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SECTION.002
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XPCOM Version 1.4 Page : 2-1
Keyboard / Mouse
XPCOM supports both mouse and keyboard user interface..
Keyboard Entry
After loading, the program will be loaded with the default
parameters from the last time the program was run. To activate the
Main Menu, all that is required is to press the F10 function key.
At this point the top menu bar will be displayed.
Each entry in the top menu bar has an associated 'Hot Key' . The
Hot Key is designed in red. By pressing the hot key the user will
be taken to that item. To activate the current menu item all that
is needed is to press the return key. This will display the menu
options. The menu options also are HOT KEYED allowing for rapid
user interface.
The cursor and tab keys are active during keyboard input, allowing
the user to easily move from option to option.
When the user is entering a text string it will first be necessary
to press the return / enter key to activate the item. An example of
this entry form can be found under the AMTOR SELCAL and ARQ modes.
To complete the entry the user should press enter.
During all operations the ESC key may be used to cancel the current
event. If the event is the Main Menu bar the program will return to
normal operation.
Mouse Input
A mouse (not required) may be used for over 95% of all program
operations. To bring up the Main menu, place mouse cursor on top
line and press one of the mouse buttons momentarily. To exit the
menu, press the mouse button when the mouse cursor is located
outside the active menu area.
General Program Information
This section is intended to give the user an overview of the
various components of XPCOM.
Main Screen
The main screen consists of three individual components. These are
Receive Window
Transmit Window
Status Window (used as dividers at top, middle and
bottom of the screen)
XPCOM Version 1.4 Page : 2-2
All window attributes are user definable, including background
color, text color and border types (XP Windows). See color setup for
more information, this is located in the Setup menu option.
Receive Window
The receive window is used for displaying the incoming text in all
modes, except the AEA Host mode Packet operation. During Host mode
Packet operation the receive window is used as the Monitor window
allowing the user to view channel traffic separately from connected
traffic. If Dual TNC operation is selected the window will be split
with a dividing bar. If you wish to change the size of the
individual windows place the mouse on the center bar, hold the left
mouse button, and move the window to the desired position.
Transmit Window
The transmit window shows the outgoing text from the user. The text
is sent to the TNC based on the setting of WORDOUT and LINEOUT. See
TNC Parameters section for a detailed description of Lineout and
Wordout.
During AEA Host packet operation a separate transmit window is
established for each stream. This allows the user to type a command
(without carriage return) switch to a different stream send a packet
then come back to the original stream and hit the return key to send
the packet.
Status Window
The status window is used to provide information to the user on :
Operating Mode
Baud Rates
Unacknowledged Packet (Host Mode)
AMTOR Status (Host Mode)
Free Memory
Date Toggles between Local and UTC
Time Toggles between Local and UTC
Connect Status
Various sections of the status window change during operation of
XPCOM. This is normal and will give information that is pertinent to
the current mode of operation.
The status windows are also used as mouse control. Example, the
above window has RxN, TxN, Mon On, and Host shown in the Status
window. If user wishes to switch the AEA command mode, he only has
to click the mouse on the word 'Host'. To transmit a file, click on
the TxN button, once the file transfer has started the button will
flash, to abort the transfer simply click on the flashing 'TxY'.
XPCOM Version 1.4 Page : 2-3
Log Book Operation
XPCOM offers an extremely powerful log book function. If selected,
the log book is automatically searched in Packet operation allowing
the user to know immediately if a station has been previously
worked. In addition all log book data my be called by using the
built-in Macro Commands. The macro commands are covered in the next
section.
Entering a Call Sign
In all modes except for Packet it is necessary to enter the call
sign of the station being worked. To enter the call press the 'F2'
key. A dialog will appear as shown below.
╔═════════════════════╗
║ Other Stations Call ║
║ ║
║ AH6KM_________ ║
╚═════════════════════╝
Be sure to hit the Enter key, if the ESC is pressed the
operation will be aborted.
After the call is entered the log book will be searched,
the user can control the searching of the log. The
Auto Search feature may be activated in the Operating
Parameters Menu, This is located in the Main menu under
Setup.
If the call sign is found a small Mini-Log will be
displayed (if activated under operating parameters).
This box will contain the Station Call, Operators Name,
QTH and the last date/time he was worked. Also the
following data is carried over to the new log entry,
Name, QTH and comments. This makes it easy to review
other stations data. The Mini-Log is shown below. The
Mini-Log may be toggled on/off at any time by pressing
the Alt-F4 key.
╔═══════════════════════════╗
║ AH6KM ║
║ Gary ║
║ Dixon, California ║
║ Last QSO 07:12 12/29/92 ║
╚═══════════════════════════╝
XPCOM Mini Log
If the station is not found, the box will appear showing
only the call sign of the station.
XPCOM Version 1.4 Page : 2-4
Example
╔═══════════════════════════╗
║ AH6KM ║
║ ║
║ ║
║ Last QSO : / / ║
╚═══════════════════════════╝
Entering Data into the Log
The first method is probably the easiest to use in a
conversation. This involves using three special keys
that are available.
