[CQ-Contest] UBA DX Contest - Cabrillo logs

[Franki ON5ZO]

Dear fellow contesters and especially contest authors

I am currently developing a new computer program to check the logs for the 
UBA DX contests to be used from 2010.
The project is in an early stage but I am testing with the logs of the 2009 
logs for both modes and although the UBA adopted Cabrillo, there is a wide 
variety of exotic interpretation to this format. Writing routines to catch 
all possible exceptions to the standard has been a pain so far. The weirdest 
things pop up. Some logs are even mutilated beyond recognition by the 
submitter, like:

QSO:  3500 CW 2009-02-28 2227 CA0LL         599  117 --  DUPLICATE
Or
QSO:  3500 PH 20  -  -        CA0LL              000 --  
000 --

CA0LL is a bogus call of course. And there are many other mangled cabrillo 
logs in my 'busted logs' folder.
Most familiar contest calls have it right because they use the right 
software. But PLEASE dear contesters, DO NOT remove dupes from the log or 
mangle QSO information. Do not edit logs unless you know what you're doing - 
which means making sure that the log still complies with the standard.

The Cabrillo format as specified by the UBA can be found here:
http://www.on7ss.be/pdf/uba_contest_cabrillo_template.txt

Software that currently 100% adheres to this standard:
N1MMLogger, WinOnContest by ON4AVJ, SDU by EI5DI.

Win-Test does NOT put the province in the log when the PARTICIPANT is 
Belgian.

The other software (another 40 different brands!) that is commonly used does 
not produce the right format. This is not always because it is a bad 
program. Sometimes operators use software that is either not up for the job, 
or has been ill configured.

Software authors: if you support the UBA DX contest, please check if your 
code follows the standard.
Participants: please check if your software actually supports the UBA DX 
contest.

Please spread the word.

73 de Franki ON5ZO