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ADIFLookup.exe Release Notes, IMPORTANT

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Download

The download comes in 2 pieces, the base install which includes a non-functional version of the program's exe and all the dlls and controls, and the latest version of the executable.
Once you have downloaded and installed the base install (which is a pretty big file), you only need to download the new executable for upgrades (unless directed otherwise in the Version Info.) The executable is a much smaller file.

Download base install

Download current exe (see most recent version below)

Software License available here.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

The Setup.exe program installs most of the files used by ADIFLookup in the C:\Program File\ADIFLookup directory by default. These files will not be shared with other programs, that means ADIFLookup should not break any existing program installation, and removing it should be easy (always go to Control Panel -> Add/Remove Programs).

Installation

Unzip the ADIFLookup-base.zip file in a temporary directory and run the Setup.exe program.
Unless you change the default settings, the program will install in C:\Program Files\ADIFLookup and create an entry in the Start menu.
If you select another directory, make a note of it.
Then download the ADIFLookup.exe file directly into the program's installation directory.
It will overwrite the ADIFLookup.exe file created by the main install.

Operation

  • First thing to do is to point the program to a valid ADIF file. Click File->Open and select the file you want to use.
    The file will not be overwritten.

    When you select a file, the program sets a name for the output file. If there is (are) one or more already, the program offers you to either overwrite the old file (it will overwrite "filename.out.adi"), or create a new file, then displays the name of the new file, which will be in the same directory as the input file.

  • The program has 3 modes of operation:
    Manual: Click on Next, the program processes one line at a time, you have to click the Next button for each contact. You can edit any field before clicking Next again.
    If you change the content of a field, a "Save Changes?" box pops up. You have to click it to save changes then you click Next.

    Auto: Click on Auto, the program processes the entire file. You cannot edit anything. If the program has a problem, it will stop and ask you to make a choice before resuming.
    If you also click on Full Auto in Preferences before selecting Auto, the program will not stop when having to make decisions (such as Grid and County when the call is portable), and will create a log file where you can find the problems the program encountered during processing.
    To stop Auto mode, click the "Stop" button. From that point, you can edit records one at a time using Next, or resume Auto mode with the "Auto" button.

    Direct: Enter a callsign in the Callsign box and press Enter. The program will query QRZ for that call sign's information. Not very useful outside of troubleshooting.

    I recommend you start the program as follows:

    1. Create a short (10 to 15 QSOs) ADIF file from your logging software. That will be sufficient to give you a good feel for the software.
    2. Start ADIFLookup
    3. Click File->Open then find the ADIF file you created in 1).
    4. Click Next. The first call sign in the ADIF file is loaded and queried from QRZ.com. When data comes back from the QRZ.com web site, the fields are populated.
    5. Keep clicking Next until the Done window opens. Then click File->Exit and look for the output file with a text editor. Verify the information is as you would expect. Then try to import the file into you logging program.
  • When in Manual mode, you can edit any of the NAME, ADDRESS, QSL_VIA, COUNTY or GRID fields before saving to the output file. Just edit the field(s) you want to change, click on Save Changes and then click Next.
    The QSL_VIA is not normally populated from QRZ, but you can do that manually if the QSL info is in the address field.

  • In order to minimize the load on QRZ.com's servers, I recommend that you use the software outside peak hours, which seems to correspond to evening hours in the US. I have noticed much faster response in the morning and past 10:00 PM US Central time.

  • Logger32 does not import 6-digit grid information which QRZ.COM occasionaly provides, but properly imports 4-digit grid information. ADIFLookup automatically strips the 6-digit grid info into a properly formatted 4-digit grid square information ready to import into Logger32.

  • The program saves the ADIF path to the registry, so the next time you run the program, it should point to the same file and directory.

  • When you select Debug in Preferences, the bottom window will display the HTML received from QRZ.com instead of QSO data. This is used for troubleshooting in Manual mode only (screen scrolls off immediately in Auto mode).

  • Portable calls: The program first looks for the entire call sign. If it is not found in the QRZ database, it then tries the home call.
    If the home call is found in the QRZ database, the home call is appended to the name in the name field.
    If the call is portable, not found in QRZ.com, but the home call is found, and there was county and/or grid information in QRZ.com, the program will prompt you if you want to save or discard the county and grid data.

