# RDI-converter v3.2.3

**Mercurial revision 5786:5c8b45563631 | 2026-08-04**

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## Description

`RDI-converter` is a tool designed to **convert ADCP (Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler) files** from the old **RDI format** into a **standard ASCII file**. This conversion is particularly useful for processing and analyzing bathymetry data extracted from RDI ADCP files.

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## Usage

```bash
RDI-converter <input_file> <output_file>
```

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## Options


| Option         | Description                         |
| -------------- | ----------------------------------- |
| `-h`, `--help` | Display this help message and exit. |


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## Examples

### **Basic Conversion**

Convert an RDI ADCP file to ASCII format:

```bash
RDI-converter input.rdi output.asc
```

### **Display Help**

Show the help message:

```bash
RDI-converter -h
```

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## Environment Variables

This tool does not rely on any specific environment variables.

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## Notes

1. **Input File Format**:
  - The input file must be in the **old RDI ADCP format** (ASCII-based).
  - The tool reads the file line by line, extracting key data such as:
    - Date and time (year, month, day, hour, minute, second).
    - Geographic coordinates (latitude, longitude).
    - Bathymetry data (depth, velocity, etc.).
    - Beam status and other metadata.
2. **Output File Format**:
  - The output is a **standard ASCII file** containing converted data.
  - Each line in the output file represents a data point with:
    - Longitude (`lon`)
    - Latitude (`lat`)
    - Bathymetry depth (`-h`, where `h` is the minimum depth from the ADCP beams).
3. **GPS Loss Handling**:
  - If GPS data is unavailable (indicated by `lat == 30000.` in the input), the corresponding data point is **skipped** in the output.
4. **Performance**:
  - The tool processes files sequentially and is optimized for **batch processing** of large datasets.

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## See Also

- [RDI ADCP Documentation](https://www.teledyne.com/en-us/products/oceanographic/instruments/current-profilers) (for details on the input format)
- [T-UGO Tools](https://www.legos.obs-mip.fr/) (for related oceanographic tools)