Logbooks and Logbook Management

Logbooks

If you are a multi-operator family, QSL Manager or maintain your logbooks by year or specific contests, then ProLog's thirty-six logbooks will be appreciated. Each logbook may be assigned a unique name or callsign up to twelve characters in length. Each logbook maintains its own award structure and user specific configuration settings. Switching between logbooks is a snap using the ProLog logbook menu.

Contest Logging

For the casual contester, Prolog's contest mode consecutively serializes each contact while also providing fields for the exchange information. If you are a really serious contester, you are most likely using one of the popular contest programs (CT, NA, TR, et al.). All of these programs support the exportation of their log files using the ADIF format standard. ProLog fully supports the ADIF standard so importation of those contest logs into a ProLog logbook is easily accomplished. ProLog however, does far more then just import your contest logs, it interrogates each contest contact and when possible, provides missing award criteria from its own internal database including DXCC, CQZ, ITUZ, and WAC information. This methodology ensures that you will get the maximum award benefit from each contest contact.

Logbook Conversion

 If you are using computerized logging, and your current logging program supports the exportation of ADIF (Amateur Data Interchange Format) files, you can use ProLog's built-in ADIF import module to conveniently convert your existing logbook(s) to ProLog format. ProLog also provides an ADIF exportation module permitting you to readily transport your logbook data between ProLog and other platforms. 

If your current logging program does not support ADIF exportation, all is not lost. Datamatrix can provide, at a very reasonable cost, a service that will convert most logbook files, including Excel files, over to ADIF format. If desired, please mention your need for this service when ordering your ProLog Logging System.

Cross-Logbook Merging

ProLog permits you to merge the contents of one logbook into another. You can choose to transfer all of the contacts or selectively transfer only those contacts that meet a filter criteria that you establish. One of the handiest filters is the award transfer filter. While working a contest is always fun, most times you will end up with hundreds or even thousands of contacts that you may not want to merge into your main logbook. When you activate ProLog's Award Transfer Filter only those contacts that will upgrade your award standings will be merged into your main logbook. For example, you work the DXCC contest and you have a contest logbook of 500 QSO's. Of those, only a few may represent newly worked DXCC entities or a new band or mode for a previously worked entity. With the Award Transfer Filter on, only those contacts that improve your award standings will be merged into your main logbook including DXCC Prefixes, CQ Zones, ITU Zones, States and Continents. A real time-saver!

More Logging Features

ProLog allows you to select one of three logging modes; AUTO for minimum keystroke entry, MANUAL for entering existing paper-log contacts and CONTEST mode for consecutive contact serialization and exchange information.

ProLog keeps track of your previous contacts with a given station. Whenever you enter a callsign, you will be notified by a "Worked" message and a user activated alert tone if the station has been previously worked.  Clicking on the "Worked" message will display a date-ordered list of all your past contacts with that station or, if you wish, you can direct ProLog to display the duped contact list automatically. With the list displayed, double-clicking any contact in the list will display the complete contact information in a separate logging form.

Category Definitions

ProLog provides 32 Category definitions so you can track various topic associations with each of your contacts. For example, you might want to mark those contacts with individuals that share your interest in Radio Control Aircraft; simply assign that definition to one of the categories, then select it into the logging form before you save the contact to the database. Another application for categories is if you use multiple station setups (Multiple Antennas, Amplifiers, Transceivers etc.) assign different station categories so you can instantly tell what equipment configuration was used to make a given contact. ProLog permits you to sort your logbook by these Category Definitions, so compiling a list of contacts relating to a  specific category is a breeze.

QSL Label Tag

Also provided is a special "Label" tag for QSL purposes. The "Label" tag is very useful for designating those contacts that you want to QSL. For example, you make contact and you are told by the station to QSL through the bureau. Click on the "B" radiobutton and then click in the "Label" checkbox. Follow this methodology with each contact that you intend to QSL using whatever routing method you intend to use (D, B or M). When the time comes to print QSL labels, use the "Index by Tag/Status" search function and click in the "QSO's to be QSL'd" checkbox and then click the "Begin" pushbutton. The search operation will create a list file comprised of stations that are to be QSL'd through the (B)ureau, (D)irect or through a (M)anager. This file can then be used to batch process the printing of your QSL labels. When the label print procedure has completed, you will be given the option of clearing the "Label" tag on those QSO's that have been processed.


QRP Contacts

If you are a QRP'er, good news!  Prolog provides the ability to specify transmission power levels in Milliwatts. This is easily done simply by entering the power then checking the "mw" checkbox in the logging form. The "mw" checkbox is also included in Prolog's powerful sort filter so you can easily generate lists of contacts made with QRP transmission levels. You can even request lists of contacts made at specific power levels. For example, enter "100" in the "Power" entry field of the logging form, invoke the sort filter, check the "mw" box in the sort filter menu, click "Begin" and a list of all your QRP contacts worked at 100mw will be generated and displayed.

Weights and Measures

The conveyance of measurements of Temperature, Weight, Length and Distance are best understood when expressed in units that are familiar to the DX operator. ProLog makes this task as simple as selecting the conversion type (US to Metric or Metric to US) entering the value to be converted, and clicking to display the result. The weights and conversion menu is shown below.

Common Path Information

When you want to work some DX,  you point the beam in the general direction of the geographical area of interest and put out the "CQ".  Of course, as your signal travels outward, it is reaching a number of different countries in varying signal strengths based on the time of day, and the signal path. ProLog's Common Bearing feature displays a list of the countries that will potentially copy your signal when your beam is pointed in a given direction. The list encompasses both short and long path headings and the bearin differential can be varied to meet your particular antenna and needs. The Common bearing window below shows what countries could potentially be contacted with maximum signal strength from New Mexico when my beam is at a 45 degree heading, plus and minus 5 degrees. Neat!

MixW/Digipan Data Interface

If you are using either MixW or Digipan for your digital mode operations, the convenience of the ProLog data interface to these programs is certain to please.  First launch either MixW/Digipan, next launch ProLog then, using ProLog's Option menu, request that ProLog establish a data link to either program. Finally, direct that ProLog automatically save each QSO that you log within the linked program. Now, click back into the MixW/Digipan program and begin to log your Digital Mode contacts. Each time you save a contact using MixW/Digipan, the contact information will appear in the ProLog logging form. ProLog will then update all of your award status information and then automatically save the contact to the ProLog logbook database; you never have to leave the MixW or Digipan environment. Continue to work and log contacts and with each saved QSO, ProLog will continue to update your logbook in the ProLog database. 

Logbook Of The World (LoTW) Support

ProLog fully supports the ARRL sponsored LoTW project. Simply export your logbook file from Prolog, then import the resultant file into the ARRL's Trusted QSL Software, then upload the file to the LoTW website. The ProLog Logging Form provides a separate set of checkboxes and radiobuttons to indicate your LoTW Status. Status is broken down into contacts that have been uploaded, contacts that have been successfully cross referenced and contacts that you have chosen to confirm through purchased credits. ProLog also permits you to sort your logbook by your LoTW status so it's really easy to see your LotTW award standing at a glance. 

When your logbook has been processed by LoTW you will receive a report, listing those stations that have been successfully cross-referenced and therefore electronically QSL'd. Using the information in that report, you can update the status of each of the referenced QSO's in your logbook. This administrative process can be quite a chore especially if it involves hundreds or even thousands of contacts; ProLog to the rescue! A simple click of a pushbutton, and ProLog will automatically read the LoTW report and automatically update your logbook award status for each of the contacts contained therein.