Hi Tom,

You don't mention if you have the radio connected to the PC and the log, but
if you do, all the frequency, band, and mode data will be entered
automatically.  If you give 59 reports to everyone, this can be defaulted in
AC Log too.

As to hiding fields, yes you can, very easily, but I've found that just
changing the tabbing order is as good, and you can still get to fields even
though they might need lots more tabs.  

In a way, you want  to make AC Log behave much more like a contest logger.
Here is what I would do, and I think the info is sound, but I suggest you
try it <smile>.

In AC Log, you enter the callsign and then always need to tab to the Time On
field, to make the record 'live'.  Then press Enter to log it.

So, to reduce the needed Tab presses, go to Settings, then to the 'Edit
Fields Displayed and Tab Order' dialog.  Tab to the tabbing order list of
fields, arrow down to Time On, then tab to the Up button, and press the
spacebar 6 or 7 times.  Shift tab back to the tabbing order list, and Time
On will be at the top.  Find and press the Done button.

You will now be able to enter a callsign, hit tab once to the Time On field,
and all the other fields will be defaulted, apart from the RST fields.

Next you need to decide if you want to default all reports to 59, or enter
true reports.  Personally, I would default to 59 for this operation.

Whatever you decide, you need to go back into the Tabbing Order dialog, and
move up the RST Sent and RST Rec fields up to the top of the tabbing order
list, above the Time On field you moved previously.

Now, when you enter the callsign and press tab, you will move to  the RST
Sent field, then the RST Rec, and then the Time ON.  If you want to input a
true RST each time, this is how you do it.  If you always want the RST to be
defaulted, Go back to the Settings pulldown and arrow down to 'RST Settings
and Defaults'.  Hit enter and arrow down to 'Leap Over RST Fields and
AutomaTically Enter Defaults' and press Enter to check it.

Now, when you enter a callsign and press Tab, the RST fields will be leapt
over and 59 added, and you will be on the Tim On field.  Just press Enter to
log the QSO, and everything else is defaulted and taken from the radio. 

Best wishes, Kelvin Marsh - M0AID

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-----Original Message-----
From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Tom Behler
Sent: 26 January 2014 19:37
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: A C Log Question

Hi, everyone.

 

As many of you know, I have signed up to represent Michigan in the W1AW/8
ARRL Centennial QSO Party on Saturdaay:  February 22.  I will be running
40-meter SSB from 4 to 6 p.m. Eastern time on that day.

 

I now need to begin seriously working on logging for the event, and think it
makes the most sense to go with the N3FJP AC log software, since I already
have that program.  The software also readily converts your log file into
ADIF format, which the league requires.

 

My first step will be to download and install the latest version of A C Log,
which I hope to do yet today.

 

I have been spending a lot of time e-mailing back and forth with various
other Michigan participants, and they all recommend making the logging
process as simple as possible so that you have the fewest amount of data
entry fields to tab through in the log.  This really makes sense, since I
will need to use Jaws or the N3FJP wave files to tell me where I am.

 

For their records, the League will require call, date, time, band, and mode
for each contact.  All of these data fields exist in A C Log, and are
accessed via the tab key.

 

But, I really will only need to enter the calls of the stations I work as
new information for each contact, once my frequency set-up for split
operation is established.

 

Is there a way to hide data fields, so I don't have to tab through all of
the fields in the software unnecessarily?

 

I'm sure the answer is buried somewhere in the program documentation, but
perhaps someone here knows the answer already.

 

Tom Behler: KB8TYJ