I had not used pncconf in the past and now I thought I would try it but I have run into some issues:
1) I invoke the program from the command line ....$pncconf
2) I select start
3) create a new configuation
4) select forward
5) change the machine name to a new name "testpncconf" and leave all other options in the default state
6) select forward
7) leave all axis GUI settings in default state

select forward
9) leave all VCP settings in default state
10) select forward
an error dialog window pops up - see attachment.
for kicks I tried running sudo pncconf and then I was able to make a configuration and save it without error. The issue with that was that then I had
to change the owner of the files from root to my_user_name and move the files from roots home directory.
I was then able to run linuxcnc and select the configuration that I saved except I encountered another error:
in my configuration I selected 7i80HD-Internal Data. The error:
./ClausingCNC.hal:10: parameter or pin 'hm2_7i80hd.0.pwmgnen.pwm_frequency' not found
So here the problem seems to be in the generated hal file where line 10 is:
setp [HMOT](CARD0).pwmgen.pwm_frequency 200000
note that the generated ini file has the lines:
[HMOT]
CARD0=hm2_7i80hd.0
but if I edit the ini file so that:
CARD0=hm2_7i80.0
then linuxcnc will start and load the files without errors.
I searched the forum and I didn't see anyone else with these issues. The first one seem seems like it should happen a lot.