[Ham-Mac] Looking for very specific software

[Gary R. Curry]

I am a Net Control Station for the Texas Traffic Net (SSB). I am  
looking for a program specifically designed for assisting me in that  
operation. Not a logging program as such, but one that offers  
something like the following;

NCS Operating Aid – desired functionality

1. Data base of call signs, names, locations, miscellaneous  
information and “can rcve tfc for” (crtf) available in text file or  
other form on hard drive. (I have part of this, a file of over 2,500  
calls, names and locations; folks who have checked in with Carroll,  
KB5TCH, on the Texas Traffic Net and the Southwest Traffic Net over  
about 15 years. I will have to add the miscellaneous info and “can  
receive traffic for” bits of data later. Misc info might include name  
(and call if licensed) of spouse, date of last QNI, etc.
2. Startup notes date and time of net start; creates new record  
stored in working file for use later.
3. Main screen (or window) shows options including: Select and  
display net preamble; check-in window; display numbered list of total  
check ins showing calls, names and locations; search for a call, name  
or location in QNI list; edit error in data; end net session, go  
back, recheck, check out, etc.
4. Check in window allows input of calls of stations checking in,  
displaying them as a consecutively numbered list. End check ins ends  
current qni group, displays first qni of group. Call appears selected  
for confirmation or edit; if error, simply type over; enter confirms,  
when confirmed, search data base for call match; if match, show name,  
qth and crtf with query (Tfc?), or blank if not in data base (Name?,  
QTH?, Tfc? Can receive tfc for?) These entries will be associated  
with call and added to data base file. If tfc, add to tfc pending  
list. As stations are checked in their data is added to arrays as a  
check in list and the date is updated in their misc record.
5. If traffic, list cities or calls needed one at a time; each to be  
added to the traffic list. Open new window showing traffic pending  
list which will remain on screen as long as there is traffic pending.  
Search check in list for matches in call signs, locations and crtf  
files. If match found, show station(s) checked in who can receive  
listed traffic for each entry. If stations qsy to pass traffic, open  
new window to show stations as QSY and frequency with pending traffic  
until pass is confirmed. When confirmed, move traffic to passed list  
and delete from pending list.
6. A simple option to interrupt net operations at any time for  
emergency or priority traffic, deal with it and return to where we  
left off without losing any check ins or traffic.
7. End net session creates a net report in formal message format;  
asks for msg nr then fills in heading with call of NCS, location and  
date. According to what net it is, directs msg to proper station;  
fills in text with QNI nr, traffic passed nr, time in minutes; can  
print msg on half page for archive records. Also may print a log of  
stations that checked in with names, time of check in, location and  
traffic listed, if any.

This is just the beginning of what I think might be possible if  
someone might take this on as a project. I know the market for such a  
program is very small and most hams are using windows (shudder, yes,  
I do too), but this can be really helpful, not only in regular,  
ordinary day-to-day net operations, but even more so when there is a  
situation that calls for emergency, priority and/or welfare traffic  
to flow through our nets.
     Any help? Thoughts?

Rev. Gary R. Curry K5QOW
Located United Methodist Elder