[Logic] LOGic Version 6

[logic@mailman.qth.net]

A short description of "What's New in LOGic version 6" with screen shots can=
=20
be viewed at http://www.hosenose.com/logic6/Whats_new.html

Here is a short description of "What's New" without Screen Shots:

Callbook lookup from web.  LOGic 6 scans multiple web sites  looking for the=
=20
requested call.  You can choose which sites are searched, and the order in=20
which they are searched.  Note: advertisements from commercial sites are=20
displayed.=20

CW Keyer & PTT now support both serial or parallel ports.  A separate port=20
can be used for CW PTT and Voice PTT.  Serial and parallel ports are now=20
supported on Windows 98, ME, 2000 and XP. (NT too, probably.)=20

CW Keyer has been completely redone.  You can change speed while transmittin=
g=20
by simply changing the controls on the keyer form.  It is no longer necessar=
y=20
to click anything to enter or exit the real-time keyboard.  Just type in the=
=20
input window.  Change speed on the fly by clicking the speed control.=20

Most windows can be displayed in the main LOGic 6 window (like previous=20
versions), or may be displayed on the Windows desktop.  This permits better=20
use of systems with multiple monitors.  To move a window, right-click the=20
form.  A new option has been added to the Form Properties.=20

The menu system has been redone.  Over the years LOGic has accumulated so=20
many features that finding them can be daunting to the new and experienced=20
user alike.  The new menu system is more logical and easier to use. The main=
=20
menu bar has new menus that categorize LOGic 6's many features by major=20
operating activities: Awards, Contesting, QSLing, and Reports.=20

Reports and log forms are now categorized.  They have been divided into=20
categories such as Log, Contesting, QSL Cards, and QSL Labels. =20

Suppose you want to print QSL cards.  In spite of straightforward=20
instructions in the manual (Click File, Print, and select a QSL card from th=
e=20
list of reports), we still got a lot of calls asking, "How do I print QSL=20
cards?"  Perhaps some were intimidated by the menu of LOGic's 50+ reports an=
d=20
didn't think to scroll to the Qs to find QSL Card reports.  Now, simply clic=
k=20
QSLing on the menu bar, and select QSL Cards.  The new report menu will=20
display only QSL Card reports.  The description of the report is displayed a=
s=20
you click on an entry or scroll through the list.=20

Log forms are also categorized by contest and non-contest.  The log form=20
selection menu now displays the description.=20

Not to worry. Those of you who liked the old menu system just fine will find=
=20
the old menu structure still supported within the new menu system.=20

The Filter screen now allows you to search user-defined fields exactly the=20
same way that you do normal fields. Each user-defined field is listed in the=
=20
Filter window, just like regular fields. It is no longer necessary to search=
=20
the Userfields field for the desired tag and value.=20

Menus and toolbars for functions related to logging have been added to the=20
log form.  The Log menu was moved from the main LOGic menu bar to the log=20
form.=20

Menus and optional  button toolbars provide access to the function key macro=
s=20
for the CW keyer, digital communication terminals, and telnet. =20

Transparent forms--looks cool and makes it easy to find forms that are=20
entirely covered by other forms! Windows 2000, and XP or later only.=20

Holding the mouse on top of  a function key button will show the actual text=
=20
that will be transmitted based on the contents of the log screen.  For=20
instance, if the expression for the function key is CALL + " DE WN4AZY TNX=20
FER THE CALL 'BT UR RST IS " + RST_SENT, LOGic 6 may display N6MRQ DE WN4AZY=
=20
TNX FER THE CALL 'BT UR RST IS 599.  The voice keyer also has a menu in the=20
log form, and an optional button toolbar.=20

LOGic 6 stores function key macro definitions with the log form, so that you=
=20
can create new log forms to have a potentially unlimited number of function=20
keys, and so that different groups of definitions may be made for each=20
operating activity.  Buttons on the keyer and communications forms also=20
provide access to your macros.  If you have more than one log form open, the=
=20
definitions for the most-recently-accessed log form are used.  Holding the=20
mouse on top of the button shows the description of the macro key and what=20
will be transmitted.=20

When entering expressions for terminal and keyer function keys in log/setup,=
=20
holding the mouse over the expression will also show the results of the=20
expression. =20

Description info for dropdown fields automatically displays description when=
=20
entering a value or holding the mouse over the field. For instance, the DXCC=
=20
field will display the country name, and, if the IOTA list is installed, wil=
l=20
show island group info. Previously it was necessary to click on the field to=
=20
see this info, and sometimes it was truncated if it was too big to display i=
n=20
the Description column of the display.=20

LOGic 5 featured log form customization, offering drag-and drop field layout=
,=20
and menu selection of which fields to display.  Based on input from LOGic 5=20
users, several enhancements were made to this great feature.=20

The log window  is sized automatically.   When unlocking the form, it is=20
expanded to give you extra room to add new fields, etc.  If it is not=20
expanded enough, you can drag the window to a larger size.  When locking the=
=20
form, it will automatically resize to be as small as possible, based on wher=
e=20
you positioned the fields. When unhiding a field, it is flashed several time=
s=20
so you can see where the new field is located.  If you don't see it,=20
double-click the field name in the list, and it will flash some more.  In th=
e=20
tab order setup, which allows you to determine where the cursor moves as you=
=20
tab through the log form, you may now double-click the field name in the lis=
t=20
to cause the field to flash on the log form.=20

