DXKeeper Configuration

DXKeeper Online Help Contents

Configuring DXKeeper is primarily accomplished via the Configuration window and the QSL Configuration window.  Defining bands and defining or eliminating modes, however, are accomplished by editing files.

DXKeeper's Configuration window presents 7 tabs: 

General Tab 

Confirm QSO deletion

if this box is checked, DXKeeper will request confirmation before deleting a QSO

Optimize for realtime QSO entry

When this box is checked, DXKeeper's Main window is optimized for logging QSOs in real time:

  • if, after entering a callsign in the call textbox, you strike the Enter key, DXKeeper will 

    • if the begin item has not been specified, set the begin item to the current UTC date and time

    • if Commander is running, set the freq item to your transceiver's current frequency

    • if Commander is running, set the band item to the band for your transceiver's current frequency

    • if Commander is running, set the mode item to the your transceiver's current mode

  • if you double-click the end item, DXKeeper will set the end item to the current UTC date and time

  • setting the QSL Rcvd,  item to 'Y' will set the Date Rcvd item to the current date 

  • setting the eQSL.cc Rcvd item to 'Y' will set the  eQSL.cc Date Rcvd item to the current date 

  • setting the LotW QSL Rcvd item to 'Y' will set the  LotW Date Rcvd item to the current date 

  • if you save a QSO whose end item has not been specified, DXKeeper will set the end item to the current time.  

When this box is unchecked, DXKeeper's Main window is optimized for manually entering past QSOs: 

  • if, after entering a callsign in the call textbox, you strike the Enter key and , DXKeeper will 

    • if the begin item has not been specified, set the begin item to the begin item of the previously-entered QSO plus 1 second

    • set the freq item to the freq item of the previously entered QSO

    • set the band item to the band item of the previously entered QSO

    • set the mode item to the mode item of the previously entered QSO

  • if you double-click the end item, DXKeeper will set the end item to the contents of the begin item

  • setting the QSL Rcvd,  item to 'Y' will not set the Date Rcvd item to the current date 

  • setting the eQSL.cc Rcvd item to 'Y' will not set the  eQSL.cc Date Rcvd item to the current date 

  • setting the LotW QSL Rcvd item to 'Y' will not set the  LotW Date Rcvd item to the current date 

  • if you save a QSO whose end item has not been specified, DXKeeper will set the end item to the contents of the begin item 

  • if you save a QSO whose RST sent or RST rcvd item has not been specified, DXKeeper will set the item to 59 or 599 as appropriate for the specified mode

Note that the Optimize for realtime QSO entry setting has no effect on the Capture window's behavior, which is always optimized for logging QSOs in real time.

Optimize for roundtable QSOs When this box is unchecked and Optimize for realtime QSO entry is unchecked, a new QSO's begin item is initialized to the last manually-entered QSO's end item incremented by 1 second.

When this box is checked and Optimize for realtime QSO entry is unchecked, a new QSO's begin item is initialized to the last manually-entered QSO's begin item incremented by 1 second.

Display seconds in date/time fields

When checked, begin and end items are displayed using the locale's standard date/time format with hours, minutes, and seconds

When unchecked, begin and end items are displayed using the locale's standard date/time format with hours, and minutes

Display Previous QSOs on Lookup checkbox

When checked, entering a new callsign in the Main window or clicking the QSO Capture window's Lookup button filters the log to only display QSOs with the captured Callsign

Highlight duplicate QSOs When checked, QSOs in the Log Page Display that match the QSO Capture window's callsign, band, and mode will be highlighted in red font
Set QSO start when RST Rcvd When checked, automatically set the QSO start time when a received signal report is entered in the Capture window
Initialize RST fields to 59/599 When checked, automatically sets the Main and Capture window RST sent and RST rcvd fields to 59 (for phone modes) or 599 (for non-phone modes) unless another report has already been entered, and selects the entire contents of these fields whenever they gain focus
Run-mode checkbox

If this box is checked, striking the enter key in the call textbox will 

If this box is checked, striking the enter key in the QSO Capture window's Call textbox will set the RST sent and RST rcvd items to 59 (if the mode is SSB or FM) or 599 (if the mode is CW, RTTY, or PSK)

