Ham Radio 2000/Ham Radio 2000.iso/ham2000/logs/toths101/history.txt

Text File | 1996-03-17 | 47KB | 1,081 lines

THE TOTAL HAM Shareware versions:

VERSION 4 - 09/05/88
VERSION 5 - 10/10/88
VERSION 6 - 11/18/88
VERSION 7 - 12/22/88
VERSION 8 - 02/05/89
VERSION 9 - 03/21/89

THE TOTAL HAM PLUS commercial versions:

04/01/1989

                             TOTAL HAM PLUS

                             Version 3

Those who have used the shareware version "THE TOTAL HAM" will find
many enhancements, changes or additions in "THE TOTAL HAM PLUS".

As of TOTAL HAM PLUS Version 3.0 the following new & enhanced
features are available to the user over the shareware TOTAL HAM
version 9.2.

SUMMARY:

Comes with a printed manual.

Much faster, easier to use menus (lite bar).

Much more info is now available from the input of all logging
modes. ALL checklists including the new zones checklist, the
callsign allocation table (for all the strange prefixes),
authorized frequencies for class of license.

Net & contest modes now allow picking up a previously used file.

Useful for on-going nets & contests.

Personalized print outs.

DETAILS OF SOME OF THE CHANGES & ENHANCEMENTS:

1  - Menus are now lite bar selections. Light up the option & hit
return. Zap your there. ( Comming back to this version after
developing the plus versions shows me the value of them ). The
menus also have a short help box describing the option.

2  - Most print outs now are personalized with your callsign & the
date of the printing.

3  - Printed logs now have page numbers. Printing the whole log
starts from 1 & printing since last printing will pick up the
number it left off at last.

4  - You can now search the beam heading file by country name if
the prefix is not remembered.

5  - added an abort to all printer functions. ESC will abort, &
form feed.

6  - Net logging now saves its additional file (you name it) so you
can leave the area & come back with out losing it. It also auto
enters the net name into the contest field, now refered to as the
contest/net field. the next time you enter net logging you are
asked if you want to start a new net or if not, all the files *.NET
are displayed & you can re-activate any of them.
7  - The above now makes it safe to exit the area with the F1 key
instead of END. Accidental exit before lost the info. F1 is now
active through out in place of END.

8  - contest logging was changed to to match the net logging
format. contest file carry the extent of *.CNT.

9  - contest processing was eliminated.

10 - editing of existing beam heading entries was added.

11 - input of the dates in log printing & log editing was fixed so
that a 2 character field is displayed.

 12 - changed the state side K's to W's in the new beam heading
files. This now matches the countries list which carries W as the
primary prefix for the USA.

13 - You can now add to, delete from & printout the beam heading
file.

14 - In the contest logging mode, if mode is CW '599' is entered
as signal strength.

15 - Long path has been added to the beam heading file.

16 - Manual entry to the log now carries over the previous freq,
time & signal reports.

17 - In all logging modes F4 now brings up a checklist menu. This
allows any checklist to be available at all times.

18 - The above allows county hunters to use any mode & have his
checklist available. This was the only difference in county hunter
net logging so that mode was deleted.

19 - This also freed up another function key ( F6 ) to be used for
information screens. International allocation of callsigns,
Frequencies legal for class of license are available at this time.

20 - Added a paged display of the qsl managers list when called
from logging. Allows a partial call to be entered & get a list of
matches. example: HC will give all HC's with managers.

21 - Added the ability to resort the log by date & time. The log
print out options print the log as it was entered. If users entered
some manually, then entered live, then manually again, the log will
print out in that order. The option in the log maintenance menu
will resort the log in the proper order, date & time. Will take a
little time to do but it should not be neccesary to use often. BE
CAREFUL OF DISK SPACE AVAILABLE & I STRONGLY RECOMMEND YOU REMOVE
ALL TSR'S BEFORE RUNNING THIS OPTION.


22 - Added ability to set your own left margin on printouts. allows
you to set up for 3 hole punching of the printouts. Default is 4
spaces.

23 - the frequency is now printed on the log printouts.

24 - Zones are added to the main menu. You have either CQ dx zones
(WAZ) or ITU zones. You will be asked which you want. NEW files
zone.dat, zone.idx, zone1.dat & zone1.idx. add to your directory.

 25 - Now displays the sent & rec signal reports in the receive qsl
card option.

26 - The program no shows leading zero's in all time,date displays
& in the log.

27 - Added the ability to print information labels for use on QSL
Cards.

 28 - On entering any logging mode, the bottom frequency of the
band entered will be entered automatically to the first log entry.
change this if you wish. the last entered frequency will be carried
to the next entry. again change if you wish.

29 - Moved the name field down in the logging entry screen. Makes
more sense since you hardly every now his name as the first thing
in the contact.

