View source for Check Partial and Np1 Files

The [[Menu:Windows#Check_Partials|Check Partials Window]] displays callsigns whenever 2 or 3 characters are entered in the callsign field, based on the contents of certain files.
==Check Partial and N+1 Files==

Pre version 3.3.5, Win-Test used a native database format for Check Partials and N+1 checking, called the
DTB database file format which was mostly associated with a specific contest.

With that version, both the SCP and the DTA formats are additionally supported by Win-Test.

<ul>
<li> Win-Test accepts SCP plain text files. SCP stands for Super Check Partial. The structure of the file is simple, one callsign per line, no ordering required. SCP is the preferred format for Win-Test.

<li> Secondly CT compatible binary DTA files (MASTER.DTA) are supported by Win-Test. These files are usually available before the major contest. 
<ul>
<li> [http://www.supercheckpartial.com http://www.supercheckpartial.com] this is the main reference site for SCP and DTA files. Fully updated.
<li> [http://www.qsl.net/k1tr/master.htm http://www.qsl.net/k1tr/master.htm] this site maintain a MASTER.DTA file for North American VHF/UHF Contests
<li> [http://www.datomonline.com/suppfiles.html http://www.datomonline.com/suppfiles.html] this site was used by NA users (actually outdated!)<br>
<p> </p>
</ul>

<li> Finally, DTB files are supported for backward compatibility.
</ul>

Win-Test now accepts specialized Check Partial files, separated by band and by mode for any given contest. 
This should improve log accuracy and QSO rate. To get more details on how to name these files so that they can be found by Win-Test in the right situation, see [[Check_Partial_and_Np1_Files#Naming_Convention|Naming Convention]] below, or read [http://download.win-test.com/files/checkPartial/%23_READ_ME_%23.TXT http://download.win-test.com/files/checkPartial/READ_ME.TXT].

{{wbox|Note|If a contest-specific check partial file or database (.dtb) file is present in the Win-Test directory shown below, it will be used as the default file for partial and N+1 checks ''instead of'' '''MASTER.SCP'''.  To override this, use the file name '''DEFAULT.SCP''' or '''DEFAULT.DTA''' instead of '''MASTER.SCP''' or '''MASTER.DTA'''.}}
===Location===
These files must be located in the appropriate directory:

For Win-Test version 4, save check partial files in:
* Windows XP: <tt>'''C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Win-Test\databases\'''</tt>
* Windows Vista or Windows 7: <tt>'''C:\ProgramData\Win-Test\databases\'''</tt>
{{wbox|Note|When renaming or saving '''MASTER.SCP''', '''DEFAULT.SCP''' etc. make sure that the file name is not '''MASTER.SCP.SCP''', or '''DEFAULT.SCP.txt''', which will prevent these files from loading.  See instructions below explaining how to make the full file name visible in Windows.}}

For Win-Test version 3:
* <tt>'''C:\Program Files\Win-Test\'''</tt> (or the Win-Test installation directory)

====Viewing hidden files and folders====
By default, Windows hides some of these directories, making them invisible.  You can view them via [[Menu:File_open#Explore|File | Explore | /databases directory]], or even better, make all hidden folders visible, and make all file extensions (.SCP, .DTA, etc.) visible too.

To display hidden files and folders and extensions:
=====Windows XP=====
# Open '''Folder Options''' in the Windows '''Control Panel'''. 
## Click '''Start''', and then click '''Control Panel'''.
## Double-click '''Folder Options'''.
# On the '''View''' tab, under '''Hidden files and folders''', click '''Show hidden files and folders'''.
# ''Remove'' the check mark next to '''Hide extensions for known file types'''.
# Click '''OK'''.

=====Windows Vista and Windows 7=====
# Open Folder Options by clicking the '''Start''' button, clicking '''Control Panel''', clicking '''Appearance and Personalization''', and then clicking '''Folder Options'''.
# Click the '''View''' tab.
# Under '''Advanced settings''', click '''Show hidden files, folders, and drives'''.
# ''Remove'' the check mark next to '''Hide extensions for known file types'''.
# Click '''OK'''.

===Naming Convention===
Win-Test allows the usage of 3 different formats :

* <b>SCP</b> files : Plain textual - One capitalized callsign per line. No ordering required.
* <b>DTA</b> files : Binary CT format - You can use MEdit (http://dxatlas.com/MEdit/Files/MEdit.zip) to work on these files
* <b>DTB</b> files : Binary WT format - Kept for backward compatibility.

Note that the "compact" DTA format offered by MEdit is accepted by WT.
 
The preferred format is SCP.

From version 3.3.0, WT allows one file per band, mode and contest.

This means that one can build specialized files for a specific contest, and even for one band and/or mode in that contest.

The naming convention of the check partial files are (where * stands for SCP or DTA or DTB) :

* <tt>fileName_band_mode.*</tt>
* <tt>fileName_mode.*</tt>
* <tt>fileName_band.*</tt>
* <tt>fileName.*</tt>

===Search order===
The first matching file is used for check partial searches

# <tt>DEFAULT.*</tt>
# <tt>fileName_band_mode.*</tt>
# <tt>fileName_mode.*</tt>
# <tt>fileName_band.*</tt>
# <tt>fileName.*</tt>
# <tt>MASTER.*</tt>
# <tt>HF.*</tt> or <tt>VHF.*</tt>

If more than one type of file exists with the same name, the search order is based on the file extension:
# <tt>*.DTA</tt>
# <tt>*.SCP</tt>
# <tt>*.DTB</tt>

So if both MASTER.DTA and MASTER.SCP exist, but no other files, MASTER.DTA will be used.

