2018-10-29 by brian_downunda@...
1. My understanding is that qidf stands for QTR Ink Definition File, or something like that.
2. It is just a text file, and so ...
3. It could be edited in just a text editor, but ...
4. Windows users have the advantage over Mac users that QTRGui contains a Curve Creator component, which allows you to edit the qidf files in a GUI interface, thereby removing the risk that you'll get the structure of the qidf/txt file wrong. Saving a qidf generates the quad. There was a problem in W10 whereby the curve creator had problems storing files (both qidf and quad files IIRC) in the correct locations, but Roy has fixed this in recent releases.
5. There is no install command on Windows. You just place the files in the correct folders and they will appear in QTRGui. There are in fact two options, one of which requires administrator rights. See this post:
This is for files you download, e.g. Piezography. If you use the curve creator to generate curves then my recollection is that the quad is automatically generated and should appear as an option in QTRGui without any further intervention.
In theory you should be able to transfer QTR-related files from Win to Mac and visa-versa. In practice I've had problems using ICCs on a Mac that were QTR-generated on Win, but qidf and quad files are just text files and seem to transfer without issue. Except perhaps that on Mac there is a 32 character limit on the file name for a quad which doesn't seem to apply on Win.
6. Yes.
---In QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com, <david@...> wrote :
I use QTR on a Mac but must provide some user information to Windows users in an upcoming book.
My understanding is that while the Mac version uses a plain .txt file for profiles, the Windows version uses files with a .qidf extension.
1. What does .qidf stand for?
2. Is it also just a plain text file, or something else?
3. Can it be opened in a simple text editor and edited manually, like the Mac text files?
4. If not, MUST a .qidf file be edited within the Windows QTR interface?
5. If .qidf files can be directly manipulated as text files, can one also directly run the install script in the relevant profiles folder with a double-click as on the Mac, again bypassing the QTR interface?
6. Can .qidf files be manually duplicated and manually renamed, again, without the QTR GUI?
What I am hoping for is to be able to give the exact same instructions to users of both platforms.