30 - The log now has two formats. 1. the standard detailed format
as before. (11 entries per page) 2. A condensed print format that
matches the ARRL logbook (55 entries per page). The print out page
numbers are separate for each style.

31 - The [ESC] to abort changes now works as it should.

32 - Entering a recieved QSL card now resets the wanted flag.

33 - Added a reminder to back up all data files as the you leave
the program.


04/01/1990

                            VERSION 4


1 - A radio interface has been added. In logging the frequency is
taken from the rig & entered in the log when you enter the QSO.
ALSO if you change bands with F5 the radio will follow the band
change & change bands also.

2 - Added a simple terminal program for use with a TNC while in
logging. Shift-F1 brings it up & ESC will bring you back to
logging.

    (Both of the above are activated or deactivated from the
options menu.)

3 - The TNC option menu shows PAKRATT 232, KAM & GENERIC. The
generic option is a plain terminal mode (no frills) nothing
entered.

4 - Entering any of the logging options now uses a lite bar
selection of the band & mode. You no longer have to enter those
manually.

5 - If a previous contact is found in any of the logging options,
the name, city, state, & country are picked up from the last
previous contact displayed and entered for you if you choose to
enter the contact into the log.

6 - grid square & propagation fields have been add to the log. The
callsign field is now 11 characters, allowing for example:
KA4XYZ/VP2A. Previously the field was 10 characters.

7 - The base frequency entered upon first entering any logging
option now reflects the bottom of the band based on the mode.
Example CW starts at 28.000 & SSB starts at 28.300.

8 - Info screens available in logging now contains the ARRL section
list.

9 - Under the contest & net logging, when a filename is given and
that filename already exists the program now asks for another name
instead of overwriting the file.

10 - In contest logging the contact number is now shown with out
the decimal places being displayed.

11 - All log entry screens now show the time and date of the
contact in the heading. The Sent QSL field is now shown in the
entry form. This was requested to allow for a quick "QSL now"
option. Enter the Y now and print screen for the info to fill out
a card now without using the send QSL Card area.

12 - A previous contact now is found only for exact matches.
Previously if KA4XYZ was in the log, entering KA4XY would show
KA4XYZ. It was possible to show and enter a wrong QSL manager. This
now will not happen.

13 - The QSL manager field is now forced to upper case after the
screen is completed.

14 - Entering the checklist options from logging will default to
the mode you are now working. Upon returning from the checklist
menu the mode will be restored to what it was when you entered the
menu.

15 - All the checklists have been revamped to offer confirmed &
worked. RTTY, PACKET & AMTOR have been added to the lists for
tracking of those modes. The mixed mode options in the checklist
menus will only be for mixed SSB/CW contacts. Other modes are not
included in the mix.

16 - The above required the displays and printouts to be totally
revamped. Only on mode at a time is displayed. This allowed a
single line for each entry rather than the previous two lines.
Really makes more sense now.

17 - With addition of RTTY,PACKET, & AMTOR fields all the checklist
File sizes have grown approx. 50% with these additions.

18 - The checklists now allow for a W for WORKED as well as an X
for CONFIRMED. Worked was added as a menu option.

19 - All references to DX zones through out the program have been
changed to the proper name of CQ zones.

20 - Zone screens and printouts now state the type of zone. IE: ITU
or CQ.

21 - The QSL manager input field in logging now uses the Qslman.dat
file. This allows the whole 50 character field to be used and
allows enough space for an address or other info you previously
could only enter in the QSL MANAGER menu. This allows for the
deletion of the field in the LOG.DAT file (Never really used
anyway).

22 - Contest counter saved one too many - fixed this

23 - Checks diskspace after adding to files - shows warning at 4K

24 - All options now in separate menu under the main menu

25 - New option of using a different filename for the log. Default
is still LOG.DAT. optional log only active in present session and
will revert to LOG.DAT next time the program is brought up.

26 - Added the ability under log maintanence to mass edit from an
inputted date forward. This will allow you to enter a start date
and edit from there on until you say [Q]uit.

27 - Changed add to log manually to add directly to the log.dat
file instead of using a temporary file.

28 - Adding to the log manually now updates the qsl manager file
like logging does.

29 - Band & mode menus show the mixed option only when it can be
safely used.

30 - Added display of his signal to all displays in sending QSL
options.

31 - Zones now show in proper numeric order.

32 - Set printer codes now save what was there before if a return
is hit at the input prompt instead of wiping it out.

33 - The log.dat file has one(1) space added to callsign two(2)
frequency, addition of a field for gridsquare & one for propagation
and the deletion of the QSLMAN field (covered above).