Capture window F-keys via WW When checked
  • the Function keys F5 through F12 when struck in a Capture window textbox activate WinWarbler macros, with Shift and Alt key modifiers interpreted as they would be within WinWarbler

  • the Esc key when struck in a Capture window textbox aborts WinWarbler transmission

Prompt on Capture overwrite When checked, if an action -- e.g. activating a Spot Database entry in SpotCollector-- would overwrite unsaved Capture window data from an active QSO, DXKeeper will display a dialog box allowing the user to allow or disallow the overwrite. A QSO is considered active if its start time has been set, either by clicking the Begin button or by capturing a received signal report (if Set QSO start when RST Rcvd is checked)
New QSO on DX Spot activation When checked, create a QSO in the Main window when a DX Spot is activated (in SpotCollector, DXView or Commander) with the Capture window closed and Optimize for realtime QSO entry checked
Flag invalid callsigns When checked, callsigns not containing at least one number and one letter will be flagged when you attempt to Save in the Main window or Log in the Capture window; QSOs containing such callsigns will be marked Broken by the Recompute function
Provide audible feedback When checked, 
  • play a single  "Windows Default Beep" sound when a QSO is logged via the Main window's Log or New functions or the Capture window's Log function

  • play a continuous sequence of "Windows Default Beep" sounds when an attempt to log a QSO fails due to invalid items

  • play a single  "Windows Default Beep" sound when a duplicate QSO is entered into the Capture window with Contest mode enabled

Use Dual Monitors When checked, windows that resided on the secondary monitor during the previous session will be restored to the secondary monitor
Log debugging information When checked, records debugging information to the file ErrorLog.txt in DXKeeper's folder
 
Call textbox place the mouse cursor in the QSO panel's Call textbox after completing an operation on the Main window's Log QSOs tab
Filter textbox place the mouse cursor in the Filter panel textbox after completing an operation on the Main window's Log QSOs tab

 

Operator callsign

current operator's callsign (label is highlighted in red if maximum length is exceeded)

  • used to name the log file created when DXKeeper runs the first time after being installed

  • initializes the op textbox 

  • specifies the operator's callsign when another DXLab application logs a QSO that is missing this item

Transmit power

transmitter power, in watts (label is highlighted in red if maximum length is exceeded)

  • initializes  the pwr textbox

  • specifies the transmit power when another DXLab application logs a QSO that is missing this item

Propagation mode specifies the propagation mode used in each QSO
Satellite name

specifies the satellite name recorded in each QSO

Satellite mode

specifies the satellite mode recorded in each QSO

QSL msg

selects message to be printed on each QSL card from among the standard messages defined in the QSL Msgs tab

  • initializes the Capture window's QSL Msg item

  • initializes  the Main window's msg textbox 

  • specifies the QSL message when another DXLab application logs a QSO that is missing this item

if a message is selected, you can modify it by editing the displayed text

 

Browser pathname textbox

if this setting is blank, DXKeeper displays online help using your PC's default HTML browser; if this setting contains the pathname of an HTML browser, DXKeeper displays online help using that browser.

Select button

displays a file selector dialog that allows you to choose a Browser pathname

show control explanations

when checked, enables the display of explanatory information when the mouse cursor lingers over a textbox, button, checkbox, display pane, or setting.

 Help button

displays the information you are now reading

 

Log Tab

Pathname textbox

This textbox specifies the pathname of the current log file. To open a different log file or create a new log file, you can enter or paste the appropriate pathname into this textbox and then click the Select or Create buttons in this panel. Alternatively, you can click the Select button in this panel and use the file selector dialog to choose the log file you wish to open or create.

Note: If you start DXKeeper with a command line argument that specifies a valid pathname, DXKeeper will place this argument in the Pathname textbox and  attempt to open the designated file as a log.

Open Button

closes any open log and opens the log in the file specified by the Pathname textbox; this button is only present when the Pathname textbox specifies an existing file

Create Button

closes any open log, and creates a new log in the file specified by the Pathname textbox; this button is only present when the Pathname textbox specifies a non-existent file

If DXView has been installed on your PC, the newly-created log's progress table will be initialized using the DXCC database managed by DXView. If DXView has not been installed, the newly-created log's progress table will be initialized from the file DXCC.mdb in the Databases subfolder of your DXKeeper application folder.

