Fw: [WriteLog] What should change in WriteLog w.r.t. this review?

[Paul C. Thompson (N6PC)]

I use WL for RTTY and will make my comments based on that perspective.

> 1. The reviewer thinks that "modes" in the program are good. That the
> program should change its response to certain keystrokes based on whether
it
> is in the S&P mode or the Run mode. It has been my opinion for a very long
> time that modes cause more problems than they solve?

A. I set up both modes on the Functions Keys for a contest and they are
usually the same for all  contests. Keeps things simple and easy to operate.

> 2. zooming of the bandmap. how useful is this to you?

A. My Bandmap is set to clear out fairly quickly since the data gets old
fast. No need to zoom.

> 3. The reviewer takes away points from WL because its windows can be
docked
> instead of floating on the desktop. Surely I should not remove this
feature
> from WL?

A. I personally like to nail down the windows for each contest and not have
anything moving around during the operating time.

> 4. The review takes away points from WL because we don't update the
software
> in real time during contest weekends and "updates come out infrequently".
I
> have been reasonably happy with our beta test/release process (which
> routinely catches a number of bugs before they go out to thousands of
> users), but that process pretty much guarantees that from a request to a
> commercial release is a minimum of 4 to 6 weeks as that's how long it
takes
> to get through the beta test process. Would users really prefer that the
> beta tests be publically available?

A. Realtime updates are a disaster waiting to happen.

> 5. The reviewer had 3 or 4 month old information regarding the way we
manage
> the country files and multiplier files, so his specific complaints are
> inaccurate, but it still raises the question of how that should be done.
The
> WriteLog FULL distributions have copies of those files that were current
> when the distribution was created, and the UPGRADE distributions do NOT
have
> the files at all. This means that you have to download the new files, and
> you get notices on writelog at contesting.com when they change. I don't think
> its a good idea to embed those files in the UPGRADE installs because I
think
> there should be exactly one way for a user to get the latest files and
some
> users don't upgrade right before the contest, and some users upgrade their
> software, but not necessarily to the most recent version (and so would get
> old files if the UPGRADE had them).

A. I review and update the various files before the contest from the files
that are usually posted. It works fine. I know what is going in and make
sure that it makes sense.


> I invite email comments to any or all of the above, either direct or on
the
> reflector. I personally value thoughtful answers the most (and prettymuch
> ignore flames and my-dog-is-better-than-your-dog comments) and I try to
> thoughtfully consider recommendations. However, I don't promise any action
> or even a response to any email (and I confess that I am guilty as charged
> in the review of not answered 100% of all email queries I get--I have no
> excuse.)
>
> Thanks for your consideration,
> Wayne, W5XD
>
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