Contest-Log Manager

The Contest-Log Manager, like most others, is a reasonably simple view, yet provides powerful features designed to save you time. As the name suggests, the Contest-Log Manager is used to Import and "geocode" contacts then manage the imported contest logs.

Geocoding is the process that assigns a latitude-longitude coordinate to the station from each log contact.

The log must be a currently "supported" HF contest log in Cabrillo format. With the Contest-Log Manager, you can view, edit, sort and filter contest log contacts. Further, used in conjunction with the Coverage-Analysis View the currently selected log can be plotted. See the list of supported contests below.

Refer to the screen capture below for a brief description of each section of the Contest-Log Manager.

#1 The toolbar holds the primary buttons to control this manager. The function of the first button named Import Log is obvious. Clicking the Import Log button opens the standard open file dialog window. You may navigate to any file folder to access and import a log. The manager remembers the last folder you access and that folder becomes the default folder from which to import. Importing a log is simple; select the desired log in the open file dialog window and click the "Open" button.

The second button, grayed or disabled in the capture below, provides a list of contact calls and log line numbers that seemed to present a problem during import. See the Contest-Log Editor section below for more.

The Filtered Log button hides all contacts except those that fit the current filter settings. See the section below "Log Filter and Prediction Restrictions". Filter logs by Day, Band, Hour or any combination of these. See the screen capture below and the Menu for more information.

#2 This is the Contest-Log "header" area. These items identify each column of information and also provide an ability to "sort" previously imported logs. Note the first column named Event Date, and the delta, or small triangle to the right of the word date. This shows the default log sort order is by "Event", or contest, date. To sort by any column, click that column header. Note the contest log sort order and actual contacts, or QSO's, sort order within each log are independent.

#3 This is the area that displays information identifying each previously imported contest log. Note - all header items except event date and contest name are "editable". For example, to edit the "call" click the call - this will select the call item column - and then press the enter key. The main reason to edit this header information is likely to change the geographic coordinates. If the mailing address and zip code for the contest-station call are a significant distance from the actual station location you will need to adjust the coordinates before you can "plot a filtered log over a Coverage-Analysis View". To start editing an item, you can actually select the item, then click it a second time - rather than select the item and press enter.

#4 This area holds a "navigator control". The navigator control is used to move through and select any previously imported "contest log" - held in a "database table". It also provides a button to delete the current log. Other than the delete button, this navigator control is just a convenience, as you can simply select the desired log by clicking it in area #3.

#5 This is a "window splitter", or divider, control. The user can click it and drag to adjust the proportion of the window area occupied by the log headers, #3, and contacts, #7, as needed. For example, after you have imported quite a few logs, the log header area, #3, will be filled. You may wish to see more at once for some reason. In that case, use the splitter control to adjust the available area.

#6 This is the "header" for the actual log contacts, QSO's. The default contact sort order is by hour. However, note the header reads "Time-Day". For our purpose, having the time before the day seems easier to read; the day seems less important. The contacts are "sort able" by clicking the desired header.

Most of the contest log contacts area should be self-explanatory. Four items in the contest log contacts area need explanation. The columns named "Q, D, A, C" are "lookup quality indicators" and show simple yes/no information that describes the "prefix to location" lookup quality and therefore how the contacts were geocoded. Typically the user need not be concerned with these items. While working in the Contest-Log Manager, moving the mouse cursor over a column header causes a description of the item to be displayed on the "status line"; this feature is likely essential for recalling the meanings of these four items.

Here's a brief description of the four columns:

"Q" Plot station? Was a location found?

This is "QTH found". if No, the contact can't be plotted on the map.

"D" Use a default location for the entity? Typically the capital city

Were we forced to use the default coordinates for a prefix? Some countries do not issue calls by a call area. There is no way of discovering where a station is located within those countries, for the prefix or call alone. In these cases we must settle for using a default location, we typically use the capital city.

"A" Prefix is Ambiguous, more than one possible entity?

Some countries, or entities, issue calls with the same prefix assigned to more than one location. In these cases the contact will be listed in the "Import Errors and Warnings" window and you will surely want to verify the correct entity was assigned during geocoding. If not you should edit the coordinates. See the log editor section below.

"C" Was call found is the US or Canadian calls table?

In these cases the most precise geographic coordinates can be assigned. However, it is still possible the location may be in error; for example when the license location doesn't match the operating location. Additionally, stations operating portable are not currently handled well.

One obvious clue for faulty geocoding is when the "contest exchange" includes location information and that exchange doesn't match the lookup information. This is why both exchange and state are included in the list of contact information.

#7 This area shows the actual log contacts. Note the contacts in the screen capture above are "color coded". These colors are user selectable and each has a specific meaning. The colors are "lookup quality indicators" and reflect the yes/no information described in the previous section. All of the contact items except the first three are editable. The most likely reason to edit a contact is to change the geographic coordinates. Start editing an item in either of two ways 1) Select the item and press the keyboard enter key. 2) Select the item, then click it a second time. It is also possible to use the Contest-Log Editor to edit a log before importing the log; see the Contest-Log Editor section below.

When a contest log is “plotted” in the Coverage-Analysis View you can click a “contact” the great-circle path will be drawn from the “station” to the target-contact location. This is helpful to locate a contact on the map. Alternatively when you move the mouse over a plotted contact in the Coverage-Analysis View the mouse cursor changes to a “hand” with the word “QSO” underneath – then if you click the contact will be selected in the Contest-Log Manager.

