Night Owl 9/Night Owl CD-ROM (NOPV9) (Night Owl Publisher) (1993).ISO/028a/sd511.zip/HISTORY.DOC

Text File | 1993-05-18 | 20KB | 589 lines

This is HISTORY.DOC  -  Records the development of Super-Duper.

    Version 5.12        18th May 1993

    All CW contests.  Ctrl-R re-enabled. (Also Alt-F10).  Sends previous
    serial.  I had removed it because F10 used to do what the Minus key
    does now - abandons a QSO, and sometimes I would hit F10 when I meant
    Alt-F10.

    Type 0 - originally intended solely for the ARRL DX contest from
    W/VE.  This can now be used in any contest with country multipliers
    (preferably without serials).  For example - the All Asia contest
    where the exchange is RST + your age.  In the opening screen, the
    "State" field now accepts numeric characters (your age) which will
    be picked up by the keyer in the CW leg.  In addition, you can select
    points per QSO.  You will have to edit the DXCC.CTY file to delete
    country records that don't apply.  In the All Asia contest, naturally
    you want "AS" records only.  Don't forget to keep a copy of your
    original DXCC.CTY file.



    Version 5.11        10th May 1993

    All Contest Types.

    F7 and F8 were formerly used for Check Partial by Prefix and Suffix.
    Now, Comma and Full Stop (period) are the only options for these
    functions.

    F7 now sets up a Sked, or a Reminder which will trigger an alarm
    1 minute before the time set.  F8 will display the next 7 Skeds.
    If, when setting up a Sked, you wish to abandon the procedure, press
    the Minus key.  When you've completed the Sked, you'll see the next
    7 Skeds displayed.  To return to the Score window instead of the Sked
    window, press Minus.

    If you enter a Sked, but leave the time field blank, it's assumed you
    are recording a memo or note for use after the contest.  Memos will
    not display with F8.  All these reminders or notes are written to the
    .MMO file.  You can peruse them, after the contest, with any text
    editor or word processor.            Thanks VU2PTT.


    Version 5.10        6th May 1993

    CW keyer.  Choice of COM1-COM4.            Thanks G0KJV.

    "TUNE" command in Callsign Field will key the rig until any other
    key is pressed - valid for CW contests only.


    Version 5.09        14th April 1993

    All Contests: Widcard characters alowed in callsign.

    It may happen that you miss one or more characters in a callsign,
    but you want to log the QSO nevertheless and worry about correcting
    the callsign later.  You can now do this by substituting asterisk or
    question mark for any missing characters.  These are known as
    "wildcard" characters and they replace any missing character(s)    in
    the callsign, whether letters or numbers.  The callsign must still
    be at least 3 characters long, inclding any wildcard characters.
    When the callsign is completed or corrected, SD will recheck points
    and multipliers.                  Thanks EI6EW

    Contests with serials, but no state, county or zone multipliers:
    If, after editing a serial, you used Tab rather than Enter, an
    "Invalid State" was flagged and the edit would have to be abandoned
    with Minus.  Corrected.



    Version 5.08        26th March 1993

    The option to create multiplier files, corresponding to SDTYPE4.MLT
    assumed that all multiplier IDs would be the same length - 2 or 3
    characters.  This does not apply in the Spanish contest where the
    multiplier IDs can be 1 or 2 characters.  The program has been
    corrected to allow for this and similar circumstances.     Refer to the
    SPAIN.MLT file to see what to do.  When logging, you must enter a
    trailing space(s) if appropriate.          Thanks G0KJV.

    Thanks also to GM4HQF who supplied the ITALY.MLT, POLAND.MLT and
    HELVETIA.MLT files.

    In the never-ending quest to make the Type 4 option cover as many
    contests as possible, it now allows multi-mode operation.  Any
    station may be worked on SSB or on CW, but not on both modes, on each
    band.  However, each multiplier counts once only, irrespective of
    mode.

    Improvements in the pipeline include coverage for contests such as
    the UBA and SAC which have multipliers according to the prefix.     I'm
    also going to extend Type 10 to cater for non-RSGB contests having
    both country and area multipliers.



    Version 5.07        15th March 1993

    The WRITE command caused the program to crash if it was used during
    the same session in which the contest file was created.  However, it
    would work if the program was restarted.  Corrected.  Thanks G3KAF.

    Type 11 - RoPoCo/AFS.  Format of .LOG file for AFS option corrected.
                               Thanks G3KAF.

    Type 10 or 11.  County code not appended to CW exchange if it was
    entered in lower case.  Corrected.           Thanks G3PJT.



    Version 5.06        9th March 1993

    Following the WRITE command in RSGB multi-op contests, I had not
    suppressed one of my program test messages.  This had the effect of
    slowing the creation of the LOG file to 15 QSOs per minute. Corrected.
                               Thanks G3KAF.