Compact Button If you delete QSOs in a log, the log file can become fragmented and use disk space inefficiently. Compacting the log file re-arranges the files contents to improve storage efficiency.
Select Button displays a file selector dialog with which you can navigate to a desired folder and select a log file to open; if the selected file exists, any currently-open log is closed and the selected log file is opened
New Button displays a file selector dialog with which you can navigate to a desired folder and specify a new log file to be created; if the specified file does not exist, any currently-open log is closed, and the specified log file is created and then opened

If DXView has been installed on your PC, the newly-created log's progress table will be initialized using the DXCC database managed by DXView. If DXView has not been installed, the newly-created log's progress table will be initialized from the file DXCC.mdb in the Databases subfolder of your DXKeeper application folder.

 

Backup folder pathname

This textbox specifies the pathname of folder into which log backups will be stored

Backup button

creates a backup copy of the current Log file in the specified backup folder pathname

Recover button replaces the contents of the current Log file with the contents of a specified backup copy 

 

Display DXCC submission reminder

When checked, setting a needed QSL's QSL Rcvd field to 'Y' will display a dialog box reminding you to submit the QSL to the DXCC desk

my QTH ID

identifies the operator's current QTH

  • initializes  the myQTH textbox

  • specifies the operator's current QTH when another DXLab application logs a QSO that is missing this item

 

Auxiliary fields checkbox

Checking this box shows the Log's Aux panel, which contains textboxes for each of the following fields:

Depressing the CTRL key while checking this box will display the Log's Aux panel and decrease the number of visible Log Page Display entries rather than expand the Main window's height.

Unchecking this box  will hide the Log's Aux panel and vertically shrink the Main window; depressing the CTRL key while unchecking this box will hide the Log's Aux panel and increase the number of visible Log Page Display entries.

QSL fields checkbox

Checking this box shows the Log's QSL panel, which contains textboxes for each of the following fields:

Depressing the CTRL key while checking this box will display the Log's QSL panel and decrease the number of visible Log Page Display entries rather than expand the Main window's height.

Unchecking this box  will hide the Log's QSL panel and vertically shrink the Main window; depressing the CTRL key while unchecking this box will hide the Log's QSL panel and increase the number of visible Log Page Display entries.

Award fields checkbox

Checking this box shows the Log's Awards panel, which contains textboxes for each of the following fields:

Depressing the CTRL key while checking this box will display the Log's Awards panel and decrease the number of visible Log Page Display entries rather than expand the Main window's height.

Unchecking this box  will hide the Log's Awards panel and vertically shrink the Main window; depressing the CTRL key while unchecking this box will hide the Log's Awards panel and increase the number of visible Log Page Display entries.

Contest fields checkbox

Checking this box shows the Log's Contest panel, which contains textboxes for each of the following fields:

Depressing the CTRL key while checking this box will display the Log's Contest panel and decrease the number of visible Log Page Display entries rather than expand the Main window's height.

Unchecking this box  will hide the Log's Contest panel and vertically shrink the Main window; depressing the CTRL key while unchecking this box will hide the Log's Contest panel and increase the number of visible Log Page Display entries.

Satellite fields checkbox

Checking this box shows the Log's Satellite panel, which contains textboxes for each of the following fields:

Depressing the CTRL key while checking this box will display the Log's Satellite panel and decrease the number of visible Log Page Display entries rather than expand the Main window's height.

Unchecking this box  will hide the Log's Satellite panel and vertically shrink the Main window; depressing the CTRL key while unchecking this box will hide the Log's Satellite panel and increase the number of visible Log Page Display entries.

Font Button

Enables you to specify the font and font metrics (size, bold, italic) used in the Main window's Auxiliary, QSL, Online QSL, Awards, Contest and Satellite panels, and the Capture window. If a bold font is selected, then information in the Award Progress and Progress Details grids will also be rendered in bold font.

 

 
Log page fields control

This control enables you to specify 

  • which fields appear in the Log Page Display

  • the caption for each such field

  • the alignment of each such field.