34 - We have decided to play it safe with the data files. Now the
program will close and reopen the files if changes or additions
were made. This will ensure that if power is lost or some other
nasty happens there may be only a minumim of data lost (what was
on the screen). This MAY help if DOS 4.0 bites you. We do not
recommend DOS 4.0 because of its bug in file handling. DOS 4.01 is
supposed to have corrected this problem.

Version 4.2

1  - Added feature to the TNC termianl mode to save the lest screen
upon exiting. This can be recalled by the shift F2 key from the
call prompt.

2  - Added the band & mode fields to all log input screens. This
allows you to change the band or mode there if you had forgotten
to from the header.

3  - Added the fields RQSL and SQSL to the prior contact reports.
Suggested so you could remind the station that he had not sent you
a card.

4  - Fixed the international callsign allocation table. It
displayed out of order alphabetically.

5  - Fixed the QSL label option. It would round of a frequency of
3.75 to 4mhz.

6  - Added a feature of prefixing a call with an "/". This allows
you to search the log by a partial prefix as previuos versions did.
You cannot Enter a qso using this option. This provides for the
fexiblity of older versions and the safety of version 4.

Version 4.3

1  - Added the mode to all QSL printouts. The send QSL printouts
will also now include the exchange field.

2  - F10 will now bring up the QSL MANAGERS menu. The first option
is the same as what the program did before. Now you have all the
other options available also without going back to the main menu.

3  - RECEIVE QSL CARDS and SEND QSL CARDS are now under the same
menu option. Saves some jumping back and forth if both are neeeded.

4  - Added an option to mark all entries for a given date as don't
send QSL cards. This allows you to mark contest entries so they
don't print labels and don't show in the lists. You may then go
back and edit the ones you DO want to QSL with. If you wish to QSL
all contacts, don't use this option. Use your judgement as to which
option makes the least work for you.

5  - The QSL card labels now print the month as JAN, FEB, MAR, etc
instead of a number.

6  - Added an option to print one one QSO per label in the "Print
QSL labels for block on front of card".

Version 4.4

     We have found a way to remove our program from memory except
for a 12K segment, write the program to a disk file, Run an
external program or drop to DOS, return to the program at the point
we left it, reload the program from the disk file as continue the
program for there. This has opened some doors for what can be done
and the following two options are now possible.

1  - Added an option to run an external TNC program of your choice
in place of the basic internal TNC mode. This allows the users of
the DRSI packet board to run the DRSI terminal program the same as
the other TNC users have been able to do. You may also run your
favorite TNC program.

2  - Added a drop to DOS feature from either the CALL prompt or the
main menu.

3  - Added the ability to enter a frequency and mode at the CALL
prompt to send a supported rig to that frequency and mode.

4  - The checklist menu now show the current mode in the title
block.

5  - Added an option to change the logic in recieving QSL cards.
You now may set an option from the options menu to mark the QSO as
sent QSL card immediately after marking it received.

03/10/1991

Version 5 of THE TOTAL HAM PLUS was released in early March, 1991.
This is a major enhancement to previous versions.

    I know I have told many of you that I would never try
automatic ID of countries. You twisted my arm. Version 5 contains
a lookup table (modifiable by you) to ID a country while in
logging. You will be shown a lite bar menu of the possible
countries and an undefined option in case its wrong. Pick one and
a window on the top of the screen shows your checklist entry for
that country and the beam heading entry. The country name is then
entered in the log. This automatic mode can be toggled on and off
with shift-F10.

    After you work the contact, a display will show the checklist
for the country listed in the log. You will be asked if this is the
correct country. A Y answer will update the checklist as worked if
not already worked or confirmed.

    You will always be asked for confirmation because I still feel
we should not take the chance of doing it wrong automatically. The
worst thing I could think of would be for the program to flag the
wrong country and you not know it.

    The lookup table is also used for entering QSL cards received
and will automatically flag the country confirmed, after your
confirmation that it is correct.

    The beam heading file (new updated version), and the country
checklist, also use the table.

    The internal TNC mode is now capable of working with the
packet DX clusters, and has been improved with some colors. Your
keyboard input shows in yellow. Incoming text is normal. Incoming
text lines, starting with ***, will show in red. These are
***connect, ***disconnect and error messages. If you are connected
to a DX cluster, any spots that come through to you, or response
from the command SH/D will show in red. These are also saved to a
reuseable file. The file, if not empty, will cause an option of
shift-F4 to show on the screen. This option brings the last 15
spots saved into a lite bar menu. Selecting one of these will send
the frequency to a CAT rig and automatically enter the call in the
call prompt. This feature is obviously not available using the
external TNC option for the DRSI boards.


    Our full screen editing in the log input screen does not allow
anything else to be done while in the screen. We have added the
time field in this screen and the abilty to abort the contact. This
allows you to go ahead into the screen and pre enter information
prior to the actual contact. When contact is made, pgup and change
the time. ESC will abort the entry, if contact is not made. This
should be a handy feature.

