[WriteLog] Operational Characteristics of WL on CW

[Bob Naumann - N5NJ]

I'm very interested in all of this as I am trying to adopt Writelog as my
primary contest logging program.

Back in the days of 8088's, there were essentially only two methods of
computer logging, which were the "CT Way" or the "TR Way".  Many folks can
use the CT (and also NA) approach as it emulates and streamlines what we did
on paper in the old days.  TR, was an "out of the box", new approach to
contest logging that many, including me, never really got into although I'm
a lifetime subscriber to TR and have used it occasionally in the Sprint, for
example, very effectively.

That said, I would like to streamline what I do, and I am willing to try
using different keystrokes.

I have always used Writelog in "Ct compatibility" mode.  This allows the use
of the Insert and + keys to do what you guys are wanting to do all with the
Enter key.

Where I struggled with this with TR, is what happens when I don't want it to
do what it's going to do next?  This dilemma is not found with CT, or with
Writelog (at least in CT mode) as it will only do what I tell it to do.

So, my routine for CQWW CW is this:

Enter the callsign of the station I am calling - or not, and Press F4 to
send my callsign.
After I have the callsign correct, press the Space bar, which moves the
cursor to the zone field and fills it in for me.
I then correct the exchange if he sends other than the default, Press F2 to
send my exchange and finally press Enter to log the QSO.

That's all that's involved in logging a QSO in S&P.  <F4> callsign <Space>
(confirm exchange) <F2> <Enter>

When running, it's a bit different:

Call a CQ with F1, type the callsign, hit the Insert key to send my
exchange.  If there is no correction to the Callsign, hit the space bar, the
exchange is automatically filled in, if it's OK I leave it alone, and then
press the big + key on the right of the keyboard to log the Qso(instead of
Enter) and send the TU&QRZ (F3) message with a single keystroke.

<F1> callsign <Insert> <Space> (confirm exchange)  <+>

It seems that this is a minimum amount of keystrokes for both operations and
I'm in control of what's happening - not the computer.

If I need to re-send my callsign, I press F4.  If I need to re-send my
exchange, I press F2.  The function of a key never changes.

I've been doing the above for a long time now, and am willing to change, if
it improves what I'm doing.

Please educate me on how to streamline what I'm doing.

N5NJ




----- Original Message -----
From: "Eric Scace K3NA" <eric@k3na.org>
To: "Jim Smith" <jimsmith@shaw.ca>; <writelog@contesting.com>
Sent: Thursday, December 05, 2002 8:58 PM
Subject: RE: [WriteLog] Operational Characteristics of WL on CW


> Hi Jim --
>
>    WL will, in its current incarnation, do what you want while running.
Go to the Entry pull down menu and select "Enter sends
> Exchange/QRZ".  When this menu entry is checked (on), WL will do the
following:
>
> 1.  If the cursor is in the callsign field, and you type Enter, and the
callsign field is empty, WL will send you CQ message.
>
> 2.  If the cursor is in the callsign field, and you type Enter, and the
callsign field has characters in it, WL will send the call
> and your exchange message.
>
> 3.  If the cursor is in one of the other fields in the QSO Entry form, and
you type Enter, WL will log the QSO and send your "TU
> QRZ" message.
>
>    You can specify which of your F-key messages is your CQ, exchange, and
TU QRZ message.  In the WriteLog.INI file, use the
> following entries:
> CqFunctionKey=11
> QrzFunctionKey=3
> SendCallExchangeKey=10
>
>    These entries go in the [Configuration] section of the INI file.  Be
sure to remember to put "%C " at the beginning of the F-key
> message you choose for SendCallExchangeKey; that is what gets the callsign
sent.
>
>    You may also find this entry helpful:
> MoveNextOnEnter=0
>    If '0', when you hit Enter while in the callsign field, the cursor
stays in the callsign field.  (I do this because I'm usually
> typing in the last couple of letters of the call after I hit Enter.)  If
you specify MoveNextOnEnter=1, when you hit Enter, not only
> is the call/exchange message sent... but also the cursor moves to the next
field in your QSO Entry form.
>
>    For S&P, WL does not use the Enter key (as far as I understand) for
this mode of operating.  I've learned to simply poke the
> F-key that transmits my call, and to use Shift-Enter to silently log the
QSO afterward.
>
>    Oh: this also works for SSB,  in addition to CW and RTTY.  And you
never need to use the mouse.  Ctl-P will always take you to
> the QSO Entry form.  Space or Tab will move you from left to right from
field to field in that form.  Shift-Space and Shift-Tab will
> move you from field to field in the opposite direction.
>
>    Hope this helps.
>
> 73,
>    -- Eric K3NA
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: writelog-admin@contesting.com
> [mailto:writelog-admin@contesting.com]On Behalf Of Jim Smith
> Sent: 2002 December 4 Wed 19:21
> To: writelog@contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [WriteLog] Operational Characteristics of WL on CW
>
> [...snip...]
> So, here's what I expect from a contesting program, such as WL, using CW
> or RTTY.
>
> Running
>   Someone answers my CQ
>   I, by whatever means, get his call into the call field (I forget the
> WL terminology for this) and hit a key, preferably Enter.
>   WL sends his call and my exchange
>   I, by whatever means, get the caller's exchange into the exchange
> field and hit a key, preferably Enter.
>   WL sends the QSL message AND LOGS THE Q.
>
> S&P
>   I, by whatever means, get a call into the call field and hit a key,
> preferably Enter
>   WL sends my call.
>   When the called station answers I, by whatever means, get his exchange
> into the exchange field and hit a key, preferably Enter.
>   WL sends my exchange AND LOGS THE Q.
>
> So, to complete and log a Q requires the
> keystrokes/mouse-swipes-and-clicks to enter the call and the exchange
> plus two Enters.
>
> [...snip...]
>
> 73 de Jim Smith    VE7FO
>
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