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PSQSL USER'S MANUAL Version 2.00 January 1992 Unified Microsystems PO Box 133 Slinger, WI 53086 Copyright 1992 Gary C. Sutcliffe, W9XT NOTICES Specifications subject to change without notice. This document Copyright 1992 by Gary C. Sutcliffe. All rights reserved. PSQSL software Copyright 1991, 1992 by Gary C. Sutcliffe. All rights reserved. The file "BUREAU.LST" is specifically not copyrighted, and is placed in the public domain. It may be copied, used, modified, etc., without any consideration to its author. About Shareware and PSQSL PSQSL is being distributed under the Shareware method. This means you may try out this program for a limited time to see if it suits your needs before spending any money on it. If you find it useful, and wish to continue to use the program you are expected and obligated to pay the registration fee. Under the Shareware concept, you may also make as many copies as you wish to give to your friends for their evaluation. This manner of software distribution allows the software's author to keep advertising and disk copying costs to a minimum, and thus the price you pay for registration very low. What's in it for you? Well, first of all you probably have hundreds or maybe thousands of dollars tied up in commercial software that does not do the job you wanted it to. A large percentage of the money you paid went for full page color ads in computer magazines, dealer markups, etc. With shareware you try before you buy. If you try it and it does not suit your needs, you are not out of a lot of money. By paying the registration fee you help pay the shareware author for his or her time needed to develop software and to encourage the development of additional useful programs. As a registered user of PSQSL you will also receive notices of new versions of PSQSL. If you do a lot of QSLing, you will find that PSQSL saves you many, many hours of tedious work, more than offsetting the nominal cost of registration. A registration form is found at the end of this document, or can be produced by printing out the REGISTER.DOC file on the distribution disk. LICENSE PSQSL is not and never has been public domain software, nor is it free software. The author, Gary C. Sutcliffe, W9XT holds the copyright to the software. Non-registered users are granted a limited license to use PSQSL for the purpose of determining whether PSQSL is suitable for their needs. Non-registered users may also make copies for distribution to others providing the terms and conditions below are met. Unregistered use of PSQSL, except for these limited purposes, is prohibited. Registration permits a user the license to use PSQSL on a single computer at one time. A registered user may have copies of PSQSL on multiple computers, but the program may not be running on more than one computer at the same time. Registered users may also make as many copies as necessary for backup purposes. All users are granted a limited license to copy the programs and documentation for the trial use by others providing the following conditions are met: PSQSL must be copied in unmodified form, complete with all files including documentation and license information. Distributors of public domain, user supported, shareware, and similar software are permitted to distribute this software as long as the above conditions are met. Commercial distributors are permitted to charge reasonable disk copying fees, postage and handling fees, etc. Payment of fees to a software distributor in no way changes the requirement for registration by users. Operators of electronic bulletin board systems (SYSOPs) may post PSQSL for downloading by their users only as long as the above conditions are met. Users may register PSQSL by filling out the registration form at the end of this manual and sending it along with the proper fee to the address indicated. A registration form may also be printed out from the REGISTER.DOC file found on the distribution disk. PRODUCTS AND SERVICES MENTIONED ARRL Outgoing QSL Service: The American Radio Relay League offers an outgoing QSL shipping service to its members. Cards must be sorted by country callsign prefix (which is the main purpose of PSQSL), and include your mailing label from a recent issue of QST to prove membership, along with payment (currently $2/pound). For more information, contact the ARRL at 225 Main St., Newington, CT 06111. CT(tm): CT is a contest logging program written by Ken Wolf, K1EA. It was the first real time logging program to gain acceptance by a large number of serious contesters, and is probably still the most popular. CT may be purchased c/o Bill McGowan, KC1EO, 33 Truell Road, Hollis, NH 03049, (603) 465- 2392. CT is a registered trade mark of Ken Wolf, K1EA. LOG-EQF: LOG-EQF is a logging program written by Thomas Dandrea, N3EQF. It is mainly set up for use as a log book for day to day operating, but also has the ability to be used for contesting. LOG-EQF is a shareware program and is available from the author, Thomas Dandrea, 396 Sautter Dr., Coraopolis, PA, 15108. It is also available by mail (and often at hamfests) from various shareware/public domain software vendors. Be sure to register your copy of LOG-EQF if you decide to use it for logging radio contacts. NA: NA is a contest logging program written by Dave Pruett, K8CC. It is very similar to CT, and uses most of the same commands, but it covers a number of contests that CT does not. NA may be purchased from LTA Industries, Inc., PO BOX 92, Canfield, OH 44406, (216) 533-0087. Gary Sutcliffe (the author of PSQSL) and Unified Microsystems in no way warrant any of these products or services. The information presented here is for the convenience of the reader. INTRODUCTION ------------ PSQSL was written for hams who send out large numbers of QSL cards via the ARRL Outgoing QSL Service or other QSL shipment service. Many hams use logging programs such as CT, NA, LOG-EQF, or their own programs for generating stick-on labels for QSLs. These programs can save hours of work writing out QSL cards, but hours of tedious sorting remain after printing out the labels. PSQSL takes output QSL label files from a variety of logging programs as well as QSO information entered from within the program, and creates a single sorted label file. The labels are sorted by DXCC country. In addition, cards for countries not handled by the outgoing QSL service are separated from those that are handled. Since the list of countries in the DXCC program as well as prefixes and countries serviced by the ARRL Outgoing QSL Service change from time to time, a file containing countries, prefixes, etc., can be updated by the user. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS ------------------- This program is designed to run on a PC or PC compatible system. A hard drive and 640K of memory is recommended. Less memory or lack of a hard drive will reduce the number of labels that may be processed. A system with 640K of memory will handle in excess of 3000 labels, depending on the number of drivers, TSRs, etc., loaded in memory. PSQSL does not utilize extended or expanded memory even if such memory is present. A printer capable of printing to standard single row 3 1/2" X 15/16" computer self adhesive labels is also required to print the sorted labels. An ASCII label output file can also be created and transferred to floppy for printing on another computer system with a suitable printer. GETTING STARTED --------------- Before starting to run PSQSL, make a backup copy of the diskette. Keep the original in a safe place. If you are using a hard drive, use the DOS 'CD' command to change to the directory you wish to put PSQSL and its associated files. If you wish to put them into a directory called \QSL on your C drive, type CD C:\QSL at the DOS prompt. Note that this directory must already exist or must be created with the MKDIR command (see your DOS manual). Place the PSQSL distribution diskette in your A: floppy drive and type COPY A:*.* C: (or whatever drive you wish to use). The distribution disk will contain the following programs: READ.ME - Any last minute information will be found here. Please read this file before running PSQSL. PSQSL.EXE - This is the executable file. You start the program by typing PSQSL followed by pressing the ENTER key. BUREAU.LST - This file contains a list of DXCC countries and the standard prefixes for each country. This file can be edited by the user to reflect changes in DXCC country status, new prefixes, etc. Refer to the section "Modifying BUREAU.LST" for more information. Be sure this file is copied to the same directory as PSQSL.EXE. Alternatively, set up the environment variable PSQPATH to give the path to the location of the PSQSL files. See APPENDIX B for more information on setting PSQPATH. QCAPT.COM - This is a special printer capture utility that intercepts label information being sent to the printer and stores it to a disk file where PSQSL can gain access to it. Some logging programs such as NA and LOG-EQF do not allow saving QSL labels to a disk. See the section "Capturing Printer Data with QCAPT" for more information on using this program. PSQSL.DOC - This manual. It may be printed out on a printer by typing PRINT PSQSL.DOC. REGISTER.DOC - The form to register your copy of PSQSL. It can be printed out by typing PRINT REGISTER.DOC. Please be sure to register your copy when you finish evaluating this program and you decide you find it useful. After you have copied the diskette, check to see that all of the above files are present. Also read the READ.ME file for any last minute information before running PSQSL. OVERVIEW OF QSLING WITH PSQSL ----------------------------- Most of the QSO and contest logging programs allow you to print QSO data to stick-on labels for selected or all QSOs in your log file. You then peel off the labels and attach them to your QSL cards, sign the card, sort them by hand, and then ship them off to the ARRL or other QSL service. By adding one more step, running PSQSL, before printing the labels you can save yourself the tedious job of sorting hundreds of cards by hand. If you operate contests, you will typically have a different log file for each contest. Perhaps you use different contest programs for different contests. You might use CT for the CQ World Wide DX contests and have log files you called CQPH92.BIN and CQCW92.BIN for the CQWW DX contests. You might have used NA for the IARU contest and used a log file you named IARU92.QSO. The next step is to create the "label files" for each contest log. Each logging program has its own method of creating labels, and you should refer to the manual that came with your logging program for creating them. In general though, you will run the logging program (or a special QSL program supplied with it) to select the contacts you wish to QSL and to produce a label file. In some cases, the logging program does not produce a label file, but only allows you to print labels directly to the printer. A special program called QCAPT has been supplied with PSQSL to "capture" the QSL information going to the printer and send it instead to a disk file. More information on this is in the section "RUNNING QCAPT". Once you have generated QSL label files from each of the log files, you will run PSQSL. Using the menus, you select the things you want to do in PSQSL. First, you would probably "import" (read in the data) the QSL label information from each of the label files you created with the logging programs. The PSQSL menu will let you select the type of logging program that created the label file, then ask you the name of the label file. PSQSL will then read the QSL label into the computer's memory. You would do this for each label file you have. Perhaps you also have some contacts you wish to QSL, but which where logged in a regular log book. PSQSL will allow you to type this information on the computer's keyboard, and save it with the QSL labels you imported from the contest label files. If you wish to stop PSQSL, all of the label data will be stored in a "data file". Later, when you run PSQSL again, all of the labels you either read in from the disk or typed by hand will still be there. You can then add more labels. Eventually, you will have enough labels entered that you will want to send them off to the ARRL or another QSL service. You then put blank