    Most displays can now be sent to the screen, printer or a disk
file.

    Log searches can now be made for a string supplied as input.
This can be done for frequency, band, mode, city, state, country,
10X in exchange field, contest name, propagation or grid square.

    Adding to the log manually now will update the country
checklist with a confirmed if the received QSL was marked Y. It
also now uses the same country lookup scheme as logging on line
uses.

    Added another date option of YEAR/MONTH/DAY for those
countries using that date format. (By request from Sweden)

    If you have chosen not to use the full County checklist, the
program will now not go into the County checklist menu. A message
will be displayed in lieu of the menu.

    If connected to the DX cluster, the program will now display
everything in the tnc buffer in the logging screen, not just the
spots. This should alert you to talk messages also. The display is
paged at 8 lines. If a message appears you may then go into the TNC
mode to answer it.

    A large log file (over 1.4M) was impossible to copy to
floppies. An option was added to the log maintenance module to
break the log into 360K floppy sized pieces. These pieces contain
1500 entries and will be named LOGBAK1.DAT, LOGBAK2.DAT, etc. Those
of your with larger floppies can place as many of these pieces on
your floppies as will fit. A count of pieces made is saved to a
memory file (LOGBAK.MEM) to allow for restoration from these pieces
if neccesary. Both the backup and restore options require extra
disk space to work. The backup option requires 1.2 times the size
of your LOG.DAT file. Restoring requires 2.2 times the size of your
LOG.DAT file since it does keep a backup file of the LOG.DAT file
already on the disk. After restoring from floppies, erase the file
LOG.IDX. The program will remake this file on startup. After
checking the new LOG.DAT file, you may erase the file LOG.BAK.

    The popular PKZIP program, in the shareware market, still
remains to be the best way, providing the zipped file is small
enough for your floppy disk size. PKZIP will shrink the size of
LOG.DAT over 85%. A 1.5M LOG.DAT file will be shrunk to
approximately 225K and is very fast. Unzipping is also easy and
fast. We recommend you use the PKZIP method, but if you have to,
use this new built in method.

    This version is compiled with Clipper 5.01. This is the latest
compiler from Nantucket. This version removes the requirement for
you to have 530K available to run the program. Clipper 5.01
contains a virtual memory manager and an automatic overlay
management scheme. It has been tested in as little as 384K of
memory available and under Windows and DESQview. No memory
conflicts were found during testing. Please report any you might
find with all the information you can supply as to environment it
happened under. We can not test all the possibilities.

    This compiler also allows the program to include the old
separate log maintenance module within the same EXE file. This
eliminates the need for the loading of the module.

    Added the ability to edit a country name in the country
checklist. Use this immediately to correct the spelling of Belgium
which is wrong in the checklist.

    Removed one line per page in the checklist printouts to the
printer. This was done to prevent a laser printer from printing
extra pages. It now fits the maximum image size of HP laser
printers.

    Added the ability to change colors used in the program. This
will allow selection of colors of areas of the displays. This is
accessed through the options menu, under the MONO/COLOR selection.
If you answer Y the the color monitor question, you will be asked
if you want to change the default colors. A "Y" to this question
will bring up a menu of the possible changes available.

1 -  Added option of using [ESC] key to return to previous menu.
     This is in addition to the lite bar return.

2 -  Added state name to checklist displays.

3 -  Added country name to searches in country checklist.

4 -  Added the state abreviation list to state checklist. * in
    place of the two letter state input brings up the list.

5 -  Added auto update of confirmed, if an X in any field is
    sensed, while adding a confirmed state, etc.

6 -  Added a check of the frequency returned for the rig in logging
    to be sure the band is correct. Previously, if you changed
    bands with the rig controls, it was possible to have the wrong
    band in the log.

7 -  Changed delay time in reading the frequency from the Kenwood
    rigs because of the 950 and fast computers. The Kenwood 950
    will keep the auto update mode active even when the rig is
    turned off. We do not use it but some other programs do. If
    they don't turn it off a bad read can occur. Added a turn off
    in the program to prevent this. Note: this applies only to the
    950.

8 -  Added option in option menu to display date as day/month/year
    thoughout the program. The program sales are now
    International.

9 -  Removed the checklist info from the delete a country option.
    Shows the prefix and country name only.

10 - Added an add/delete to the county checklist as it is in the
    country checklist.

11 - Added a conversion menu to the info screen menu. Options are:
    convert meters to feet, feet to meters, miles to kilometers,
    kilometers to miles, frequency to meters, meters to frequency,
    degrees f to degrees c, degrees c to degrees f.

12 - Beam heading and QSL Managers files can now be displayed on
    the screen as well as the printer.