The above features have also been implemented in the QSL Routes screen.=20

A new feature allows a log form to add needed fields to the database. =20
Previously, if you downloaded a new contest setup that  needed a new field=20
for a contest exchange or whatever, you had to add the new field to=20
tools/setup/log forms yourself in order to use it on the contest screen. =20

Now, the log form can be set up so that the needed fields are added=20
automatically.  If you design a log form that uses user-defined fields that=20
you want to share with other LOGic users, simply enter the field names,=20
types, and sizes in Log Setup. When someone else opens your form, the new=20
fields will be added to the database automatically.=20

Interface to HamScope digital communications program.=20

Interface to DX Atlas.=20

Increased capacities--You can now have 20 user-defined fields per screen.  2=
0=20
each CW,  Terminal, and voice keyer  function keys.  Copy more items from=20
previous QSOs or Prefix Table.=20

Every input field that requests select criteria (such as when exporting part=
=20
of your log) now uses the filter screen so that you can simply fill in the=20
desired values just as you do when using the Filter feature of the log form.=
=20

Clock may be automatically set to the National Institute of Standards and=20
Technology (NIST)  atomic clock (the same one WWV uses) via the internet.  T=
o=20
turn on this feature, go to tools/setup/internet.  If you are not connected=20
to the internet when starting LOGic 6, an unintrusive notice is displayed. =20
You may also set the clock to NIST by clicking the clock icon in the Info=20
window.=20

LOGic 6 is programmed to know about all available time servers that support=20
the required protocol. If one server is down, it will automatically try=20
another.=20

A new server interface allows third-party programs to easily access and=20
control many of LOGic 6's features.  Here are just a few of the things you=20
can do:=20

=E2=80=A2Interface your communications program so that any data received wil=
l be=20
processed by LOGic 6, and any data sent  using LOGic 6 will be sent to your=20
application for transmission.=20

=E2=80=A2Read and control any rig connected to LOGic 6.=20

=E2=80=A2Log a QSO, or read QSO data from LOGic 6's log screen.=20

=E2=80=A2Access your callbook CD-ROM or web callbook.=20

=E2=80=A2Send spots to LOGic 6's spot log.=20

This is accomplished using the Windows Common Object Model (COM) interface.=20=
=20
Most any language may be used, including Visual C, Visual Basic, Visual=20
FoxPro, Windows Scripting,  as well as any product that supports VBScript or=
=20
JavaScript, including Active Server Pages.  Anyone care to interface LOGic t=
o=20
their web page? See our web site for details and an example program.  Almost=
=20
all of LOGic 6's internals are exposed, so if you have a neat idea and want=20
to do something that is not documented, contact us and we will assist.=20

Previous QSOs window shows log entries for spots in the spot log.=20

LOGic 6's map has a new option for independently choosing whether to set the=
=20
rig and/or rotor when clicking a spot indication on the map.=20

When posting a spot, the frequency is obtained from the rig if possible.=20
Otherwise it is obtained from the frequency logged in the log form.=20

If LOGic 6 is not shut down properly because of a system crash, power=20
failure, etc., LOGic 6 will automatically ask if you want to perform a Clean=
=20
to repair indexes that may have been damaged.  The feature does not work whe=
n=20
running multiple instances of LOGic 6 simultaneously on the same computer.=20

Does not prompt for Station Info after doing a Clean Up Indexes and Temporar=
y=20
files.=20

Exports log file to XML format.  See tool/export.  The schema is imbedded in=
=20
the exported file.=20

When a filter is in effect, holding the mouse on top of the Filter button=20
displays the filter expression, if any.=20

An input field on the Other QSOs form permits lookup of any call without=20
opening a log form.=20

If you are currently logging a mode not supported by the rig, and change the=
=20
mode on the rig, it will begin reading the mode from the rig again.=20

Previously, if you were logging a mode that is not supported by the rig (say=
=20
you were logging PSK31 but had the rig set to USB), LOGic would ignore the=20
rig's mode.  It would continue to ignore the mode until you manually logged=20=
a=20
normal mode.  It would then read the mode for the next QSO.  LOGic 6 still=20
does this.  If you want to now log a bona fide USB QSO, you must manually lo=
g=20
USB once.  But if you are logging PSK31 and switch to CW or USB, LOGic 6 wil=
l=20
start reading the rig again.=20

Modes table has a new field for default RST for each mode.=20

Current sunrise and sunset displayed in tools/update sunrise/sunset.=20

Paths for Edit a text file, Import, and Export are remembered for the defaul=
t=20
the next time these features are used.=20

Tools/Advanced/Path and File Info displays the data search path and where=20
various key files are located.  This is useful when running over a network o=
r=20
using multiple databases.=20

The Range selection dialog has been removed from the report writer. It is no=
=20
longer necessary, since Filtering will automatically utilize any appropriate=
=20
indexes to speed search.=20

Note: This list of LOGic 6=E2=80=98s new features is not guaranteed to be co=
mplete!=20

73,
George K3GV

DX: Long may it live !
If it isn't LOGic it isn't LOGging !