label sheets in your printer. While running PSQSL, you can print out the entire collection of labels. The labels will all be printed in the correct order the ARRL requires them to be in. All you have to do is peel the labels off in order, put them on the card, and sign it. Labels for cards going to countries that the ARRL does not service will be separated from the rest. DEFINITIONS AND CONVENTIONS --------------------------- Before starting to run PSQSL, terms and conventions used by this manual need to be discussed. First is the "data file". PSQSL takes the QSL label data you enter or retrieve from other logging programs (like CT, NA, LOG-EQF, etc) and saves it in the data file. Normally the default name of this file is PSQSL.DAT, but you can supply any file name that DOS will allow. For example, if you send QSLs out each month, you may wish to name the data files JAN92.DAT, FEB92.DAT, etc. "Label files" are files that contain QSL label information which can normally be printed to standard 3 1/2" X 15/16" single row labels. Label files are created by the logging programs, as well as by PSQSL. Label files created by several popular logging programs as well as common database program formats may also be "imported", meaning that the data is read and translated to the internal formats used by PSQSL. Most PSQSL commands and data input end by pressing the ENTER key. On some computers this will be the RETURN key. Some commands can be canceled by pressing the ESC (ESCAPE) key if you change your mind. When this applies, there will be a message in a window indicating this is allowed. If the ESC key is pressed, control will pass to a previous menu, possibly the main menu. PSQSL is menu driven to be easy to use. When a menu is displayed, a list of options will be shown. Options can be selected by using the up and down arrow keys to highlight the desired response. Pressing ENTER will execute that option. Alternatively, the command can be directly executed by pressing the first letter of the option. RUNNING PSQSL ------------- To start the program, first use the DOS "CD" (change directory) command to change to the directory that contains PSQSL and its associated files. Next type PSQSL at the DOS prompt and press ENTER. You will then see the opening screens which are described in the next section. As an option, PSQSL can be started in special modes with command line options. One option allows you to run the program with monochrome video. Some monochrome PC video cards and/or monitors may not produce a very readable display. If you find it difficult to read your screen when running PSQSL, use the -M option described below. The -B option will disable warning beeps if you make mistakes while using PSQSL. Most users will want to use PSQSL without any of the starting options. The form for starting PSQSL with options is as follows: PSQSL -B <ENTER> PSQSL -M <ENTER> PSQSL -M -B <ENTER> -B OPTION: PSQSL will cause the computer to beep if you try to do something illegal such as give it a command that does not exist or to fill in information fields with more than the maximum number of characters. Some people find this useful, others find it annoying. If you are in the latter group, use the -B option to disable beeps. In addition, beeps can be deactivated from the MAIN MENU by typing B as an option. If beeps are already deactivated, selecting B as an option again will reactivate beeps on errors. Note that this option is not displayed as a menu option. Normally if you do not like the beeps, use the -B when starting the program. This option can be used alone or in conjunction with the -M option. -M OPTION: PSQSL uses colors in its display and for error and information windows. If you have a monochrome monitor and find the display difficult to read, run PSQSL in the monochrome mode with the -M option. This option can be used alone or in conjunction with the -B option. OPENING SCREENS You will first see the opening screen. This contains copyright and registration information. When you have read this information, press any key to continue. Next you will see a window indicating the country and prefix tables are being created. PSQSL is reading in the file BUREAU.LST to create a table with all of the countries and prefixes. This table is used to determine what country a given call sign is from, and to determine how the output labels are to be sorted. The time it takes PSQSL to create the table will depend on the speed of your computer and its disk drive. On a fast 80386 system with a fast hard drive it will only take a few seconds. On a slow system running off a floppy drive it will take the better part of a minute. The next screen asks for the name of the "data file". Every time you add another QSO, it is added to this file. You may select the default file (PSQSL.DAT) simply by pressing the ENTER key. Alternatively, you may type another file name (along with drive and path specifications if needed) to be used as the data file. Using a special file name or the default data file will depend on how you like to send out QSLs. If you send out cards each month, you might want to have a file name that indicates the time frame for this batch of cards. For example you might use a filename of JAN92.DAT for cards to be sent out in January, 1992. After you print and send out your January cards, you start a new file called FEB92.DAT for the cards you plan to send out in February, etc. You may be lazy and just want to use the default file instead of trying to remember what you called the file, and typing it in each time. Whatever file name you use, remember that each new QSL label is added to the file you select. After you print out the labels, you will want to delete the old file or start using a new one. If you don't, the next time you print out labels you will re-print all of the old ones again. If you want to exit PSQSL at this point for some reason, you can enter a file name of 'QUIT' at the prompt for a data file name and press the <ENTER> key. PSQSL will then terminate and you will return to the DOS prompt. If the data file you selected does not exist, you will be asked if you want to create it. If you do not want to create the file, answer