Configuring DXKeeper is primarily accomplished via the Configuration window and thne QSL Configuration windows. Defining bands and defining or eliminating modes, however, are accomplished by editing files.
DXKeeper's Configuration window presents 9 tabs:
the General tab enables you to preset each new QSO's 'QSL Requested" checkbox, indicate whether multiple QSOs should be confirmed on each QSL card or label, and customize the operation of the Add Needed and Add Requested functions
the QSL Cards tab enables you to specify the dimensions of QSL cards and the information to be printed on each card
the QSL Labels tab enables you to specify the dimensions of QSL labels
the Envelopes tab enables you to specify the layout of your envelopes, your return address, and whether or not an Airmail designator is to be printed
the Address Labels tab enables you to specify the dimensions of address labels
the QSL Msgs tab enables you to specify up to 8 standard QSL messages
the eQSL tab enables you to specify your eQSL.cc username and password, and control synchronization between DXKeeper and eQSL.cc
the LoTW tab enables you to specify your LotW username and password, specify uploading parameters, and control synchronization between DXKeeper and LotW
the Printer tab enables you to select the printer on which QSLs will be printed
Preset 'QSL Requested' checkbox |
When checked, the Capture window's QSL Requested checkbox will be set for each new QSO |
Confirm multiple QSOs per QSL |
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Add Needed requests all with same call | when checked, the Add Needed function will request confirmation for all unconfirmed QSOs with a station for which there's a QSO whose confirmation is needed |
Add Needed requests all with same mgr | when checked, the Add Needed function will request confirmation for all unconfirmed QSOs having a QSL manager from whom confirmation of a QSO requiring confirmation will be sought |
Add Requested no dup band-modes | when checked, the Add Requested function won't generate a QSL Queue entry unless doing so would give the receiving station a new confirmed band or mode, or unless the QSL Via panel is set to LotW or eQSL.cc |
The Page Layout panel lets you specify whether DXKeeper prints
one QSL card per page aligned on the printer's right-side paper guide
one QSL card per page aligned on the printer's left-side paper guide
four QSL cards per page as shown in this layout:
If you choose 4 QSL cards per page, guides that make it easier to separate the cards will be printed if you check the Page Layout panel's print separation guides box.
If you check the print grid lines box, the generated QSL cards will include grid lines that separate the rows and columns of QSO information, as shown in the above layout.
This tab's Frequency panel allows you to specify whether generated QSL cards show a QSO's frequency or its band.
This tab's Card Dimensions panel allows you to specify the geometry of each card:
Width | the width of each QSL card in inches or millimeters as specified by the Inches and Millimeters selectors |
Height |
the height of each QSL card in inches or millimeters as specified by the Inches and Millimeters selectors |
Side border | the width of the left and right side border of each QSL card in inches or millimeters as specified by the Inches and Millimeters selectors |
Top border | the width of the top border of each QSL card in inches or millimeters as specified by the Inches and Millimeters selectors |
Additional panels on this tab provide control of information printed on QSL cards generated by DXKeeper. You can individually specify the font name, font metrics (bold, italic), and font color of the callsign, confirmation statement, and information positioned in each corner of the card. Double-clicking a font name, font size, or font color control displays a dialog box that facilitates selection of the desired parameters.
If you are printing QSL cards on blank cardstock, check the Operator Callsign Display box so that DXKeeper will print your callsign at the top-center of each card. Note that the callsign printed is taken from the QSO's Op field, not the from the Operator textbox in the General panel on the Configuration window's General tab; this allows you to operate with multiple callsigns within the same log -- e.g. AA6YQ and AA6YQ/1 -- and print the correct callsign on each QSO.
If you are printing QSL cards on cardstock preprinted with your callsign, then uncheck the Operator Callsign Display box.
If you want the contents of the QSO's Via item to be appended to the confirmation line if those contents are a valid callsign, check the Confirmation panel's Include QSL Manager box.
