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

[Jim McDonald]

Why not upload them to the Elecraft_K3 Yahoo Group files area?

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Elecraft_K3/files

I and others uploaded several K3 user-defined controls for DXLab's Commander rig control module to the DXLab Yahoo Group Files area a few years ago.  Commander allow many more macros than the buttons on the radio do, and they can be executed by pressing a mouse button or an F-key.  I think it's pretty easy to create them in Commander.

You can download them and use them without rekeying them.

Information on Commander user-defined controls (sequences and sliders) is available at:
http://www.dxlabsuite.com/commander/Help/CommandSequences.htm .

73, Jim N7US



-----Original Message-----


Since macros are only text files, I personally have no need of fancy functionality in a library or utility.  The current Elecraft K3 utility works beautifully.

So for me, a simple Web site (or shared Google doc) listing macro examples is all the functionality that I think is needed.

73, Barry N1EU

On Thu, Feb 4, 2016 at 12:17 PM, Phil Hystad <phystad at mac.com> wrote:

> 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