Import QSO's


SWISSLOG allows you to import QSOs from most other logging programs. You can import logs with the following formats:

Prepare for the Import

To import QSOs from another log program perform the following steps:

Start the Import

Start the import process by selecting File ¦ Import QSOs and select the import function corresponding to the file type. This will display the following dialog window:

In the above dialog window enter the name of the file you are importing. You can type the filename or search for it by pressing the button.

After you have specified the import file press the Continue button. The Field Assignment dialog window will appear next:

The dialog window shown above allows you to create or load a Field Assignment Table. This is optional; if you don't do it now and a table is needed at a later stage then SWISSLOG will ask you again at that time. The Field Assignment Table is explained further in this document.

Reasons for creating or loading the Field Assignment Table are:

MERGING DATA IN EXISTING QSO

Check the option "Merge Data if QSO exist" if you are importing QSOs from a file having most updated data from existing QSO and you want to replace these data. For instance, this is very useful if you want to update the QSL SENT indicator when using external printing tools which provides a file, Online QSL Requests (OQRS) files, etc. NOTE: If you want to handle OQRS files from Club Log, please read Process Club Log OQRS ADIF file. Swisslog implements a specific function to process this file in an automatic way.

VERY IMPORTANT: An exact QSO must be found in order to merge data. This means: same call, same band, same mode, same date and same time (including seconds!). If you have an existing QSO at 14:45:25 and the import file has the same QSO with time at 14:45:00, Swisslog will ADD a new QSO, no data will be updated! Check this carefully in the import file before enabling this option!

Swisslog will replace the contents of the following fields (only if content is not blank and is different in the source file):

LOGBOOK TABLE:

L_OPERATOR, L_RSTS, LRSTSNR, L_RSTR, L_RSTRNR, L_QSL_ACTION, L_QSLMGR, L_QSL_RECEIVED, L_QSL RECEIVED DATE, L_QSL_SEND, L_QSL SEND DATE, L_LOTW_RECEIVED, L_LOTW RECEIVED DATE, L_LOTW_SENT, L_LOTW SEND DATE, L_EQSL_RECEIVED, L_EQSL RECEIVED DATE, L_EQSL_SENT, L_EQSL SEND DATE, L_CLUBLOG_UPLOAD_STATUS,  L_CLUBLOG_UPLOAD_DATE,  L_HRDLOG_UPLOAD_STATUS,  L_HRDLOG_UPLOAD_DATE,  L_QRZCOM_UPLOAD_STATUS,  L_QRZCOM_UPLOAD_DATE, L_SFI, L_INCOMPLETE, L_CREDIT_GRANTED, L_CREDIT_SUBMITTED, L_SAT_MODE, L_SAT_NAME

PQTH TABLE:

P_CONTINENT, P_DXCC, P_WPX, P_WAE, P_WAZ, P_ITU, P_LATITUDE, P_LONGITUDE, P_TIMEDIFF, P_QTH, P_QTHLOCATOR, P_REGION, P_SUB_REGION, P_IOTA, P_DIPL1...P_DIPL20.

Later, during the QSO import process, the "Merged Data Details" tab will be highlighted indicating user that some data have been merged in at least one QSO. Swisslog will provide a very detailed report for every QSO, including data that has been replaced and data existing before. A button is available to Save the report to a file in Rich Text format for future reference:

 

When you are finished press the Continue button. The summary dialog window will appear next:

The dialog window shown above allows you to verify the data entered previously. It displays the following:

If you notice an error you can press the Back button and correct it.

Note: this dialog window looks different if you are importing from the DOS Version of SWISSLOG (see details here).

If everything is OK press the Continue button.

Now select the My QTH for the QSOs you are going to import.

IMPORTANT: Remember you can only import QSO for one My QTH!.

If the log you're importing contains QSOs from more than one QTH, you will have to split the log files into separate files, each containing QSOs for only one QTH. (See Plan your import above).

Select the appropriate QTH in the Own QTHs list by clicking on it and then press OK. This starts the actual QSO import process.

If you have not selected a Field Assignment Table and SWISSLOG encounters some data in your source file that it's unsure what to do with then you will be presented with the Field Assignment dialog.

Field Assignment Dialog

SWISSLOG needs to copy the field values from the import file to the corresponding SWISSLOG fields. It has to convert Band, Mode, QSL indicators, and more. The instructions defining how this must be done are contained in Field Assignment Table.

If SWISSLOG does not know what to do with an input value it will ask you for information by popping up the Field Assignment Dialog window, which is the input window for the Field Assignment Table. You must enter the assignment information or tell SWISSLOG to ignore the field. Depending on the missing information  another page of the dialog is opened. Use the links below to navigate to the corresponding description.