If Win-Test does not find a specialized file for the current contest, it will use the MASTER.* files, or if that is not found, the HF.* and VHF.* files.

To see which file is actually being used, right click on the [[Menu:Windows#Check_Partials|Check Partials Window]] and select '''Used files list...''':

[[Image:Check Partial Files List.PNG|frame|center|Right click on Check Partials window and select Used files list... to determine which file is being used for super check]]

===Files names list===

 9KCC15        : 9K CC contest
 AGCW_HNY      : AGCW Happy New Year contest
 AA_DX         : All Asian contest - DX side
 AA_AA         : All Asian contest - Asian side
 ARI_DX        : ARI contest - DX side
 ARI_I         : ARI contest - Italian side
 ARI_SEZIONI   : ARI Sezioni contest
 ARRL_10_DX    : ARRL 10m contest - DX side
 ARRL_10_USVE  : ARRL 10m contest - K/VE side
 ARRL_160_DX   : ARRL 160m contest - DX side
 ARRL_160_USVE : ARRL 160m contest - K/VE side
 ARRL_DX_DX    : ARRL DX contest - DX side
 ARRL_DX_USVE  : ARRL DX contest - K/VE side
 ARRL_FD       : ARRL Field Day
 ARRL_SS       : ARRL SweepStakes
 BALTIC        : Baltic contest
 CIS           : CIS contest
 CQM           : CQ-M contest
 CQWW_160M     : CQWW DX 160m contest
 CQWW          : CQWW DX contest
 WPX           : CQWW WPX contest
 CROATIAN      : Croatian contest
 DARC_10       : DARC 10m contest
 DARC_XMAS     : DARC X-Mas contest
 EU_HF         : EU HF Championship
 EU_SPRINT     : EU Sprint
 FOC_MARATHON  : FOC Marathon
 GACW          : GACW DX contest
 HADX          : HA DX contest
 HELVETIA_DX   : Helvatia contest (DX side)
 HELVETIA_HB   : Helvetia contest (HB side)
 IARU_FD_R1    : IARU Field Day Rgn 1
 IARU_HF       : IARU HF championships
 IOTA          : IOTA contest
 JIDX_DX       : JIDX contest (DX side)
 JIDX_JA       : JIDX contest (JA side)
 KCJ           : KCJ contest
 KCJ_160       : KCJ Top band contest
 KOS           : King Of Spain contest
 LZ_DX         : LZ DX contest
 LOTW          : LOTW contest
 NA_SPRINT     : North American Sprint
 NAQP          : North American QSO Party
 NRAU_BALTIC   : NRAU Baltic contest
 OC_DX_DX      : Oceania DX contest (DX side)
 OC_DX_OC      : Oceania DX contest (Oceania side)
 OKOM_DX_DX    : OK/OM DX contest (DX side)
 OKOM_DX_OKOM  : OK/OM DX contest (OK/OM side)
 PACC_DX       : PACC contest (DX side)
 PACC_PA       : PACC contest (PA side)
 TX_QP         : TX QSO Party
 RAC           : RAC Canaday Day and RAC Canada Winter contests
 RDAC_DX       : RDA contest (DX side)
 RDAC_UA       : RDA contest (Russian side)
 RDXC          : Russian DX contest
 REF_HF_DX     : REF HF (DX side)
 REF_HF_F      : REF HF (F side)
 REF_160_DX    : REF 160m (DX side)
 REF_160_F     : REF 160m (F side)
 RSGB_1510_DX  : RSGB 15/10 (DX side)
 RSGB_1510_UK  : RSGB 15/10 (UK side)
 RSGB_160_DX   : RSGB 160m (DX side)
 RSGB_160_UK   : RSGB 160m (UK side)
 RSGB_80_CC    : RSGB 80 CC contest
 RSGB_AFS      : RSGB AFS
 RSGB_CMW      : RSGB Commonwealth
 R_160_DX      : Russian 160 (DX side)
 R_160_UA      : Russian 160 (UA side)
 SAC_DX        : SAC (DX side)
 SAC_SC        : SAC (Scandinavian side)
 SP_DX_DX      : SP DX contest (DX side)
 SP_DX_SP      : SP DX contest (SP side)
 STEW_PERRY    : Stew Perry Challenge
 TOEC          : TOE contest
 UBA_DX        : UBA DX contest
 UBA_SPRING_DX : UBA Spring (DX side)
 UBA_SPRING_ON : UBA Spring (ON side)
 UFT_HF        : UFT HF contest
 UK_DX         : Ukranian DX contest
 WAE_DX        : WAE contest (DX side)
 WAE_EU        : WAE contest (EU side)
 WAG_DX        : WAG (DX side)
 WAG_DL        : WAG (DL side)
 YO_DX_DX      : YO DX contest (DX side)
 YO_DX_YO      : YO DX contest (YO side)
 YU_DX         : YU DX contest 

For example, if you want to use a specific ARRL DX (DX side) for 80m you must name it :

 ARRL_DX_DX_80.* (where * stands for SCP or DTA or DTB)