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QRZ! Ham Radio 9
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QRZ Ham Radio Callsign Database - Volume 9.iso
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1996-06-24
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Here is the new version of my Macintosh application to access the
callbook info on the QRZ! Ham Radio CD ROM. Ther version shipped on the
2/95 CD is not useable due to changes in the file format and CD name
which I was not informed of until after the CD shipped. This app was
written over the course of a couple of weeks. It is still embryonic,
and many features will be added for the next version and I am open to
suggestions for enhancement of the program. Although new versions will
be finalized for inclusion in each new release of the CD ROM,
intermediate versions will be released from time to time as new
features are added and bugs fixed. These will be placed on the QRZ FTP
server, ftp.qrz.com, and occasionally on CompuServe. I may also email
versions to hams with Internet access. Let me know if you are
interested in this service.
For now, the function of the program are fairly limited.
It is possible to search on all four fields allowed in the PC version
of the program, namely Call, Name, QTH, and Zip. When the program is
first started, it is ready to search by call. To search the other
fields, first select the field in the search menu. The format for the
name is LAST,FIRST --- use no spaces, the comma is needed only if
narrowing the search to a certain first name. The format for QTH is a 2
character state abbreviation followed by the city name, e.g. FLMIAMI is
Miami, FL. Zip searches use the 5 digit zip...note there are a number
of hams who did not specify zip codes, and they are in the database
either with 00000 or an empty string. Upper or lower case may be used
to enter search criteria, the program will convert to upper case for
the search.
Once a key is entered and a search started (by hitting return), the
first record that matches is displayed. The database can be explored
using the arrow keys or cmd-N for next and cmd-M for previous record.
This can be fun to play with. The order the records are displayed is
the order they are stored in the database files, obvious when using the
zip, name, and QTH. However, the callsign sort uses the suffix as the
most significant part, followed by the number and the prefix. This is
different from the way the printed Callbook does things, where the
number is most significant, followed by the suffix and finally prefix
as least significant. It makes no more or less sense, just takes a bit
of getting used to.
On output, the default is to display results in upper and lower case
letters. This is a conversion done by my program, and is loaded with
special cases such as SW and APO. If you find any records that look
'funny', please send me the callsign. I did things this way because I
find all caps very annoying, but if you disagree, you can turn the
feature off in the Prefs menu.
There are a few DX callbooks incorporated into the callsign database
(but not the name, QTH, or ZIP databases). The raw data in these files
does not match the format used in the US database, so the formatting is
messed up. By default, the program does not display any DX calls, but
the feature can be turned on in the Prefs menu.
Any time a search result is shown in the window, the data can be copied
to the clipboard with the copy or cut commands. This data is saved in a
format satisfactory for mailing labels.
The December 1993 QRZ! CD ROM mounts as 'QRZ_1293' on the desktop,
while the June 1994 CD ROM shows as 'Untitled'. The program will
recognize both of these, as well as QRZ_0295, the name used in the
latest version. If some other name is used, this version can still be
used by changing the STR# resource as described below, although I will
produce a new version as soon as the name is known. Also, the files may
be transferred to a hard disk if you wish, and have the space, but to
do this you must use ResEdit to change the path as stored in 'STR#'
#128. If this is greek to you, you'll have to wait for a future
version to allow an easier way to set the path. The call files,
CALLBKC.DAT and CALLBKC.IDX, must be in the specified directory, but
the other files need not be transferred, if the program can't find them
in the same directory the corresponding searches are dimmed in the
menu.
The latest version now saves preferences and window positions between
invocations of the program.
Planned features for future versions:
Data export, based on search keys, to a disk file.
Easier way to specify the directory path to the data files, if they are
moved onto hard disk or the CD ROM name changes.
Compression of the database to allow transfer to hard disk with less
space requirement.
Printing functions for user defined mailing labels and other formats.
Please send me suggestions and bug reports via email to
sdimse@umed.med.mia.edu (note address change...the old address is still
functional, but some people have had problems with mail bouncing.)