To add a field to the log page display,

  • scroll to the last row of the control; this row is distinguished by an asterisk in its leftmost cell

  • in the field cell of this last row, click the pulldown icon (a small black triangle) and choose the field to be displayed from the resulting list (the pulldown contains ADIF field names - to correlate with the field captions, consult the cross reference)

  • in the caption cell of the newly added row, enter the caption to be used for this field in the log page display, followed by the enter key

To see the newly added field, you may need to horizontally scroll the log page display or widen your DXKeeper window.

The order in which fields appear in the log page display, and the width of each column in the log page display are controlled by direct manipulation.

To remove a field from the log page display,

  • select the row corresponding to the field to be removed by clicking in row's leftmost cell (this cell is shaded)

  • strike the Delete key

 

Font Button

Enables you to specify the font and font metrics (size, bold, italic) used in the log page display

Log Page Display layout file the pathname of a file whose contents specify a Log Page Display layout:
  • which fields appear in the log page display

  • the caption for each such field

  • the alignment of each such field

  • the order in which such fields appear

  • the width of each field

Select displays a file selector that lets you choose a Log Page Display layout file and then format the Log Page Display as specified by the selected file's contents
Save displays a file selector that lets you choose a file into which will be saved the Log Page Display's current layout

 

 

Awards Tab

The Automatically Recompute Awards Progress checkbox determines whether DXKeeper will automatically recompute awards progress when you delete a QSO or indicate a regression in the QSO's progress, e.g. demoting its status from confirmed to worked, or from worked to unworked.

The Deduce CQ and ITU zones from US callsigns checkbox determines whether callsigns of US stations will be used to deduce CQ and ITU zones if more precise information (previous QSOs, state, ARRL section, Callbook) is unavailable and the call area fits entirely in the zone.

The Include LotW confirmations in VUCC, WAS, WAC, & Maidenhead awards progress box will, when checked, include QSOs confirmed by the ARRL's Logbook of the World (LotW) in the VUCC Progress, VUCC Submission, WAS Progress, WAC Progress, Maidenhead Field, and Maidenhead Gridsquare reports.

The Include eQSL.cc confirmations in DXCC, WAS, WAC, & Maidenhead awards progress box will, when checked, will include QSOs confirmed by eQSL.cc in the  the DXCC, Challenge, TOPLIST, WAS, and WAC, Maidenhead Field, and Maidenhead Gridsquare awards progress and reports. The ARRL, TOPLIST, and CQ Magazine do not accept eQSL.cc confirmations for their awards, but if your personal DXing program considers eQSL.cc confirmations to be valid, then checking this box will generate correct status.  If you change this setting, immediately running the By QSL Mode, WAS, and WAC reports will produce correct results. However, the Progress Grid, Progress Details Grid, and all other reports will not reflect the change until you invoke the Recompute function.

Checkboxes in the DXCC/TOP Bands & Modes Panel specify the bands and modes you are pursuing for the ARRL DX Century Club award (DXCC), the ARRL DX Century Club Challenge award , and/or the Top List award. When you click the QSL tab's Add Needed button, these settings are used to identify QSOs for which QSLs would advance your progress. When you prepare a DXCC Submission, confirmed QSL cards and/or LotW credits will only be submitted for bands and modes selected in this panel. If SpotCollector is running, the settings of these checkboxes are used to determine whether a QSO with a spotted station would advance your progress. If no awards tab boxes are checked, DXKeeper and SpotCollector assume that you are pursuing DXCC without focus on specific bands or modes. This panel's Expiration age textbox lets you specify a time interval in weeks that the Card Aging function can use to automatically flag QSOs as expired, meaning that a confirmation is no longer expected.

The DXCC Submission panel lets you specify

Checkboxes in the WAZ Bands & Modes Panel specify the bands and modes you are pursuing for the CQ Worked All Zones award. The contents of a WAZ Progress Report are controlled by these settings.

In the Other Panel,  

Reports Tab

The Date Format panel lets you specify the format of dates used in reports, and in the headers of exported ADIF files. 

The DXCC Summary panel's Optional HTML textbox lets you insert HTML at the beginning of the DXCC Summary's body, prior to the data table.

