[Elecraft] Macro Library Repository and K3/K3S/KX3 Utility Programs

[Phil Hystad]

The recent comments regarding Wayne’s new Noise Blanker experiment reminded me of something I wanted to suggest awhile back but forgot all about it.

This has to do with Macros and command sequences used to program or alter some specific setting in a temporary (maybe) way.  Many of these are posted here as well as found on some web sites including Elecraft.

But, there is something missing that would be nice.  And, that is a documented library hosted on Elecraft’s web site as well as a utility program feature to automatically download and manage the macro programs.

As a library, the documentation should be embedded in the Macro file itself per a standard format that declares the purpose (brief abstract), more detailed user instructions, and any known side effects.  Also, author’s name and date and maybe a revision history.

The utility programs would include a new feature to download (maybe abstracts or complete macro file) and list available macro programs displaying the brief abstract on the display.  The utility program would allow the user to select macros for download that copy them to a known location on the user’s computer managed by the utility program.  Also, this new feature set would support the loading of the macro to the K3/K3S/KX3.  Actually, a very nice “extra” would be to undo the macro act.  Of course, this could get complicated since a Macro can do anything and many things that should not be done.  But, one way to undo is to automatically save and then allow restoration of the rig settings, say in some kind of test mode.  Of course, this could be done by the user but it might be faster to do it as part of a test sequence supported by the utility program.

It seems like the only complicate part of this process is setting up a repository and managing it in a way that ensures the integrity of the standards: documentation, layout, and anything else.  The enhancements to the utility programs do not seem to be all that hard to do (I am a retired programmer of about 50 years programming experience).

There could be a network of volunteers that accept the new macros to be included and they test and vet those macros per the definition of purpose and the standards set forth for this repository.

73, phil, K7PEH