[WT-support] Check Partial/N+1/Exchange Guessing questions

[Douglas Maxwell]

Wow, that was quick!

I think I get it now ;-).........

If you use your own SCP files you are not distracted by millions of possibly
irrelevant CP and N+1 completions contained in the *callbook* DTB
file....but, if your SCP file doesn't hold the wanted callsign and the DTB
does, you still get the exchange from the DTB when you complete the callsign
yourself without successful CP. This will only happen once per call as you
would then augment the SCP after the contest to include the new calls
worked.

If this is correct, I think we possibly have a few more years of compiling
logs before it would be viable for us to use an SCP file ;-).

I wonder if you have considered a prioritised search sequence for CP and N+1
as an addition to the one you have now i.e. Search SCP files first (if
present) whilst the call is being entered, then after the space bar is
struck and no successful completion, search the DTB. This would give the
user confidence of the calls existence instead of 'unique' appearing in the
check partial result window.

Thanks again Laurent!

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Laurent HAAS - F6FVY" <f6fvy at free.fr>
To: <support at win-test.com>; "Douglas Maxwell" <dcmaxwell at iee.org>
Sent: Wednesday, June 20, 2007 11:31 AM
Subject: Re: [WT-support] Check Partial/N+1/Exchange Guessing questions


Hi Doug

Douglas Maxwell a écrit :

> 1) If I use IOTA.SCP file, check partial and N+1 _only_ comes from this
> file.

Correct. It is even the purpose of the SCP files.

> 2) If I use multiple appropriately named IOTA_XX_XX.SCP files for all
> band/mode combinations, WinTest will select which file to use for CP and
> N+1 dependant on current band/mode selection.

Correct.

> 3) If there is also an IOTA.DTB file, exchange guessing only comes from
> this file.

Correct.

> 4) Only when a call exists in both SCP and DTB files will exchange
> guessing work for that call.

No. The SCP and DTB can (are supposed to) have different callsigns.
Actually, in a perfect world, every callsign included in an SCP file
should be also included in the corresponding DTB file, with its
exchange. The guessed exchange is taken from the DTB file only (and the
log, of course).

> Do you intend to get rid of the .DTB format in the future? If so where
> will exchange guessing come from? What will happen with the 'update
> database' command?

We intend to modify the DTB file format _someday_ , to allow more data
and quicker response time for large databases, and allow several
"guesses" per callsign (required in some contests).

> What are the advantages of using SCP files instead of a complete,
> augmented DTB file (i.e. using update database)? The latter seems the
> only solution where contests require exchange guessing.

The purpose of the SCP is different from the DTB (database).

1/ For the SCP, think abt a compilation of all logs for a given contest
and extraction of the most worked stations. BTW, this is what K5ZD does,
even if, unfortunately, he gathers all data from different contests
(CQWW, ARRL, CQWW WPX etc.) and modes, in a single file. So, there are
chances that most of stations you will work for a given contest will be
included in that file.

2/ For the DTB, think abt a callbook with *all* potential callsigns, and
the exchange they would give you back, if you work them.

If you use only a fullfilled DTB file, the partial and N+1 checks will
have no relevance. Fictionnal example : Imagine we have an ARRL DTB (DX
side), will *all* the US and Canada callsigns, with their
state/province, and *no* SCP file. The guessed exchange function would
be great, *but* OTOH, with no SCP file, the Partial and N+1 checks would
  always return many irrelevant callsigns (read : callsigns of stations
who even neer get into a contest in their life !). This is why the SCP
were introduced, and the band/mode adaptability too, to enhance
relevance, assuming you have adapted data !

Of course, you can get rid of all these considerations (like most users
do ;-) ), and only use a DTB file with "sufficient" data in it. You're
just warned of its drawback.

73

Larry - F6FVY

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