NO and you will be allowed to select another file. If the file exists, but is not the correct format (i.e. not created by PSQSL) you will be notified and allowed to select another file. If the file already exists, a window will pop up indicating that the file is being read, and a count of the number of labels being read is displayed. The count is updated every 10 labels. Also, if the file already exists, and additional QSL information files are read in or is entered from the keyboard, a back up file containing the original information will be created. This file will have a "BAK" extension with the original filename (e.g. PSQSL.BAK will be the back up file for PSQSL.DAT). This is there in case you make a mistake or have a computer or disk failure and want to go back to the condition you were in before you started this session with PSQSL. MAIN MENU --------- Once the preliminaries are completed, the main menu will appear. The main menu allows you to select between the four main functions of PSQSL. The main menu choices are: Enter QSO Information Print Labels Import Data Quit PSQSL When the main menu is displayed, one of the options will be highlighted. Normally the highlighted selection will appear in reverse video although it may be underlined on some computers. To select the highlighted option, simply press ENTER. Pressing the up or down arrows will change the highlighted selection. When the desired option is highlighted, press ENTER to begin that function. Alternatively, you can type the first letter (E, P, I, or Q) of the function to directly execute that function. There is one more option in the main menu which is not displayed as an option. This is the B option which controls beeps on error. PSQSL normally beeps when it detects you made an error. If you find this annoying, you can disable the beeps by pressing B while in the main menu only. If beeps are already disabled (by starting PSQSL with the -B command line option, or pressing B while in the main menu) you can reactivate beep on error by pressing B while in the main menu. MAIN MENU: Enter QSO information While the main purpose of PSQSL is to use QSO data imported from files created by other programs, there are times when you may want to enter QSO information from the keyboard. QSO information entered will be formatted into a label and stored in the datafile. See the section "ENTERING QSO INFORMATION" for more details. MAIN MENU: Print QSL labels Select this option to actually print the labels. You can print the labels on your printer while in the program, or you can write the label information to an ASCII file in one of two formats. See the section "PRINTING LABELS" for more details. MAIN MENU: Import data This option will allow you to import QSL label information from files created by various logging programs. You may read data from several files from different sources and combine them into a single, sorted file. The total number of label files that can be imported is limited only by the amount of memory in the system and the amount of free space remaining on the disk. Refer to the section "IMPORTING DATA" for further details. MAIN MENU: Quit Use this option to exit PSQSL. When you select this option, you will be asked if you wish to save the QSL label information you added this session. The default answer is YES, and can be chosen by simply pressing the ENTER key. If you do not wish to save your changes, type an 'N' and then ENTER. While the data file is being written, a count of the number of records being saved is displayed. ENTERING QSO INFORMATION ------------------------ If the "Enter QSO information" option is selected from the main menu, a data entry form will be displayed. This form looks like this: CALL: ___________ DAY MTH YR UTC MHz MODE RST QSO 1: __ ___ __ ____ ___ ____ ___ QSO 2: __ ___ __ ____ ___ ____ ___ QSO 3: __ ___ __ ____ ___ ____ ___ COMMENT: ________________________________________ OK? (Y/N): Y The areas underlined above will normally appear in reverse video, depending on your computer type. This highlighted area shows the maximum length allowed for that field. PSQSL will beep (if beep on error is active) if you attempt to enter data longer than the field length. You can move between the fields by using the arrow keys, the TAB key, or by pressing the ENTER key. When you first enter this option, the cursor will appear in the CALL field. Type in the call sign of the station and press the ENTER key. The cursor will then move to the QSO 1 - DAY field. Enter the day and press ENTER. The cursor will then move to the MTH field. Type the month as a 3 letter abbreviation (JAN, FEB, etc.) and press ENTER. Continue along by typing the rest of the QSO information. You can enter up to 3 QSOs on one label. If you only have one or two QSOs to enter for this station, press the arrow keys to get to the COMMENT field. Type any comments you wish like "TNX QSO", "NEW COUNTRY! PLEASE QSL!", etc. Finally press ENTER or use the arrow keys to go to the "OK? (Y/N): Y" section of the screen. If everything is correct, press ENTER or "Y" and the QSO information will be saved. If you made a typing error, use the arrow keys to go to the field with the error and correct it. When everything is correct, go back to the "OK?" and press "Y" to save the QSO information. Next, all of the fields except the comment field will be blanked and the cursor will go to the call sign field to start entry of the next QSL label's information. The comment field will remain the same for each successive label until you change it. Once you have entered all of your QSOs, press the ESC key to return to the main menu. You must save the last QSO entered (by pressing 'Y' at the "OK?" prompt) before pressing ESC, or it will be lost. Basically, just remember that if you still see the QSO information on the screen, it has not been saved. PRINTING LABELS --------------- PSQSL is set up to print to standard self adhesive 3 1/2" X 15/16" computer labels. These can be purchased at any store selling computer supplies. These labels are much more economical if purchased by the box of 5000 labels. PSQSL only prints a single column of labels. When you select the Print Labels option from the