[SD-User] SD V15.00 Released

[Paul O'Kane]

V15.00          6th April 2010

New Simplified Format for SD's .ALL files:
    All relevant fields in SD's QSO records are now
    held in "plain English", with spaces between
    fields, just as you would expect to see them in
    a printed log.

    The new QSO format is similar to Cabrillo, but
    without the duplication of any fixed elements in
    the sent exchange - apart from "Serial Sent" when
    relevant.

    Unlike Cabrillo, QSO points are shown, together
    with indicators for dupes, and for country, and
    district or zone multipliers.

    The file formats for SDC, SDI, SDU and SDX are
    unchanged.  These programs were last updated in
    V14.24, and will not be updated again.  However,
    I intend to integrate support for BERU, IOTA,
    UBA and DXpeditions in SD.

Automatic Rescoring:
    When loading existing logs, SD rescores and
    dupe-checks all QSOs.  All previous scoring
    information in the log is ignored. "Old" format
    SD logs, created by V13 or later, are copied to
    .OLD backup files and then converted to the new
    format.  If you choose, you may rename a .OLD
    file to .ALL and continue to use it with older
    versions of SD and SDCHECK.

ZAP Command Updated:
    The ZAP command works as before to delete the
    previous QSO, and update scores immediately.
    In addition, you can flag any earlier QSO for
    deletion by appending /ZAP, or just /Z, to the
    callsign.  When the file is reloaded, those
    QSOs will disappear.  Flagging QSOs for
    deletion does not update your score until SD
    is restarted.

POINTS Command:
    The POINTS command, for manually altering
    the score for individual QSOs, is redundant
    and has been removed.

Serials:
    The SENDSERIAL template parameter has been
    added.  It indicates contests that require
    you to send a serial. In these contests, SD
    supports logs with missing or duplicated
    serials.  You can delete or add QSOs in the
    .ALL file with any text editor, and SD will
    load and score the remaining ones.

    The SETSERIAL (or SERIAL) command lets you
    reset Serial Sent at any time - for only for
    contests with the SENDSERIAL parameter in the
    corresponding template.

Edited QSOs.
    "Before" and "After" information is written
    to the audit file - making it easier to
    identify exactly what was changed.

WIA Remembrance Day Contest:
    The early-morning times when double points
    apply are now hard-coded by VK Call Area.
    Thanks VK7GN.

RSGB RoPoCo:
    When a QSO was ZAPped, the previously received
    postcode was not reset.  Fixed. Thanks MM0ROV.

WAG Contest:
    Fixed display of incorrect DOKs while logging.

SCP Window:
    With SCP enabled, and Up Arrow used to go to
    the window, the logging screen display was
    corrupted when using other keys in the SCP
    window.  Fixed - thanks G0DVJ.

Keyboard Mode - CW.
    You can toggle instantly between logging mode
    and keyboard mode using any Ctrl key.

    When using WinKey with PTT enabled (use SD's
    STATUS command to check - and the PTTON
    command if necessary) PTT is now activated
    continuously while in keyboard mode.

ARRL SS:
    F5 memory playback, while logging the exchange,
    made the cursor jump to the callsign field.
    Fixed - thanks VE7JKZ.

OKOM Contest:
    SD froze when a callsign was being logged, and
    the cursor remained in the callsign field for
    more than 5 seconds - this bug was related to
    the QSO Rate window which is updated every 5
    seconds.  Fixed - thanks G4OGB.

Check Partial & Super Check Partial (SCP):
    The default option for Check Partial shows
    matching calls with the same prefix.  Full
    Stop (Period) showns calls with matching
    suffixes.

    With SCP, the default option shows calls
    that match the typed characters, regardless
    of their position in the call.  Comma toggles
    the display to matching prefixes, and Full
    Stop (Period) shows matching suffixes.

    SD now reverts to the default prefix option
    when QSOs are logged, or wiped with Minus.
    Otherwise, with suffix checking, you may not
    be aware of potential dupes until the full
    call is typed.

ESM - Enter Sends Message:
    ESM is intended to be used only when your
    RST Sent is always 599 (toggled with the RST
    command).  Otherwise, SD prints an error
    message, and ESM remains disabled.

