[MacLoggerContest] MacLoggerDX Contest panel

[Jonathan G0DVJ]

Hi Rich, David, Don et al. 

On 11 Nov 2009, at 16:48, Rich Seifert wrote:


> At 10:03 AM -0500 11/1/09, Don Agro wrote:

>> We have had a few requests for changes to the Contest Panel and would like to invite you to share your experiences/frustrations with the Contest Panel and Contest Helper in actual contests.

>> Any suggestions/complaints regarding the Contest panel of the Contest Helper are welcome.

> 

> OK, here's what I think is probably my biggest "wish" with respect to MLDX contesting. If there was a way for users to create a contest template, the application would naturally grow to support a myriad of contests, large and small.


Agreed


> The "Template Editor" would have to be relatively simple to use, i.e., more like a scripting language than writing code. The user should be able to define at least three things:

> 

> -The fields in the contest exchange (syntax)

> 

> -The range of valid values (and defaults) for each of those fields (i.e., context checking), and

> 

> -How pressing certain keys (e.g., space, Return, Tab) cause the cursor to navigate around the fields.


Agreed ... I have included some suggestion for the latter in (2) below.


> At some point, though, you have to draw the line and say "this is not a full-blown contest logger; if you want all that stuff, then this isn't the program for you. This is why I regard the "templating" as a much higher value-item than the "real-time scores."


Agreed!   

But if templating is a step too far, then I have some other suggestions ... 

1. Simplify the Contest Panel.
    -  remove all generally not needed fields for most contest exchanges
    -  order the fields according to sent and received then other received 
    -  keep Freq and Mode reminders on screen but out of the way of data entered
    -  remove date and time because it is already displayed above the contest panel 
    -  Grid only appears on the contest panel if a new checkbox in Contest Prefs is checked.  (This is for VHF & up contesters).
    -  RSTS & RSTR are both default populated as 599 (if mode is CW) or 59 (if mode is phone). Sent sn is maintained as self-incrementing beginning at 001 (not zero) and displaying leading zeros as 3 figure serials.

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2. Implement specific TAB, SPACE and return actions for field navigation for the contest panel:
    -  TAB moves between all displayed fields in order from left top to right bottom.
    -  SPACE moves directly from Call field to Rcvd sn field then to Rcvd field (then to Grid if included) and then back to Call and so on.
    -  Return behaves like SPACE unless all fields are non-empty in which case the QSO is logged and Call, Rcvd sn and Rcvd fields are cleared ready for the next QSO.
    -  No lookups are done.
    -  Shift-TAB continues to move back one field at a time as at present.

3. Provide an Auto Map Rcvd field to other MLDX field preference:
    -  The drop down selection should include CQ Zone, ITU Zone, Power, First name, State, IOTA.
i.e. the Rcvd field contents get auto-copied to the selected field for each contact.  The user would set this as appropriate before the contest so for CQWW they would set CQ zone, for IOTA would set IOTA, etc.
    -  Additional preferences should allow the most common configurations to be varied ... (not shown on mockup below):
	-  Exclude serial numbers
	-  Exclude RS(T) reports

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4.  Miscellaneous:
    -  Display the Sent sn at least double size (not shown in mockup above)
    -  If Dupe (as defined in contest helper) is found as typing the call in, turn text or background of the Call field RED.
    

Apologies if any of this is not well explained ... its nearly 2am as I find time to write this over here!

73,
Jonathan G0DVJ
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