13 - Power is added to the log. Required in some countries. A
    default power level can be set through the options menu.
    The default is 100, if not changed.

14 - The county checklist will now print by state then county name.
    Search is still by county name.

15 - If an index file is missing, the program now automatically
     creates it. If an index gets damaged, the user can just erase
    it, the program will make a new one.

16 - The print hard copy of log in detailed format will also now
    display to the screen.

17 - Changing bands in logging will now set sideband to the proper
    one for the frequency as is done when entering a frequency.

18 - The program has checked for printer ready using a built in
    compiler command. This is one of those 100% compatiblity
    things. One user had this "Printer not ready" error messages
    when the printer was really ready. Added an override feature
    if this is encountered in error.

19 - In all areas where you were previously asked "Printer Y/[N]"
    the    program now displays a menu to select SCREEN, PRINTER,
    DISK FILE. This disk file option allows the output to be
    diverted    to a named disk file for printing later or printing
    on a different computer. The SCREEN option has added a screen
       display to areas where it was not possible previously.

20 - In all areas where printing occurs, a menu to select PRINTER,
    DISK FILE is displayed. This, with the above option, allows
    all printing to be done to a disk file.

21 - New menu option, under log maintenance, allows searching log
    for    a string supplied as input. This can use FREQUENCY, BAND,
      MODE, CITY, STATE, COUNTRY, 10X as exchange, CONTEST NAME,
    PROPAGATION or GRID SQUARE. 04/01/1992

                       Version 6 Additions

Changes in program at this time are:

1  - The State checklist is now automatically updated in logging,
QSL cards in, and adding to log manually, if the proper state
abbreviation is in the state field of the log.

2 - Continents are now updated automatically also.

3  - We now can automatically update the zone checklists for those
countries with only one zone possible. We are looking at the beam
heading file, and grabbing the zones. If there is no "," we know
there is only one possible zone. If there is a "," we notify with
a multiple zones for this country - update zones manually message.
Since the vast majority of the countries only have one zone, this
feature was worth attempting. The idea came from a user.

4 -  TNC mode now contains set of function keys while connected in
the TNC mode. F2 ( connect ) only works while NOT connected. All
the others only work while connected.

     While in the TNC mode F1 displays the function key meanings.

     These keys are programmable under the TNC options menu. F2
should always be your connect (cluster call). If you wish to add
something to the line like a call sign, enter <> as the last
character of the key information. The defaults show examples of
this in TALK and SH\BUCK.

5  - Added Shift function keys in the TNC mode. The shift f2 thru
shift f7 will send a ctrl C then the single character that you
select. Shift f8 thru shift f10 work as the function keys do. These
are for control of a TNC for RTTY and CW where you need ctrl C X
for transmit ETC. The other keys send a character string and can
not send a control character. Shift F1 displays the function key
meanings for RTTY and CW

6  - A mode menu is now included in the TNC mode. Selection of a
certain mode will input paramenters from a text file for each mode.
This will allow you to configure your TNC your way for each mode
and allow for changing mode will within the TNC mode of THE TOTAL
HAM PLUS. The program looks for  TNCPAK.CFG for packet,
TNCRTTY.CFG, TNCCW.CFG, and TNCAMT.CFG. This are just like the
TNCUP.CFG in the manual page 16. If they are not there everything
stays the same when you switch modes. In playing around with it the
only thing I needed on my Prakratt was echo off for RTTY and CW.
While in the TNC mode Atl-F1 brings up the menu.

7  - Added the ability with Shift-F6, while connected to the
cluster to send the last QSO to the cluster from the logging
screen. Hit the key, what is to be sent is displayed with the
cursor in a notes field, add a note if you wish, hit the return and
it's sent.

8  - Edit a country name also now allows for change of prefix. Beam
heading and the lookup table also has to match this prefix if
changed.

9  - In the manual entry mode of log maintenance, IF the frequency
is left blank the base frequency for band and mode is entered like
in other portions of the program.

10  - Changed QSL list print outs to standard print in the same
format as display on the screen. Many complaints about the size of
the print in condensed print.

11 - The QSL counts options in all checklists show the old total
and now show band totals also.

12 - A new option in log maintenance allows for updating the
checklists from the log entries. This new option will update the
state and zones like we are now doing in the other areas of the
program. This was added to the main program for use after importing
logs from the optional programs to update the checklists or you
have been logging with the auto worked turned off. The option also
now can use a disk file or the printer. Log entries will be flagged
as proccessed to allow you to stop and start at the point you left
off.

     NOTE: Logging and adding to log manually will set this flag
also if auto worked is turned on. This option is only needed if you
imported a log file or had auto worked turned off.