main menu, the PRINT LABELS MENU will appear. You select options the same way as for all PSQSL menus, use the arrow keys to highlight an option and ENTER to execute it, or simply type the first letter of the option. PSQSL sorts all labels before printing (actually they are sorted as they are entered). They are sorted by country based on the country's default prefix (see the section MODIFYING BUREAU.LST), and sorted alphabetically within a given country. The labels are also separated into two groups. The first group contains cards that are all set to go to the ARRL Outgoing QSL Service. At the end of these labels is a special separator label that looks like this: Confirming QSO with: NO BUREAU! ******************************** No QSL bureaus exist or could be found for the following QSOs: ******************************** Labels that follow this one can not be sent via the ARRL for one of the following reasons: 1) The ARRL Outgoing QSL Service does not service this country. 2) PSQSL could not determine the country from the callsign (update BUREAU.LST!). 3) The call sign was for a portable operation outside the home country. Most of the time they go to the home country's bureau, but often they have QSL managers and special routes, so are separated from the rest. You will have to decide what to do with any labels following the separator label on a case by case basis. The separator label is not printed if all cards can be sent through the outgoing bureau. PRINT LABELS MENU: Print labels on printer This is the option you select to print the sorted labels. Note that PSQSL does not use any special printer control codes for expanded or compressed print, changing font type, etc. This is to be sure that PSQSL will work with as many printers as possible. If you wish to use some special options with your printer, set the printer up before running PSQSL. When you select "Print labels on the printer", a message will appear telling you to check that the printer is on and the number of labels that are to be printed. There will also be a window asking you if you want to print an alignment label. If you type a "Y", a special alignment label will be sent to the printer. If the printing is not centered in the label, adjust the printer and type "Y" again. Repeat this until you have the alignment label properly centered. When you are ready to print the labels, answer "N" (NO) to the request to print another alignment label. The labels will now be printed. When it is finished printing, control will return to the previous menu. Note that you can return to the previous menu by pressing the ESC key before starting to print the labels. PRINT LABELS MENU: Write labels to file This option is like the previous option, except that the label information is written to a disk file instead of the printer. You can print this file on the printer by using the DOS print command, although there will be no alignment labels. This might be useful if you wish to print the labels with a printer on another computer. When you bring up this option, you will be asked to supply a name for the file. If another file with the same name already exists, you will be asked if you wish to overwrite the existing file. PRINT LABELS MENU: Create comma delimiter format file This option creates an ASCII file with a format that most database and some other types of programs can read. You might wish to load your QSL label into a database program you have written to keep track of who you already sent cards to. Another use might be to create custom labels with fancy fonts if you have appropriate software and a printer with these features. Each label will occupy one line. Fields are enclosed in quotes and are separated by commas. The format is as follows: "CALL_1","QSO_LINE_1","QSO_LINE_2","QSO_LINE_3","COMMENT_LINE" "CALL_2","QSO_LINE_1","QSO_LINE_2","QSO_LINE_3","COMMENT_LINE" "CALL_3","QSO_LINE_1","QSO_LINE_2","QSO_LINE_3","COMMENT_LINE" <etc.> A section of labels would be formatted like this: Normal labels: Confirming QSO with: JA1ABC 27 OCT 91 1137Z 14MHz 2X SSB 59 26 OCT 91 2347Z 21MHz 2X SSB 59 27 OCT 91 0123Z 28MHz 2X SSB 59 TNX FOR CONTEST QSOS! 73 Confirming QSO with: JA9XYZ 27 OCT 91 2303Z 21MHz 2X SSB 59 TNX QSO & QSL! 73 & DX Comma delimited version: "JA1ABC","27 OCT 91 1137Z 14MHz 2X SSB 59","26 OCT 91 2347Z 21MHz 2X SSB 59","27 OCT 91 0123Z 28MHz 2X SSB 59"," TNX FOR CONTEST QSOS! 73" "JA9XYZ"," ","27 OCT 91 2303Z 21MHz 2X SSB 59"," "," TNX QSO & QSL! 73 & DX" Note that the above comma delimited example occupies several lines per station to fit on the printed page. In the actual file, this would only be two lines, one for each station. IMPORTING DATA -------------- The main strength in PSQSL lies in its ability to combine QSO data produced by a number of logging programs. This is useful if you used one logging program for one radio contest, another program for different contests, and still another program for casual contacts. When you select "Import data" from the main menu, you bring up the IMPORT DATA MENU. From here you can select which format you wish to use. PSQSL supports a number of different logging program formats. If you use a program that is not supported by PSQSL you may still be able to use PSQSL. Refer to APPENDIX A, "Using Unsupported Logging Programs". IMPORT DATA MENU: CT label format import CT is a contest logging program written by K1EA and is probably the most popular contest logging program available. CT has a post contest mode which allows you to quickly generate QSL labels for selected QSOs, and a special program to generate labels for every QSO in a contest. Refer to the CT user's manual for instructions on using these features. PSQSL will correctly read labels generated by CT version 7. If future releases of CT change the label format it uses, PSQSL may not read these labels properly. When you select this option, you will be asked to supply the name of the file to read in. PSQSL will print a running count of the number of labels being read in. IMPORT DATA MENU: NA label format import NA is another popular contest logging program and is written by K8CC. It is very similar to CT (for the most part it uses the same commands), but covers many