Information from the following QSL Information fields is printed on every QSL card using the specified font parameters and color:
Upper Left Text |
up to 4 lines of text positioned in the card's upper left corner |
Upper Right Text |
up to 4 lines of text positioned in the card's upper right corner |
Lower Left Text |
up to 1 lines of text positioned in the card's lower left corner |
Lower Right Text |
up to 1 lines of text positioned in the card's lower right corner |
Typically, these QSL Information fields are used to print information about your QTH -- your city, county, state, grid-square, etc. If you are printing QSL cards on cardstock preprinted with your QTH information, then simply leave the QSL Information fields blank. If you always operate from the same place, then you can directly enter your QTH information. But if you operate from multiple locations and want your QSL cards to accurately indicate the QTH from which you made the QSO, then you must
By using substitution commands in the QSL Information fields, you can establish one QSL card style that will correctly print QSL cards for QSOs made from a variety of locations. Each substitution command found in a QSL Information field is replaced by the appropriate information for the QTH from which the current QSO was made, as shown in the following table:
Command |
Replacement |
<opname> | your name (associated with the QTH) |
<email> | your email address (associated with the QTH) |
<rig> | your station equipment (associated with the QTH) |
<streetaddress> |
the QTH's street address |
<city> |
the QTH's city |
<county> |
the QTH's county |
<state> |
the QTH's state |
<postalcode> |
the QTH's postal code |
<country> |
the QTH's country |
<latitude> |
the QTH's latitude |
<longitude> |
the QTH's longitude |
<grid> |
if the QTH's grid square is specified, then the replacement is the word "grid:" followed by the specified grid square; otherwise, the replacement is empty |
<iota> |
if the QTH's Iota designator is specified, then the replacement is the specified Iota designator; otherwise, the replacement is empty |
<cq> |
the QTH's CQ zone |
<itu> |
the QTH's ITU zone |
<txpower> | your transmitter's power |
<callsign> | the callsign of the station specified in the QSO |
<via> |
if the QSO specifies a QSL manager, then the replacement is the word "via" followed by the QSL manager's callsign; otherwise, the replacement is empty |
<destination> | the QSL manager's callsign if one is specified, otherwise the callsign of the station specified in the QSO |
<propmode> | if the QSO specifies a propagation mode, then the replacement is the word "prop: " followed by the propagation mode; otherwise, the replacement is empty |
<satname> | if the QSO specifies a satellite, then the replacement is the word "sat: " followed by the satellite name; otherwise, the replacement is empty |
<satmode> | if the QSO specifies a satellite, then the replacement is the phrase "sat mode: " followed by the satellite mode; otherwise, the replacement is empty |
<rxfreq> | if the QSO specifies a satellite, then the replacement is the phrase "rx freq: " followed by the receive frequency; otherwise, the replacement is empty |
<rxband> | if the QSO specifies a satellite, then the replacement is the phrase "rx band: " followed by the receive band; otherwise, the replacement is empty |
<dxccentity> | the station's DXCC entity |
<name> | the station's operator's name |
<qth> | the station's QTH |
<contestid> | the contest identifier |
<stx> | the transmit serial number or exchange logged with the QSO |
<srx> | the receive serial number or exchange logged with the QSO |
The substitution command <via> lets you include contents of the QSO's Via item on the QSL card. if the QSO's Via item is specified, then the replacement is the word "via:" followed by the contents of the Via item; otherwise, the replacement is empty. The <propmode> and <satname> fields work in a similar fashion. The <satemode>, <rxfreq>, and <rxband> commands only produce replacements if the QSO specifies a satellite name.
Each QSL label is composed of a confirmation line and a table with a header row and one row for each confirmed QSO. You can individually control the font name, font metrics (bold, italic), and font color of each of these elements. Double-clicking a font name, font size, or font color control displays a dialog box that facilitates selection of the desired parameters.
The following settings are used to specify the geometry of the QSL labels you're using.
Label model # | manufacturer's model number for the label in use (serves as a reminder to the user) |
Labels per columns |
the number of labels in each column |
Row 1 offset |
distance from the top edge of the label sheet to the top of the first row of label, in inches or millimeters as specified by the Units panel |
Row height |
distance from the top edge of the one row of labels to the top edge of the next row of label, in inches or millimeters as specified by the Units panel |
Column 1 offset |
distance from the left edge of the label sheet to the left edge of the first label column, in inches or millimeters as specified by the Units panel |
Column 2 offset |
distance from the left edge of the label sheet to the left edge of the second label column, in inches or millimeters as specified by the Units panel; if 0, only 1 column of labels per page are printed |
Column 3 offset |
distance from the left edge of the label sheet to the left edge of the third label column, in inches or millimeters as specified by the Units panel; if 0, only 2 columns of labels per page are printed |
Label width |
the width of each label, in inches or millimeters as specified by the Units panel |
Include QSL Mgr in confirmation | When checked, the contents of the QSO's Via item will be appended to the confirmation line if the contents are a valid callsign (2-column labels only) |
Include QSL Mgr & Pse/Tnx QSL |
When checked places the following information along
the bottom margin of each 3-wide label using the font metrics specified
in the Bottom Line panel:
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The following settings are used to specify the geometry of the envelopes to be addressed, and the location of the address on the envelope, and the return address to be printed.
Return address |
your return address (up to 5 lines) |
Top margin |
distance from the printer's top of page to the top edge of the envelope, in inches |
Left margin |
distance from the printer's left edge to the left edge of the envelope, in inches |
Address top offset |
distance from the top edge of the envelope to the first address line, in inches |
Address left offset |
distance from the left edge of the envelope to the left edge of the address, in inches |
Airmail Indicator |
check to have "Airmail, Par Avion" printed on each envelope |
Printer orientation |
set to "portrait" or "landscape" as required to reliably print envelopes on your printer |
Print DX address in upper case | check to print the DX address in upper case |
If you always operate from the same place, then you can directly enter your return address; even if you operate from multiple locations, you may want all QSLs returned to the same address. But if you operate from multiple locations and want QSL cards returned to the location from which you operated, you must
By using the following substitution commands in the return address field, you can establish one return address specification that will correctly print envelopes whose return addresses are specified by the operating location. Each substitution command found in a return address field is replaced by the appropriate information for the QTH from which the current QSO was made, as shown in the following table:
Command |
Replacement |
<streetaddress> |
the QTH's street address |
<city> |
the QTH's city |
<county> |
the QTH's county |
<state> |
the QTH's state |
<postalcode> |
the QTH's postal code |
<country> |
the QTH's country |
The following settings are used to specify the geometry of the address labels you're using.
