QSL designer nearing completion
Posted: Sat Sep 28, 2002 9:59 am
HI
For those interested in the QSL design and print method for Winlog32, read on.
Hopefully the final file format is now established and this project is nearing completion, and I have designed a couple of QSL's for myself which may give you some idea of what will be possible with next version of Winlog32 if you are so inclined.
As the designer can export only a bitmap in BMP format, I have converted these files for convenience to a compressed JPG file format.
You can download and have a look at the files in any picture viewer.
Check out the following files:
http://www.winlog.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/pics/qsl1.jpg
and
http://www.winlog.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/pics/qsl2.jpg
(Enter these url's into your browser and download the files onto your hard drive)
There are a few limitations in the designer, but overall I am satisfied with the results so far achieved.
Some extra features recently added include:
A function to switch any "Please QSL...." text automatically to either "Please QSL...." or "Thanks QSL....." depending on the status of the 'QSLIn' field.
Additional data transfer from the either or both of the 'Remarks' and 'User' fields any text that is enclosed in square brackets thus if 'Remarks' field =
"op John, QTH Somwhereabout, [Thanks for QSO John], QRP operator"
Then "Thanks for QSO John" is added to QSL card automatically at the desired position.
"QSL Via..." is another of the standard data transfer fields and works the same as on the QSL Labels.
Any QSL size can be set.
All text can be edited for content, Font - style - size - colour - type, Alignment(right - left - centre), Background Colour or transparent,
A background picture and any overlaying pictures in recognised formats can be added.
All QSL.DAT files can be saved/loaded/edited as required.
In the printing method which will take place from the 'Print QSL' window, any ONE QSO can be selected from the 'to do' list and printed but only one at a time, updating the Log as you go.
I have decided on this approach for a couple of reasons, firstly its much easier, secondly its possible to edit the data on screen if required for each QSL, and of course it usually takes quite a while to print out a full colour QSL anyway.
On the down side though, only one QSL card per printed sheet can be printed, as I said there are some limitations that we will have to live with.
Designs may not be transportable, I have some testing to do here, the font styles in the design may not be available on another system.
To those of you who may have used the test version already, firstly thanks for all the comments, all were favourable and all reported no problems getting to grips with the design interface.
Unfortunaltely as the design file format has been changed since the test version, you will not be able to use any existing design files that you designed with the test version, sorry for that but I'm sure that the additional features the changes have allowed make up for it!
I hope to include but this may be at a later stage, various picture file logos for inclusion in your designs, I may set up a 'bank' where users can sent me useful logos as long as these do not have any copyright attached.
I may also set up a page on the Winlog site for best QSL designed with Winlog of the Month, if I find any interest?
Although it's a little late in the day to start asking for more features to be added, as always I always welcome any discussion here on the forum.
73 Colin G0CUZ
Winlog32 Author
For those interested in the QSL design and print method for Winlog32, read on.
Hopefully the final file format is now established and this project is nearing completion, and I have designed a couple of QSL's for myself which may give you some idea of what will be possible with next version of Winlog32 if you are so inclined.
As the designer can export only a bitmap in BMP format, I have converted these files for convenience to a compressed JPG file format.
You can download and have a look at the files in any picture viewer.
Check out the following files:
http://www.winlog.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/pics/qsl1.jpg
and
http://www.winlog.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/pics/qsl2.jpg
(Enter these url's into your browser and download the files onto your hard drive)
There are a few limitations in the designer, but overall I am satisfied with the results so far achieved.
Some extra features recently added include:
A function to switch any "Please QSL...." text automatically to either "Please QSL...." or "Thanks QSL....." depending on the status of the 'QSLIn' field.
Additional data transfer from the either or both of the 'Remarks' and 'User' fields any text that is enclosed in square brackets thus if 'Remarks' field =
"op John, QTH Somwhereabout, [Thanks for QSO John], QRP operator"
Then "Thanks for QSO John" is added to QSL card automatically at the desired position.
"QSL Via..." is another of the standard data transfer fields and works the same as on the QSL Labels.
Any QSL size can be set.
All text can be edited for content, Font - style - size - colour - type, Alignment(right - left - centre), Background Colour or transparent,
A background picture and any overlaying pictures in recognised formats can be added.
All QSL.DAT files can be saved/loaded/edited as required.
In the printing method which will take place from the 'Print QSL' window, any ONE QSO can be selected from the 'to do' list and printed but only one at a time, updating the Log as you go.
I have decided on this approach for a couple of reasons, firstly its much easier, secondly its possible to edit the data on screen if required for each QSL, and of course it usually takes quite a while to print out a full colour QSL anyway.
On the down side though, only one QSL card per printed sheet can be printed, as I said there are some limitations that we will have to live with.
Designs may not be transportable, I have some testing to do here, the font styles in the design may not be available on another system.
To those of you who may have used the test version already, firstly thanks for all the comments, all were favourable and all reported no problems getting to grips with the design interface.
Unfortunaltely as the design file format has been changed since the test version, you will not be able to use any existing design files that you designed with the test version, sorry for that but I'm sure that the additional features the changes have allowed make up for it!
I hope to include but this may be at a later stage, various picture file logos for inclusion in your designs, I may set up a 'bank' where users can sent me useful logos as long as these do not have any copyright attached.
I may also set up a page on the Winlog site for best QSL designed with Winlog of the Month, if I find any interest?
Although it's a little late in the day to start asking for more features to be added, as always I always welcome any discussion here on the forum.
73 Colin G0CUZ
Winlog32 Author