contests that CT does not. One difference with NA is that its QSL generating program does not write the label information to a file, but only to a printer. This difficulty is handled with the QCAPT utility program which is included on the PSQSL distribution disk. Briefly, QCAPT captures data sent to the LPT1 port and writes it to a file where PSQSL can use it later. Refer to the section "RUNNING QCAPT" for more information on this utility, and the NA user's manual for using the NA QSL label utilities. PSQSL has been tested and works with NA version 6. If future versions of NA use a different file format, PSQSL may no longer read these files properly. IMPORT DATA MENU: LOG-EQF label format import LOG-EQF is a multi-purpose Ham Radio logging program. It handles station logging functions as well as others such as allowing the PC to be used with packet. LOG-EQF was written by N3EQF. Like NA, LOG-EQF does not allow printing of QSL labels to a file, but forces you to print them to the printer. The QCAPT utility supplied with PSQSL will allow you to capture labels sent to the printer and write them to a file for use by PSQSL. See the section "RUNNING QCAPT" for more information on this. Consult the LOG-EQF user's manual for more information on using LOG-EQF to generate QSL labels. PSQSL has been tested and works with LOG-EQF version 3.32. If future versions of LOG-EQF use a different file format, PSQSL may no longer read these files properly. IMPORT DATA MENU: Generic label format import This option allows you to import QSO information from files in two formats commonly used to exchange information between different database programs. If you have written your own logging program in one of the many database programs available, chances are you can easily produce a file compatible with one of these two formats. Any information you put in the QSO_LINEs or COMMENT_LINEs in the generic formats will appear exactly the same way on the label. The maximum length of these fields are 36 characters. Fields that are too long will be truncated. When you select this option, you will be asked to supply the name of the file to read. Next, another menu will appear to select which format you are using. Comma delimited format: This is the same format described in detail in the above section on writing comma delimited files in the PRINT LABELS MENU. PSQSL will of course read files it produced itself in this format should that ever become necessary. Line delimited format: This format has each field of a record appearing on a separate line. Each record must occupy exactly six lines. Pad records with blank lines if necessary. There should not be any spaces, tabs, etc., at the start of the CALL field. The line delimited format is: CALL_1 QSO_LINE_1 QSO_LINE_2 QSO_LINE_3 COMMENT_LINE <- This line must be present. Any text is ignored. CALL_2 QSO_LINE_1 QSO_LINE_2 <etc.> IMPORT DATA MENU: Data file import (PSQSL produced) This option allows you to read in the data files produced in previous runs of PSQSL to combine with the data file currently in memory. Perhaps you did one run of PSQSL with one datafile. Later you entered a lot of QSO information by hand before you realized you had put it into a different file. This command will allow you to combine the two files. Do not use the same file name as the current data file or you will duplicate the labels already there. IMPORT DATA MENU: PSQSL label file import (PSQSL produced) This option allows you to read in label files produced by PSQSL with the "Write labels to file" option found in the "PRINT LABELS MENU". This option has been included in case you accidentally delete a data file, but had created a printable label file and wish to combine it with more labels. MODIFYING BUREAU.LST --------------------- The file BUREAU.LST is an ASCII file that is used by PSQSL to determine what country a given call sign is from, and the bureau status of that country. Because call sign prefixes and bureau status change from time to time, this file is set up to be modified by the user. Before attempting to modify this file, be sure you have a backup copy of it in a safe place. Use only an ASCII editor or a word processor in ASCII text mode to edit this file. Normally word processors embed special formatting characters in the text. These special characters will cause all sorts of problems for PSQSL. Use great care to follow the proper format for this file. If PSQSL detects an error while reading in BUREAU.LST, it will print out the offending line and abort. However, if you are especially creative in screwing up while editing this file you may find a way to fool it. The general format for BUREAU.LST entries is: [*]Name: DPX[,PX2,PX3,...,PXn]; Where: Name = name of country (ends with a ":") DPX = default call sign prefix for the country PXx = alternate valid prefixes (or full calls in some cases) '*' = optional token to identify the country is serviced by the ARRL Outgoing QSL Service. [ ] = denotes optional characters Notes: 1) The '*' mark (if it is used) must be in the first column. 2) The country name must end with a ':' 3) One or more spaces must be between the country ':' and default prefix. 4) Commas (,) must separate the DPX and any additional prefixes. 5) Do not put any spaces or other characters between prefixes (except ','). 6) The last prefix must end with a ';' 7) Everything in a line after a ';' is ignored. 