  • Version 0.0.47 (and later) cache the result of QRZ queries, considerably speeding up the processing of logs that have multiple contacts with same stations. The cache data is saved to a file and reused the next time you run the program. The first time you run the program, you will have to tell the program where to put the cache file. I suggest either the C:\Program Files\ADIFLookup directory, or somewhere on your My Documents folder.

  • Version 0.1.2 introduces support for the GoList QSL Manager database. The database can be accessed automatically, when running the program normally, or it can be accessed directly (manually) through the "GoList" menu.

    The first time you use the GoList database, you will have to tell the program where the GOWIN32.DLL file is located. For the program to work, all the GoList provided files have to be in the same directory, which does not have to be the same as the ADIFLookup directory, even though this is recommended (this is the way I tested the program).

  • Version 0.3.2 introduces the XML Account mode. If you subscribe to the QRZ XML service, enter your login and password information using the Change QRZ Account Info menu. The XML access considerably speeds up the time to process a log, which is particularly helpful if you have large logs. When XML account information is not entered (or if it is expired), you can use the Sponsored mode (selected automatically when XML is not selected). This opens up a browser window showing the QRZ.com page while data is being retrieved.

    Program Options

    The program offers a number of options through the Preference and Error Log menus.

    Preference Menu

    • Load County: when selected, the program will add (or replace) county information in the output file.
    • Load Grid: when selected, this option will add (or replace) grid information in the output file.
    • Keep Name: when selected, this option will keep the NAME field in the input file, if present.
    • Keep Address: when selected, this option will keep the ADDRESS field in the input file, if present.
    • Full Auto (silent): when selected, this option will turn off all warnings when you click on Auto. It has no effect in Manual mode.
    • Load County+Grid even when /P: when selected, this option will let the program use county and/or grid information for the HOME call from QRZ. By default, this is turned off, since when portable, county and grid of the home call are probably wrong. It is only enabled when you select Full Auto.
    • Use GoList: If you have a GoList subscription, the program can use the GoList database to create/update the QSL_VIA field from the result of a GoList query.
    • Disable QRZ Lookup: Only enabled when you have selected Use GoList, if you only want to run the file through GoList and not QRZ.COM.
    • Add Custom Field: This allows creating a new ADIF Field (select from "COMMENT", "CONTEST_ID", "SIG", "SIG_INFO", or "QSLMSG" which are the only ADIF fields I believe can be used for this purpose) and pre-fill it with contest information for instance for all the records processed by the program.
    • Do not import GU, PR or VI: this option (selected by default), when selected, prevents these states from being inserted in the output file. They do not count as States for the purpose of WAS, and therefore Logger32 generates an error when importing that information.
    • Create Master.dta Import: When checked (checked by default), this option causes the program to create a master.txt file in the program directory with the list of worked callsigns. This file is ready to import in your master.dta file using a program such as MEdit.
    • Location of Cache File: this menu lets you select the location of the cache file.
    • Turn off Caching: when selected, this option forces the program to go to QRZ.com for each QSO, without looking in the cache first (for test purposes). Please note that the cache is always updated, even if it is not used to update the output file.
    • Clear Cache File: This clears the cache file, in case you want to start fresh. Please note that if you believe the cache may have wrong data in it, you can always temporarily turn caching off.
    • Show Browser Button: The Browser button allows you to quickly open a browser window on the QRZ.CON detailled view page for the callsign currently displayed.
         IMPORTANT: the browser window that opens is MS Internet Explorer technology, with its own security and pop-up issues.
    • Keep Output Window Small: When processing large number of QSOs, the output window gets very large and that slows the program. It can even cause the program to crash if you are running Windows 95/98/Me. Use this flag to prevent crashing and make the program run faster.
    • Debug Mode: this selection causes the program to open more message boxes when an abnormal situation occurs.
      The most notable effect is to also display the HTML code received from QRZ.com in the scrolling window, instead of the output data.
      It is intended for troubleshooting and is more useful to me (KO4BB) than to the users.

