User`s Manual - The Comport Computing Company
Contents
1. 12 40 21 Move Up 13 MyRST Rev RS 19 36 40 21 DefRST Move Down 4 SentExchg Sent a2 12 4 21 Value TX 5 HisRST SentR 312 36 40 21 DefRST 6 UTCDate Date 3 600 O73 GetDate UTCTime Time 3 83 4 za GetTime 18 County Country 199 83 157 21 3 Mode Mode 454 60 61 21 Keep Power Power w 454 83 61 21 Keep Ai Rig Rig 453 36 73 2 Keep 12 Contest Test 453 12 135 2 Keep As shown above the dialog will display a listing of all the data fields visible along with their labels units tab order X and Y positions width height and the actions to perform when the field is entered exited on creating a new QSO before saving the QSO and after saving the QSO The buttons on the right can be used to insert and delete fields and change their order by moving them up or down in the list Selecting a cell in the DB Field column will drop down a list of all database fields and you can select what you want to display in each field The Label column is the label that will be displayed next to the field and the Units column specifies what units should be displayed following the field Normally the Units are left blank except for Frequency Power etc The X and Y columns specify the pixel location where the data field will be displayed while the Height and Width columns specify the size of the field The remaining columns allow macros to be associated with each data field The macros will be executed at various times The OnEnter macros will be2. in field editing mode you can place the mouse over any data field and drag it anywhere you like within the QSO Data area The label and units will move along with the data field once it is dropped at a new position When you re finished changing the field layout be sure to select the Templates Move QSO Fields menu item again to exit from the editing mode and go back to QSO logging EJ ALTLog3 F ALTLog Logs W5ALT abs File Q50 Tools Templates Help New QSO Band M 7 Mode ALL Contest 2004ARRLDXCW Oy Dae Time Frea Modefca ___ PovdlEncha Sert Eusha Coury _J 02 21 2004 2139 28037 HCL 599 599 Galapagos Is a a LT 02 21 2004 2158 21035 CW TIEN 599 KW 599 TX Costa Rica 02 21 2004 2208 21034 CW V3IDJ 599 400 599 TX Belize 02 21 2004 2229 21031 cw EME 599 KW 599 TX France ee 4 gt gso Call TveK Revd KW Sent TX Test 2004 ARAL DX Cw Freq 21 031 Rev AST 599 Sent AST 599 Rig IC756PROII Date 02721 2004 Mode Cw Time 2229 Country France Power fi 00 Ww Entries 70 Check CAT Cable Template ARRL DX Contest But even more can be done to customize the layout Selecting Templates Edit QSO Fields from the menu or pressing the right mouse button while in field moving mode will display a dialog allowing complete editing of the template 01x seas xf Eae ea Insert Field o Station Call 36 12 21 UpCase GetCountry Delete Field A Freq Freq 36 3 E 21 GetFreq Delete Fiela 2 RevdExchg Revd 19
3. the database so it is all easily accessible using standard database queries The user interface of AltLog 3 is shown below and consists of 3 major parts At the top of the window just below the menus there is an information bar and several filter selection boxes that control what log information is listed Using the drop down lists you can choose to show log information for a single band mode contest or any combination of those The middle part of the window just below the log filters shows a list of recent QSO s similar to a paper logbook while the lower part of the window allows data entry At the very bottom of the window is a status bar that displays various bits of information The amount of screen space allowed for the log listing and for the data entry area can be adjusted by placing the mouse between the two areas pressing the left mouse button and moving the splitter Of course the position of the splitter as well as the size and position of the window is remembered the next time you start AltLog 3 The middle part of the screen the log listing is for display only and no editing or data entry is permitted there Selecting any row will display the QSO details in the data fields below The column contents column width and even the number of columns can be reconfigured as desired In addition the listing can be easily sorted on any column The lower part of the screen labeled QSO is where the data entry and editing take
4. 12 21 2005 0230 7027 Cw WBOKN 559 569 Sean MI USA 12 21 2005 0330 3526 Cw KESCTT 599 599 Pete LA USA 12 21 2005 0413 3527 Cw WEI 589 599 Don Tx USA 4 b gso Callfw2ewo His 569 My 579 NamefGene QTH Yonkers paes Freg 7033 kHz Date 12 21 2005 County USA Test Mode Cwo Time 0105 UTC State NY Rig fIC735 Power 100 watts End 0115 UTC County NY oan oon Entries 278 Check CAT Cable Template DEFAULT Configuration To set the configuration for AltLog select Tools Configure from the menu A configuration dialog will be displayed as shown below On this dialog you can set the time offset from UCT and choose to display frequency in either kHz or Mhz Configuration Time Zone Offset UTC minus 4 hours Frequency Units Bae kHz C MHz CAT Interface Icom v Baud Rate 9600 x Icom Adr HEX E4 Serial Port COM4 v V Allow Auto Callsign Lookup URI http www qrz com callsign callsign The CAT interface section is used to set the configuration for the computer interface Select your rig Kenwood Icom or Yaesu along with the serial port and baud rate to use For Icom rigs you also need to specify the rig address depending on your rig and how it is set up The default for an IC 756 Pro II is 64 in hexadecimal The bottom section configures the automatic callsign lookup in AltLog 3 The first check box determines whether automated look ups are allowed while the second checkbox specifies whet
