[Dxbase] Re: 2007 wish list

Wed Dec 7 17:03:06 EST 2005

Yes, please let me add to Jack et al the sentiments of others...what 
an utterly fantastic logging application this is. Yes, there are a 
few things that could probably use a functionality upgrade or two, 
but then again, I say that every morning when I look in the mirror 
and step on a scale ;-).
I do not hesitate to recommend DX Base as the premiere logging 
program of choice whenever I speak to a club or elmer a newcomer, and 
combined with N1MM for contest logging, that's a great 1-2 punch for 
all my logging needs.
That said, however, I have high hopes that most of the 
recommendations are possible within the framework of Access '97 and 
are easy enough to code up.
In addition to my wish list earlier, I'd add my strong support for 
the ability to colour-code individual rows within the log, based on 
criteria of my choice. If not user selectable, then I'd say the two 
best uses would be to highlight a new country, band or mode that's 
been worked but no paper-QSL has been sent yet, or QSL sent but no 
receive card yet returned.
I also forgot to mention a report suggestion that's beyond the scope 
of Joe's fantastic work....When you use the DXCC statistics page 
(OUTPUT/HF NUMERIC STATISTICS/COUNTRIES, for which I have a shortcut 
ALT+X), you can sort worked, confirmed, worked-not-confirmed, etc. 
It's very handy to check on what's still outstanding without going 
through the whole hassle of running a custom report, however, I'd 
like to see a small change here. When you select a category with the 
radio buttons you (should) know what you selected. Therefore, putting 
the category on each line returned in the report is a waste.
To that end, and especially when you generate a report for 
worked-not-confirmed, you should see the QSOs that are outstanding 
(one for each, evenif there are several outstanding would be fine).
For example, for all-time-new worked-not-confirmed, Mixed, it shows 
9V, J2, KH7/K YK and a couple of others, yet at a glance I can't see 
if I got a card out or even what the call sign was for the station I 
worked. Yes, a custom report can tell me that, but this is a much 
more useful quickie report.
 From that same DXCC stats page, I'd also include the DXCC challenge 
totals at the bottom of the columns.
- Peter
W2IRT