[Dxbase] Re: your Xmas wish list

[Peter Dougherty (W2IRT)]

Just a couple of quick comments...

From: Tom Clements <tom at clements.net>

>Numbers 1, 2 and 3 in my book are to add some form of 
>automated/automatic updating of the program and associated database 
>files. The concept of opening files and hand editing them this day 
>in age is truly archaic. Worse yet, you have to do it over and over 
>again as prefixes change, new IOTA numbers are assigned, etc. Anyone 
>who keeps their files up to date is far more of a glutton for 
>punishment than I am. I just live with out of date files and that 
>bugs me too! Ah, the down side of being lazy.
>
>I want to push a button and have all the changes made to bring the 
>current edition of the program up to date.

Heck yeah! What he said, and even more so when updating the program. 
I dread having to remember how to access all my shortcuts and re-do 
them, all my custom colours, etc, when 2007 comes out in May.


>From: "Eric - VE3GSI" <ve3gsi at sympatico.ca>
>
>*** Daughter Windows ***
>I only mention this as there seems to be no constancy between the way
>daughter windows work. Perhaps this is by design by Jack and his crew, if so
>I really apologize for my not being able to follow the logic. Most of the
>daughter windows open within the main program window, I honestly don't like
>that. Me, I would like to be able to put them anywhere on the desktop
>(screen),

Personally, I actively dislike that format. N1MM's contest Logger 
does it and it drives me batty, and that was also the reason I never 
used DX4WIN for more than a brief trial, because it operates that 
way. I would agree that it would be nice to have the option to have 
it work either way, depending on your usual workflow. Options are good :-)

>Ok ok, I know some of you fellows (and gals) will say just open the main
>window to 'full screen' and put them wherever. That is fine for those who
>only run DXbase and no other programmes. But if you have radio related
>programs running in the background they will be covered, bring them to the
>front and DXB gets covered. I suspect those that run dual monitors could add
>something here.

and I will <g>. I dual-headed my radio box for the princely sum of 
$279 and I haven't looked back since. DX Base is up 24/7 on the left 
monitor, permanently connected to AR Config; my right monitor is 
where I surf, do e-mail (between DX -- far too much time between DX 
these days, sigh), try new software, etc. During contests DX Base is 
on the left as usual and N1MM is on the right. Perfect combination. 
save yourself the headaches and dual-head it -- you won't regret it!

Oh, and Hi Eric -- dunno if you remember me from "back in the day," 
when I went by another callsign -- VE3THX (and VE3LOK before that).

>From: "Gary Senesac AL9A" <al9a at pobox.mtaonline.net>
>
>I would settle for a simple fix that would make DXbase key my transmitter in
>CW without having to run another program such as MMTTY or CWType in the
>background.

Yeah, another big ME TOO on this count. I use a serial-port 
RigBlaster Plus, which keys CW from every single piece of amateur 
radio software under the sun except DX Base. While I still love to 
use my iambic, and I have the FH-1 remote for my Mark V, I would 
still like to be able to make my RB+ key CW to the rig using DX Base.



- Peter

W2IRT