[WriteLog] Function keys

[Bob Naumann - N5NJ]

I find all of this discussion interesting.  I would suspect that most of th=
ose who are concerned about this run/s&p business may have come from a TR b=
ackground.  Those of us who used CT don't generally have the anxiety that s=
ome of you guys seem to have over this issue.

For example, over the last nearly 20 years now of using a computer for CW c=
ontesting, my memories have always been set up like this:

F1        CQ - Run mode (what other mode would you call CQ in?)
F2        exchange
F3        tu qrz
F4        My callsign
F5        His callsign
F6        ?

Oh, and pressing Enter always only logs the QSO.

CT and Writelog (in CT compatibility mode) supports the use of the Ins and =
+ keys on the numeric keypad to assist in running.

The way it works in "Run Mode" is this:

Press F1 call CQ
Type the Callsign
Press the spacebar*
Press that big Ins key which sends F5 and F2 (his call + the exchange)
Copy his exchange
Press that big + key which sends F3 and Enter (tu qrz & logs the QSO)

In S&P it's like this:

Type a new callsign
Press the spacebar*
Press F4 (sends my call)
Copy exchange
Press Ins (or just F2 if you don't want to send his call first)
Hear a QSL from him
Press Enter

* Pressing the space bar is a good habit to get into as it positions the cu=
rsor where it needs to be to copy the exchange (or like for SS, it moves th=
e cursor to the next field in the exchange).  It also will fill in the exch=
ange for you in certain contests like CQWW (zone), or in most, if not all, =
contests if you've worked the other station before it will also fill in the=
 exchange based on what you copied previously.  If the station you are goin=
g to work is a Dupe, when you press the Spacbar, it also displays the Dupe =
message to you.  The space bar is also the largest, easiest to find key on =
the keyboard.  Use it!  =


All of the function keys only do what they are defined to do.  Their functi=
on does not change depending upon what the computer may "think" is going on=
.  Enter only Enters.  This approach seems so much simpler and easy to deal=
 with especially in conditions with a lack of sleep.  I also will confess t=
hat this simpler approach is easier to be away from for a while, and come b=
ack to after you've been off for a couple of months dealing with your norma=
l life issues.

I purchased a lifetime subscription to TR years ago, but gave up on it beca=
use of this "automation".  Invariably, the computer would think it was in o=
ne mode, when I was in the other, and it was the single reason I left TR be=
hind.  Great software, very powerful, and Tree is a brilliant guy, but just=
 not for me.

The reason I mention all of this is that I suspect that there may be others=
 like me, and perhaps some newcomers, who may find this alternate approach =
simpler/easier/better.

To set Writelog up to do this you need the following entries in the respect=
ive sections of your Writelog.INI file:

[Configuration]
CtCompatibleAccel=3DYES
CqFunctionKey=3D11
QrzFunctionKey=3D3
SendCallExchangeKey=3D10

[ENTRY]
SmartEnterKey=3D0

(SmartEnterKey is the feature that makes the Enter key do different things.=
)

73,
Bob N5NJ

P.S. =

30 years ago, my old Accukeyer's 4 memories were set up like this:
1         CQ
2         exchange
3         tu qrz
4         My callsign =

>From what I've seen, this pattern was pretty standard for most operators.