Entering the Other Operators Name (Ctrl-N)
To enter the other stations name press the
CTRL-N key. This will pull up a small dialog box
in the outgoing text window similar to below.
╔══════════════════════════════╗
║ ║
║ Name ________________________║
╚══════════════════════════════╝
Enter the name and be sure to press the enter
key. After this has been done the name will
appear in the Minilog as well as the main log
screen (more on that later).
Entering the Frequency (Ctrl-F)
To enter the frequency press the Ctrl-F key
sequence. this will bring up another dialog box.
Enter the complete frequency. XPCOM keeps the
frequency in HERTZ. So be sure to enter the full
frequency. This is done to ensure compatibility
for radio control modules that are currently
being developed. XPCOM handles frequency up to
999,999.99 Hz. If you have an interfaced radio
this will be done automatically.
Entering the QTH (Ctrl-Q)
The other station QTH may be entered by pressing
the CTRL-Q sequence. Enter the QTH and press
return.
XPCOM Version 1.4 Page : 2-5
Using the Main Log Screen (F3)
The user may invoke the main log screen by pressing the
F3 key.
The log screen is auto-indexing, meaning that it will
tab to the first blank field each time F3 is pressed.
The following items are set automatically by XPCOM, call
sign (if entered via F2), the Selcal (calculated from
F2), time, date, default Tx/Rx RST values, operating,
and the operator information if found from a previous
QSO. Any defaults may be changed by tabbing to the
field, entering the data and pressing the Enter key.
Under normal operating it is only necessary to access F3
when you wish to add comments. The comments field is
limited to 100 characters.
Reviewing Log Data
To review the data just toggle the F3 key. This allows
the log to easily be moved on and off the screen.
Saving the Current Log Entry to Disk
To save a log entry two methods are available. The first
method is to tab to the Save button in the Log screen.
The second method is to press Ctrl-L. A short delay may
be noticed as the index file is updated.
Log Operation in Packet Mode (PK-232)
The log operation in packet is slightly different. Upon
a connect the stations call is searched (if Auto Search
is on) and the Name and QTH data will be displayed
across the top of the connect window.
Each packet stream carries its own log entry. To a log
entry.
1. Move to the stream. (See packet operation)
2. Press the F3 key.
Note The F3 key is active only on connected
streams.
If the Auto Save feature is selected, the log entry for
a stream is automatically saved when the disconnect
occurs. This greatly simplifies log operation in Packet
Mode.
XPCOM Version 1.4 Page : 2-6
Text Macros
XPCOM allows the user to tailor his output as he sees fit. The
Macro substitution commands allow placing special characters in
the outgoing text to "personalize" the transmission. These
commands may be used in the End Key Text, Drop Link Text, Brag
Text, Brag Files and any other text files the user wishes to
create.
The user may also call other brag files or text from within a
brag file or brag text line. Beware, do not call the SAME brag
file or brag text line within one command. This can and WILL
cause the program to lock up.
Note the extensive use of the Macro commands in the Operating
parameters menu.
Macro Commands
Your Station Information ~sc Your station call
~ss Your station SELCAL
~sq Your station QTH
~sn Your name
~sr Your received signal report
Other Stations Information ~hc Other stations call
~hs Other stations SELCAL
~hq Other stations QTH
~hn Other stations name
~hr Other stations signal report
Additional Commands ~bt# Appends brag text line.
This is equivalent to
typing Alt-#. Where
# is a number from 0 to 9.
~bf# Appends brag file. This is
equivalent to typing Ctrl-F#.
Where # is a number from 0
to 9.
~du Appends current date (UTC).
~dl Appends current date (Local).
~tu Appends current time (UTC)
~tl Appends current time (Local)
XPCOM Version 1.4 Page : 2-7
~f Appends current frequency
from the log book.
~ld Last date station was worked.
(only valid if Auto Search is
enabled)
~lt Last time station was worked.
(only valid if Auto Search is
enabled)
~m Appends current operating mode.
~r Adds a carriage return to
the outgoing test. Very
handy command for splitting
up lines of text.
All text substitution commands get their input from the
information contained in the log screen. In other words you must
first fill out the log book before using any of the ~hx
commands. The parameter ~sr is also taken from the log book.
Commands may be in either upper or lower case.
Examples using Macro Substitution Commands
The following is used in all examples :
Your call -> KF7XP
Other stations call -> W0ABC
Time -> 15:35 UTC
Date -> October 19, 1992
Your QTH -> Mesa, Arizona
Other Stations QTH -> Omaha, Nebraska
Your Name -> Gary
Other Stations Name -> Joe
Ex 1 End Key Text for AMTOR
Command Line from Operating Parameters Menu
~hc DE ~sc +?
Would be sent as
W0ABC DE KF7XP +?
XPCOM Version 1.4 Page : 2-8
Ex 2 Brag Text
Brag Text 1 -> Thanks ~hn for ~sr from ~hq~r~bt2
Brag Text 2 -> QTH here is ~sq and name is ~sn.
Would be sent as
Thanks Joe for 599 from Omaha, Nebraska
QTH here is Mesa, Arizona and name is Gary.
Note QTH information is sent on next line. Also
don't leave a space after a carriage return (~r).