# eDNC Special Character Fix

Real-time file watcher that automatically removes invalid special characters from DNC (Direct Numerical Control) program files.

## Problem

Some legacy DNC systems and communication protocols add padding or termination bytes that modern CNC controllers cannot process correctly. Common problematic characters include:

| Byte | Hex | Name | Description |
|------|-----|------|-------------|
| 255 | 0xFF | Fill | Padding/fill character |
| 0 | 0x00 | NULL | Null character |
| 26 | 0x1A | SUB | Ctrl+Z / EOF marker |
| 127 | 0x7F | DEL | Delete character |

## Solution

This utility monitors a folder for DNC files and automatically strips specified characters as soon as files are created or modified.

## Installation

1. Copy the project folder to your DNC workstation
2. Edit `eDNC-SpecialCharFix.ps1` to set your watch folder (default: `C:\Dnc_Files\Q`)
3. Run `Run-eDNCFix.bat` or create a shortcut

### Run at Startup (Optional)

To run automatically at Windows startup:

1. Press `Win + R`, type `shell:startup`, press Enter
2. Create a shortcut to `Run-eDNCFix.bat` in the Startup folder

## Usage

### Basic Usage

Double-click `Run-eDNCFix.bat` or run from PowerShell:

```powershell
.\eDNC-SpecialCharFix.ps1
```

### Custom Watch Folder

```powershell
.\eDNC-SpecialCharFix.ps1 -WatchFolder "D:\DNC\Programs"
```

### Different File Types

```powershell
.\eDNC-SpecialCharFix.ps1 -FileFilter "*.nc"
```

### Remove Additional Characters

```powershell
# Remove 0xFF, NULL, and SUB characters
.\eDNC-SpecialCharFix.ps1 -CharactersToRemove @(255, 0, 26)
```

### All Options

```powershell
.\eDNC-SpecialCharFix.ps1 `
    -WatchFolder "C:\Dnc_Files\Q" `
    -FileFilter "*.pun" `
    -IncludeSubfolders $true `
    -CharactersToRemove @(255)
```

## Parameters

| Parameter | Type | Default | Description |
|-----------|------|---------|-------------|
| WatchFolder | String | C:\Dnc_Files\Q | Folder to monitor |
| FileFilter | String | *.pun | File pattern to watch |
| IncludeSubfolders | Boolean | $true | Watch subdirectories |
| CharactersToRemove | Int[] | @(255) | Byte values to strip |

## Output

The script displays real-time activity:

```
========================================
 eDNC Special Character Fix v1.0.0
========================================

Configuration:
  Watch Folder:    C:\Dnc_Files\Q
  File Filter:     *.pun
  Subfolders:      True
  Removing bytes:  255 (0xFF)

Watching for files... Press Ctrl+C to stop

2025-12-12 08:30:15 | Created | PART001.pun
  [CLEANED] Removed 3 byte(s)
2025-12-12 08:30:22 | Changed | PART002.pun
  [OK] No special characters found
```

## Requirements

- Windows PowerShell 5.1 or later
- Read/Write access to the watch folder

## Troubleshooting

### "Watch folder does not exist"
Create the folder or specify a different path with `-WatchFolder`.

### "File locked" errors
The script retries up to 3 times if a file is locked. If errors persist, the file may be in use by another application.

### Script doesn't detect files
- Verify the file extension matches `-FileFilter`
- Check that `-IncludeSubfolders` is set correctly
- Ensure the script has permissions to the folder

## Version History

| Version | Date | Changes |
|---------|------|---------|
| 1.0.0 | 2025-12-12 | Initial release |

## Author

GE Aerospace - Rutland