#8 This area is the Contest-Log Information panel. It provides several type of information about the current log and filtering. A screen capture of Contest-Log Information panel is shown below.

Note - when the screen capture above was done, the log was filtered by the hour of 2300Z and the 20M band. Additionally, with these filter settings, 47 of the total 715 contacts are available. The 6.57% tells you that 6.57% of all the log contacts occurred on the 20M band during the 2300Z hour. Note - as we didn't also filter by "day" - if this was a multi-day contest - then all matching contacts are displayed, no matter which day they occurred.

Contest-Log Manager Menu -

Below is a screen capture of the Contest-Log Manager Menu. This is where filter settings are selected. Additional menu items are: display the QSO Rate Chart, Log Editor, Location-Certitude Indicator colors selection and an option to delete all previously imported logs.

QSO-Rate Chart -

Below is a screen capture of the QSO Rate Chart. This is a reasonably simple chart showing the total number of contacts - QSO's - that occurred for each day and hour. Hours when no contacts occurred are not shown on this chart.

This chart provides only one option, the Copy function. This button simply copies the chart to the windows clipboard. You can then paste the chart copy into an email, for example.

Contest-Log Editor -

Below is a screen capture of the Contest-Log Editor. Chances are you will find little use for the Contest-Log Editor. But if you do need to make changes to a log file, it will surely be convenient.

The Contest-Log Editor is really just a standard text file editor. However it only opens files with the Cabrillo filename extension ".log". Additionally, it recalls the last folder from which you accessed a log file and recalls that folder as the default - saving you time and irritation.

The Contest-Log Editor provides one feature worth special note. In the screen capture above, note the "Search" menu is open and the "Go to line" item is selected. This menu item is a real time saver when used in conjunction with the Contest-Log Manager "View Errors" button. The "View Errors" button displays the Import Errors and Warnings, which lists any problems that occurred during log import and provides a "log file line number". Just note the offending line number and access the editor go to line item, then type the line number.

Contest-Log-Import Errors and Warnings -

Below is a screen capture of the Contest-Log-Import Errors and Warnings screen. Note the window is both sizable and scrollable so you can see the complete message.

The list of errors and warnings above is not a complete example. But you will easily get the idea as there are currently only a few possible messages and they should be self-explanatory. If you attempt to import a log and get an error you can't figure out, please email us the error text and "attach" the log. Please always use a short descriptive email subject line.

Location-Certitude Indicators -

The Location-Certitude Indicators are colors use for the purpose of "lookup quality indicators". The word certitude seemed fitting, as the definition appears to be "the state of being or feeling certain".

While viewing an imported log, this colors window actually makes a good reference for a quick refresh on what each of the colors indicate. The default colors seem reasonably intuitive.

To change a color, click the "panel" that represents the color you want to change. The standard Color Selector - Editor is used to select colors. Otherwise the meaning of each color should be fairly understandable. Note - The DX Gazetteer plus US and Canadian Calls-Manager also make use of these colors

Supported Contests -

Below is a list of contest we currently import. Please note - the "contest name" in your Cabrillo file "must precisely match" the contest name below. If not, just use the Contest--Log Editor and make the correction.

AP-SPRINT

ARRL-10

ARRL-DX-CW

ARRL-DX-SSB

ARRL-SS-CW

ARRL-SS-SSB

ARRL-RTTY

BARTG-RTTY

CQ-WPX-CW

CQ-WPX-RTTY

CQ-WPX-SSB

CQ-WW-CW

CQ-WW-RTTY

CQ-WW-SSB

DARC-WAEDC-CW

DARC-WAEDC-RTTY

DARC-WAEDC-SSB

DL-DX-RTTY

IARU-HF

JIDX-CW

JIDX-SSB

NAQP-CW

NAQP-RTTY

NAQP-SSB

NA-SPRINT-CW

NA-SPRINT-SSB

NEQP

OCEANIA-DX-CW

OCEANIA-DX-SSB

RSGB-IOTA

SAC-CW

SAC-SSB

SARTG-RTTY - by sponsor, name SARTG-WW-RTTY - incorrect

TARA-RTTY

ARI-DX

BARTG-SPRINT

EA-WW-RTTY

JARTS-WW-RTTY

NA-SPRINT-RTTY

TMC-RTTY -- only without a signal report, as it's not actually part of the exchange.

VOLTA-RTTY

ANARTS-RTTY

ARRL-FIELD-DAY

RDXC

RDAC

RAC = CANADA WINTER = CANADA DAY -- Canada, spec has no hyphen in name.

CA-QSO-PARTY

ARRL-160 - propagation predictions not available for 160M

CQ-160-CW - propagation predictions not available for 160M

OK-DX-RTTY - propagation predictions not available for 160M

STEW-PERRY - propagation predictions not available for 160M

TARAPSKR

UKDX-RTTY

XE-RTTY

EAPSK

--end of list--

We will be glad to add any additional HF contest. Please email a request and include the "Cabrillo spec". Additionally, please "attach" a sample log. The sample log helps a great deal to insure we do the import correctly. Please always use a short descriptive email subject line.

Log Filter and Prediction Restrictions

When a contest log is plotted in the Coverage-Analysis View "over a coverage prediction" there are two conditions that must be satisfied before the log can be "filtered". Without a prediction displayed, there are no restrictions.

To display a filtered log over a coverage prediction, the log and prediction "month" must match. Further, the geographic coordinates from the coverage prediction "station" or center and the contest log "station" must match. Please see the topic The Station Location.