5. AltLog 3 General Purpose Amateur Radio Logging Software User s Manual Walt Fair Jr W5ALT Copyright 2005 2006 The Comport Computing Company All Rights Reserved Copyright and License AltLog 3 is Copyright 2005 2006 by Walter B Fair Jr and The ComPort Computing Company all rights reserved This software is provided as is and neither the author nor ComPort Computing Company accepts any liability for the use of this software AltLog 3 may be freely copied and distributed but no one besides The ComPort Computing Company may charge for the distribution without express written permission not even charges for media shipping postage or copying For questions and suggestions regarding this software please send an email to w5alt comportco com If you would like to make a voluntary donation please see the website of The ComPort Computing Company at http www comportco com hamsoft index html Paypal is accepted Introduction AltLog 3 is a general purpose amateur radio logging program that incorporates a database and a flexible user interface to make logging easy Most of the user interface is user configurable so you can customize it to fit your individual needs and preferences While AltLog 3 is primarily meant for casual QSO logging it also supports contest logging and award tracking with the ability to export log data in ADIF and Cabrillo formats as well as standard text format Log data can also be exported directly to
6. Microsoft Excel tm Quick Start To start using AltLog 3 simply create a directory for it C Altlog3 is suggested and copy the files Altlog3 exe Cabrillo abs and Prefix abs to that directory It is suggested that you also create a Log subdirectory for the log files and a Backup subdirectory for backup data An LOTW subdirectory where log data is exported and kept ready to upload to LOTW may also be useful To start AltLog 3 simply run or double click Altlog3 exe A new Template abs file will be automatically created since one does not exist If you later decide you want to delete Altlog 3 simply delete the files and directories There are no Windows registry entries to worry about The first time you run AltLog 3 you will need to create a log database so at the prompt select Yes Pressing No will prompt you to select an existing database file and pressing Cancel will run AltLog 3 with no database available Do so at your own risk You can also create and select different databases from the File menu Next select the Logs subdirectory enter a filename and select Save Your new log database will be created and you ll be ready to start using AltLog 3 Confirm Wd Once AltLog 3 is running you should first set the basic configuration by selecting Tools Configure from the menu There you can enter your time offset from UCT decide whether to display frequency in kHz or MHz set up any CAT interface for your rig and decide w
7. executed when the field is selected the OnExit macros will be executed when the focus leaves the field when another field is selected the OnNewQSO macros are executed when a new blank QSO is created the OnSaveQSO macros are executed just before the data is saved to the database and the AfterSave macros are executed immediately after the data is saved On the lower right part of the dialog is a list of the valid macros that can be used in any of the macro columns By changing the order and position of the data fields and the macros to be executed it is possible to customize AltLog 3 to do almost anything you want From the Templates menu you can also load a previously defined template or save the current configuration to the current or to a new template And to make it easier to backup share and distribute common or specialized configurations there are also options to export to and import templates from standard ASCII files AltLog 3 Macros Much of the flexibility of AltLog 3 is due to the use of macros in the data field templates It seems that there are some common things that people want done for them but not all the time and not for everyone Rather than build an infinite number of software versions or make a complicated configuration procedure AltLog 3 allows itself to be modified and configured for personal preferences by the use of predefined macros In essence every data field may have a set of macros assigned to it The macros may be ca
8. her to use the internal mini browser in AltLog If you allow lookup but don t choose to use the internal browser AltLog will use your default system browser Finally to actually do the lookup specify the URI to use AltLog will send the specified command send to Windows with the callsign appended to do the actual lookup The default URI uses QRZ com but you can specify a different location if desired Note that to actually activate the automatic callsign lookup the LookupCall Macro command must be specified in the log data fields This allows the automatic lookup to be customized or disabled as needed for example during a contest or if you have no internet connection Finally press Ok to save the configuration or Cancel to abort without saving any changes If the CAT interface is active AltLog 3 will reset the interface Changing the Log List Configuring the log listing is easy with AltLog 3 Simply place the mouse cursor on a column heading and right click to show the column configuration pop up menu From the menu you can insert a new column delete a column or change the data field to be shown in a column By placing the cursor on the line between column headings pressing the left mouse button and dragging the column widths can be changed You can also select column and drag it right or left to change the order in which the columns appear The default sort order for the log listing is by date and time If you want to sort the listing b
