HISTORY OF IMPROVEMENTS AND NEW FEATURES MADE TO HAM LOG. This is a summary of the changes made since Ham Log was first released, with emphasis given to the more recent changes. Only those of significance are included. The version number shows the Ham Log version number when the changes were incorporated, together with the date of release. VERSION 3.01 / 3.11 (November 1994) CUSTOM FIELD... A new field added to the Log database which can be for a variety of uses. Potentially, an immensely powerful tool. An indexed 10 character field, it can contain various information including information from the QSO's Country. Reasons / Notes: - It is ideal as a generic system for users chasing a multitude of awards. Can be searched on; lists can be based on its contents. QSO scroll order can be set to the Custom Field, thus grouping QSOs. Logs can be combined (or created) by specific contents of the Custom Field. - Information can be added automatically to the Custom Field (set in QSO & Log Defaults) as each QSO is added, or applied to various groups of QSOs from the Custom Field Utilities Menu [see below]. - Other fields can be applied automatically to the Custom Field for new QSOs... ITU or CQ ZONES, CONTINENT, PREFIX, CALL SIGN, FREQUENCY - From the Custom Field Utilities Menu, groups of QSOs may have their Custom Field replaced. They groups can be specified as: 1. Country is Not Confirmed 2. QSL Sent, but None Received [Specify QSL Sent Dates] 3. QSL Rcvd. for New Countries [Specify QSL Rcvd. Dates] 4. QSL Received Between Dates [Specify QSL Rcvd. Dates] 5. Custom Field is Currently "X" [Specify "X"; QSO Dates] 6. Replace All Custom Fields [Specify QSO Dates] QSO's to replace can also be restricted by Mode. The Custom Field's replacements can be... 1. Text 2. Number 3. ITU Zone 4. CQ Zone 5. Continent 6. DXCC Prefix. If numbering, a choice of QSO orders is available. Further, the changes made can be temporary, as the Custom Fields' old values can be restored from this Menu. TWO QSO DETAIL SCREEN FORMATS... A choice of two screens of information is available when viewing a QSO. The "Main" details screen is similar to previous versions of Ham Log. The "Full" details version shows all of the newly added fields, together with most details of the country being worked. Reasons / Notes: - Saves pressing F3 for QSO's country information (F3 now shows directly the foreign language translations for the country). - The Main details screen is easier for editing just the main QSO fields. - The Full details screen allows editing of the new fields added to the QSO database. - The two screen formats are toggled by a function key. The screen for a new QSO can be set in the Set-Up for QSL and Log Defaults. - When Ham Log is in Contest Mode, only the critical contest fields are edited when using the Main details screen, allowing quick editing of points and multipliers at any time (not just when adding a QSO). - When printing a list of QSOs in detail (choice 8 in the List Print Menu), the format used is that currently chosen. NEW QSO DATABASE FIELDS... Each QSO now has the following additional information: - Date QSL was Sent (can be inserted automatically by the program) - Date QSL Received (can be inserted automatically by the program); QSOs can be listed based on this date - useful for listing new countries confirmed during a period; e.g. since last DXCC credit application was made. - QSL Received Direct (Y/N) (in addition to the QSL Sent Direct field) - Custom Field (10 chr.; indexed, so can be listed and searched on; logs can be combined based on the contents of this field; can have other data applied automatically with new QSOs, OR, groups of QSOs (chosen by various criteria) can have their Custom Field replaced with relevant data. Ideal for marking QSOs valid for a variety of awards. Upper / Lower case sensitive. [See additional information.] TEXT EDITOR FIELD... When being saved to disk, the text editor may now be named simply by the Call Sign of the station worked. Limitations on the size of the file due to memory constraints have been reduced. Reasons / Notes: - The text editor field was changed in version 2.5 so that it could be saved to disk and retrieved, for each QSO. The name of the file was based on the QSO and Log numbers. Naming the file by call sign means that the information can be retrieved automatically for ANY QSO with the same station, in ANY of the six logs. - Eliminates any problems associated with renumbering a log's QSOs. - Using both naming methods means it is possible to have two text editor fields for a QSO. - Naming format is set in QSO and Log Defaults [see below]. ADDITIONAL LOG MODES... G-TOR, DIGI SSTV A.M. COUNTRIES DATABASE... The countries database maintains records of all six logs at once. The updating process is automatic as required. More information is available when viewing a country, including the QSO numbers of first worked and confirmed QSOs, in each mode. Reasons / Notes: - The relatively slow process of updating each time one changes logs is eliminated. - When receiving the updates of the latest versions of the Country and Prefix databases, updating with your logs will be automatic. COMBINING LOGS... Made even more powerful by the ability to combine or create logs based on the contents of the Custom Field. Reasons / Notes: - In addition to the previous criteria of Mode and / or Frequency, the contents of the Custom Field can also