    Version 5.05        3rd March 1993

    Following report of problem in RSGB 7MHz contest, I found that a
    callsign edit, on a QSO that was a multiplier, to a callsign
    that was now a dupe, was not flagged as a dupe.  This applied only
    to contests with country multipliers.  Corrected.  Thanks G4BWP.


    Version 5.04        2nd March 1993

    Type 11 - RoPoCo/AFS.  When you answer Y to RoPoCo? the keyer sends
    599 followed by the previous Post Code received.  You have to
    manually send your own Post Code for the first QSO.  If you
    answer N, the keyer sends 599 followed by Serial.   Thanks G4WYG.


    Version 5.03        11th February 1993

    Contests with multipliers.  Bug found - not reported by any users.
    When the band was edited on a logged QSO, if there was a QSO which
    had been a dupe of the edited QSO on the original band, and which was
    now a multiplier, in addition to being no longer a dupe, then it was
    not scored correctly.  This had been treated correctly, but at some
    time in the past few weeks I had altered some code without realising
    its significance.  Corrected.

    Contests with Serials.  Potential dupes did not report the Serial
    Received - due to a typing error in 5.01.  Corrected.


    Version 5.02        30th January 1993

    All contests:  PRINT generates a print file NAME.PRT on disk where
    NAME is the callsign used.  To print it, use the DOS COPY or PRINT
    commands.  Super-Duper does not support printers directly, because
    a printer fault could interrupt logging.  You may reformat the .PRT
    files with a word processor or text editor.


    Version 5.01        25th January 1993

    All contests:  For potential dupes, the on-screen message is now
    highlighted.                    Thanks GW0ANA.


    Version 5.0        15th January 1993

    This was originally to be Version 4.10.  However, the introduction
    of a new logging mode, described below, meant that I've had to change
    the layout of the contest log (.ALL) file, which in turn means that
    logs from earlier versions of the program will not be compatible with
    this version.

    You should keep the previous version of the program until you no
    longer need it for any previous contest logs you may have.  In the
    meantime, you might use a separate directory, for example NEWSD,
    for this version.

    Logging Mode.  In the past, it was assumed that your RST Sent was
    always 59(9).  To allow for contests or styles of operating where
    this is not appropriate, I've added a new logging mode which gives
    more flexibility with RSTs but which may not be suited to high speed
    operation.

    Since this is an additional and separate logging mode, there has been
    no compromise with Super-Duper's traditonal logging mode.  You can
    switch from one mode to the other by typing "RST" in the callsign
    field followed by Enter.

    There are also significant changes to the program in terms of
    supporting additional IARU national society contest types - i.e. those
    similar    in structure to Type 4 - RSGB contests for DX entrants, and
    Type 10    RSGB contests where UK entrants work both UK and DX.

    Basically, County, Zone and State multiplier IDs are now held in
    separate ASCII text files corresponding to each contest type.  For
    example, the UK county codes and corresponding descriptions are now
    held in RSGB.MLT and have been copied to both SDTYPE4.MLT and
    SDTYPE10.MLT.

    There are two main benefits.  The first is that the information is
    no longer hard-coded in the program (with some exeptions relating to
    choice of abbreviations for the    state in ARRL contests).  Therefore,
    the program is smaller, which permits an additional 200 QSOs to be
    logged in all contests.

    However, the major benefit is that you can edit the multiplier files,
    using a text editor, to reflect any necessary changes in existing
    contests and, more significantly, you can set up new files to cater
    for other contests - for example, the Helvetia contest which uses
    2 letter identifiers for cantons.  All you have to do is to use the
    same format as in the existing Type 4 or Type 10 MLT files.

    This is a 2 or 3 character multiplier identifier (always the same
    length for a particular contest), followed by an equals "=" sign.
    You have the option to include a description of    the multiplier after
    the equals sign.  Descriptions can be up to 28 characters long - any
    longer and they will be truncated.  You can have a maximum of 96
    multipliers.  Any additional ones are ignored.

    When you do start to experiment, be sure to keep a backup copy of
    your original MLT files.

    NOTE : You are advised not to edit any multiplier files other than
    SDTYPE4.MLT and SDTYPE10.MLT.  If you edit the others, the results
    may be unpredictable.

    TYPE 5, ARRL 10 Metre Contest.  Under certain circumstances the    serial
        received from the previous QSO was logged for the current QSO,
        even though a different one was entered.      Corrected.

            The LOG file created by the WRITE command did not print the
        State for W/VE QSOs.  This was due to an error arising from
        the need to print spaces when a Zero serial is recorded.
                                Corrected.

    RSGB Contests:  For CW QSOs which qualify for Bonus points, the letter
        B is sounded rather than ML (multiplier).