9. hether you want to allow online searching for callsigns Note that AltLog3 is preconfigured to lookup callsigns using www qrz com if desired If you have existing log data you can import an ADIF file to get started with AltLog 3 Simply select File Import ADIF from the menu and then select the file to import Now you re ready to go To start a new QSO you can press Ctrl N or select QSO New from the menu To save the QSO simply press F2 or select QSO Save from the menu There are other commands available to edit and delete QSO See the QSO menu for details and for short cut keys Using LOTW is easy with AltLog 3 Simply export your log data selecting File Export ADIF from the menu enter a filename and decide whether you want to re export data that has previously been marked as having been exported and whether you want to mark the QSO records as having been exported AltLog 3 will then create the ADIF file All you have to do is sign the file with TQSL and upload it to the LOTW server For information on configuring and customizing AltLog 3 see the following sections Background In order to understand how to use AltLog 3 a little background is useful First AltLog 3 uses a database system based on Absolute DB from Component Ace www componentace com You can download the free for personal use Absolute database software and poke around inside the files if you like at your own risk of course All log information is stored in
10. lled when the user selects the data field OnEnter when the user leaves the data field OnExit when a new QSO is created OnNewQSO before saving the QSO data OnSavingQSO and after the QSO data is saved AfterSaveQSO If no macros are assigned the default behavior of OnNewQSO is to clear the data field while all of the others do nothing Multiple macros can be assigned to each event by entering them separated by a space So for example a common macro to use for the Callsign field would be UpCase GetCountry which would change the call sign to all upper case letters and automatically look up the DXCC country based on the call sign To automatically add default RST reports the Value 599 or the DefRST macro could be added to the OnNewQSO event for the sent and received RST fields To increment a contest serial number the Increment macro could be used for the AfterQSOSave event along with the Keep macro in the OnNewQSO event for the contest exchange field As you can see by using and or changing the macros the behavior of AltLog 3 can be customized to do just about anything you might want And since the macro configuration is saved along with the template changing from rag chewing to contesting configuration or any other configuration is fast and easy List of Available Macros Macro Function Value xxx xxx Place value in field use quotes if there are s
11. paces Keep Don t clear the old value UpCase Convert to upper case text Increment Increment the field useful for contests GetDate Insert the current date GetTime Insert the current time GetFreq Insert the current frequency GetContinent Get the continent from the callsign and country GetCountry Get the DXCC country from the callsign GetWPX Get the WPX prefix from the callsign DefRST Insert 599 or 59 for RST AutoBand Automatically change the filter to the current band AutoMode Automatically change the filter to the current mode AddMode Add a new mode to the filter list if needed NewQSO Start a new QSO FindDup Find previous QSO LookupCall Lookup the callsign by default on QRZ COM
12. s place Various data fields are shown where log information may be entered If there is a CAT computer interface available the frequency information may be automatically input Certain other information can also be automatically entered such as retaining the last mode used the time of the start of the QSO the country based on a call sign etc The actual data field layout and most of the behavior is user configurable as will be explained later The configuration of the AltLog 3 log listing and data entry fields is defined in a template and a default template is always available Although the default template can never be changed the columns displayed in the log list and the layout and behavior of the data fields can be modified and saved in the current template or as a new template There is no limit to the number of templates possible and any previously defined template can be loaded at any time In order to make sharing templates easy templates can also be exported to and imported from an ASCII file Of course when you start AltLog it remembers what template was used the last time EE ALTLog3 F ALTLog Logs WS5ALT abs oj x File Q50 Tools Templates Help New QSO Band 4LL Mode ALL v Contest aLL z pae fTime Fea Wod Cal He me Nane Notse Stas Count sirja 12 21 2006 0105 7033 ww 569 579 Gene DO C TTT USA 12 21 2005 0120 7027 KSUIY 579 589 Vic i USA 12 21 2005 0212 7027 Cw KACW 579 589 Ken l USA
13. y another column simply double click the mouse on the respective column heading Double clicking a second time will reverse the sort order To go back to the default sort order double click the column heading showing the Date Of course the column layout is saved along with the templates so you can define several layouts for different purposes For example you might want to show lots of information for normal rag chewing but only a minimum of information during a contest Whatever you prefer just set the columns the way you like them save the template and you re ready to go EJ ALTLog3 F ALTLog Logs W5ALT abs File Q50 Tools Templates Help New QSO Band aLL Mode aLL Contest NONE 7 12 21 2005 7 05 7033 Cw IEN 569 579 Gene 7 SA 12 21 2005 0120 702 Cw KSUIY 579 589 Vic 7 USA 12 21 2005 0212 7027 Cw KAW 579 589 Ken l USA 12 21 2005 0230 7027 Cw W80KN 559 569 Sean MI USA 12 21 2005 0330 3526 Cw KESCTT 599 599 Pete LA USA j 12 21 2005 0413 3527 Cw 589 599 Don TX USA Fa 4 gt His 599 my 599 Name amw es Freq 3527 Date 0372172006 Country pooo Test OoOo Mode jew Time fae State pooo Rig c75 Power ho End County co SEES Entries 190 Check CAT Cable Template Ragchew Changing the QSO Data Layout The screen layout of the data fields shown in the lower portion of the window can be rearranged interactively To allow the fields to be moved select Templates Move QSO Fields from the menu While
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