13 - Drop to DOS now brings up a menu. The top menu choice is the
DOS prompt. There are also five programable program names as
choices. These choices are BAT files as explained in the manual
under the optional TNC program section page 17. These BAT files
make sure the default directory is changed to what the called
program will need. The directory is changed back to the directory
for THE TOTAL HAM PLUS upon leaving the called program. You are
then brought back into THE TOTAL HAM PLUS at the point where you
left it.

14 - Added third party agreement countries list under the
information screens.

15 - AM and FM now added as valid modes for all checklists.

16 - The TNC mode now has a capture to disk toggle Alt - F2. A
display of this capture file is Alt - F3.

17 - The F1 key in the TNC mode now displays all the function key
settings.

18 - The Ctrl F keys send a text file as a brag tape type use.
These files TNCTAP1.TXT for F1 TNCTAP2.TXT for F2 etc. can contain
anything you wish to send repeatedly. For example:
 CQ CQ CQ DE WD4AZG WD4AZG WD4AZG K. Hitting Ctrl F1 would send
this file. Use your text editor to create these files. TNCTAP1.TXT
thru TNCCAP10.TXT can be used. These are not required to be there.
They will be used only if they exist in your directory.

19 - Changed the Shift Function keys. Now Shift F1 thru Shift F5
send a ctrl C and Shift F6 thru Shift F10 work as the F2 thru F10.
This allows 5 ctrl C keys and 5 regular keys.

20 - QSL card labels option is now a separate menu. It now has the
ability to use the larger 1 7/16 X 4" (disk label) size labels. The
front of card option can now places 3 QSO's on a label. This size
label is more readily found than the 15/16 X 4" labels.

21 - Added a print option to the delete countries prompt. This will
give you a list of the countries you have flagged as deleted but
saved the record.

All checklists can now be printed to the screen as well as printer
or disk file.

The state name now prints and displays in checklists.

The CQ and ITU zones now have their own menu selection. You now
longer are asked for the 1 or 2 choice.

A country marked deleted but saved will now show in all country
checklist displays and printouts with an * in front of the country
name.

Added a callsign/date heading on the first page of the qsl list
printouts as previously done in other printouts.

Support for the new Ten-Tec Omni VI, Argonaut II and Delta II has
been added


04/01/1993
                      Version 7 Additions

ADDITIONS:

    You can now print a QSL card label from the logging area. Use
the F3 to display last entry. Options now include printing a label.
A label line up printout like in regular label area will come up
the first time it is used during the program session.
    We can now access the Buckmaster CD-ROM call book October 92
version. Access it from logging by entering BUCK as the call. You
will then be asked for the call to look up. The program then runs
Buckmaster's icall.exe with the call you asked for appended. The
information Buckmaster's program displays is displayed in the blank
area of the screen.

NOTE:
    The latest buckmaster CD-ROM (October 1992) has a new icall
program that allows either US or international calls to be used.
This is a change from previous versions which used hcall for US and
icall for international. This simplifies the program also. The
program will only use icall, so the CD-ROM MUST BE october 1992 to
work. It also has a cross reference for old calls and will tell you
what the new call is. This allows for the label printing, below,
to print the correct call on the label. IF the program sees the
line SEE CALL it will try again using that call.

     When printing QSL card labels, the normal label is printed.
If the qsl route is not "B" for bureau the call is fed to
Buckmaster's program. If the call is found an address label is then
printed for the call sign of the station you are sending the QSL
card to. If a QSL manager is in the QSL managers file that call
will be used for the label in place of the direct address.

    The above also works with HAMBASE from jCOM. This system can
use floppy disks but requires changing disk constantly and is not
recommended. It can and should be installed on the hard drive as
per their instructions. It does take up 21.5 megs of space.

    The above also works with SAM call book database by RT
Systems. This system is hard drive based and requires about 16 Megs
of space. RT systems chose to run their system through a TSR
program which has to be installed and removed from memory. This
caused a memory conflict with THE TOTAL HAM PLUS. This system will
have to be run through a two BAT files. We are supplying BAT files
for this use. Edit those files for the proper drive letter and
directory if other than C drive and SAM directory. Using the BAT
files method the command line prompts will display  on the screen.

    We can now automatically update the county checklist. With the
/county name in the country field, the program assumes the country
is USA and now updates all the checklists as normal with other
entries. The county name is derived from the /county name and uses
the state to find the correct county. This method REQUIRES the
state field and county name be correct. Otherwise it will not find
the county and will display such. A field has been added to the log
for the date a QSL card was sent or a label printed. This is reset
to a blank when a QSL card is recieved. This date will show on the
QSL card sent and not received listings. As usual, if you find
something or have an idea, call me at 703-791-3839.

    Added ARRL style Phone (SSB, AM, FM) and RTTY (RTTY, AMTOR,
PACKET) to the confirmed count displays.

    Added a search on remarks field to the alternate search of log
option.

