[CQ-Contest] Announcing new Cabrillo tags for Address

[Randy Thompson K5ZD]

To All Contesters and Contest Logging Software Developers:

The Cabrillo log format has become the accepted standard for submission of
electronic contest logs. The Cabrillo format describes a set of tag
definitions that are used to format information so it can be easily
processed by the log submission robot and contest log checking software.
(see http://www.kkn.net/~trey/cabrillo/ for a description of the Cabrillo
format)

In 2009, the committee that controls the Cabrillo logging format standard
introduced 4 new tag definitions for entry of postal mailing addresses. Each
contest may choose to adopt or utilize the  Cabrillo tag definitions as they
wish so it is important to check with the sponsors of each contest for the
tags and formats they accept. 


Background

With the CQ WW Contest receiving over 10,000 entries, the CQ WPX Contest
more than 7,000 entries, and the CQ RTTY Contests with almost 5000 entries,
it is becoming increasingly difficult to efficiently parse the free form
addresses that appear in logs from all parts of the world. These new tags
were requested to help entrants in formatting their postal mailing addresses
in a way the computer will be able to read and understand. 

Since all certificates for CQ contests are mailed from the United States, we
are required to follow the US Postal Service rules for mailing addresses. By
having entrants specify their postal mailing address in a known format, we
can automate this process and reduce errors.


ADDRESS tag definitions

ADDRESS: text
The street address or post office box line(s) of the address. Maximum length
75 characters. This is the original ADDRESS tag definition and can be used
for entry of the complete address. All other ADDRESS- tag defintions are
optional.

ADDRESS-CITY: text 
City name in postal address.

ADDRESS-STATE-PROVINCE: text 
State, province or region name for the postal address.

ADDRESS-POSTALCODE: text 
Postal or zip code in the postal address.  Please type the postal code
according to the convention in your country. 

ADDRESS-COUNTRY: text 
The post office name for your country.  Not required for mailing addresses
in the USA or Canada. The list of accepted US Postal Service country names
(required for CQ Contests) can be found at
http://www.cqwpx.com/usps_country_names.htm

Examples

Examples of using the new tags.

USA Example

NAME: John Smith
ADDRESS: 100 Main Street
ADDRESS: Apt 14
ADDRESS-CITY: Newtown
ADDRESS-STATE-PROVINCE: MA 
ADDRESS-POSTALCODE: 01555

Germany Example

NAME: Andy Meszaros
ADDRESS: Wormser Str. 4
ADDRESS-CITY: Karlsruhe
ADDRESS-POSTALCODE: D-76185 
ADDRESS-COUNTRY: Germany

Japan Example

NAME: Sakae Morishima
ADDRESS: 3-3-2 Suwacho
ADDRESS-CITY: Matsudo 
ADDRESS-STATE-PROVINCE: Chiba 
ADDRESS-POSTALCODE: 271-0077
ADDRESS-COUNTRY: Japan

UK Example

NAME: Bill Thompson
ADDRESS: 35 Meadow Bank Avenue
ADDRESS: Cowplain
ADDRESS: Waterlooville
ADDRESS: Hants
ADDRESS-POSTALCODE: PO8 8SQ
ADDRESS-COUNTRY: UNITED KINGDOM

Use by CQ WPX

The contest log submission robot for the CQ WPX contest has been updated to
accept the new tag definitions. The new tags are optional and all logs will
be accepted if they use them or not.  

Entrants for the CQ WPX Contest 2010 RTTY/SSB/CW may use the new tags in
their Cabrillo log files.  At a minimum, we request entrants to use the
ADDRESS-COUNTRY tag.

These new tag definitions will be accepted for the CQ WPX and CQWW contests.
We hope that other contests will support the use of these new tag
definitions.

We ask all software developers to add the necessary fields to their software
so users can enter their addresses in the more detailed format that matches
the new tag definitions. 

Please direct any questions about the use of the new tags to me at the
address below.


Randy Thompson, K5ZD

Director - CQ WPX Contest

email: k5zd at cqwpx.com
web: www.cqwpx.com



PS - Why are addresses a problem?  Visit
http://www.columbia.edu/kermit/postal.html for a comprehensive explanation
of the variation in worldwide postal addresses.