For import files from the DOS version of SWISSLOG and ADIF files SWISSLOG knows how to map the standard fields. Note that some programs do not use "standard" ADIF files and SWISSLOG will still have to ask you what to do with the non-standard information.

If SWISSLOG needs information from you the Field Assignment Dialog window is displayed with the page opened where the information must be entered.

Assignment of the Fields

In the above dialog window you can assign the various fields from the import file to SWISSLOG fields.

You must enter the name of the SWISSLOG field that corresponds to the import field by inserting it next to the name of the Import Field.

You can do this by using one of the following methods:

  1. Mark the import field and select the corresponding SWISSLOG field from the list of Available DB fields and press the Insert button. (Mark the fields by placing the mouse cursor over the field name and click).

  2. Drag and Drop the SWISSLOG field from the list of Available DB fields to the SWL-Field list next to the corresponding import field.

Field assignment for text files

Fields in text files do not have names. Therefore field position numbers are used to identify the fields in the input file. Text files have either a format with fixed columns, or are delimited (see Format Definitions). The numbering of the fields is different for either format.

Below is an example of field assignments for a file with a fixed column layout:


Format Definitions


In the above dialog window you define the format of the Time and Date fields that are used in the input file. If the input file is a text file you also need to define the format of the text file.

 If the input file is a delimited text file define the delimiter and quote character

Band Assignment

In the above dialog window you can define how the bands in the input file are converted to bands in SWISSLOG. Older log programs did not enforce a consistent naming of the bands. Therefore you may have to make several entries in this list. During the import process SWISSLOG stops at every unknown band entry in the input file and asks you how it should be converted. 

You must enter the SWISSLOG band that corresponds to the import band by inserting one of SWISSLOG's available bands next to the name of the import band.

You can do this by using one of the following methods:

  1. Mark the Import Band and select the corresponding SWISSLOG band from the list of Available Bands and press the Insert button. (Mark the fields by placing the mouse cursor over the field name and click).

  2. Drag and drop the SWISSLOG band from the list of Available Bands to the SWL-Band list next to the corresponding import band.

Mode Assignment


In the above dialog window you can define how the modes of the input file are converted to modes in SWISSLOG. Older log programs did not enforce a consistent naming of the modes. Therefore you may have to make several entries in this list. During the import process SWISSLOG stops at every unknown mode entry in the input file and asks you how it should be converted. 

You must enter the SWISSLOG mode that corresponds to the import mode by inserting one of SWISSLOG's available modes next to the name of the import mode.

You can do this by using one of the following methods:

  1. Mark the Import Mode and select the corresponding SWISSLOG mode from the list of Available Modes and press the Insert button. (Mark the fields by placing the mouse cursor over the field name and click).

  2. Drag and drop the SWISSLOG mode from the list of Available Modes to the SWL-Mode list next to the corresponding import mode.

QSL Conversion


In the above dialog window you can define how the QSL information should be converted. This definition may become very complex if you used a sophisticated QSL control system in the log program you're importing from. The example above shows such a case.

SWISSLOG uses three QSL Indicators to implement a QSL control system: QSL-Sent, QSL-Received and a field named QSL-Action. The QSL control system is very comprehensive; for complete details please read the following sections: QSL-Rules and QSL-Actions.

IMPORTANT:  SWISSLOG assumes that the values used in QSL-Sent and QSL-Received mean the same thing for both fields.

The table on left side contains the current QSL conversion settings for the input values.

With the radio buttons on the right side you can define how the input values should be converted.

Remember: SWISSLOG assumes that you use the same values in both the QSL-Received and the QSL-Sent indicator.

Let's go through an example: you use Y for YES and N for NO. Next you want to set the QSL-Action to 'Send' if a QSL card was not sent, or set the QSL-Action to 'Sent' if a QSL card was sent. In this case the QSL-Action field should be based on the value of the QSL-Sent indicator. For a N value you specify 'Send'; for a Y value 'Sent'.

Importing from SWISSLOG DOS Version

To simplify importing a log file from SWISSLOG DOS there are additional 'wizard' steps which are explained below:

IMPORTANT: If the log you're importing contains QSOs from more than one QTH you will have to split the log files into separate files, each log containing QSOs for only one QTH. (See Plan your import above). Use SWISSLOG Version 3 DOS for creating the separate input files.

SWISSPEZ-File


You can add your special conversions to this file if necessary.

Notes

Special Options

The following items can be specified in the above dialog window:

Variable Fields

If you have used variable fields then the Field Assignment Dialog window will be displayed whenever SWISSLOG encounters a variable field without defined mapping.


Copyright © 2004 SWISSLOG
Last modified: 09 dic. 2022