    Under the optional files area of the options menu there is now
an area to define the optional information text files used under
the information menu in logging. This imports a text file to a
small database to allow veiwing of a text file. This could be used
for net lists,packet bbs command lists, etc. Just name any text
file optext1.txt. optext2.txt etc and define what you want the lite
bar to say in the menu.

    If a call is not found in your log and you have one of the
callbook programs activated, the call book is searched and the
information is displayed on the screen prior to the enter prompt.
There is also an added function key (control-F1) to toggle this
feature on and off. Default is ON.
    Under the QSL cards sent and not received you can list ALL or
just those QSO's 30, 60, 90, 120 or 365 days old. An I (Ignore) in
the Received QSL card field will bypass any listing under this
option.

    The TNC mode now has the ability to monitor a DX cluster
frequency and pick up the spots without being connected to the
cluster. Alt-F4 is a toggle to turn this monitor mode on and off.
Using this mode will display only the first spot reported on the
frequency while in the TNC mode. No other information will display.
This does require more frequent screen refresh cycles while not in
the TNC mode as suggested on page 36 of the manual.

CHANGES:

    The confirmed count screen in all the checklists has been
changed to a table style appearance.

    We are now using a full date date field for entry to the log.
This allows for a check of the date validity and reduced some
program lines by allowing Clipper to change the display format
automatically for the optional date formats.

    The call sign is now displayed in the entry screen in logging
and can now be edited at that point.

    Selecting a TNC from the SET TNC option now will set the
external TNC program to NONE. This eliminates the double change
previously needed.

    The time is now a single field throughout the log input and
edit screens. The validation is now better to prevent input of 830
instead of 0830.

    A new country may now be added with an existing prefix IF the
prefix is marked as a deleted country. EXAMPLE: If OK -
Czechosolvakia becomes the Czech Republic as OK, delete OK -
Czechosolvakia first then follow the prompts to add OK as Czech
Republic. Conversely EA9 is now Ceuta & Melilla, EA9 before 1969
was Ifni. If you need to add Ifni you can delete but keep EA9 as
Ceuta & Melilla, add EA9 as Ifni as deleted, then restore EA9 Ceuta
& Melilla.

    During realtime logging a deleted country does not now show
as a country option during lookup. This is as it should have been,
since it is not a valid country to work now anyway.

    In updating checklists any missing updates will cause a Press
any key to continue prompt before clearing the screen. This will
eliminate those messages flashing by of the screen before you see
what it said.

    The label alignment feature now is only used once during a
program session instead of each time you enter a label printing
area.

    The international allocation table has been updated based upon
the list in the January 1993 DXCC Countries list. It appears even
this is not cut in stone. We will make this editable in the next
version.

    Selecting the mode upon entering logging will now set a CAT
rig to that mode. Previously it was possible to log the wrong mode.

04/01/1994

                      Version 8 Additions

ADDITIONS:

    We added a function key in logging to bring menu for a list
of nets/swl stations or anything you might want to keep, along with
frequency, mode, hours and day of week. They will come up in a menu
like spots do in the cluster. Select one and the rig qsy's like a
spot. This section allows a page up/ page down scrolling of the
list. By using the decimal character ranking in the ASCII table,
you can use certain characters as the first character to make some
desired entries show on the first page. I have added a few to
demonstrate this. I decided while adding this to rearrange the
bottom of the logging screen to something that allows for adding
things without making it look bad.

    We now have an IOTA checklist. It works the same way as the
countries list does now allowing for additions,deletions and
editing. It WILL NOT be automatically updated.

    We will keep OBLASTS since cards may still be in bureau's and
it was used.

    PACTOR is now a valid mode and is a valid mode in the
checklists.

    Added support for the new CD-ROM callbook from AmSoft called
Callsign. This is a new US only callbook.

    When the call book is accessed when a call is not found in the
log now allows you to enter the first name, city and state into the
log automatically.

CHANGES:

    The alternate search of the log can now search on multiple
fields, with either "and" or "or". This makes this option far more
flexible for wanted information.

    Modified the DX cluster frequency monitor and DX cluster
connect features to check the file of saved spots before displaying
or adding one. This should prevent the duplicates that have been
showing. It also will not add spots again if you do a SH/DX twice
while connected. The file DXSPOT.DAT will now purge itself to
prevent the file from becoming excessively large and slow to
access. This file is also now opened when you enter the TNC mode
and kept open until you leave. This is also the case in the
frequency monitor mode. This should speed up this area by quite a
bit. We previously were opening and closing the file in every loop.

    Modified the printer check in qsl label printing to reset the
flag for test label if printer check senses printer is not OK.

    Modified the QSL label printing to allow for date or callsign
order like the log printing.

    Changed most of the function keys at the bottom of the logging
screen. This was done to make the screen neater when some options
are not activated and allows for better explainations of the toggle
function keys.