8) A country can have multiple lines if there are many prefixes. Be sure that each line for that country uses the same default prefix. BUREAU.LST is set up to identify countries which are handled by the ARRL Outgoing QSL Service at the time of distribution. From time to time the countries serviced will change, and you should modify BUREAU.LST accordingly. If you are not an ARRL member, and use another QSL mailing service, you can change BUREAU.LST to select the countries that your service will handle. To do this, start each country name that is serviced with an "*". RUNNING QCAPT ------------- Unfortunately, not all of the logging programs supported by PSQSL have the flexibility to allow QSL label information to be stored to a file instead of being printed out on a printer. PSQSL must have the QSL label information in a disk file. The QCAPT utility supplied with PSQSL allows you to get around this difficulty. Basically, QCAPT.COM is a special type of program called a Terminate and Stay Resident (TSR) program. When it is run, it stays in memory, but returns control to DOS to allow other programs to be run. You may already have other TSR programs resident in memory QCAPT sits quietly until it sees some data being sent to your printer. It then intercepts this data and sends it to a file for use in the future by PSQSL. To start QCAPT, you type the following at the DOS prompt: QCAPT FILENAME<ENTER> You can enter any legal DOS filename (including drive and path). If a path is not supplied, the current working directory will be used. A message similar to the following will appear and the DOS prompt will appear to allow you to run another program. QCAPT: QSL LABELS REDIRECTED TO FILE: C:\NA\IARU92.QSL You can now run NA or LOG-EQF (or other logging program that will not allow you to print labels to a file instead of the printer) to generate the QSL labels. Any labels you send to the printer will now be captured and instead sent to the file you specified, in the above case "IARU92.QSL". When you are finished, you MUST remove QCAPT from memory by typing (at the DOS prompt): QCAPT /R This will remove QCAPT from memory (allowing it to be used by other programs), flush the buffer of any remaining QSL labels information, and indicate if there were any errors in the capture process. Successful removal will cause the following message to appear: QCAPT: UNINSTALLED QCAPT is not meant to be left in your computer's memory when you are not using it for capturing QSL information. If you install another TSR or a resident device driver (a mouse driver for example) after starting QCAPT, you will not be able to remove QCAPT. Everything you try to send to the printer will be redirected to the file until the computer is re-booted. If this situation occurs, QCAPT will send a "CAN'T UNINSTALL" message to the screen when you try to use the /r option. Wait a few seconds to be sure that everything in QCAPT's file buffer has been written to the disk. Then re-boot the computer. Once QCAPT has been removed, you can use the newly created file with PSQSL in the Import Data Menu. If the file exists in a different directory than PSQSL, you must either copy the QSL label file to the same directory as PSQSL, or specify the path to the label file (e.g. C:\MA\IARU92.QSL) when PSQSL asks for the import file name. There are a few types of errors that can occur. The first is the familiar "ABORT, Retry, Fail?" message that DOS uses when you have done something like forgetting to stick a floppy into the floppy drive. Some other types of errors are unlikely, but are checked for just the same. The most likely is an overflow of QCAPT's buffer. Data from the printer is stored here until QCAPT gets enough to make it worthwhile to write to the disk. If data comes too fast for some reason, the buffer could fill up. When this happens, some of the data will be lost. An error message indicating this condition will appear when exiting QCAPT with the /R message. This is another reason to be sure to remove QCAPT when you are done with the NA, LOG-EQF, or other logging program's printing session. Notes on using QCAPT: 1) Never install another TSR or device driver while QCAPT is running. QCAPT must be the last TSR to be installed. 2) Be sure that your computer is set up to use the LPT1 port. 3) Always use the /R option to remove QCAPT immediately after finishing with a LOG-EQF or NA (or other program that only sends labels directly to the printer) QSL printing sessions. 4) If you try to run QCAPT when another copy is already resident, you will get an error message to that fact. Printer data will still be redirected to the original file name. 5) If you try to remove QCAPT (with the /R option), and QCAPT is not currently resident, you will get an error message. 6) QCAPT is only used if your logging program will not permit you to send QSL labels to a file instead of directly to the printer. 7) While QCAPT has only been tested with LOG-EQF and NA, it should work with any other logging program that only sends labels directly to the printer. SUGGESTIONS, COMMENTS, BUG REPORTS, ETC. Comments, suggestions for improving PSQSL, new features, and bug reports are welcomed and appreciated. If you are the author or user of a popular radio logging program which you would like to see supported by PSQSL, please contact me. If there is enough interest, future releases of PSQSL may support it. I can be reached through my computer and electronics consulting company, Unified Microsystems. The best way is by letter to Unified Microsystems, PO BOX 133, Slinger, WI 53086. If you are having trouble with PSQSL, please include as much information as possible. Include a disk if appropriate. Of course, registered users get highest priority. If you need a more immediate response, you can try reaching me on the phone at Unified Microsystems, (414) 644- 9036 from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM Central Time during weekdays. Most of the time you will get an answering machine. Availability of telephone support of PSQSL is not guaranteed. BECAUSE OF THE LOW PRICE BEING CHARGED FOR PSQSL, LONG DISTANCE PHONE CALLS CANNOT BE RETURNED. I hope you find PSQSL useful. I do a lot of radio contesting and receive well over 1000 QSL cards each year. It has saved me a lot of time and I hope it does for you too. Special thanks go to KS9K, KZ9K/7, N9XX, NB9C, WB9FRF, and WW1M for their help in beta testing PSQSL and for their constructive criticism. 