[WriteLog] Hello Writelog!

[Marty Tippin]

At 09:08 PM 8/19/2002, Bill wrote:
>Is Writelog truly a usable contest logging program?

It's quite usable by people who aren't hung up on how their "old" logging 
program works.

I've never used anything else and have never had a significant problem with 
WriteLog in any contest. I've used it in single operator, SO2R and 
multi-operator configurations. It works fine. It always has. Sure, there 
are some quirks, but it's nothing that will prevent you from using the 
software to log contacts.

The ones who have the most problems are those who are bound and determined 
to make WriteLog look, act, and work like the stuff they already know and 
who are dead set against learning anything new.

If you're the type who constantly cusses Windows in general, WriteLog is 
not for you.

The documentation is "dismal" because it's mostly "unnecessary" - this 
isn't a complicated program, though many have succeeded in making it seem 
that way. If you understand how Windows programs work in general and can 
transfer that basic knowledge to something new, you'll do fine. Otherwise, 
WriteLog is not for you.


>Even though I've been a legal owner of Writelog for
>more than a year, I'm afraid to use it.

Why? You could learn how to use it in some contest that doesn't matter.

If you're the type who waits to configure the software until five minutes 
before the contest starts, WriteLog is not for you.


>I've not yet installed 10.34B. If I do try to install this
>version on a WIN98 machine, will I wish I hadn't?

Not if you do it right. I've never had a single installation program on 
Win98 or Windows 2000.

But if 10.34B doesn't fix something specific that you need, there's no real 
reason to upgrade. At least not right before a contest. Do it a few weeks 
ahead, play with the software and see what it does. Wait until 5 minutes 
before a contest, and you'll probably have trouble.

-Marty NW0L
  martyt@pobox.com