W3KM Cabrillo Evaluator - Initial Use       
           Step-by-step to learn Cabrillo Evaluator

Software Description:
° Scores Cabrillo logs, with auto load of the contest profile Ini. Automatic evaluation
of up to 2000 logs with duping, actual score, cross checking, N-QSO rule,5-min QSO rule
and 2 profile Ini files support.

The software may seem overwhelming at first. If possible, I can provide a ready-to-run setup
for your contest. After the SW is installed and running, send me sample logs if available
and the contest rules link in your email request.

2 Ini Setup files are needed for all QSO Parties. See Sponsors evaluating log submissions:

° Screen re-size:
Most screens can be re-sized to make them larger, make the text fit or change font size. Drag
the lower-right corner to get the size and text you want. Once set, upper-right X saves the
settings. To store form data, only the main screen closes with upper-right X.
Do not use the full screen displays - you need to see the pop-up windows.

° All submitted logs must be re-formatted before scoring. Even if a Cabrillo template is published 
with the rules, some bad logs will be submitted. The column formatting of log files is easily
handled by the re-format function. CabEval was written in 2000 when contests used column templates,
but uses the white spaces between exchange fields to format logs.

The software has hundreds of scoring functions based on the various setup screens, plus some
hard coded routines. It would be impossible to re-write thousands of lines of code to use white
spaced parsed data. CabEval uses specific columns and # of characters to read the exchanged data.
This is why the column re-formatter is used.

Regardless, a function similar to the re-formatter is required to find out why logs do not
score correctly. Also, the formatter checks for a blank space at column 31, the date, contest
name, invalid 3-character modes, non-US keyboard characters (diacritic combinations like �á é),
slashed zeros, missing END-OF-LOG: tag (could be an incomplete log), missing/extra columns,
invalid header tags, missing EOL terminations and other quirks that cause scoring errors.

A pop-up during re-formatting indicates a log error. Follow the pop-up instructions to fix
errors related to EOL or QSO line length. Use the Log Tools menu in the Re-format form.
Log tools is used to fix the `invisible` log problems, like hidden characters and end-of-line
termination errors. Re-format all logs after using Log Tools.

° A Cabrillo template should be published with the contest rules. This will certainly increase
the number of `good` Cabrillo logs received.

The column modifier adds columns (spaces or text), adds placeholder columns, deletes extra
non-compliant columns and fills blank placeholders in existing columns, which is required by the
column re-formatter. This form also shows logs with exchange data not in correct order - they may
not score correctly. Sponsors using their own scoring software tell me they find the column
modifier very useful.

The date/time sorting function checks for standard format and sorts by ascending date/time.
If a QSO: line was edited to X-QSO: the log will not be sorted.

Important:
When scoring does not seem correct - or your test logs don't score correctly, always explicitly load
your contest Ini file. Why? - If you change the setup by mistake (change a button or checkbox for
example), that change will be propagated to the next session of the software. When you exit the
software, the current setup is saved to the default Ini - Cab_Evaluator.ini - which is loaded when
you run the software again.

Also, save your setup files to BU. Saving your CabEvaluator folder to a USB stick will save lots of
time when you change PCs or HD.

° Hundreds of sample Cabrillo files, plus most Ini files and datafiles are available. Viewing
the WinZip dialog window by `Name` shows the files for a contest. View by `Modified` to show
the new files added. Select the files you want to use and unzip them to the CabEvaluator folder.

° Contests use specific multiplier files that are normally named with the contest name as part
of the filename. Some contests use files not named by contest, as they are shared by multiple
contests. Use Summary Write this Contest Ini summary to identify these files.

° Some contests use `extra` Ini setups for scoring not handled in the main setup. Under the
File Extra setups menu, a check-mark highlights the `extra` setup being used. If the profile
Ini files are re-saved with the `extra` setup files loaded, the extra files will load the next
time the main Ini file is loaded.