be stipulated. You can specify that, for a QSO to be combined, the Custom Field must: 1. Be an Exact Match (with what you specified) 2. Begin With (what you specified) 3. A QSO's Custom Field must CONTAIN what you specified (can be anywhere within the Custom Field) QSO and LOG DEFAULTS... The defaults for new QSOs and general log defaults have been enhanced, partly due to the addition of the new log fields. These defaults are stored separately for each of the six logs. Reasons / Notes: The following defaults can be preset: 1. Apply current UTC Date and Time (to New QSO) 2. Mode, Frequency, RST Sent and Received, Comments (of New QSO) 3. Custom Field - choice of: Text - ITU Zone - CQ Zone - Continent - Prefix Call Sign - Frequency 4. Update QSL Sent Date when a QSO is printed from the QSO Menu 5. Update QSL Sent Date when a QSL listing is done from the List Print Menu 6. Name saved Text Editor fields by QSO & Log Nos., or Call Sign 7. Default QSO details screen - "Full" or "Main" 8. Apply the QSO Start Time to the QSO End Time. 9. Automatically update a New QSO's End Time (if blank, when you exit the QSO Menu) CONTEST MODE... The Contest Mode has been fine tuned to allow for easier editing of QSOs, perhaps after the Contest is over. Reasons / Notes: - When the Contest Mode is invoked, and just the QSO Main Details screen is in use, then the only fields available to edit are: Points, Multiplier, Reports, Custom Field and Comments. This allows for fast and easy subsequent editing of QSOs. If the "Full" details screen is in use (which can be toggled by F6), then all fields can be edited. - The Contest Mode is now toggled on and off from choice 5 of the Utilities Menu. LIST PRINT MENU... The choices of lists available are now virtually unlimited. This is due primarily to the powerful new feature of being able to base lists on the contents of QSOs' Custom Fields. (Note that the Custom Field can contain information specific to the Country of the QSO. Or, it may contain values based on various other criteria - see information on the Custom Field above.) Reasons / Notes: - Listing QSOs in choices 5 and 8 can now be restricted by the contents of their Custom Fields. You can specify that, for a QSO to be listed, the Custom Field must: 1. Be an Exact Match (with what you specified) 2. Begin With (what you specified) 3. A QSO's Custom Field must simply CONTAIN what you specified can be anywhere within the Custom Field) The printed heading indicates any Custom Field restrictions. - When listing QSOs from choices 5 or 8, the order listed can be: Date of QSO, Call Sign, Country, or Custom Field. (The printed heading indicates the order chosen) - When listing QSOs in single line format (choice 5), you have the choice of replacing the QSL and QSO No. information with the Custom Field information. - Listing first QSOs of Confirmed Countries (choice 3), can now be restricted to QSOs where the QSL was received between a range of dates. - When listing QSOs to be sent QSLs, each QSO's "Date QSL Sent" can be updated with the current date. Thus, with QSOs you wish to send a QSL, you can now differentiate between those which have actually been sent and those still to send. (A dummy "current" date can be used by temporarily changing the computer's system date.) - All lists indicate the date format in use (MDY/DMY) - Choice 8: "QSOs - Full Details" prints the QSOs in whatever format currently is in use to view QSOs on the screen - i.e. "Full" or "Main" details. GENERAL / PROGRAMMING... - Reduced possible memory problems of importing large text files into Text Editor and General Station Information facilities. - General Station Information is further enhanced. - More effective colours used. - A new demonstration log has been provided, mainly to demonstrate some of the many uses of the Custom Field. - Additional virus check functions have been added to the program. - Ham Log now only runs from an hard disk. - Logs from all versions prior to 3.00 are converted to the new version 3 format automatically (with upgrades). New version 3 format Country and Prefix databases are provided with upgrades. - Many other more minor changes have been made. VERSION 2.55 (May 1994) - Listing of Countries Worked or Confirmed, can now be in order of A.R.R.L. Main Prefix field. Lists' contents reflect the order chosen. Also, there is the ability to scroll through countries in this order. (Main reason: Preferred format by DXCC award managers.) VERSION 2.53 (March 1994) - Changed order of edited fields in Contest Mode. - Cursor jumps to first free character of RST Received field in Contest Mode (as suggested France's "Megahertz"). - Any Text Editor field (named by QSO & Log Nos) is deleted if the QSO is deleted. - Changed headings on lists from "(z)" to "UTC" - Countries current local time is included on Main QSO screen. - Added more General Station Information, including H.F. general usage plans (shows broadcast bands). VERSION 2.51 (February 1994) QSL CUSTOM LABEL FORMAT... - The Custom QSL Format feature is designed for users with their own special QSL cards (or print requirements). It enables the user to select which fields (and in what order) of a QSO are to be included. Five text fields (which might contain Name, Address, Rig details etc.) can also be included (again, in any order). Fields can be repeated. This feature enables virtually any QSL label format a user might want. Designed for final