    All Contests:  F10 now recalls the Quick Memo table. To abandon a QSO
        or an Edit, you must use Minus - no alternative is provided.

        Whenever you log EI5DI, you get a message saying you deserve
        extra points.  I know it's frivolous but I like it.  In some
        earlier    versions this caused screen alignment problems.

        When you start SD and reach the second screen, the first
        option now is COM1 or COM2 for cw contests.  The default is
        COM1. This assigns the serial port which will be activated by
        the keyer.  It is of no significance in SSB contests.  To
        return to this option you must restart SD.     Thanks G3KAF.

    TYPE 11 - General Purpose Option - where you answer N to RoPoCo?
        Several minor problems corrected.  When editing the Info
        Received field, leading zeroes were deleted, and also you
        could not use Enter to leave this field (although edits took
        effect if you left with TAB and then used Enter from any
        other field).                     Corrected.

        Under certain circumstances the log file (from WRITE) was
        incorrectly formatted for the non-RoPoCo option.    Corrected.
        Thanks G4WYG and G3KAF, who also suggested facility to have
        user defined points per QSO.  Done!  In addition, TYPE 11 is
        no longer restricted to CW only.

    TYPE 6 - WPX Contest.  F6 now displays corresponding prefixes
        worked and needed even when the character(s) cannot be
        uniquely associated with any country in the CTY file.

    SDCHECK - When multipliers were marked manually (with a text editor)
        on the .ALL file for the CQWW contest, the country multiplier
        list was not printed in certain circumstances.
                     Corrected.    Thanks G3KMA.

        The checklist file now has a .LST suffix rather than .LOG
        which could be confused with a log file.  So, the checklist
        (dupe sheet) file is now CHECK.LST.

        For WPX and RSGB checklists, serial sent is now printed
        instead    of time of QSO.            Thanks G6LX.



    Version 4.07           6th December 1992

    SDCHECK.  The summary sheet now gives the correct score in RSGB
        contests with bonus points.



    Version 4.06           18th November 1992

    RSGB Contests: - Problem noted as corrected in 4.03 regarding
        operators in multi-op contests was not fixed properly.
        It also caused QSO edits to be ignored, because the edits
        were written to the .OPR file instead of the .ALL file due
        to a mixup in file numbers.       Now fixed!!



    Version 4.05           28th October 1992

    SDCHECK - Under certain conditions it would list incorrect DXCC
        multipliers in the multiplier summary.  (However, they were
        correct    in the .LOG file created by the WRITE command in SD).
        Note: new records can be inserted in any position in the .CTY
        files but it's tidier to keep them in sequence (by standard
        prefix).

    All Contests: When you suppress sounds, using NOSOUND, potential dupes
        will still give an audible warning.        Thanks HB9AGA.



    Version 4.04           17th October 1992

    SDCHECK not giving multiplier lists for RSGB Contests where UK
        entrants work DX only (Type 9 contests).  Corrected.

    Evaluation version "Licensed to DEMO", allows full facilities
    in Type 1, ARRL DX contest for DX entrants, and in Type 4, RSGB
    contests for DX entrants.


        Version 4.03           8th October 1992

        All Contests:  Error in country identification routine meant that
        calls of the type G0ABC/VK were identified correctly as a VK
        multiplier, if appropriate, but the log and the multiplier
        summary    listed a G multiplier.             Thanks G4ADD.

            Commas not permittted in name and address fields. They caused
        problems because PowerBasic saw them as record delimiters.
                                Thanks G4ADD.

    RSGB multi-op contests.  Operators now recorded correctly.


        Version 4.02           3rd October 1992

        RoPoCo option extended to give a choice between RoPoCo specifically,
        and general purpose - with appropriate print layouts after WRITE.


        Version 4.01           29th September 1992

        Callsign Edits which changed the country had a potentially
        fatal bug due to the new country reference number not being
        zero filled, if necessary, when the QSO record was rewritten.
        Now corrected.


        Version 4.00           23rd August 1992

        Type 0  ARRL DX for W/VE Side added.

        Type 5  ARRL 10m.  Now tracks DXCC multipliers after Edits, in
                           addition to State/Province multipliers.

        Program SDCHECK added.  Generates check lists & multiplier lists
    in CHECK.LOG, and a summary sheet in SUMMARY.DOC.

        Minus - alternative to F10 to wipe a QSO or abandon an Edit.
                Think of it as "take away".        Thanks HB9AGA.

        Prefix checking routine.
                Bug corrected which caused crashes when the callsign
                ended with / while logging or editing.  Thanks EI7DNB.

        Callsigns beginning with 0 (Zero) trapped.    Thanks EI9FK.



    Version 3.36        12th August 1992

    Type 11  RSGB RoPoCo option added.
                 Can be used as a general purpose option.

    Thanks to HB9AGA for the following suggestions.

    Quick Memo added.  Updated by Esc or F10 during logging.