° Load an Ini profile via standard Windows `File Open` dialog:
- by using the File Load menu.
- by right-mouse clicking the Cabrillo files box.
When the dialog window is displayed, enter a few characters of the wanted contest to display
the files starting with those characters.
- Or first press the <Ctrl> key, then click a log file. When 2 Ini files are used for Home and
non-Home/DX, press <F7>, then click the log file to see the second Ini file.

An auto Ini loading procedure is used when 2 different Ini files are required to score `Home`
and `Away` logs as in DX contests and State QSO parties. Either Ini file can be loaded initially.

° After an Ini file is loaded, click a Cabrillo log file or use the Batch button to score. When
scoring single logs, turn on the auto open of the results file in the Include menu - or use <F9>
to toggle this function when scoring single logs. You do not want `auto open` selected during batch
runs. If you copy NOTEPAD.exe (or EditPad.exe) to the CabEvaluator folder, the results file and
other files written by the software will open in your editor.

° Cab Eval writes summaries of all logs evaluated. Generic summaries, plus 2 preferred table
formats are available in the Summary menu. The generic summaries, retained from version 1.0,
have limited usefulness. The Table1 summary is user defined and more useful and can be exported
to Excel to sort on Country or Continent for example. 

° <Esc> or <F3> stops the evaluation being run. <F1> opens the HELP file. If my WinHelp file
does not open, you can get the WinHlp32.exe file from Microsoft`s WinHlp32 page. My older WinHelp
file looks nicer, but the internet links may not work in newer OS. Or, select the HTML help format
from the Help menu.

° Left-mouse click a Set button to set the datafile to be used. Right-mouse clicking the Set
button opens the file in your editor. If the selected file does not exist, that file opens
in a blank editor screen. In the Re-format screen, Modify columns and Tools forms, right-mouse
clicking the hi-lighted file opens it in your editor. 

Sponsors evaluating log submissions:
° Optional folder paths (or Preferred folder paths) are set for (1) Cabrillo logs and (2)
`results` files, in the File Sponsor Setup. This is a must for log checkers, but can be
used by contesters.

° The 2-Ini option allows 2 different scoring Ini files to be used - {`Home` and DX or
`Home state` and `non-Home state`} - and are loaded automatically based on DXCC prefix
or ARRL section/State. The section or state is taken from the ARRL-SECTION: or LOCATION:
tag of the Cabrillo. Counties cannot be used to identify the QSO party `home` station
logs. Some contesters will put their grid square or full text for the field. So, use the
Summary Write Cabrillo files list to see that all `home` stations have their state or
section identified in the Cabrillo header. The Ini file used for scoring is listed in
the header of the results text file.

Use descriptive filenames that contain the contest name and their use. For example, New
Mexico QSO Party examples are {NMQP_NM.ini and NMQP_nonNM.ini}.

When 2 Ini files are used for a contest, you can initially load either Ini to score logs.
When you run the batch or single-score a log, the appropriate Ini(s) will load.

State QSO Parties:
1. Some QP`s have scoring functions to add bonus points to the score for activating several
counties. This can now be setup in the Ini Options form.

2. In `home state` station logs, 2 mults can be scored for the first `home state` QSO.
1 for the county and 1 for the state. The first VE QSO can be scored as 2 mults as well,
DXCC and province. These 2 scoring variations are selectable.

3. In State QP (and others) the software separates the DXCC multiplier and State/Prov mult
scoring. The look-up datafile is {QSO-Party-List.dat} that turns this function ON. When
the DXCC prefix and State/Prov abbreviation is the same (Portugal=CT Connecticut=CT is
1 of 8 abbreviations like this), 2 mults would otherwise be scored for DXCC and state.

4. Since the DXCC prefix comes from the callsign, the exchange/QTH field can be either the
DXCC prefix or "DX".

5. QSOs with the same mobile in different counties are not dupes. Each county exchanged must
be a separate QSO.

See points 2-5 in this partial State QSO party results file.

