## GridTracker Program Files

### Windows
In a nutshell, for Windows users who have done the default program installation your GridTracker program files are stored in
```batch
C:/Program Files (x86)/GridTracker
``` 
or
```batch
C:/Program Files/GridTracker
```
depending on if it's a 32 or 64 bit Windows installation.

### MacOS

GridTracker runs usually from the Applications directory (assuming it was dragged there when installed).

### Linux

This will depend a little on if you used an RPM on a Red Hat based sytem, or where you placed the de-compressed GridTracker tar.gz package in your file system.

On RedHat based systems (RedHat, CentOS, Scientific Linux, Fedora) that used the RPM package. GridTracker's system directory lives at 
```bash
/usr/share/gridtracker/
```

On any other system you have the option to copy the decompressed tar.gz package to `/usr/share/gridtracker` and the _gridtracker.desktop_ file into the appropriate directory for it to show up in your systems Application launcher menu. Alternatively you can just decompress the tar.gz into your choice of directory and execute the GridTracker executable from there. This makes for easy use of running GridTracker off removable storage such as a flashdrive.

## GridTracker Data Files

### The user _media_ directory

Regardless of which Operating System is used, if you choose to add additional media files to use for alerts within GridTracker, there is a nifty place you can put them without having to dive deep into the guts of your file system. If you look in the data directory where your `GridTracker_QSO.adif` file is, you'll see a folder named media. Place your media files in there and restart GridTracker. On startup, GridTracker scans that directory for files and adds them to it's list of available media for alerts.

### Windows

If you have done a default installation of GridTracker and you *DO NOT* have OneDrive, your data files are stored at 
```batch
C:/Users/%user%/Documents/GridTracker/
```

If you have done a default installation of GridTracker and you have OneDrive your data files are stored at 
```batch
C:/Users/%user%/OneDrive/Documents/GridTracker/
```

Files stored in OneDrive are continually backed up **_but only one version is saved_**.  If you choose to delete a file from One Drive you will get a warning message asking if you're sure you want to take that step because once a file is deleted it is gone forever.  

If you would like to maintain a _local_ backup for either your GridTracker logbook file (GridTracker_QSO.adif) or your WSJT-X log (wsjtx_log.adi) files you will have to do it by hand..  There's no provision in either program to create a backup.  What you can do, though, is use GridTracker's logging function ([**Settings>Logging**](GridTracker-Overview/Settings-Sub-Menus.md#logging-tab)) to automatically send info on new QSOs to one of eleven different applications that are dedicated logging sites.

#### Being Fooled into Thinking You've Deleted a File

A Special Note for Windows Users:  

You can _think_ that you have deleted your GridTracker_QSO.adif file because of the peculiarities of how Windows file directory windows operate.  You \[probably\] haven't.  

Let's say you've clicked the **Clear Log** button in the main GridTracker control panel to clear out GridTracker's working database.  You next decide to load back in the GridTracker_QSO.adif file by clicking the ADIF button. Windows will show you a directory window from which you can select the file.

!["The Open Dialog showing ADI files only"](img/GT_Files_WinOneDrive_ADIFOnly.png)

Note:  the directory window is (by default) showing you **only** the files with an **.adi** file extension.  Since the extension for the the GridTracker_QSO.adif file is different it's not listed.  

To find it just click on the down arrow  ˅ (see red arrow above) to have **All Files (\*.\*)** displayed and there's the GridTracker_QSO.adif file safe and sound.  

!["The Open Dialog showing all files"](img/GT_Files_WinOneDrive_AllFiles.png)

### MacOS

User files on MacOS are stored in 
```bash
~/Documents/GridTracker/
```

### Linux

If you are using Linux, data files are saved at 
```bash
/home/$USER/Documents/GridTracker/
```