73's & DX, Gary Sutcliffe, W9XT APPENDIX A Using PSQSL With Unsupported Logging Programs PSQSL supports the most popular logging and contest logging programs. It also supports the two most common data import/export formats used by popular data base programs. If you use another logging program, you may still be able to use PSQSL with it. The first step is to create a label file with your logging program. If your program allows you to create a label file on the disk, you are all set. If it only prints directly to the printer, you must capture the information with the QCAPT program. PSQSL must extract the callsign of the station for each label so that it can determine which country it is from. PSQSL looks for a particular string of characters or a special location to find the call, depending on which logging program was used. It is unlikely that PSQSL will be able to extract the proper information on a file created by an unsupported program using one of the supported programs' formats. It may be possible, however, to quickly convert an output label file from an unsupported logging program to a format that is supported by PSQSL. Probably the easiest format to convert it to is the line delimited format which was described in an earlier section. For review, here is the line delimited label format: CALL_1 QSO_LINE_1 QSO_LINE_2 QSO_LINE_3 COMMENT_LINE <- This line must be present. Any text is ignored. CALL_2 QSO_LINE_1 QSO_LINE_2 <etc.> It might be a simple matter to convert the label file to this format with your editor or word processor. For example, suppose your logging program produced a file containing the following: <Your call> confirms 2 way QSO with DX9DX on FEB. 21, 1992 at 1432 UTC. Your 21 MHz CW signals were 599. Please QSL! 73 & DX <Blank Line> <Blank Line> <Your call> confirms 2 way QSO with DX1XX on JAN. 1, 1992 at 0252 UTC. Your 14 MHz SSB signals were 59. Please QSL! 73 & DX <Blank Line> <etc.> You could use your editor to replace every occurrence of the string of characters '<Your call> confirms 2 way QSO with ' with a string of zero characters. The exact commands you must type to do this will depend on the particular editor you use. It should be possible to do this change on every label in the file with one command. You may wish to do some other changes such as remove the 'on' before the date. Again, depending on your word processor, you might be able to define and save special macros to do this for you. The next time you produce a label file with your logging program, a couple of quick keystrokes will do the entire conversion for you. If you use a word processor to make any changes, be sure to use it in the ASCII mode so that you don't introduce any special characters the word processor uses for formatting text. An ASCII editor is your best bet if you have one and are familiar with it. To be safe, test the converted label file with a special test PSQSL data file. That way if you need to make further changes to your label file, you won't get the bad labels mixed up with good ones. If you use a commercially available logging program that you would like to see supported, send a printout of a sample label file (use regular computer paper, not labels) or better yet, a diskette with a sample output label file on it to UNIFIED MICROSYSTEMS. If there is enough demand, future versions of PSQSL may support it. APPENDIX B Using PSQPATH To Set PSQSL Directories When you run PSQSL, one of the first things it does is to create a country and prefix table based on information contained in the file "BUREAU.LST". To do this, PSQSL must be able to find and read this file. If BUREAU.LST and PSQSL are in the same directory, AND that directory is the current working directory when you run PSQSL, you won't have any problems. Some PC users, however, like to split up their files in separate directories and even separate drives. For example, they might keep all of their executable programs in the C: drive and all their data in the D: drive. This makes backing up their drives easier. PSQSL allows you to do this, but you must make special arrangements so that PSQSL can find BUREAU.LST. This is done by setting a special environment variable, "PSQPATH" to tell PSQSL what directory BUREAU.LST can be found in. Let us say that you want to put PSQSL and its files on your C: drive in a directory called HR (for Ham Radio of course!). Lets also say that you want to keep your logs and QSL files in the directory "\QSLS" in the D: drive. When you first install PSQSL, you would copy all the files on the distribution floppy disk to C:\HR. The label files from your logging programs would be stored in D:\QSLS. Before running PSQSL, you would have to let it know where it could find BUREAU.LST. You do this by typing the following command from the DOS prompt: set PSQPATH=C:\HR<ENTER> Change "C:\HR" to whatever drive and directory combination you used for saving BUREAU.LST. Instead of typing this every time you want to use PSQSL, you could also put the same line in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file so that it is set every time you turn your computer on. Next, when you want to run PSQSL, change directories to D:\QSLS (or where ever your label files are located), and type PSQSL. Note that in this example, you would have to have a statement in your PATH (found in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file) command for C:\HR in order for DOS to find PSQSL. The same would be true in case you were using QCAPT and it were also located in a different directory from the present one. Because BUREAU.LST is a file that gets changed from time to time, you might wish to keep it in the same directory that you keep your label files. In that case make your "set PSQPATH" command indicate the proper directory. In the example, this would be "set PSQPATH=D:\QSLS". For more information on directories, paths, and AUTOEXEC.BAT, consult your DOS manual. PSQSL Registration Form Send this form and check or money order to: Unified Microsystems PO Box 133 Slinger, WI 53086 Name:__________________________________ Call:______________ Street:____________________________________________________ City_________________________________ State________________ ZIP_________________ Country_________________________ Phone Number (optional):___________________________________ PSQSL Version:__________________ Check one: _____ Registration only $10 _____ Registration with a printed manual and the latest version of PSQSL on disk $20 Wisconsin residents include 5% sales tax ____ Total enclosed ___________ Registered users will receive notices of updates to PSQSL. What features would you like to see added to PSQSL? What other amateur radio related programs would you like to see developed?