Menu:File new
Menu:File (without a file opened)
New
To create a new file, Win-Test first shows the classical dialog box, allowing to give a name and a path to this file. The default extension is .wtb, which you must respect if you write it.
Creating a new Win-Test file
Once the file is created, the contest parameters must be captured in the following dialog box :
Contest parameters
"Station" parameters :
- Callsign : The one used during the contest. Do not specify the departement (REF contest), or the zone number in this field ! On the other hand, the potential /P, /M or /MM must be specified.
- Locator : Mandatory for a VHF contest. Optional but useful for an HF contest (this will allow to get accurate beam headings or sunrises/sunsets)
- Exchange : Type your zone, your state, your departement... according to the contest you will run. For example, for a CQWW DX contest, specify your WAZ zone. Let this box empty if the sent report is a serial number (for the WPX, for example). If there is a domestic and a DX side in the contest, specify DX if it is your case. Ex : For the ARRL DX, if you are not W ot VE, you must type DX. The power you will send will be taken from the "power" box (see below). NB : The exchange is what Win-Test will send in the CW/RTTY mode.
- Name : The one of the callsign's owner.
- Address : You have 3 free lines to give the address of the station. Keep the last one to specify your zip code and town, as well as your country for an international contest.
"Contest" parameters :
- Contest : The contest you will run. Multipliers and dupes checking, points counting etc... will depend on this choice. Please be careful ! Regarding VHF contests, Win-Test supports 2 "generic" contests : "European VHF" and "European VHF (gridsquare counting as multiplier)". These 2 contests will be compatible with the vast majority of the minor contests having the same points counting.
- Category : Choose the category in which you will participate. Check in the rules that the corresponding category really exists in the specified contest !
- Overlay : Some contests rules show overlays. Check in the rules that the corresponding overlay really exists in the specified contest !
- Mode : Choose the mode in which you will participate. Check in the rules that the corresponding mode really exists in the specified contest !
- Power : Your effective power, compulsory for the ARRL DX, on the DX side. Do not type the W unit ! However, if your allowed to transmit more than 1 kW, specify KW.
- Class : Choose your power class.
- Operators : Type the operators list. To get a strict compatibility with the cabrillo format, leave a simple free space between 2 callsigns.
"Network" parameters :
- Station name : Useful if you are running Win-Test in a network. All the computers in the network must have different names. Use eloquent names to easily recognize a computer in the status window.
- Enable time distribution in network : Useful if you are running Win-Test in a network. In order to synchronize the time of the QSO recordings, one computer (and only one) must be declared "time master".
Open
Opens a log file in the Win-Test format (conventional .wtb extension).
There is no need to close the file already in use. The new file will take its place.
Opening a Win-Test file
After choosing the file, the contest configuration dialog appears :
Contest parameters
You can then modify these parameters, if needed, before Win-Test ends the opening file procedure. See File:New for more information.
Loading progress of the file and a potential data base associated to the contest are displayed before the main Win-Test screen.
Import
Allows to import logs from Editest or Cabrillo format to Win-Test format.
Furthermore, after importing the log file, you can immediatly load this file in Win-Test, by checking the appropriate box.
Of course, the original file is not modified.
Export
Allows to export a Win-Test(v3) log into an Win-Test(V2) file format. The former Editest format is no longer supported for export.
Of course, the original file is not modified.
Merge logs
Useful in a multi-operator Win-Test LAN, this menu allows to merge the logs issued from different computers. You can thus gather all the QSO in an unique file (named "master"), which has to be the first added to the list. The original file will be automatically saved before any modification (.bak).
We advise you to do this operation if you notice unequal scores (see summary) on different computers, or if some computers were logged off the LAN during the contest.
Since Win-Test version 3 this should no longer be neccessary, but is left for Your convenience.
Clean log
Closes the current file and quits Win-Test back to the Windows environment.
Before using this command, don't forget to validate your last QSO ! Furthermore, it is cautious to save your hard work to avoid any bad surprise ...