 

Callbook Tab

DXKeeper can obtain name, address, and location information from  the Flying Horse Radio Amateur's Callbook , HamCall, or the QRZ Callsign Database. You may install one, two, or all three of these. If Pathfinder (version 4.2.6 or later) is running, DXKeeper can direct it to obtain name, address, and location information from the QRZ.com web site. Use this tab's radio buttons to specify which source of information is used for Callbook Lookup operations.

Callbook

select the radio button for the Callbook or web site to be used

Folder containing callbook database

pathname to the folder containing the Callbook's data*

Browse button

displays a folder selector that allows you to choose the folder containing the Callbook's data

Automatically use callbook data... checkbox

if checked

  • DXKeeper will initialize the name, QTH, state, cnty, IOTA, and grid fields with the results of a successful Callbook query

  • the Capture window's Lookup button will initialize the Capture window's name, QTH, state, cnty, IOTA, and grid fields with the results of a successful Callbook query

Warn when Callsign Lookups fail When checked, a Callsign lookup that fails to locate Callbook information for the Call will display a warning message requiring confirmation

* QRZ volume 22 and onward allows you to install the database onto your hard drive for improved performance, but requires that you copy the file QRZ32.DLL from the QRZ CDROM to your DXKeeper folder (replacing the existing file), and has a different requirement for Folder containing callbook database. If you install the QRZ database into the folder 

C:\Program Files\QRZ

then set Folder containing callbook database to 

C:\Program Files\QRZ\CALLBK

From the Capture window, you can add name, QTH information, and address information from the selected Callbook to the current QSO by clicking the Lookup button, as described above. 

Using the CBA button on the Main window's Log QSOs tab, you can update or replace name, QTH information, and address information in the current QSO or in all QSOs visible in the Log Page Display.

 

Contest tab

These settings govern DXKeeper's support for contest operation

Contest-mode when checked

Enabling Contest mode automatically enables Run-mode; disabling Contest-mode automatically disables Run-mode

Increment TX serial# when checked, increments the TX serial# after each QSO (if the Contest-mode box is checked, and if the TX serial# contains a numeric value)
TX serial#

the transmit serial number or exchange to be recorded with the next QSO

TX Exchange fixed portion of transmit exchange (as specified by contest rules, for use in Cabrillo QSO record)
Place focus in RX# on DX spot activation when checked, activating a DX spot in SpotCollector, DXView or Commander will place the mouse cursor in the Capture window's RX# item if the Capture window has not been closed

if the Capture window is closed, Optimize for realtime QSO entry is checked, and New QSO on DX Spot activation is checked, then activating a DX spot will create a new QSO and display it in the Main window; if the Contest panel on the Main window's Log QSOs tab is visible, then the mouse cursor will be placed in its RX# item

Don't log Capture window Contest, TX#, RX# if contest mode disabled when checked with contest mode disabled, don't log the Capture window's Contest, TX#, and RX# items
Contest style configures DXKeeper to support a specific style of contest by 
Cabrillo Category The Operator, Band, Power, and Mode selectors in this panel are used to assemble a Category for incorporation in a Cabrillo header; in each selector, you can choose a preset value, or key in a new value, and the Category will be appropriately updated. Alternatively, you can directly key in the Category.
Contest ID

a unique identifier for the current contest to be recorded with each QSO (e.g. ARRL-DX-SSB-2003)

Claimed score your claimed score in the contest (obtained from your contesting application, or manually computed)
QTH State state from which the station is operating (abbreviation per contest rules, for use in contest exchanges)
QTH Grid Maidenhead Grid Square from the station is operating (for use in contest exchanges)
QTH IOTA Islands on the Air designator for the station's QTH (for use in contest exchanges)
QTH CQ CQ Zone for the station's QTH (for use in contest exchanges)
Operator's first name your first name (for use in contest exchanges)
Contest name contest name selector (for use in a Cabrillo header; an arbitrary name can be entered, e.g. for state QSO parties)
Submitter's full name your full name (for use in a Cabrillo header)
ARRL Sect the ARRL section from which you are operating (for use in a Cabrillo header)
Submitter's full addr your multiple-line postal address (not including your name, for use in a Cabrillo header)
Category assisted contest assistance category (for use in a Cabrillo header)
Club name of your contest or radio club (for use in a Cabrillo header)
Operators callsigns of participating operators, separated by commas (for use in a Cabrillo header)

 

Defining Bands

DXKeeper is driven by a set of band definitions contained in a file. Any attempt to log a QSO on a frequency not falling within a defined band will be flagged.

