BMUtil

A Bands and Modes Utility for DXKeeper

Author K5FR

DXKeeper's automation of the QSL Card/Label generation process assumes that the operator wants to work every DXCC entity on some or all bands, in some or all modes; it cannot be configured to automatically generate QSL Cards or Labels for the operator seeking to work every DXCC entity on combinations of bands and modes, e.g. "I want to work every DXCC entity on 20m SSB, 20m CW, and 20m RTTY". The Bands and Modes Utility (BMUtil) now provides this capability.

Program Overview

• BMUtil creates a list of QSO candidates internally using the following rules:
  • If the QSL Sent and QSL Received fields are empty, then
  • For each candidate QSO, perform a Progress table lookup and see if that band and mode are needed as defined by a "W" (worked).
  • If Yes, mark the last QSO worked with an "R" in the QSL Rcvd field (necessary for DXKeeper's internal logic).
  • Add the QSO to DXKeeper's QSL queue

• Only the last QSO for a given Band & Mode will be added. Choosing the last QSO logic was selected because there is more of a chance to get a card for a recent QSO than an old one.

• You can always mark the QSO's by hand, in DXKeeper, if this logic won't work for you.

Installation Instructions

• There are two ways to install BMUtil from this web site. Either method will produce the same results. After pressing the download button;
  • Select Run from the File Download dialog box, to install the program and not save the file, then follow the prompts (recommended method).
  • Select Save from the File Download dialog box, to save the installation file to your hard drive
    • Select your desk top or an accessible directory to save the file to and press save (desk top recommended).
    • After the file downloads, navigate to the directory the BMUtil.msi file was downloaded to.
    • Double-click the BMUtil.msi icon to start the install process or right-click the BMUtil.msi icon, then select Install from the menu.
    • Follow the instructions in the installer (the defaults are recommended).
• Under normal circumstances there is really no reason to save the file. The latest should always be available on the web site.

        Download file (use for DXK 5.x).

        Download file (use for DXK 6.x).

Startup instructions

• Open DXKeeper (DXKeeper must be installed and running for BMUtil to function).
• Backup your database (until you are familiar with BMUtil's operation).
• From your desk top select the BMUtil icon or go to the Windows Start button and navigate to the Programs area, select the BMUtil folder then select BMUtil.
• The opening screen should be displayed.

• The program will select the last database name that DXKeeper used and assume you want to open it. If this is not the database you want to use, double-click the database window and select the one you prefer. Note that any database used must be in DXKeeper format with an .mdb extent to work with BMUtil.

• BMUtil will detect DXKeeper's status and display it in the title bar.

• If DXKeeper's database is a different name than the one BMUtil is using,  there will be a warning message issued asking if you want to proceed. It will allow a different database to be used, but this should be avoided as confusion could result.

• Pressing  the tab key will set the database and display the next screen.

• A counter directly above the database window keeps you informed of how many QSOs are loaded in DXKeeper's QSL queue at any given time.

• Select an action to be performed.

  • Add will place candidate QSOs into DXKeeper's QSL queue.
  • Refresh is used to reset the QSO counter at the top of the form. This is necessary if the QSL queue entries are cleared from DXKeeper as BMUtil has no way to detect this.
  • Log Clean is used to clean the trash from the QSL Sent and QSL Rcvd fields, leaving only legitimate field codes for these two fields.

    Optionally you may also set the following parameters if needed.

    • If you want to specify a date range for the QSOs, set the From and To fields to the appropriate values. Please note that the To date will automatically default to today's date, but may be set to any legitimate DXKeeper date.
    • If you want to include all operators in this log, check the Incl All Ops check box.  If this box is not checked (the default) then only the Call Sign specified in DXKeeper will be used. This option is primarily for those of us that have changed calls, but still live within 25 miles of the original QTH thus allowing more than one call per log.
    • If you want to exclude all QSOs that have an address in the QSO Address field check the No Address check box.  If this box is not checked (the default) then you will get all QSOs regardless of address status. This option is primarily for those who want to print their Bureau cards separately from the Direct QSL cards.

Note: See the on-Line help file for more information about using this utility. See the Revision Log here for a history of changes.
 

Send me an email and let me know if you have problems or suggestions for making BMUtil better.

73,

Steve - K5FR