printing by a word processor, the data is exported to a DOS file. The following can also be specified: - A delimiting character between fields - Include Field Names - Include a line feed between fields - No. of lines between records (QSOs) If using a word processor for the printing, one sets up the exact format of the QSL card desired, and saves it as a document. Then, the word processor imports the data from Ham Log, merges the two and prints them. This method was chosen as far superior to Ham Log doing the actual printing, for several reasons. Firstly, Ham Log is a specialised database program; printing is best left to a program specialised in printing (Ham Log's job is to provide the data to print). Secondly, printer drivers for the multitude of printers available would be required. Also, importing the data into a word processor allows you to make further "global" type changes, based on constants such as field names. - Ability to save and retrieve a QSO's Text Editor field. Can also be used for importing other data files which are to be associated with a QSO (such as digital mode terminal log capture files). - Added PACTOR Mode. - Added more General Station Information, including 50 MHz beacon data. - Added DMY/MDY and UTC in printing of full details of QSO. VERSION 2.41 (September 1993) - Increased Frequency field from 4 to 7 characters. - Modify QSO lists to meet French requirements. - Change Statistics so they are based on single MHz rather individual frequencies. - Included a conversion program for old logs. VERSION 2.23 (August 1993) - Added local and UTC times on screen. - Modified prefix search facility to ascertain prefix from any call sign entered. - Modified adding QSO in Contest Mode. - Programming changes for increased memory efficiency. VERSION 2.21 (July 1993) - Added log's DXCC Statistics for Current and Deleted DXCC countries. (Ideal for DXCC awards.) - Ham Log remembers the last QSO that was sent a QSL, for all six logs. - Country information shows the distance in kilometres. - Prefix information shows short path heading. VERSION 2.01 (February 1993) - Ability to combine logs based on QSOs of particular mode and / or frequency, or create a new log from the contents of another. - Country's information shows Local Time, ITU and CQ Zones and Continent, Short and Long Path beam headings. - Prefix information includes the country's DXCC status, and its A.R.R.L. Main Prefix. - Provide Foreign Language Translations for over 150 countries. Available immediately as a country is being worked. - Ability to see full details of the country being worked by pressing a function key (F3) from the QSO Menu and the foreign language translations (NB: See version 3 changes.) - Text Editor can be saved as a DOS file. - Added General Station Information Facility. Ability to have available at any time in the program useful data reference, which the user may edit and retain useful information such as scheds., nets etc. - Added name and call sign of the particular log in use on Log Scroll and QSO screens. - Increased available modes allowing: F.M.; A.M.; RTTY; PACKET; AMTOR; IMAGE. Mode names included on lists etc. - Modified summary of points and multipliers at end of lists in Contest Mode. - Added Main Menu Choice "Latest Changes" to include changes made to Ham Log since the manual was printed, or, the last upgrade. - Added ability for program not to apply UTC date and time to new QSOs (Reason: for adding old QSOs). - If a call sign (for a new or edited QSO) contains a "/", then the option is given to determine the call sign's country from what follows the "/". - QSL label information improved regarding mode in use. - Improved list formats, and more informative list headings. - Many other minor changes. COUNTRIES... - Clear definition of DXCC Status of countries... DXCC Current Countries (those currently valid for DXCC) DXCC Deleted Countries (those that were valid but since deleted) DXCC Valid Countries (both Current and Deleted countries) Non-DXCC Countries (regions with special prefixes, but not given separate DXCC status) - Most lists of Countries, Prefixes and QSOs can be confined to any or all of the above "types" of countries. - Ham Log searches all DXCC Current countries for the prefix of a new QSO. If exhausted, it then searches for an applicable Non-DXCC Country, and failing that, it searches Deleted DXCC countries (and advises). - Country Scroll Menu, together with most lists, indicate the month and year of the valid A.R.R.L. DXCC listing. - The main order for scrolling countries is "DXCC, Country Name". DXCC Current countries are listed first alphabetically, followed by countries Deleted from DXCC in order of year deleted (those within the same year alphabetically), followed by Non-DXCC countries (also alphabetically). - The addition of the A.R.R.L. DXCC Main Prefix for DXCC countries. Countries can be scrolled in this order of main prefix, within DXCC Current Countries, followed by DXCC Deleted Countries (in order deleted) and then Non-DXCC countries. - Ability to list countries and only show their A.R.R.L. Main Prefix, together with listing just Main Prefixes, showing their country. - Selecting countries (for various uses) is done by highlighting the country desired from a list. Version 1.1 was formally released in February 1992. Details of the various improvements made during version 1 - 2 have not been included. * * * * * R.G. 19 October, 1994