At startup, DXKeeper checks its Databases folder for the file Bands.txt ; if found, the contents of this file are interpreted as user-defined band specifications in the format shown below.  If Bands.txt is not found, then DXKeeper checks its Databases folder for the file DefaultBands.txt, which every DXKeeper release installs. DefaultBands.txt, is a file containing one line per band::

2190M, 0.136,0.137
160M, 1.800, 2.000
80M, 3.500,4.000
60M, 5.3305,5.405
40M, 7.000,7.350
30M, 10.100, 10.150
20M, 14.000, 14.350
17M, 18.068, 18.168
15M, 21.000, 21.450
12M, 24.890, 24.990
10M, 28.000, 29.900
6M, 50.000, 54.000
4M, 70.0, 71.0
2M, 144.000, 148.000
1.25M,222.0,225.0
70CM, 420.0, 450.0
33CM, 902.0, 928.0
23CM, 1240, 1300
13CM,2400,2450
9CM, 3300, 3500
6CM, 5650, 5925
3CM, 10000, 10500
1.25cm,24000,24250
6MM, 47000, 47200
4MM, 75500, 81000
2.5MM, 119980,120020
2MM, 142000, 149000
1MM, 241000,250000
SUBMM, 300000,1000000

Each line contains three parameters, separated by commas: the band name, the band's lower edge in megahertz, and the band's upper edge in megahertz. 

To add or subtract bands, make a copy of DefaultBands.txt in DXKeeper's Databases folder and name it Bands.txt. Delete or add lines as required, ensuring that

 

Defining or Eliminating Modes

DXKeeper provides built-in support for six modes: SSB, CW, RTTY, AM, FM, and PSK31. At startup, DXKeeper checks its Databases folder for the file Modes.txt ; if found, the contents of this file are interpreted as user-defined mode specifications, as described below.  If Modes.txt is not found, then DXKeeper checks its Databases folder for the file DefaultModes.txt  and if found interprets its contents as user-defined mode specifications. Every DXKeeper release installs a  DefaultModes.txt  file that contains the following mode specifications:

Mode Name DXCC SSB credit DXCC CW credit DXCC RTTY credit WAZ RTTY credit WAZ Digital credit WPX SSB credit WPX CW credit PSK credit
ASCI a a
ATV
CLO
FAX
GTOR
Hell a a
HFSK
JT44
MFSK8 a a
MFSK16 a a
MT63 a a
Pac a a
Pac2 a a
Pac3 a a
Pkt a a
PSK63 a a a
PSK125 a a a
Q15
SSTV
Thrb a a
TOR a a

Users wishing to define additional modes or remove modes that aren't built-in can do so by creating the file Modes.txt in SpotCollector's Databases folder. The specification format used in DefaultModes.txt and Modes.txt is identical: each line of the file specifies a mode's name, followed optionally by a list of awards for which QSOs in the mode produce credit; the mode name and optional awards are separated by commas. Valid award designators are shown in the following table:

Award Designator Meaning
DXCC_Phone QSOs in this mode "count" for DXCC Phone credit
DXCC_CW QSOs in this mode "count" for DXCC CW credit
DXCC_RTTY QSOs in this mode "count" for DXCC RTTY credit
WAZ_RTTY QSOs in this mode "count" for WAZ  RTTY credit
WAZ_DIGITAL QSOs in this mode "count" for WAZ   Digital credit
WPX_Phone QSOs in this mode "count" for WPX Phone credit
WPX_CW QSOs in this mode "count" for WPX CW credit
PSK QSOs in this mode "count" for PSK credit

Thus, the first line of the file DefaultModes.txt, which is

ASCI, DXCC_RTTY, WAZ_RTTY

defines the new mode ASCI, and specifies that QSOs in ASCI  should be credited as DXCC RTTY and WAZ RTTY QSOs.

The easiest way to create a custom Modes.txt file is by starting with a copy of  DefaultModes.txt and editing as required. Be sure to make your changes in Modes.txt as  DefaultModes.txt will be overwritten by the next DXKeeper release.

 

 

 

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