[Dx4win] Vanity Callsign Change... How To?

[N6CKS]

Great step by step info Dick!
	That will do the trick, Thanks!  I have left a message on the
answering machine Friday morning at RapidDan for a new key.  I'm sure they
will get back to me next week.  Have a nice Memorial Day weekend.

Roy, K6CKS

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Dick Flanagan [mailto:dick at twohams.com] 
> Sent: Saturday, May 26, 2007 16:22
> To: N6CKS
> Cc: dx4win at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [Dx4win] Vanity Callsign Change... How To?
> 
> Hi, Roy.
> 
> At 07:51 AM 5/26/2007, N6CKS wrote:
>  >I recently completed a vanity call change and have been in 
> the process of  >changing all the software associated with my 
> old call.  How do I change  >DX4Win to my new call?  Does it 
> take a new license?  I am also wondering,  >should I continue 
> to add QSOs to my old callsign database or start a new  >one? 
>  Some advice from one of you that has already been through 
> this would  >help a lot!
>  >Rory "Roy" Bowers, K6CKS
> 
> I went through this a few years ago and it actually is a 
> relatively painless procedure.  As you probably know your d4w 
> log file is <callsign>.DXL in your save/ directory.
> 
> My suggestion would be to open d4w, open the "old" log file 
> you have been using all along and do a "File->Save as" to 
> create a new log file under your <newcallsign>.  Put this new 
> log file in the same save/ directory as your old one.  Then 
> File->Close your old log file and File->Open your new one.
> 
> The only trick remaining is how to mark your new log entries 
> from your old ones.  What I did was use the Group feature.  
> Before I changed my call, I used the Group feature to mark 
> various contests and events I participated in.  Group 00 was 
> my default "Any QSO" group and then groups up to about 26 or 
> so were my various event groups.
> 
> I changed my File->Preferences->QSO to indicate a new default 
> Group of 30.  This became my new "Any QSO" group and I 
> started numbering my new event Groups from there:  31, 32, 33 
> and so on.  So any group less than 30 was under my old call, 
> any group 30 or higher was under my new call.
> 
> By keeping both your old and new log entries in the same log 
> file, you don't lose any of your award tracking and you can 
> easily search your entire log history under both calls.
> 
> Now d4w will still show your old call sign at the top of the 
> d4w window.  This is from your <callsign>.key file in your 
> d4w directory.  It shouldn't affect your creating and using 
> new log files, but it will always greet you at the top of 
> your d4w window.  This can be easily fixed, however, by 
> requesting a new key file from the good d4w folks under your 
> new call sign.
> 
> I suggest you keep your old call sign log file in case you 
> ever need to access your old records by themselves (this 
> would make LOTW entries easier) and in case Murphy plays with 
> your new log file.
> 
> Best of luck.  Lots of folks have done this and we're still here.  :)
> 
> 73, Dick
> --
> Dick Flanagan K7VC NV SM
> k7vc at arrl.org
> 
> 
>