    Improved the keyboard entry of frequency and mode. The correct
sideband will now be send to the rig. Under certain circumstances
it was wrong before.

    When a spot is selected from the cluster the comment field of
the spot is placed in the remarks field of the log.

    You can now escape from the country lookup selection box with
the ESCAPE key. This escape takes you back to the call prompt. USE
THIS AS AN ABORT ONLY. Normally select a country or unknown from
this selection box for the country checklist display to show.

    In the country lookup area, a deleted country is ok for
display in the country lookup selection box while receiving QSL
cards. It is possible for a card to be from the country and still
count. There is NO EARTHLY reason why a deleted country should be
displayed while actively logging since it does not exist currently.
They no longer will display while logging.
 04/01/1995

                      Version 9 Additions

ADDITIONS:

    We can now use the GOLIST program if a QSL Manager is not in
our internal QSLMAN.DAT file.  In logging when the program looks
in the QSLMAN.DAT and does not find anything, the GOLIST is tried
next. This is only used for callsigns other than W,K,N,or AA to AN.
No sense to look for USA callsigns. The internal QSLMAN.DAT will
override any information in the GO LIST.

    We can also access the golist from the call prompt with the
word GOLIST. This is the same as the call book access for
information only.

    QSL card labels can now be in color if you have color printer.
Under the printer codes option in option menu, there is now a
question If you have a color printer. The options allow the
callsign to be one color, the text to be another, then switch back
to black before leaving the label. EXAMPLE: I set mine up to print
the call in red and then switch to blue for the text. I also tried
stacking the double strike code to the code for double wide and
releasing it with the back to black code. Makes the labels nice
and dark.

    Under the QSL send & receive area, there is now an option to
print an address label only for any callsign. This allows address
labels to be printed for callsign not in your log.

    The neccessity of entering the entry number in editing is
GONE. The list now comes up with a lite bar. Select the entry with
the bar like in a menu.

    When entering a QSL card recieved, a partial call can now be
entered using the / like a partial can be done in logging. This
allows you to find a busted call in the log if you recieve a card
and can't find it.

    In logging using the F3 - View/edit the last entry, the label
printing option L will now do an address label like other portions
of the program.

    Modified the address label area to not print the call on
labels that are not US. This seems to be the way most programs are
going. Seems that some overseas postal employees have found that
a call sign usually means a green stamp is in the envelope. Card
never gets there.

    We now access the QRZ callbook CD-ROM. It requires using our
"save our place and run it" drop to dos type access. It wants
memory (all of it HI HI).

    Printing the countries checklist can now be printed in Country
name order. IOTA checklist also.

    Under the zone checklist menu there is a new option to display
the countries within a zone.

    I found a need to reset the DOS clock while in the program.
I had used the frequency database to check wwv and realized the
computers clock was off. I had not noticed it when I started the
program. Decided to add an option TIME at the call prompt to access
DOS's time and date. Allows you now to change the clock from within
the program instead of going out to change it then come back in.
Also added the access to the time check while starting the program.


CHANGES:

    I found a way to simulate a split screen in the TNC mode. This
allows for the keyboard input to be on a separate line (bottom of
screen) while the tnc input scrolls above it. This also allows the
tnc input to continue while you are typing in the next line to the
tnc. This line also has a word wrap feature in that when 79
characters are typed without a return we trim the line back to the
last space, add a return and send it to the tnc for transmission.
This works great for typing in messages since you just type and it
shows up on the BBS in a neat fashion. BTW 80 characters is one to
wide for most BBS's and causes double spaces.

    Edit log from date forward has been refined. It no longer
displays contacts first. It goes directly into the edit screen.

    When the call book is accessed to id the station after the
call is entered, we found that 99% of the time we want to enter the
name, city and state into the log. Decided to bypass the question
and go directly to the enter prompt leaving the information on the
screen. If you enter the QSO the info IS inserted in the log.

    Previously when logging a stateside call the USA country info
and the beam heading to the center of the USA was displayed. Since
we can not determine the state to display the state checklist and
a proper beam heading. NOW with a call book activated the state in
the call book is used and the display changes to the state
checklist and the proper beam heading to the geographic center of
that state is displayed along with the correct zone.

    While trying to clean up my own QSL want list I realized the
list did not give me the information I needed to decide which one
no longer need to be on the list.

EXAMPLE:
    I had flagged more than one QSO for Michigan on 10 meters. The
list did not show the state. So after receiving a card from one of
them I printed the list to remove the other ones. With the state
or country not being on the list, I had no idea which stateside
calls were from Michigan.

    The list now shows CALL, QSO DATE, TIME, BAND, MODE, COUNTRY
or STATE, SENT QSL DATE, and ROUTE. This makes a usable list.