    Error Log menu

    The Error Log is created when the program is operated in Full Auto mode. The log contains information about problem(s) the program encoutered and how the problem was resolved. I strongly suggest you create an error log and look at it if you use the Full Auto mode.
    • Log Call Not Found: when selected, this option will cause the program to create an entry on the Error Log each time a call sign is not found on QRZ.com.
    • Log Existing Fields: when selected, this option causes the program to create an entry in the Error Log each time there are NAME, ADDRESS, COUNTY or GRID fields in the input file that are overwritten by data from QRZ.com.
    • Log Home Call In Adif: when selected, this option causes the program to create an entry in the Error Log each time a portable call is not found, but the home call is found on QRZ.com, and the ADDRESS, COUNTY and/or GRID info from the home call is placed in the output file.

    Other notes

  • As currently designed, in Sponsored mode, the program has to extract the data from an HTML page. If QRZ changes the HTML formatting, the program won't work and will probably insert garbage in the output ADIF file. Check this site regularly for new versions if you notice this kind of problem, and if I do not have a version that works, send me an email.
  • Since this program was designed as an interface with Logger32, for the time being, support is via e-mail, and information about new releases and bugs is posted on the Logger32 group at http://groups.yahoo.com/hamlogger.
  • I wrote this program for me and made it available because I saw postings telling me I was not the only who wanted that functionality. However, you the users are the beta team, so make sure you understand this is a work in progress. I always welcome constructive criticism.
  • If you use this program regularly, I strongly suggest you make a donation to QRZ.COM or purchase their CDROM to support their operation. This is a wonderful service that we all depend on and it is up to us to make sure it stays up. I have no financial interest in QRZ.COM, but like many hams I depend on their continued operation in the pursuit of my hobby, so I have and will continue to support it.

    Version information

    Version: 0.3.4 (November 11, 2009)
    * Attempt at fixing an error at program startup that I do not see here... Let me know if it fixes the problem, at a minimum, the program should no longer crash.

    Version: 0.3.3 (October 18, 2009)
    * Bug Fixes, you need this update!!!

    Version: 0.3.2 (September 27, 2009)
    * Added Sponsored mode and XML Subscription mode

    Version: 0.2.7 (August 30, 2009)
    * Changed QRZ Query to http://www.qrz.com/db/callsign

    Version 0.2.6 (July 7, 2009)
    * More bug fixes

    Version 0.2.4 (April 5, 2009)
    * Bug fixes

    Version 0.2.3 (April 2, 2009)
    * New parsing routine to accomodate QRZ.com new html format. There is a new Base install also, following a change by Microsoft to Internet Explorer that broke the browser functions. However, if the program works and you just want to upgrade, it should be sufficient to download just the exe.

    Version 0.2.2 (Nov 11, 2007)
    * Improved feedback when QRZ.com inaccessible, small improvements to menus and error handling.

    Version 0.2.0 (Oct 2, 2007)
    * New parsing routine to accomodate QRZ.com new html format

    Version 0.1.10 (Feb 8, 2005)
    * Fixed a problem with portable calls using WriteLog ADIF files (George AB0RX)

    Version 0.1.9 (Jan 24, 2005)
    * Added Master.txt output (list of call signs to be imported into master.dta) (idea from Bill W6WRT)

    Version 0.1.8 (Dec 24, 2004)
    * Maintenance release

    Version 0.1.7 (Dec 24, 2004)
    * Added option to NOT put GU, PR or VI as STATE (they do not count for WAS) This option is selected by default (Ben, WB2RHM)
    * Fixed a problem with Custom Fields (Ben, WB2RHM)
    * Fixed a few problems with the way the QRZ.COM option works when GoList is selected

    Version 0.1.6 (Dec 23, 2004)
    * Minor bug fixes (including more elegant processing of ADIF header) causing processing to stop early with some ADIF files.
    * Added QSLMSG to list of possible ADIF Custom Fields to add to all QSO's (Ben, WB2RHM)
    * Main Window can be minimized.
    * Notes:

    • The version uploaded Nov 8 was erroneously listed as being 0.1.6, while in fact the exe was 0.1.5.
    • There is a new base package that includes the GoList demo files. If you are upgrading from 0.1.2 through 0.1.5, you only need the current exe. If you have an older version, you need to install the new base package.

    Version 0.1.5 (Nov 8, 2004)
    * Fixed a bug preventing from processing more than 32768 QSO's
    * When using GoList in full auto mode, now produces an ADIF file of those stations that have multiple managers for manual processing (manager can't be selected automatically because GoList format, when there are multiple managers, is inconsistent.)