BAnd/Mult Status:
    One of SD's strengths is the instantaneous
    display of multiplier status, by band, as
    callsign characters are typed. It indicates
    whether there are mults to be picked up by
    moving the station to other bands - the ones
    shown in bright blue.

    Bands already worked, for that specific
    callsign, are displayed in black - giving
    an instant count of QSOs with that station
    (including the current band).

    Band not worked (for that station) are shown
    in white, as are bands that are not mults
    for the corresponding county, or zone, when
    applicable.

    The display has been simplified in that a
    "dupe" band is shown in black - the same as
    any other band worked.  Of course, when a
    call becomes a dupe as it is being entered,
    it turns red.

    Again, on a callsign match, the current band
    is always shown in black, even if the QSO
    would be a multiplier.  However, the
    multiplier status continues to be shown
    above the callsign.  The net result is that
    you always know whether the call being typed
    is a dupe or a mult, and the number of bands
    worked.
    
    In the FOC Marathon, when working a station
    on the fourth or fifth band, the remaining
    bands are highlighted to indicate the need
    to get the extra band bonuses.

WinKey - Esc stops playback:
    This did not work consistently.  Fixed - 
    thanks G4DDX.

POLLTIME and LINKTIME:
    When rig-control BPS was greater than 19200,
    POLLTIME and LINKTIME were reset to 1000 and
    500 each time SD started.  Fixed.  Thanks
    W0RSB.

SDC - Commonwealth Contest.
    Rwanda, 9X, added to BERU.CTY. Thanks G3VQO.

ARRL DX Contest:
    States are pre-filled as stations are
    worked again. When the callsign of a station
    previously logged was a sub-set of the
    current callsign, the "wrong" state was
    inserted.  Fixed - thanks GM3POI.    

CW Auto-Start:
    Set with the CWSTART command - to specify
    the callsign character after which the
    exchange will be sent in ESM RUN mode. This
    did not work consistently.  Fixed - thanks
    GM3POI. 

RSGB 160m - for UK entrants:
    Cabrillo logs from SDCHECK did not include
    data, other than serials, logged from non-UK
    stations.  For example, province codes given
    and logged from PA stations in PACC were
    shown as 000.  Fixed.

ARRL 10m Contest:
    ARRL10.MLT updated.  Mults now include Mexican
    provinces in addition to W/VE states and
    provinces.    

Planned (but still Vapourware):
    When you create a new log with SD, using any
    supplied template, you will have the the
    option to import and score any relevant
    Cabrillo log.

    All mults will reflect the current reference
    data in the multiplier files in your SD
    folder, so that consistent scoring will be
    guaranteed.  QSOs with invalid callsigns or
    district codes will be imported "as is".
    They will not be scored, but you will be
    advised of the number of such QSOs, with
    full details written to the audit file.

Registration:
    "Free" has become an unsustainable business
    model for the continuous development of SD.
    As such, it is no longer free.  

    SD is now shareware. You have as long as you
    need to test it and satisfy yourself that it
    works as you require before you register.
    The registration fee is 25 euros.  This helps
    to guarantee the continued support and
    development of SD.  Payment may be made by
    PayPal at ei5di.com - the only option. You do
    not need to have a PayPal account, most valid
    credit and debit cards may be used.

    When you register, you get a key file, by
    email, for a single callsign of your choice.
    SD operates as normal when used with that
    callsign - allowing for country identifier
    changes.  With no key file, or if used with
    an unrelated call, SD runs in DEMO mode, and
    logging is significantly delayed after 30
    QSOs.  A corresponding delay is included in
    all SDCHECK options in DEMO mode.
    
    The key file, SD.KEY, gives access to new 
    versions of SD for six months.  Any copy of
    SD downloaded within this time will continue
    to work indefinitely, without restriction,
    when used with the registered callsign in
    the presence of the key file.

    The key file is a standard ASCII text file
    with 57 numeric digits.  You should print
    and secure this file, so that you can
    recreate it when necessary.  Replacements
    are not supplied, other than by
    registration.  If you edit the key file,
    it will not work.

    Those who have donated since the start of
    2009 will receive a complimentary key file
    by email. 

    If you prefer not to register, you may 
    continue to use any version of SD you
    already have.  The last "free" release was
    V14.30.

____________________________________________


Please test this version of SD before using it
in any contest.  That way, I may have a chance
to fix any bugs found before the contest.

73,
Paul EI5DI