        Keyer: Ctrl-Z to Ctrl-R   -   alternatives to Alt-F1 to Alt-F10.



    Version 3.35        7th August 1992

    Thanks to G3XTT for the following suggestions.
        Serial No. 0 permitted.  Equivalent to no serial received.
    Multi-Op added to RSGB contests - uses .OPR files.
    Exit provided on Cover Screen.

        Comma and Full Stop - alternatives to F7 and F8
                              for Prefix and Suffix checks. Thanks HB9AGA.


    Version 3.34        11th July 1992

    Mixed-mode added for IARU contest.
    Dupes no longer display IARU or CQ zone - Zone must be
    entered manually to log the dupe.



    Version 3.33        28th April 1992

    RSGB contests for UK entrants options added. (Work DX or work all).
    All current scoring options provided for, including 7 MHz CW contest.

        Suffixes such as /P /QRP now taken into account when checking
    for dupes after edits of QSOs already logged.



    Version 3.32        13th April 1992

    Bug located - points not increasing when Dupe cancelled by edit.

    RSGB contests for DX entrants:  Bonus or Multiplier choice.

    WPX.  NA-NA QSOs 2 points high bands, 4 points on low bands.



    Version 3.31        25th March 1992

    Option to Edit using Up and Down Arrow keys.
    Type 4 (RSGB for DX entrants) takes points per QSO from Cover Sheet.
    Keyer speed now independent of weight.



    Version 3.30        17th March 1992

    Not shareware any more.  QSO limit included in Demo versions.
    Speed fixed at 12 wpm in Demo versions.



    Version 3.22        9th March 1992

    PEI, NB and LB now separate multipliers for ARRL DX contest.



    Version 3.21        29th February 1992

    Memory keyer added, with variable speed and weight.
    Prefix/DXCC consistency check added.



    Version 3.20        23rd February 1992

    Added SSB Field Day - Type 8.
    QSO rate updated every 10 seconds



    Version 3.19        12th February 1992

    Added CW Field Day - Type 7.
    SPLIT gives log by band



    Version 3.18        10th February 1992

    Scoring corrected for RSGB and IARU options



    Version 3.17            2nd February 1992

    Bugs in prefix analysis sorted out - WPX Contest.



    Version 3.16        26th January 1992

    Allows Band changes in Edit mode using F1 and F2, and checks for dupes
    and recalculates multiplier and points totals on both bands.



    Version 3.15        19th January 1992

    Added WPX Contest - Type 6.
    MEMO writes memo to .MMO



    Version 3.14        3rd January 1992

    DUMPLOG dumps a copy of the contest file (.ALL) to Drive A.
    Bug corrected:
         RST not being updated when State also changed during EDIT.



    Version 3.13        13th December 1991

    F4    Displays, by continent, countries worked/needed by band
    F5    Displays countries worked by band.



    Version 3.12        3rd December 1991

    Added Type 5 - ARRL 10m contest with DXCC multipliers.
        Used by EI5DI to get world first place in the mixed-mode
        low-power (150w) section.

        F3 routine added to display States/Zones worked by Band.



    Version 3.11        20th October 1991

    Monochrome support added.
        Added country multiplier checking to CQWW.


    Version 3.10        13th October 1991

    Major expansion: That's why it's out of sequence.
        Added support for CQWW, IARU and RSGB (DX Side) contests.
        All log data now recorded in a single ASCII file.
    HELP display added.
        Bug in setup screen corrected.  SD without File Name gave problems.



    Version 3.03        23rd September 1991

    QSO rate corrected after Band change or Edit by
        temporarily decrementing serial.
    Dupe and Multiplier indicators filed separately.
    All Bands option added to Multiplier Display table.
    State/Zone edits now keep multipliers consistent.



    Version 3.02        12th September 1991

    Partial lookup by suffix added.

    Problem with multiplier (state) numbers corrected by using strings
    instead of binary.  QSO record length unchanged.



    Version 3.01        '9th September 1991

    PEI and NB were not being flagged as multipliers (= NS).
    Allow PE for Prince Edward Island.
    Total score now correctly reflects dupes created or deleted by edit.
    Off-line logging added.



        Version 3.00            'July 1991

        ARRL DX Contest only.   Written in PowerBasic.



        Version 2               'January 1991

        ARRL DX Contest only - Written in QuickBasic.
        Used RAMDRIVE for the log to get over QuickBasic string limitations.


        Version 1               'February 1990

        ARRL DX Contest - Written in GWBASIC.
        Used by EI5V multi-op team to score nearly 2 million points in
        the SSB contest March 1990.



    Super-Duper   Copyright 1990-1993  Paul O'Kane EI5DI
    All rights reserved.           36 Coolkill
                       Sandyford
                       Dublin 18
                       Ireland.