Richard

aren't you re-inventing the wheel?

Their are two phenomenal logging programs which run under DOS
Trlog written by N6TR which has radio control, auto send, dupe check on
the fly, report writing, cabrillo log format (needed for U.S. contests
nowadays), and loads more user definable facilities along with scoring.
It is relatively inexpensive, but can't recall the price as I bought a
life time licence several years ago.

The other one is Super Duper written by EI5DI with a similar degree of
functionality.
This I haven't used as much as Trlog works better with, would you
believe, an old navigator 40 Braille display an old software.

In my main shack I have an old 386 on which they run, and an old 486 at
my /p location.

David


In message <[log in to unmask]>,
[log in to unmask] writes
>I was looking for just the type of solution TOm was seeking for
>contest operating.  When I operate club stations in contests
>usually my xyl handles logging chores for me.  HOWever I'm hoping
>to enter a few contests over my lifetime.
>
>since I'm a non windows person I wrote my own little logging
>modules using good old dos' batch language and a couple little
>batch file enhancer utilities which allow me to get good time and
>date stamps on entries.
>
>tHis little module is even adaptable for most contests.  sInce it uses
>information typed in at the command line it isn't set in stone how it
>wants the entries.  wOrk field day with it, turn around and work the
>phone sweepstakes or the vhf contest.
>
>Let's say for example I'm calling cq contest on 20 meters and our
>good friend MIke Freeman k7uij answers me.  MIke is my first
>station but he's been at it for a few hours.
>
>MIke answers me and tells me I'm his number 258 and that he's
>Washington.  SO at the c: prompt I type
>
>c k7uij 258 wa Mike
>
>THe entry in my log appears as follows:
>
>01/14 19:00 # k7uij 258 wa MIke
>
>ON my screen  the program says
>
>"the last number in this contest issued was
>1
>
>NOte the number sign in each entry which is used to count contest
>entries.  I'll know that the next number I issue will be 2 and so
>on.  LInes without the number sign are not counted so I can use
>them to note band changes and/or different operators.
>
>I've got a little help module for others who might use my station
>for contesting and a dupe checker module.  IF I'm hunting and
>pouncing and forget whether I've worked a particular station I type
>
>dupe followed by the callsign at the prompt.  IT searches the
>contest.log for that callsign.  IF it says zero no matches were
>found and the station's workable.
>
>If you're a reasonably good typist you don't need a lot of speech
>feedback allowing you to concentrate on listening for stations to
>work.  SImple and will run on many antique computers.
>
>Anybody who wants a sample of the batch files and some explanations
>can write me off list and I'll send them along.
>Even without the little date and timestamping program
>they can be quite effective.  IF you go this route acquire
>a good ascii editor for your logs.
>
>I've worked up other modules for station logging using the same
>techniques.  WHen its all done to my satisfaction I"ll publish the
>batch files and doccumentation as a zip file somewhere.  MOst of the
>modules are still works in progress however.
>
>73 de nf5b
>
>
>
>Richard Webb
>
>Electric Spider Productions
>"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
>safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
>
>--- Benjamin Franklin, NOvember 1755 from the
>Historical review of Pennsylvania
>
>
>
>
>Braille:  support true literacy for the blind!

--
David W Wood