Check Partial and Np1 Files

The 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.

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  • http://www.datomonline.com/suppfiles.html this site was used by NA users (actually outdated!)
    

• Finally, DTB files are supported for backward compatibility.

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 Naming Convention below, or read http://download.win-test.com/files/checkPartial/READ_ME.TXT.

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: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Win-Test\databases\
• Windows Vista, Windows 7 or 10: C:\ProgramData\Win-Test\databases\

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:

• C:\Program Files\Win-Test\ (or the Win-Test installation directory)

Virtual Store

If you do not or can not run Win-test as Administrator, downloaded .SCP, .dat and .DTB files may end up in a so-called Virtual Store in %LOCALAPPDATA%\VirtualStore\ProgramData\Win-Test\... or countryFiles.

Win-Test's priority is to search the Virtual Store first and then in the standard directory. So if you find that Win-Test is not loading your updated .DTA, .dat, .DTA or .SCP file, check the Virtual Store and delete older instances of these files.

Viewing hidden files and folders

By default, Windows hides some of these directories, making them invisible. You can view them via 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

1. Open Folder Options in the Windows Control Panel.
   1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
   2. Double-click Folder Options.
2. On the View tab, under Hidden files and folders, click Show hidden files and folders.
3. Remove the check mark next to Hide extensions for known file types.
4. Click OK.

Windows Vista, Windows 7 and 10

1. Open Folder Options by clicking the Start button, clicking Control Panel, clicking Appearance and Personalization, and then clicking Folder Options.
2. Click the View tab.
3. Under Advanced settings, click Show hidden files, folders, and drives.
4. Remove the check mark next to Hide extensions for known file types.
5. Click OK.

Naming Convention

Win-Test allows the usage of 3 different formats :

• SCP files : Plain textual - One capitalized callsign per line. No ordering required.
• DTA files : Binary CT format - You can use MEdit (http://dxatlas.com/MEdit/Files/MEdit.zip) to work on these files
• DTB 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) :

• fileName_band_mode.*
• fileName_mode.*
• fileName_band.*
• fileName.*

Search order

The first matching file is used for check partial searches

1. DEFAULT.*
2. fileName_band_mode.*
3. fileName_mode.*
4. fileName_band.*
5. fileName.*
6. MASTER.*
7. HF.* or VHF.*

If more than one type of file exists with the same name, the search order is based on the file extension:

1. *.DTA
2. *.SCP
3. *.DTB

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 Check Partials Window and select Used files list...:

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)