSReplayer files with your viewer. I can see, there is a collection of xaml, .dat, .bin, .ui, .sdf files. Xaml and DAT files can be read, as those  are text files. Other ones appear to  be binary data, with text headers. Probably doable to unwind the whole thing if I had to.

cdbc

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Re: is there PDS reader/exporter written in Pascal
« Reply #11 on: July 15, 2026, 10:55:30 am »
Hi
Quote
Other ones appear to  be binary data, with text headers.
Reverse engineer them and be done with it  ;D I mean, that only has to be done once and "Bob's you uncle"  :D
Regards Benny
If it ain't broke, don't fix it ;)
PCLinuxOS(rolling release) 64bit -> KDE6/QT6 -> FPC Release -> Lazarus Release &  FPC Main -> Lazarus Main

 

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