Valid bands:
To score invalid band QSOs as 0 points, use a valid bands lookup file like CE-Valid-Bands.dat,
selected in the Ini Options menu. Use one of my valid bands data files, or make your own.

Invalid exchange:
To score invalid exchanges (field length not correct) as 0 points, use the `QSO exchange not
specified length = 0 points` setup in the Ini Options form. Turn ON the function and set the
field column ID and character length. All exchanges not the specified length score 0 points.

Important about Check-boxes:
Don`t assume that when you select the check-box `On` that the initial text is what is being done.
This is my "smart text" programming, where the check-mark changes the displayed text to show what
is being done (or not being done). Click the check box to view the 2 text selections and select
the function you want - regardless of check-mark status. The check-mark on/off status is saved to
the appropriate Ini file.

Batch run scoring:
° Select `Setup for Sponsor` in the File Sponsor Setup menu to activate the `Batch` sequence. Use
the Click here to Run Batch button to run the log evaluation on all logs. Use <Esc> to cancel a
batch run - take note of the log. To continue later at that log, hit <F8>, then click that log file.

° Turn off the `auto open` of the Results/CC files in the Include menu, otherwise all these files
will open in multiple instances of your editor while running the `batch`.

° If being used, create or load the CC Ini file for that contest and select the cross check
functions you want. Re-save the CC Ini file when changes are made. If you use `Save As` to
create a CC file for your contest, be sure to save the Ini for that contest with the CC Ini file
loaded, so CabEval loads that CC Ini. Select whether to re-score the log based on the CC results.
Error in received message = 0 points and 0 mults. In the Sponsor setup you can also select the use
of the N-QSO rule.

° Cross checking cannot be done in State QSO parties that require a log from each county activated,
or accept logged callsigns related to the county - W3AAA/HUD for example.

° In QSO Parties, use the File Tools Check Invalid DXCC/State mults menu to write a file of DXCC
multipliers (and QSOs) to verify.

Summary outputs:
° In the Summary menu, several summary files can be written to document and further evaluate
the log submissions, including 2 user defined Preferred Table outputs. The Table1 summary can
output a summary using headings selected in the setup. Summaries can be exported to Excel to
sort on Category, Country, Continent etc. Table2 is used to write sorted text files. Special
summary outputs are available upon request.

Summary headings added later are `Created-By` (software that creates the Cabrillo log file,
no column number ID is needed) and `Category-v3` that pulls both Cabrillo v2 and v3
categories from the header.

° A `State QSO Party` summary can be selected by adding the `State QSO Party` heading at the
bottom of your existing summary setup. This makes it easy to go back to the previous summary
by just removing the last heading. When using the `State QSO Party` heading, the column ID
is not needed, which tells the software to run the stand-alone function. Of course you can save
any Table1 setup by re-saving your contest Ini file.

° A `Mode Summary` summary can be selected in the Summary menu, or by adding the `Mode Summary`
heading at the bottom of your existing summary setup. The use of this summary is like the
`State QSO Party` above.

° Writing the list of Cabrillo logs using Summary Write Cabrillo Files list is useful to insure
that all logs have a QTH identifier, required when using 2-Ini files in state QSO Parties. This
summary is also useful to see that logs have a special category listed in the CATEGORY: tag,
ie: Single-Op B, where B is the power designator that tells the software the power multiplier
for ARCI contests for example.

° Write a `Validated Calls` report to show stations that did not submit a log and made N QSOs
with stations that submitted a log. Using N=3 is a good starting value. Output the report
alphabetically with N=1 shows the callsign typos.

° A detailed UBN report is available after `batch` run - when cross check is selected.

Contest sponsors migrating to Cabrillo submissions:
° If you want a complete setup for your contest, let me know. Send me the link to the contest
rules and some Cabrillo logs if available. First, install CabEvaluator using the Windows install
program. If the software runs and scores logs, update to the latest revision. If you read the
above text, you already know how most of the software works.

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° Disclaimer/Notice:
Use my software at your own risk. I write software for Amateur Radio as a fun hobby.