Label model # | manufacturer's model number for the label in use (serves as a reminder to the user) |
Labels per columns |
the number of labels in each column |
Row 1 offset |
distance from the top edge of the label sheet to the top of the first row of label, in inches or millimeters as specified by the Units panel |
Row height |
distance from the top edge of the one row of labels to the top edge of the next row of label, in inches or millimeters as specified by the Units panel |
Column 1 offset |
distance from the left edge of the label sheet to the left edge of the first label column, in inches or millimeters as specified by the Units panel |
Column 2 offset |
distance from the left edge of the label sheet to the left edge of the second label column, in inches or millimeters as specified by the Units panel; if 0, only 1 column of labels per page are printed |
Column 3 offset |
distance from the left edge of the label sheet to the left edge of the third label column, in inches or millimeters as specified by the Units panel; if 0, only 2 columns of labels per page are printed |
Label width |
the width of each label, in inches or millimeters as specified by the Units panel |
Print DX address in upper case | check to print the DX address in upper case |
This tab provides 8 standard QSL messages, any one of which can be selected as the default QSL message via the General tab's QSL msg selector. You can also chose from among these messages using the Capture window's QSL msg selector, and make modifications there. Double-clicking one of these messages invokes a Field editor. A QSL message's label will be highlighted in red if the maximum length is exceeded).
You can use substitution commands in QSL messages to include information determined by your current location.
Username |
your eQSL.cc username |
Password |
your eQSL.cc password |
Maximum time difference... | if a downloaded QSL in consistent with a QSO's callsign, band, and mode, this parameters specifies the maximum difference in minutes between the QSL's begin time and the QSO's begin time for the QSL to be deemed a match for the QSO |
Upload an eQSL... |
when checked, clicking the Capture window's Log button automatically uploads an eQSL (eliminating the need to depress the Ctrl key each time) |
Initialize eQSL Sent to 'R'... |
when checked, logging a QSO via the Main or Capture windows, or importing a QSO records the eQSL Sent field as 'R' (for requested) |
Don't upload QSOs whose operator callsign isn't the specified Username | when checked, only QSOs whose operator callsign matches the eQSL.cc Username will be uploaded to eQSL.cc by the Upload to eQSL.cc function |
Prompt the user to specify a file containing the already-downloaded contents of an eQSL.cc Inbox when a Sync eQSL.cc QSLs operation is performed | when checked, the Sync eQSL.cc QSLs operation prompts you to specify a file containing the contents of an eQSL.cc Inbox that you have already downloaded |
Username |
your LotW username |
Password |
your LotW password (use the web account password) |
Initialize LotW Sent to 'R'... | when checked, logging a QSO via the Main or Capture windows, or importing a QSO records the LotW Sent field as 'R' (for requested) |
Set outgoing card/label QSL? to "thanks!"... | when checked, an outgoing QSL card or label's QSL? field will be set to "thanks!" if the QSO is already confirmed in LotW |
PC has no internet connection (prompt operator to manually query LotW) | when checked, DXKeeper will prompt you to manually upload a signed .TQ8 file, and to manually query LotW and place the query results in a designated file; this option should only be selected when your PC does not have a direct connection to the internet |
Handling of LotW QSL detail inconsistencies |
this setting controls the resolution of inconsistencies between a downloaded LotW QSL and its matching logged QSO in the country code, CQ, ITU, Gridsquare, Iota, State, and/or County fields: |
Limit Add and Sync operations to this operator callsign |
When this setting specifies a callsign, and QSL Via is set to LotW,
When this setting is empty, the Sync LotW QSOs and Sync LotW QSLs operations download and synchronize all QSOs and QSLs in your LotW account, respectively
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Report unmatched QSOs or QSLs as errors |
when checked,
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Exclude operator callsign when matching downloaded QSOs & QSLs to logged QSOs |
when checked,
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Full pathname of TQSL.exe |
specify the location of the LotW application TQSL on your PC's hard drive
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TQSL station location |
Select the TQSL
station location to be used associated with the uploaded QSOs; if no
station location is selected, TQSL
will ask you to select one when it invoked by DXKeeper during the LotW
upload
process.
If you add, modify, or delete a station location in TQSL, click the Update button to update the station location selector. |
Name |
the name of the printer on which QSLs will be printed |
Paper Size |
select the printer paper size |
Paper Source | select the printer paper source |
Print Quality |
select the desired print quality |