    Version 0.1.4 (Nov 6, 2004)
    * Fixed GoList when multiple managers are returned (thanks Art, RX9TX)

    Version 0.1.2 (Nov 6, 2004)
    * Added support for GoList (Old GoList database provided for demonstration purposes) (Art, RX9TX)
    * Added Open Browser button to quickly check the actual QRZ.COM web page of a station
    * The     Current exe file is actually a zipped archive with the GoList database and access dll. Unzip in your ADIFLookup directory.

    Version 0.0.59 (July 29, 2004)
    * Added Custom Field in the Preferences menu, allowing to enter contest info or other data.

    Version 0.0.56 (July 28, 2004)
    * Fixed header issue when importing ADIF file generated by Logger32 beta 5 (Peter, OE3EPW)

    Version 0.0.55 (March 1, 2004)
    * Fixed long delay when last used ADIF file was saved on network drive, and network drive was no longer available.

    Version 0.0.54 (Feb 26, 2004)
    * Now works with WriteLog produced ADIF files (Joe, K0BX)

    Version 0.0.53 (Feb 18, 2004)
    * Removed space in county field for full ADIF compliance (Craig, K0CF)

    Version 0.0.52 (Feb 1, 2004)
    * Keep Name menu selection now works (request from John, VK4CEJ).
    * Removed duplicate call signs from cache.
    * Added Clear Cache menu selection.
    * Various UI clean-ups.

    Version 0.0.49 (Nov 23, 2003)
    * Fixed CNTY field by adding State.
    * Fixed run-time error 5.
    * Fixed run-time error 62.
    * Added STATE field when available.
    * Significantly improved error handling and recovery.
    * The cache is now saved to a file, so it is persistent across multiple instances of the program.
    * Display number of QRZ queries (allows to determine the cache hit rate :-)
    * The base install now contains a non-functional exe, forcing to download the latest exe.

    Version 0.0.46 (Nov 16, 2003)
    * Fixed Grid field name in ADIF that made it not import (GRIDSQUARE instead of GRID)
    * Fixed County field name in ADIF that made it not import (CNTY instead of COUNTY)
    * Fixed the content of the CNTY field which was missing the state's 2 letter abbreviation (must be "ST, County" instead of just "County")
    * Fixed NAME field which also sometimes would not be in the output file.
    * You can now switch from Auto to Manual and back while processing a log and it mostly works
    * Sometimes the last record was lost, that should be also fixed.
    * QRZ query results are cached, so that the program queries QRZ only once for a given call to save bandwidth and increase speed.
    * Use Microsoft's Common Dialog for File->Open
    * Improved error handling and recovery.

    Version 0.0.44 (Nov 9, 2003)
    * Program renamed ADIFLookup to reflect upcoming move to reduce dependency on QRZ.com databases.
    * Revision is now from VB version info (jumped from 0.0.5 to 0.0.44)
    * Complete distribution available, includes all controls and dll's.
    * More preferences:
       - Full Auto: does not ask any question, tries to make reasonable choices for you (I call it the Microsoft mode)
       - Keep County when /P: only active in Full Auto: keep the county and/or grid info from home call when call sign is portable
       - In Full Auto, a log file is created to show problems, a View Log function is accessible from the Help menu

    Version 0.0.5 (Nov 8, 2003)
    * Hopefully fixed Error 580 (due to no registry entry on first run)

    Version 0.0.4 (Nov 7, 2003)
    * More bug fixes
    * The program deals more elegantly with portable calls, and lets you more easily edit data before it is saved.
    * Windows are a little smaller to better fit 800 x 600 displays.
    * Auto mode can be interrupted with Stop button.
    * Software packaged in a CAB file with all necessary controls, dlls and setup program

    Version 0.0.3 (Nov 6, 2003)
    * Many bug fixes
    * Auto mode now works
    * Optionally download County and Grid data from QRZ.com

    Version 0.0.2 (Nov 3, 2003)
    * Fixed error 380 at start up when registry key not present and problems on Win95/98

    Version 0.0.1 (Nov 2, 2003)
    * Initial release

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    Last Updated:  November 17 2009 21:02:32